Chapter 3

Asher stepped up to me the moment I came out of the consultation room.

"How did it go? What did Dr. Henson say?"

He looked at me anxiously, then past me to Fergus.

Fergus's expression was calm.

"Miss Harding is in better shape than I expected."

"Her emotions need an outlet, not constant suppression."

Asher clearly didn't catch the second half. He only latched onto the first.

"So… the marriage registration?"

He asked it carefully, testing.

Fergus glanced at me. I gave him a small nod.

"Professionally, I wouldn't advise a patient to make major decisions during this period."

"But if it's her own strong wish, and it gives her that sense of security, it could be a form of treatment."

The joy on Asher's face nearly spilled over.

He gripped my hand so hard it hurt.

"Elaine, did you hear that? We can get married!"

He seemed even happier than I was.

His delight was so real it made my skin crawl.

On the drive home, Asher kept planning our future.

"We'll go register on Monday. I've already had my assistant get all the paperwork ready."

"Once we've registered, we'll move. I've had my eye on a villa in the western hills lately, with a garden. You can plant whatever flowers you like."

"You've always wanted a cat, haven't you? Let's get one. A golden shorthair, how's that?"

Every word he said had once been my deepest longing.

Now it landed like a string of sharp slaps.

"Asher."

I cut him off.

"We can register. But I have one condition."

He was in a good mood and agreed without hesitation.

"Name it. One's nothing. Give me ten."

"I want you to transfer the house we live in now into my name."

The air in the car went silent at once.

The smile froze on Asher's face.

He'd bought that house outright before we were engaged. Best location, largest floor plan, the most valuable piece of property in his name.

"Elaine, what's this about?"

His tone had gone cold.

"Didn't you say the three years I spent with you were the best security you could have?"

I tilted my head and looked at him the way he'd looked at me.

"I still think a house is a little more reliable."

"Asher, are you unwilling?"

He drew in a deep breath, like he wanted to blow up but was forcing it down.

"It's not that I'm unwilling."

He pushed the words out through his teeth.

"I just think you're acting strange today."

"How am I strange?"

"You never used to bring these things up with me."

"Oh." I gave a flat little sound. "Probably because I was more seriously ill before."

That line successfully shut him up.

He was probably afraid that pushing me further would make me relapse.

The thing he feared most was me "having an episode."

Because the moment something happened to me, he and Eliana would be branded as the ones who drove me to it.

That was a bet he couldn't afford.

On Monday, we really did go to the county clerk's office.

Before we left, Eliana's call came through.

It was for Asher.

He walked out to the balcony to take it. The door didn't shut all the way, and I could hear Eliana's voice, thick with tears.

"Asher, are you really going to marry her?"

"You told me the one you love is me!"

"Eliana, calm down." Asher's voice dropped low. "This is only temporary. It's just a way to stall."

"Once she's completely stable, I'll divorce her."

"Trust me."

I sat on the sofa, looking at my pale face in the mirror, and slowly put on a layer of lipstick.

The bright red color, like blood.

Asher finished the call and came in, saw me, and paused.

"Elaine, you look beautiful today."

He came over, meaning to kiss me.

I raised my hand and pressed a nail painted bright red against his lips.

"Don't. You'll smudge the lipstick."

There were a lot of people at the county clerk's office.

We stood in line like the most ordinary couple.

For the photo, the photographer told us to smile happily.

Asher put his arm around my shoulder and flashed all eight teeth at the camera.

I was smiling too.

I just didn't know whether my smile looked as real to him as his did to me.

When we got the little red booklet, Asher let out a long breath.

He handed me the marriage certificate like he'd just completed some grueling task.

"Elaine, now you feel secure, don't you?"

I took the still-warm certificate and opened it.

In the photo, we were both smiling brightly.

I tucked the certificate into my bag and looked up at him.

"Asher, where's the property deed?"