Secret Scion

Jerome Webb's pupils dilated, and there was a brief flash of fear in his eyes as he wondered when the Crawfords had allied themselves with someone that powerful.

At the same time, Solomon Crawford deliberately asked, "What's wrong, Rome?"

"N-Nothing..." Jerome replied as he returned to the couch, just as the powerful presence he felt faded.

That was when Asher Crawford said, "Mr. Crawford, since you and your family have clearly set your mind on the annulment, I have no choice but to agree with your decision.

"Asher Crawford, you piece of..." Layla was left huffing as she stared daggers at Asher.

What was this boy's malfunction?! She had spoken so much in hopes to change Jerome's mind, and here he was, agreeing to the annulment so easily! He was really killing her!

Having heard his grandson, Solomon smiled as well. "Very well, Rome. Let's annul the engagement please see yourself out now."

Jerome was left furrowing his brow right then, though he soon left the living room after bidding everyone farewell. Once outside, he tried to search for Aiden Duncan's presence again, but failed despite several attempts.

Frowning again, he wondered to himself; if he could not even pinpoint where that mysterious person was, how terrifyingly powerful could they be?

For just a split second or so, he regretted asking for an annulment.

***

Back in the living room, Asher rose to his feet and nodded at Mr. Knight, "If you would excuse me

for the moment, sir, I have urgent business to see to."

With those words, he quickly headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Layla promptly asked. "Wait. I'm coming with you."

Asher paused at the doorway and told her, "Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid."

Layla rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not worried that you'd kill yourself—I'm just worried that you're

going to cause trouble, so I'm sticking with you. Don't think you're getting away from me."

At her words, however, Asher immediately turned around and walked in a completely different direction, leaving Layla absolutely frustrated. Stomping her feet, she snapped, "Where are you going now?"

"The washroom. Are you coming with me?"

Layla blushed, and she wanted nothing more than to kick him in the posterior right then.

***

It was twilight and the sun was dangling over the edge of the horizon. Asher happened to be driving eastward, so he had to put on his shades to look ahead through the glaring rays. Layla was riding shotgun and sneaking glances at him from the side. Now that things had calmed down, she was wondering what he went through in the two years he had been away. After all, he could now stay calm despite the Webbs' demand to annul his engagement-if he was still his old self from back then, he definitely would have taken the fight to the Webbs' doorstep.

"I've actually spoken to Noelle over the phone. Y'know, I tried to ask her to persuade you to hide and wait out this storm, so imagine my surprise when she told me that if you stayed, it means you already have a plan in mind. The girl has complete faith in you... or maybe love really makes idiots out of everyone."

Asher flashed an enigmatic, even eccentric smile as he turned to her. "Well, you have to experience it to know it for sure. As your dearest cousin, I'm willing to help you if you want." Layla flushed at his words and rolled her eyes at him, snapping, "Don't even say that! I'm your goddamn cousin!"

Asher gasped dramatically right then. "What are you talking about?! I meant I could introduce you to some guys!"

Eh?!

Layla's face went red in embarrassment right then, and she wanted nothing less than to leap out of the car to escape.

It was yet another one of his ploys, damn it!

Still, she quickly realized that Asher was deliberately leading her by the nose so that she would misunderstand him, and so she growled, "Where are we actually going?"

"Drinks, karaoke and hooking up."

Layla gritted her teeth and glared at him.

"What, I can't celebrate being single again?" Asher grinned innocently. "But get off if you have to, Layla, since this stuff is never pleasant to the eyes."

"Don't think you get to fuck around when I'm here!" She snapped, huffing.

The rowdiness at Bar Street always peaked as the night's festivities began. The fast-paced lifestyle and heightened pressures in city life now made such relief a necessity for young people. Naturally, it meant that bars were absolutely profitable, and various underground factions would be competing in this field. In fact, the dozens of bars of varying sizes that lined the streets of Bar Avenue were dripping with the influence of Alexandrius' underbelly, and the larger they were, the stronger their influence.

