“What? Did I say something wrong?” Maya’s voice was light, teasing, but her eyes sharpened as she
studied Harper’s reaction.
Harper’s eyes practically bulged, her fingers clutching the edge of the couch as if it were a lifeline. She shot upright, a mix of scandalized disbelief and exasperation written across her face. “He is! Maya, Hiro is… he’s incredible-loyal, smart, kind-literally everything any parent would dream of for their daughter. And-” she shuddered, pressing a hand to her chest, voice dropping to a frantic whisper, “not to mention… hot. Like… dangerously hot.”
Her gaze darted around, wild and panicked, as if confessing a forbidden truth. “But… he’s also my best friend! We grew up together!”
She leaned back, throwing her hands in the air, eyes wide, lips trembling, the very picture of
Harper-level dramatics.
Harper’s words tumbled out in a flurry, her hands fluttering as she tried to explain. She didn’t notice Ashcroft standing a short distance away, his posture deceptively relaxed, but his gaze sharp, catching only fragments-the part where she said, “he’s amazing-loyal, kind, smart-literally everything any parent could dream of for their daughter. And, not to mention… hot. Like… dangerously
hot!”
Something tightened in his chest. A flicker of irritation, quick and unfamiliar, crossed his expression. He wasn’t sure why her praise of Hiro struck such a nerve, only that it did.
Stepping forward with deliberate casualness, Ashcroft let a slow, sharp smirk play at his lips. “Ha,” he said, voice smooth, dripping with amused challenge. “With standards like yours, I’d be careful. By your glowing description, that Hiro guy might just turn out to be a zero after all.”
Damien, catching the brief flare in Ashcroft’s eyes, smirked knowingly. Harper froze mid-gesture, eyes widening in shock, sensing a tension she couldn’t yet name. Maya, silent but gleeful, fought back a laugh at how transparently Ashcroft had reacted.
“Ha! What do you know?” Harper snapped, voice bright but laced with sharp humor. She waved a hand at him, playful yet firm. “If my standards are questionable, how about you? Mind your own business, will you? Last I checked, we’re not close. So…. scoot!” She punctuated it with a sharp glance and a roll of her eyes before turning her attention back to Maya.
Her gaze softened, drifting into the distance as a wistful shadow crossed her expression. “I want to be with someone I love, you know? I may be a hardheaded bitch, a rebellious daughter, all of that –but I’m still like any other woman in this world. I want to fall in love. I want to be loved… the real
way.”
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Chapter 139 Love, Lust, and a Little Chaos-1
Claim
She trailed off, lips parting as if caught in a fleeting daydream, imagining it for just a heartbeat. Then she shook her head violently, growling in frustration. “Ugh, no. No, no, no!”
Maya leaned closer, brow furrowed. “No what?”
Harper’s eyes darted around conspiratorially before she leaned in, lowering her voice to a near-whisper. “I can’t… I just can’t imagine… having sex with him. It would be… ugh, so awkward. He’s like my brother! The thought alone-” she shivered, scrunching her nose in exaggerated disgust, “gross. Totally gross!”
Maya clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide, but a laugh slipped out anyway. “Oh my god, Harper-you’re impossible!” She nudged her friend’s shoulder, grinning. “You make it sound like some horror movie.”
Harper groaned, flinging her head back against the couch with theatrical despair. “Because it is! Can you even picture it? Me and Hiro? Ew. No. Thank. You.”
From across the room, Ashcroft’s gaze flickered, a subtle crease forming between his brows. He didn’t move, didn’t speak-but the faintest tightening of his jaw betrayed a spark of something he couldn’t quite name. Damien, standing just a step away, caught the flare and smirked knowingly, amusement curling at the corners of his mouth.
“Hey, Nick,” Damien said, voice teasing, leaning slightly toward him, “why don’t you just marry Harper instead? Keep the circle tight, huh?”
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.