I was the canary in the golden cage, handpicked by the billionaire heir Julian to tame his wild younger brother. My job? Love bombing him. Control Asher with "love," stop him from street racing, fighting, and partying. It worked like a charm. I was raking in double salaries. Until the day I turned on the waterworks again. "Ash, please don't race tonight. I'm so scared..." Asher just lit a cigarette, his expression bored. "Relax. Your man's unbeatable." I turned my head, dread pooling in my stomach, and saw the prize for tonight's race. A girl in a white dress. Shit. My double income was toast. I silently pulled out my phone and drafted my resignation email to Asher's brother. 1 Asher Sterling was a menace to society. His hobbies included: Sending people to the hospital via illegal street racing. Beating other rich kids to a pulp. Playing the field so hard that socialites were ripping each other's hair out over him, causing PR nightmares for the Sterling Group. Because Asher was constantly trending for all the wrong reasons, the company stock was taking hits. Eventually, a secretary escorted me to meet the eldest son of the Sterling family. Julian Sterling sat with his long legs crossed, assessing me calmly. The secretary announced, "She's the most beautiful hostess at The Sapphire Club." After a long silence, Julian looked away, his slender fingers writing a check. The secretary handed it to me. I glanced at the number. Paused. Then I smiled. "Are you looking for a sugar baby?" The secretary explained, "It's for the second young master." Then came the instructions. Asher likes girls with long hair and white dresses. He hates girls who are too sharp or confrontational. He responds to softness, not hardness. When the briefing was over, Julian spoke his first words, his tone cold. "You'll get this amount every month, deposited directly into your account." He was certain I wouldn't refuse. I fingered the check. After a moment, I gave Julian a brilliant smile. "Deal." I really couldn't refuse. 2 I was planted by Asher's side. After he "saved" me for the third time, he looked down at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "We keep meeting like this, don't we?" I lowered my head timidly. "I'm sorry to trouble you again." Asher clicked his tongue, twirling a lock of my hair. "Being too pretty isn't always a blessing. Why are you always getting bullied?" The night wind lifted the hem of my white dress. My long hair danced gently. My eyes reddened. After a long pause, I whispered, "I... I'm used to it. It's been like this since I was little." Asher froze. Just then, his friends stumbled out of the bar. "Ash, what are you doing in this dark alley?" One of them eyed me, reaching out to touch my face with a lecherous grin. "Where'd you find this beauty? So fresh." Asher slapped the hand away, frowning. "Fuck off." The others quickly smoothed things over. "You're blind, man. She's clearly with Ash." Once they slunk away, tears spilled from my eyes. I grabbed Asher's sleeve. He didn't pull away. I looked up, meeting his gaze with trembling hope. "Because you're here, they didn't dare hurt me." Asher wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. My lashes fluttered. I summoned my courage. "Do... do you have a girlfriend?" The night wind was cold. I shivered. Asher bent down and scooped me up effortlessly. He said casually, "Not right now. Don't plan on having one later, either." I stared at him blankly. Asher carried me toward his sports car parked at the intersection. Several eyes were on us. I buried my face in his chest, mumbling, "It's okay. I... I don't need a title." My answer was within his expectations. After all, a young girl's love and dependence are always so obvious and passionate. Asher smirked lazily, placed me in the passenger seat, and kissed me. "Cool." 3 Everything went smoothly. In everyone's eyes, I was beautiful, gentle, and oblivious to Asher's wealth—just purely in love with him. I loved him so much I worried constantly. I didn't want him racing or fighting because I was terrified for his safety. I didn't want other girls around him because I loved him so much I was afraid he'd fall for someone else. But since I had no title, I couldn't throw tantrums. I could only cry and beg him softly. Luckily, Asher seemed to like me enough. Whenever I cried, he caved. He behaved for a long time, shocking everyone. Asher took me shopping, to movies, on trips. We took photos, kissed, and slept together. His friends said he was a changed man. Julian must have been satisfied too; he tripled my salary. I became the canary in Asher's hand, pampered and spoiled. Many saw me as the frontrunner to become the next Mrs. Sterling. Honestly, I didn't know if Asher really cared or if I was just a novelty. But I knew one thing: Julian Sterling would never let a bottle girl from The Sapphire Club marry into the family. Even though I was brought to Julian on my first day. To elites like them, just being allowed into their circle was a privilege. I couldn't—and didn't deserve to—ask for more. So, when I was on the verge of tears again, begging Asher not to race... He just pulled out a cigarette, unbothered. "Relax. Your man's unbeatable." This was the first time, outside of