By Zephyria “…What’s wrong with that? You know I don’t have any problems with my equipment.”
After a heavy silence that felt like a long time—though it was only a minute at most—Ashley opened his mouth. He didn’t waste time lying, saying things like, ‘How do you know that?’ or ‘That’s not true.’ The source was too obvious.
“That’s why it’s strange,” Ariel said without hesitation, stating the basis of her thinking.
“Like you said, you didn’t hold back when you were dating me. If I were as clueless as Koi, you wouldn’t have dated me in the first place. Right? Your type has always been cool girls in every way. Like me.”
She wasn’t wrong. No, she was accurate. Before he fell for Koi, Ariel was the most ideal partner Ashley had ever dated. She always kept a proper distance, had leadership skills as the head of the Cheerleading Team, and was active, excelling in both sports and academics. She was also a striking beauty with great legs.
In short, Ariel was the perfect girlfriend. Ashley had never felt dissatisfied with Ariel and had a deep affection for her. That’s why falling for Koi was completely out of the blue.
But Ashley wouldn’t readily admit that.
“Have you ever thought that it might not have been easy for him to sleep with a guy?” Ashley asked sarcastically. But Ariel lightly crushed his weak resistance with her heel.
“Ash, you wouldn’t have been able to sleep with Koi even if he had Manifestation as an Omega. If Koi had big, tearful eyes and said he couldn’t do it, you would have gone straight to the bathroom and rubbed your dick raw.”
“How can you be so sure?”
In contrast to Ashley’s displeasure, Ariel said with a full smile.
“Because you didn’t break up with Koi and kept dating him even though you couldn’t have sex.”
The confident answer was met with ridicule.
“You must think of me as a sex-crazed maniac in your memories.”
Ariel was not at all intimidated by the obvious cynicism and opened her mouth.
“No, in my memory, you were a very ordinary, normal guy in that regard.”
She looked straight at Ashley and continued.
“You weren’t particularly horny, but you weren’t the type to hold back for the sake of your partner either. The you I know, even if he liked someone and dated them, if he wasn’t satisfied in that area, he wouldn’t wait and would just find someone else. But Koi waited for over a year? Even after his Manifestation, you didn’t break up? If you cared about Koi that much, Koi couldn’t have just been someone you dated and broke up with. He must have been that special.”
Ariel relentlessly dug up the truth, item by item. Ashley, who had been silent even after she finished speaking, broke the silence after a long time.
“Is that it? Just that I didn’t sleep with a Beta?”
“No, there’s one more thing.”
At the quiet voice, Ariel continued as if she had been waiting for it.
“You were generous to your friends, but there was a clear line. Even if you occasionally bought us meals, it was only at Greenbelt level, and even if you gave us birthday presents, they were gifts that matched our level, and you didn’t spend excessively. But everything is an exception for Koi, isn’t it?”
She was like a sports car with broken brakes, only stepping on the accelerator and speeding forward.
“It’s been over 10 years since you broke up, and you’re buying him such expensive clothes? Just because you’re supporting your friend’s date? That doesn’t make sense. That’s not you, Ashley Miller. What hasn’t changed, then or now, is that Koi is an exception in every situation.”
Ariel shook her head and stared straight at Ashley.
“Now, tell me honestly. Why are you still hung up on Koi and playing these ridiculous games? Pretending to be a friend or whatever.”
If Ashley’s answer didn’t please her, Ariel was ready to beat him up until she got the answer she wanted. What had changed from the past was that she was beating him up with words instead of fists.
Ashley didn’t answer immediately and took a deep drag of his cigarette. Ariel quickly glanced at her watch. There were still about 3 minutes left. That was enough time to stall and get away with it.
He probably uses that trick to mess with his opponents in court, she thought, and her fists clenched involuntarily. To avoid making the mistake of committing assault in a law office, she deliberately clenched and unclenched her fists several times to relieve the tension. Regardless of her emotions, Ashley exhaled the smoke and opened his mouth.
“Do you think I’m going to harm Koi in some way?”
“Of course. Koi might fall for your lies, but I won’t.”
At Ariel’s quick reply, Ashley unexpectedly gave a faint smile. Seeing Ariel pause for a moment, he said,
“You seem to have an immense distrust of me.”
In a slow tone, Ashley continued.
“I sincerely want Koi to be happy.”
As Ariel frowned, he gave a wry smile and lightly raised both hands.
“There’s no reason not to, right? As you know, we broke up 10 years ago, and I can extend that much goodwill to a classmate I’ve met after a long time.”
His attitude was unbelievably relaxed.
“Koi is… how should I put it, he’s still so innocent, then and now. I’m worried that he might mess up his date if he takes everything at face value.”
