Saving the Villain

Cosette expected to go fishing the next day with her grandparents and father. She didn't sleep properly last night despite being exhausted, as she was unable to adjust to this new environment. Also, she was excited to spend more time with her grandparents. Cosette had a long list to do this weekend with them since she wanted to make the most out of this weekend with them.

All that excitement and expectation, however, was thrown out of the window, as her grandfather and grandmother had a different plan. Although they prepared to go fishing in the pond within the ancestral home, Cosette didn't expect that they would be expecting guests to join this party.

Sitting on the folding chair near the pond, Cosette held the fishing rod with a blank — more like horrified — expression.

'This can't be happening,' she thought in horror, turning to her left only to meet a pair of distant eyes looking back at her. Cosette nearly wept, moving her eyes in the distance.

There, on the other side of the pond, was Conrad. Her father also had a blank expression, holding the fishing rod and staring at the still pond. Conrad seemed to sense her gaze as he raise his eyes, revealing a trace of unhappiness in the situation.

Cosette's gaze veered to the people sitting on their respective folded chairs near Conrad. Unlike her father, Marcel was laughing heartily with two other men; one looked the same age as her grandfather, and then the other was none other than the father of her seatmate, Maynard Quinn. Yes. The Quinns were here, and Conrad and Cosette were visibly unhappy with it.

Gretchen was in the tent, talking to some madams, who also made their way to visit her. She introduced Cosette previously, but then, the latter was told to entertain the young master Quinn and that explains the reason Cosette was sitting there with Asher.

This was definitely not what she expected.

"You don't have to make it obvious." Her thoughts halted at Asher's voice, shifting her attention to him. "Our family had a close relationship. So, it is not a surprise they had a get-together."

"It was supposed to be a family day." She let out a long-suffering sigh, kicking the pebble in front of her in irritation. "This is annoying."

Asher didn't have any reaction, placing the fishing rod on the side of his chair while waiting for any fish to take the bait. He rested his leg over the other, holding his hand on his lap, staring at the pond with a poker face.

"Treat it as doing your duty as the young miss of the Blac," he said without casting her a look.

"Yeah?" Cosette let out a dry laugh, glancing at the setup around. "Doing my duty is never my problem, but the way I see it, this shouldn't be my duty."

"Aren't you annoyed?" she looked back at him curiously. "This seems like they were indirectly telling us to get to know each other. You know the scheme."

Asher blinked slowly. What she said was right. This looked more like the elders wanting the younger generation to get to know each other for the obvious reason called marriage. After all, why would they even prepare a separate spot for Cosette and Asher if not for that?

"It's not annoying," he said, causing her brows to elevate.

"What? Do you want to marry me?" she gasped in disbelief, warranting a judgemental look from him.

"Even if I know the scheme, I didn't need to think like everybody else," he explained, peeling his eyes away from her. "I am simply here to make the elders happy, but I'd rather focus and enjoy fishing."

"You enjoy fishing?" she scrunched her nose up. "What are you? An old man?"

Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line when he glanced at her. He didn't say anything, though, as he set his eyes back on the pond. Staring at him, she was reminded of her remarks last night. That was because she hadn't met anyone at this age that enjoyed fishing. But well, it seemed there was one here.

"What's fun in this?" she asked curiously. "I mean, you'll just sit here and wait for a fish to take the bait. Until then, you do nothing."

"That's the point. You do nothing."

"Ahh…" Cosette nodded, grasping what he meant with just that. It wasn't because Asher enjoyed the essence of fishing, but because he could rest. Surely, he was one pitiful guy for being busier than an average person in their mid-twenties.

Silence descended on the two of them, making the laughter from Maynard, Marcel, and Victor ( Asher's grandfather) resonate in their spot. They sounded fun with Maynard getting along with the two old men, while not a sound from Conrad.

"How are you?" Cosette broke the prolonged silence between them, watching Asher quirk a brow at her. "That night you called… are you okay now?"

"I thought you decide to forget about it."

"Why would I?" she cocked her head to the side. "I stayed with you for as long as I can."

Asher studied her for a moment. "I'm good."

"You're welcome." She frowned, snapping her tongue at him. "A simple thanks for my consideration won't hurt, you know?"

"Thanks."

"Tss… don't do it if you're going to do it so half-heartedly." Cosette shook her head mildly, unable to believe how this guy was so heartless. But well, she couldn't really blame him, since she had already accepted that people were all different.

"I miss Max…" she blurted out under her breath, propping her elbow against the armrest as she rested her jaw on her knuckles. "... I wonder what he is doing?"

"I'm surprised that guy isn't here."

"Max has a name." She rolled her eyes. "Also, he is considerate enough to give us time to spend with my elders. If only I know this would happen, I would've dragged him with us by means or foul."

"Do you hate me, Cosette Blac?" Asher asked out of nowhere.