It just so happened that the man who was actually in control of Crystal Harem-Bar Avenue's number one joint—was none other than the notorious Joel Harrison.

The first wave of guests was arriving just as Asher and Layla set foot inside the Crystal Harem, and the lights were flashing vibrantly over the lovely ladies, dressed in risque fashion on the dance floor, while the alluring DJ twerked along to her own tunes. The air was rife with the scent of alcohol mixed with hormones, and staying restrained here was definitely difficult. Despite being dressed conservatively, Layla could not help feeling embarrassed when she spotted the women dressed so revealingly on the dance floor. It upset her especially since Asher was already ogling at them, and she naturally pinched him on the waist as she growled, "Are you satisfied?"

Asher gasped he was just starting to feel aroused, but the pain ruined the moment. "What, I can't even look?" He complained, feeling grief for his waist just then. "Nope!" Layla exclaimed as she rolled her eyes at him, before pointing at his nose as she snapped, "Mess around again and I am calling Noelle. I can't rein you in, but I'm sure she can!" Asher sighed feebly at that. "Honestly, I can't help yielding to you, cousin. Come-we're heading upstairs."

"Why?"

"The real strippers are up there," Asher replied with a sly smile.

"Do you ever feel embarrassed, Asher Crawford?!" Layla cried as she clenched her dainty fists, swearing to herself right then that she would tell her grandfather if Asher really started to fool around.

Nonetheless, they had just headed to the stairs when two bouncers in suits stopped him. "Good evening, sir. This area is limited to premium members can you present your privilege card for verification?"

"No, I'm not a member," Asher said, shaking his head.

"Well, apologies. Would you consider joining our premium membership before coming again?" "I'm looking for Joel Harrison," Asher simply said.

That in turn left the two men a little annoyed.

"Sir, are you really asking to meet Mr. Harrison when you're not even a premium member?"

"He doesn't meet anyone just because they asked."

Nonetheless, that was when another young man approached the stairs, and it turned out to be David Wakeford-one of Joel's lackeys.

"Mr. Crawford?! What a surprise! Why are you just standing here, though?"

Asher simply said, "I want to meet your boss, but these boys are forcing me to get the premium membership."

"Piece of shit! Why do we bother keeping you if you can't even recognize Asher Crawford?!" David was going to slap both bouncers, but Asher caught his wrist. "It's fine." Nonetheless, David snapped at the bouncers, "You boys look, and look carefully! This is Asher Crawford, and I won't hold back if you upset him again. Now move!"

Once he was done flipping out, however, he promptly smiled and gestured invitingly to Asher, "Come, Mr. Crawford. I'll take you to Mr. Harrison right away."

Joel's office was on the third floor, and not even premium members were allowed there. The man himself was sitting lazily on the couch, with a woman, who was dressed in a seductive gown with a slit that ran down her leg, leaning on him and purring like a tame kitten. Several of his lovers were sitting on the opposite couch. One of them had long hair and an attractive doll-like face, and she exuded a wild charm in her black spandex. Nearby, a man in glasses who looked around forty was smiling vaguely as he reported to Joel, "Sir, things are really heating up between the Gentlemen and Asher Crawford... I hear that those folks are insisting that every premise chase him away when they're there, and word is that Asher isn't even leaving his house these days... Haha! The kid has really calmed down after being away for two years!"

Meanwhile, Joel was fiddling with a string of prayer beads as he said, "Rose Schmidt is really proving herself a terrifying woman, especially with the way she assembled so many of those rich kids. That said, we have been constantly at odds for years now, and with her behind the Gentlemen, she is just as much of a threat to Asher as she is to me. Still, that actually begs the question... Why hasn't Asher come to me yet?"

"Are you thinking about working with him, sir?" the man in glasses asked.

"If he can get me interested... Why not?" Joel chuckled.

That was when David spoke from outside the door, "Mr. Harrison? Mr. Asher Crawford is here."

Joel's eyes widened in surprise, but it seemed that Asher was making his move now.