Without a second thought, Asher ripped the contract down the middle and dropped the torn pieces straight into the trash beside him.
He rose to his full height, and the sheer presence of him seemed to swallow Scarlett in his shadow.
"It's about time we introduce ourselves properly," he said.
Holding out his hand, he waited. His touch felt steady and warm, and the distant chill that usually lived in his gaze had disappeared. At that moment, his eyes focused only on Scarlett.
"My name is Asher Owen," he said evenly. "The man you're supposed to marry."
Shock locked Scarlett in place.
He'd reversed his stance in the blink of an eye.
Drawing back a small step, she straightened and met him with a cool expression. "Mr. Owen, I appreciate what you did for me that night abroad, but I'm not agreeing to marry someone I hardly know."
A heavy hush settled over the living room.
Walter and Gillian traded a quick look. They felt proud that Scarlett hadn't backed down, yet both braced themselves in case Asher reacted badly.
Instead of anger, a low laugh slipped from Asher. His voice carried a smooth depth that filled the room. "Take it easy. I'm not going to pressure you. If marrying a stranger bothers you, then we'll fix that," Asher said calmly. "We'll spend time getting familiar with each other." He spoke with quiet confidence. "I'll give this one year. If you still want to end the engagement after that, I won't stand in your way."
His answer caught Scarlett off guard.
To check the time, Asher tilted his wrist and glanced at the expensive watch resting there. "I've got an overseas conference call waiting at the office. I won't take up any more of your time."
Without another word, he pivoted toward the door. Yet when he reached the trash can where the torn contract lay, his steps slowed.
He glanced briefly at the Gordon family, then let his eyes rest on Scarlett. A faint smile touched his mouth. "Give me a few days. I'll come back with proper gifts and formally ask for your hand."
After saying that, he walked out.
Not until the sound of his car faded beyond the gates did the heavy air in the living room finally ease.
Dropping onto the sofa, Matthew dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. "Asher's completely taken with Scarlet!"
Pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose, Bobby studied Scarlett with a sharp look behind the lenses. "Scarlet, when exactly did you cross paths with Asher?"
Every gaze in the room shifted toward Scarlett at once.
Moving calmly, Scarlett made her way to the sofa and sat down. "It happened a few days ago. Ezra and I were overseas on vacation. He abandoned me there for the woman he's always cared about, and I ended up getting kidnapped. I managed to escape, and Asher was the one who pulled me out of danger."
Realization slowly reached Gillian, and her eyes turned red in an instant. She pulled Scarlett into a firm embrace. "So that's why you looked so exhausted when you came home. You've been through so much, sweetheart. Ezra truly has no heart!"
Resting her chin lightly against Gillian's shoulder, Scarlett gave her a reassuring pat. "It's in the past now. Everything happened so fast back then. I didn't even realize Asher had that kind of influence."
"Maybe this is destiny," Gillian said after letting out a slow breath, a thoughtful look settling on her face. "People say Asher can be merciless, but the way he looked at you just now wasn't cold at all. Since he isn't canceling the engagement and he's not pressuring you either, if you don't dislike him, you could consider giving him a chance."
Within their social circle, the Gordon family had few true allies. Aside from them, only the Owen family had the strength to protect Scarlett completely.
"Mom, how can you even suggest that?" Matthew cut in at once. "Scarlett just returned home, and you're already encouraging her to see him? He's five years older than she is!"
A crease formed between Bobby's brows as he spoke in a firm tone. "Mom, we can't decide this in a hurry. The Owen family have deep roots, and Asher didn't earn his reputation for nothing. Scarlet's too innocent to deal with someone that calculating."
He shifted his attention to Scarlett, his expression softening. "Scarlet, you don't have to worry. Matthew and I are here. Even if it's Asher, if you refuse, no one's dragging you anywhere."
Matthew stepped forward, his jaw tight. "That's right! If it comes down to it, we'll stop pretending to be polite. I'd like to see who's bold enough to touch Scarlet."
Seeing the two men who usually carried authority with ease now openly defensive because of her, Scarlett felt her chest grow warm.
No one had ever stood in front of her like that before.
"Thank you," Scarlett said, a quiet smile lifting her lips.
Their loyalty steadied her more than anything else could.
After a moment, Matthew scoffed, "If we're being honest, Ezra isn't even in the same league as Asher."
Jackson nudged his glasses higher and gave a knowing look. "The Wilson Group's stock price has been plummeting for days now."
"Dad, Mom, guys," Scarlett said as she sniffled softly and looked at her parents and brothers. The emptiness in her eyes faded little by little, and a steady resolve took its place, one they had never seen from her before. "There's something I need to do."
Grayson's face grew solemn. "Say the word. Whatever it is, I'll take care of it."
From her bag, Scarlett pulled out the phone she had carried for the past three years. A faint crack cut across the screen.
"I'm not asking for luxury or revenge," she said evenly. "I just want to regain my dignity."