the bedroom, that he refused me. My eyes reddened. "Ash." Asher didn't look at me again. He crushed the cigarette under his boot and walked toward his black sports car, which hadn't been touched in months. His back was straight and tall. The crowd whistled excitedly. It had been a year since Asher raced. I had a premonition. I turned my head slowly. A girl in a white dress was being led by several men to the platform where the "prize" usually stood. She looked down uneasily, a picture of vulnerability. In that moment, I felt a mix of emotions. A socialite glanced at me, inspecting her manicure. "You were sick a few days ago and didn't go to the bar with Asher. That girl was a hostess there, getting harassed. Asher saved her." I blinked slowly. Processing the information. In those ten seconds, I wondered: Did Julian order a new custom canary for Asher? Impossible. Julian Sterling wasn't sloppy. Besides... this girl looked scared but stubborn. She lacked my practiced affectation. I sighed, looking up at the sky sorrowfully. My eyes filled with tears—muscle memory at this point. But I was genuinely sad. My double salary was gone. Seeing my expression, the socialite scoffed. "You really forgot your place. This day was coming sooner or later." I silently unlocked my phone. I googled "How to write a resignation letter." I needed it to be professional yet poignant, maybe squeeze a severance package out of Julian. After all, I worked hard. 4 Asher won. The other racer crashed. Chaos erupted as the ambulance sirens grew louder. No one dared blame Asher, so they turned on the girl. "If anything happens to Caleb, you're dead! Just wait." The girl backed away, trembling. Asher sneered, blocking her. "Real brave, guys. What does this have to do with her?" I watched them for a few seconds. Then I walked over, took off the jacket Asher had draped over me earlier, and put it on the girl. I spoke softly. "It's cold tonight. Don't catch a chill." Meeting Asher's probing gaze, I smiled gently. "You helped me on a night just like this." The girl stared at me, stunned. Then she looked at Asher. "Mr. Sterling, she is..." Asher didn't answer. He just looked down, staring at me. Under his gaze, I couldn't keep up the fake smile. I gave a bitter twitch of my lips. Because... Forget the severance package. After this mess, Julian might dock my pay for the month. Sigh... dock it if you must. I saved enough. Wait, what if they sue me for damages?! The thought terrified me. I looked increasingly distraught. The girl nervously clutched Asher's shirt. "W-what's wrong with her? Does she not like me..." Asher looked away from my face, comforting the girl calmly. "No. Don't be scared." I walked away, soul-crushed. Many people were watching, enjoying the show. They hadn't expected my downfall to come so soon. Asher didn't chase after me. The girl was sweating from fear, so Asher had someone take her to change. I was sweating too. I wiped my palms on my dress, opened my email, and sent the drafted resignation to Julian. The language was sincere, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and dedication to the job. Gotta cut ties before I get blamed! Just then, the manager of The Sapphire Club called. "Sunny, can you come in tomorrow? You left some stuff in your locker." I paused. Right. "Okay." After hanging up... I called a cab to the apartment I secretly bought. To maintain perfect skin and energy for Asher, I rarely stayed up late. Now that I was free... I took out my SIM card, curled up in bed, and doom-scrolled until dawn. I woke up the next evening, put in a new SIM card, threw on a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, and went to The Sapphire Club bare-faced. It had been so long since I felt this relaxed. The manager was stunned for a second when she saw me, then took me to get my stuff. She didn't ask questions. I grabbed my things, waved goodbye, and turned to leave. Then I heard a familiar voice. "Is this the place?" Magnetic, lazy. The girl whispered yes. The entourage chimed in. "Ash is so good, coming back to settle the score for the little lady. Those guys are screwed." Asher looked at the manager. "Bring everyone who worked her shift." I silently pulled a mask from my pocket, lowered my head, and tried to sneak away. "Sunny He?" Someone gasped. Seriously? You recognized me like this? I messed up my hair and shook my head. The manager seemed to sense my reluctance. She stepped forward, smiling. "Who is that? Young masters, ladies, let me show you to your private room." I felt a surge of gratitude. The next second, my wrist was grabbed. Asher's voice rang through the gilded lobby, brokering no argument. "Look up. Take off the mask." I froze. But I didn't move, staring at the floor, playing deaf. The room was dead silent. Until a weak voice cried out, "Ash, my stomach hurts." A few seconds of stalemate. Asher let go of my hand and walked toward the girl. I walked out step by step, nerves taut. Terrified there was more to the script. Only when I was in the cab did it hit me. The scent of cedarwood on Asher had been replaced by a faint floral perfume. They must have spent a lot of time together... To smell like each other.
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