The Damned Demon

Chapter 684  Forced To Sacrifice

n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Cecilia finally managed to pull herself together, pushing the swirl of emotions to the back of her mind and forcing herself to focus on the stack of papers in front of her. She needed to concentrate—this project was critical. But just as she began making progress, a sudden knock on the door echoed through her office.

Without looking up, she casually said, "Yes?"

The door clicked open, and a smooth, charming voice reached her ears. "How are you doing, Cecilia?"

Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes shot toward the door. There he was—a devilishly handsome man, tall and self-assured, wearing a half-sleeved white shirt that fit snugly over his muscular frame, and black jeans that gave him an effortlessly charming look. In one hand, he held a large dark blue rectangular box.

"A-Ash?" Cecilia stammered, her face flushing slightly as she quickly stood up, "What are you doing here?"

Asher chuckled, his smile playful yet with a hint of something deeper, "Why so shocked? I'm here to work for you, of course. Or did you forget I'm still your security advisor for the Junction Towers?"

Cecilia winced internally. How could she forget? She had been meaning to relieve him of the position—he already had a job at the WHA, and she didn't want to risk stirring up anything between them. But this project was too important. With Derek involved and the Junction Tower's security at stake, she couldn't afford another disaster. Not with Ash being one of the best.

Clearing her throat, she composed herself, "I appreciate that you've arrived on time, but there's no need for you to come all the way here. From now on, you can consult my secretary if you have anything to discuss regarding work. I have some important matters to attend to," she added, her voice clipped as she sat back down, pretending to focus on the documents in front of her.

Asher's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of mock hurt. He approached her desk, his gaze locked on hers. "So, you're pushing me away now, huh? After using me? Do I really mean nothing to you? Is it because I'm just a lowly cripple?"

Cecilia's heart sank at his words. She looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief, "What? No, Ash. I never used you, and I certainly never thought less of you because of what happened. That's not it at all. But you're old enough to understand that I'm a married woman. We can't continue to have these…inappropriate interactions."

Asher chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, but with a bite of bitterness, "Inappropriate interactions? Since when is it inappropriate for two adults to enjoy each other's company? You might not care about me, but I care about you. I can see how much you're suffering, even if no one else does. That… that is what upsets me. I just want to make you happy."

Cecilia felt a prick in her chest, her emotions a tangled mess. She sighed, running a hand through her hair, "Ash, please. Don't do this. You still have a bright future ahead of you. You're charming, kind, and more than capable of finding someone who's perfect for you. Don't waste your time on someone like me. I'm old, married… it won't end well for both of us."

Asher took a step closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. She unconsciously shifted back in her chair, her breath hitching as his voice lowered, "A perfect woman? I don't need anyone else. Even if you think you're flawed, you're the only one I want. My heart… it beats only for you, Cecilia. If you think you're old, then every young woman on this planet should consider themselves old."

Her eyelashes fluttered at his words, and she could feel the warmth creeping into her cheeks. She looked away, her voice shaky as she mumbled, "Y-You should save those compliments for young women."

Asher smiled, his voice steady but soft, "You are young in my eyes, Cecilia. That's why I saved those words for you. And as for being married… isn't that what's causing you so much pain? Isn't it stopping you from being happy? In my eyes, the only thing that won't end well is if you keep punishing yourself like this."

Cecilia felt her heart twist, his words striking a chord deep within her.

She'd been struggling, trapped between duty and her own desires, but hearing Ash speak so openly, so earnestly, was like salt in an open wound.

"Please, Ash…" she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. She didn't know whether she was begging him to stop or to continue, but either way, the lines she'd drawn to protect herself were blurring.

Asher leaned in slightly, his expression softening as he added, "I'm not asking you for anything more than your happiness. That's all I've ever wanted for you. Can you really look at me and say you're happy with the way things are?"

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a brief moment, she couldn't speak. She couldn't lie, not to him. But at the same time, she can't let this continue lest she ends up in a dangerous situation again. Asher carefully placed the dark blue rectangular box on Cecilia's desk, its presence almost ominous in the quiet tension of the room. His voice, however, remained gentle. "You don't have to answer me. But I want to gift you something first... Why don't you open it?"

Cecilia blinked, caught off guard by his words. Her gaze shifted to the box, her curiosity piqued despite the warning bells ringing in her mind.

What kind of gift had he brought her? What was this supposed to mean?

With hesitant fingers, she unclasped the box, feeling an odd mix of excitement and dread. When the lid lifted, her breath caught in her throat.

Inside, resting on soft velvet, was a white lily—its petals shimmering as if woven from stardust, glowing faintly with an ethereal light.

The flower seemed to hum with mana, a radiant, soothing energy filling the air around it. It was impossible to look away.

"This... This is—" Cecilia mumbled, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Asher's smile was subtle but warm, "Yes. It's the Starlight Blossom, famous for emitting a soothing, radiant fragrance that can heal wounds, calm the heart, and help one remember happy memories."

Her gaze remained transfixed on the flower, but her mind was far away—pulled into long-buried memories. She saw herself as a little girl, running through sunlit meadows, her father's laughter echoing in the air as they played. Her heart clenched, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Those memories had been forcibly suppressed by her family, along with every trace of her father. She couldn't even attend his funeral. She couldn't even remember him when it mattered.

She wasn't even allowed to procure this flower lest it endangered the honor of her family.

And then suddenly, another memory fragment flashed in her mind. She was laughing and talking with Cedric as she listened to him intently. When did this memory get suppressed?

But remembering his face made her eyes quiver as she somehow swam out of her thoughts.

"How... How did you know this was my favorite flower?" Cecilia asked, her voice breaking as her radiant blue eyes shimmered with tears. The weight of the past, of loss, hung heavy on her heart.

Asher's gaze softened, his voice quiet but steady, "I didn't. I only wanted to give you something that would remind you how it feels to be happy."

But in truth, Asher knew. Cecilia had once told him when he was Cedric that the only flower in this world she liked was the Starlight Blossom.

He never knew such a fact she confided in him would come in handy now.

Cecilia's chin quivered as she gripped the flower's stem tightly, as if she feared letting it go would erase the fragile connection to her past.

The memories flooded in, bittersweet, overwhelming. Her heart felt heavy, but for the first time in a long time, she felt something else—something close to warmth.

Without thinking, Asher reached out, his hand gently cupping her face. His touch was warm, firm, yet tender as he tilted her head up, guiding her to meet his eyes. His voice was a whisper, but it carried the weight of his longing, "Now do you realize how much you've been forced to sacrifice? Why don't you allow me to make it so that you don't have to sacrifice anything anymore?"

And before Cecilia could respond, before her mind could catch up with her emotions, Asher leaned in, his lips brushing hers with a deliberate slowness, the heat of his kiss washing over her like a wave.

Her eyelashes fluttered, her body stiffening at first, but as the warmth of his lips melted into hers, a buried part of her heart seemed to stir. She felt a strange kind of peace, a soothing balm for the pain she had kept locked away for so long.

Her hand twitched, her grip on the Starlight Blossom tightening.

Her fingers slowly curled around the fabric of Ash's shirt, her heart beating in her chest as if awakening after years of being numb. The flower's aura bathed her, its mana stirring her emotions, making her feel as if her very soul was melting into his warmth.

Her walls were crumbling, and she didn't know whether she had the strength to rebuild them again.

Before she knew it, her lips began to move against his, as if seeking the solace only his kiss could offer. Her hand clutched his shirt tighter, pulling him closer as she surrendered to the quiet storm building in her heart.