It was a tone that seemed to be considerate of the other person, but there was still a sarcastic nuance, which was extremely unpleasant. If Koi had heard those words, he would have taken them at face value, but fortunately, Ariel was here. She looked at him with a face full of distrust.
“You’re really doing this for Koi’s sake?”
“Yes.”
At the ready answer, Ariel immediately asked,
“Why?”
This time too, Ashley answered calmly.
“I told you, I want Koi to be happy.”
He brought the cigarette back to his mouth and narrowed his eyes.
“Didn’t you hear that from Koi?”
“I did. That’s why I rushed all the way here.”
Ariel retorted immediately. Before she heard another infuriating sound, she continued.
“I can’t believe that you want Koi to be happy at all. Are you really sincere? Even if Koi loves someone else, kisses them, gets married, and has children, you’ll gladly congratulate him?”
“Of course, if that’s what makes Koi happy.”
Ashley’s answer came out at just the right time, neither too fast nor too slow. He even smiled calmly, as if he were already used to this kind of torture. That’s why Ariel was even more suspicious of Ashley.
“What’s the reason? There’s no reason for you to want someone else’s happiness so desperately.”
She might not get a proper answer. Looking at Ashley’s brazen face, Ariel thought so. But it didn’t matter. The purpose of her visit today was different.
As expected, Ashley checked his watch instead of answering. There wasn’t much time left now. Ariel finally brought up the purpose of her visit.
“So you don’t care who Koi is with or what he does. Right?”
“As long as Koi is happy.”
Ashley said, still wearing a fake smile. Maybe he’s confident that Koi won’t be able to have a proper relationship. She must never let him know that Koi still likes Ashley and that Ashley is the only person he’s ever dated. Koi wouldn’t bother to hide it, but Ariel wouldn’t allow it.
“You seem to think that he’s still clueless and won’t be able to have a proper date.”
Ariel quickly picked up the pride that Koi had thrown away.
“Women recognize good people like ghosts. Plus, Koi has gotten taller and is now even being called handsome. Do you know what that means?”
She continued leisurely.
“You’re not the only one who won’t leave him alone even if he does nothing. Koi has gained some experience, so he’s probably developed some taste.”
Ariel deliberately finished her sentence and smiled instead. Ashley was still smiling at her, but somehow it seemed like a mask.
“…He’s gained experience?”
“Yes.”
Ariel nodded her head vigorously and then asked.“You don’t know at all what happened to him in the ten years you were apart, just like Koi doesn’t know what happened to you. Isn’t that right?”
Ashley didn’t answer. Ariel pointedly checked the watch on her wrist, then turned the watch face around to show Ashley.
“Three seconds ago.”
Ariel deliberately recited the remaining time, then smiled.
“Finished within the time, right?”
She readily stood up and, before heading for the door, looked at Ashley and said, “Then I’ll trust that you won’t interfere with Koi no matter what happens in the future, and I’ll be on my way. Thanks for your time.”
Adding a polite greeting, she turned and started walking. Only the rhythmic sound of her footsteps echoed in the quiet office. Just as Ariel grabbed the doorknob, Ashley, who had been silent until then, spoke.
“You asked why I want Koi to be happy, right?”
At the quiet voice, Ariel slowly turned around. Feeling a strange sense of foreboding, he gave a chilling smile and said, “The higher you climb, the bigger the impact when you fall.”
Rarely, Ariel couldn’t react immediately. At first, she didn’t understand what she had heard, and then she wasn’t sure if she had heard it correctly. But Ashley’s face, smiling at her, was all too real, and she confirmed that Ashley Miller was the biggest son of a bitch in the world.
“I see.”
Finally regaining her composure, Ariel smiled back and retorted, “Falling from this height would really hurt, wouldn’t it? You should have gotten the most expensive insurance.”
She spoke as if worried, then added in a soft voice, so very kindly, “Listen carefully, Ashley Dominique Miller. If you make Koi cry one more time, I’ll gouge out those pretty purple eyes of yours.”
Despite the tone being completely different from the menacing content, Ashley brazenly smiled and said, “Oh, I’m so scared.”
Ariel gave him another bright smile, as if to say she would really grind him to dust if he disobeyed her.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Just as she was about to leave, she turned back as if remembering something she had deliberately forgotten. “You don’t think it’s okay for Koi to date a man just because he’s a Beta, do you? Koi used to date you, after all.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
Ashley asked in a slow tone. Ariel didn’t lose her smile as she replied, “Koi’s partner could be a woman, or it could be a man.”
“……”
“I thought you might not have realized that. …Oops, I’ve gone over time. Sorry, I’ll be going now.”
She added cheerfully, “I hope you squeeze more blood from many more wronged people and make even more money today, Lawyer Miller.”
Soon, she opened the door and left the office. And Ashley was finally left alone.
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