The quiet sound of Cosette's flat sandals as she walked to the elevator came to a halt. Her eyes slowly panned up, catching a figure that came from the end of the corridor.

As soon as Cosette met the person's gaze, her irises dilated. Shock also washed over the man's face as if he didn't expect to see her in this place.

'Asher,' her mind whispered the man's name, sizing him up on instinct.

Asher was in his white coat with a formal suit underneath it. Deep lines slowly appeared between his brows, as his shock was replaced with curiosity. He took a step after a moment, advancing in her direction until he was standing in front of her.

"Cosette…?" His brows rose, a little lost from this sudden reunion. "What are you doing here?"

Hearing his voice after years put a smile on Cosette's face. She studied him for a moment, detecting the difference between the Asher she used to know and the man standing before her.

He had changed.

"Is that what you're going to say to me after years?" Cosette humored. "I didn't know you were back in the country."

"I just returned a week ago and got hired — thanks to my connection," he humored back, shoving his hand into the pocket of his white coat. "I'll be working here temporarily. What about you? Are you dying?"

Cosette laughed. "What if I am?"

The smile on his face faded, eyes fixed on her. Cosette broke out in laughter after seeing the reaction on his face.

"I'm kidding." Her lips were stretched from ear to ear until her even-white teeth were on full display. "I just came for a regular check-up since I want to be in my best shape before I conceive.""Oh…"

"What? Don't tell me you haven't moved on?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Asher clicked his tongue while she giggled playfully. They were just talking for less than five minutes and he could tell she hadn't changed.

She was still just as heartless as she was eight years ago.

"There's a coffee shop right outside the building. Should we go there for a little catching up?" Cosette suggested, cocking her head to the side. "If you are not busy, but if you are, then next time."

"Well." Asher raised his arm, checking his wristwatch. "I'll have an hour break in five minutes."

He dropped his hand and set his eyes back on her. "It won't hurt if I use that to investigate whether my first love is in a better place, just like I am."

Cosette chuckled, shaking her head at his silly response.

"Don't cry if you see how happy I am without you," she teased, tipping her head to the way out. "Let's go then."

With that being said, Cosette walked past him. As she did, Asher turned around to gaze at her back. The smile on his face slowly faded, looking back in the direction where she came from.

Did she say she wanted to be in her best shape before she conceived?

'Why did she come from the neurologist department?' he wondered to himself, but he didn't dwell on it much.

Asher looked back to where she was walking, letting out a sharp breath before following her.

***

"I see. So you're here because of a favor, huh?" Cosette rocked her head in understanding, putting down the cup of coffee on the table between her and Asher. "So you don't plan to stay here a little longer."

"What's with that tone? Are you sad or what?" Asher chuckled. "Get a divorce. Maybe I will have a reason to stay."

Cosette's lips parted to reply to his silly remarks, but she closed her lips again. She watched him pick up his cup of coffee and sipped it whilst keeping his eyes on her.

"Have you met with Luke?" She asked, changing the subject to a matter she was most concerned about. "Ever since you flew out of the country, you haven't kept in touch."

Asher chuckled wryly as he placed down the cup. "I heard his business is blooming. I assume he was pretty busy."

"Did… you two fight?" Another follow-up question flew out of her lips.

There were only a few times Luke mentioned his brother, but most of them were not noteworthy. Hearing that Asher had been in the country for a week now but hadn't reached out to his brother worried her.

"It's been many years, but you haven't changed." Asher chuckled after a moment. "There's no problem between the two of us, so don't worry. Luke and I are now adults. He is just as busy as I am, and not being able to have time to catch up doesn't mean we have problems. We have different priorities now, after all."

A reassuring smile dominated his face. "Don't worry. Meeting him is already on my schedule — I set up an appointment with that kid. He's in it for a good scolding for treating his brother like I'm a client."

"I'm glad." Cosette heaved a sigh of relief.

"The Quinn Holdings will soon hold its annual gathering. You'll be there, right?"

"Annual gathering…?" she furrowed her brows while he raised his.

"Don't tell me you don't know? Our Quinn family never failed to invite the Blac every year. One reason is because of your father. You might have married now, but Maxen established his name so well that I'm sure the Quinn Family will want him to be their acquaintance. You know my dad."

Cosette's lips parted, but in the end, she could only smile. Around this time of the year, she remembered such a gathering happening in her previous life.

This gathering would be the start of the supposed love story between a rising star and the son of a conglomerate family. Back then, this love story ended in a tragedy. But… the outcome might be different this time around.

"Hey, Asher Quinn," she called, making his brows raise. "I might come." — Cosette wanted to witness the start of the love Asher deserved.