---- Chapter 13 Eliana lowered her head, and her eyes darted around in a panic. Finally, she bit her lip and denied it. "I didn't. Why are you suddenly asking me such a question?" Asher didn't expose her guilty expression. Instead, he took her hand and led her outside. "Let me take you to a fun place." As they walked past the banquet hall, Eliana spotted Dean. He was still wrapped in bandages. He was sitting on a sofa in the corner and searching for something. Eliana instinctively moved closer to Asher and left the venue before Dean could notice her. Asher brought her to a stargazing platform on the outskirts of the city. "When | was a little boy, someone told me that looking at the stars could help when one felt down. So, whenever | was in a bad mood, I'd come here." "Your friend sounds a lot like me," Eliana said. With that, she paused. She sat beside Asher with a sigh and lamented her troubled fate. She was now almost sure that Asher saw her as a stand-in. ---- "Eliana, you were awake when | answered the phone that day," Asher said confidently. Since that day, Eliana's gaze toward him had become increasingly odd. Plus, Eliana had asked Brenden that question. Asher was more sure of that. "| indeed have secretly loved a woman for years. It is you." Asher first met Eliana when he was just fifteen. At that time, he was living as a guest in his uncle's home. Because he accidentally stepped on his aunt's dog, he was kicked out. Eliana appeared before him at that time. She awkwardly tried to comfort him. "Why are you crying? Brenden says crying won't change a thing. If anyone dares to bully you, stand up for yourself so they'll never dare to do that to you again." Asher took those words to heart. Later, he fought for power and showed no mercy, making those who once bullied him pay dearly. But after he thought he could finally stand proudly beside Eliana, she was about to marry Dean. When he received Brenden's call that night and found Eliana, who was injured, he was heartbroken. ---- Eliana had always been arrogant and lively from his memories. She shouldn't have suffered like that. Eliana was stunned for a few seconds before giving a bright smile. "Are you kidding me?" Asher was serious as he returned a teddy bear to her. "Here, | don't need this teddy bear anymore because | have you now." "Are you the boy who cried behind the rose bushes?" Eliana was pleasantly surprised. She looked him up and down again. But she was still struggling to connect the boy in her memory to Asher before her. "| didn't tell you that because | thought you remembered me. | went out to talk on the phone that day so as not to wake you. But | didn't expect you to misunderstand me." Eliana's mind was even more tangled now. Asher seemed to like her, so he insisted on asking Brenden to arrange the marriage to her. Yet, she couldn't start a new relationship now or offer him any response. Seeing her conflict, Asher gently held her hand. "I told you that because | don't want you to misunderstand me. A successful marriage relies on honesty between both you and me. Don't ---- you think?" Eliana nodded, and she suddenly thought it might not be a bad idea to try to date Asher. On their way back from the outskirts, Eliana watched the unfamiliar scenery pass by outside the window. "We are not going home. Where are we going now?" "We are going to City Hall." "What? But they're already closed for the day." Asher smirked. "| know someone who can get it done quickly." When they got the marriage certificates, Eliana finally realized she was truly married. Asher smugly put the marriage certificate into his pocket. "At least now | have the title of your husband." Meanwhile, Dean was still stubbornly searching for Eliana among the crowd He had gotten the news that Eliana would attend Hailee's birthday banquet. But he hadn't seen her after searching for her several times. Richard couldn't bear to watch any longer and kindly advised him. "Maybe Miss Spencer had something come up and ---- couldn't make it today." Your injuries haven't fully healed yet. The doctor suggests you rest in bed for a while." Richard couldn't understand Dean's actions. Dean had initially canceled the wedding with Eliana. Now that she was marrying another guy, he was clinging to her like a leech It was really not a good thing. But Richard had such thoughts in his mind. He dared not voice them. The phone rang, and after listening to the call, Richard's expression became serious. "Mr. Moore, we've just received the news that Miss Spencer and Mr. Barton went to get their marriage certificate this evening."