Asis went to Mateo's room, and he was watching outside the window. "Why are you acting worried around Karl?" He looked at her, "I don't like him, that's why." She replied, "Mateo grew up, we aren't kids anymore, so why are you acting like he is some kind of threat?" He came close to her, "Are you that naive, Asis?" She knew what he meant to say, "I didn't see you as more than a friend." He looked into her eyes, but there was no feeling for him. "Why can't you forget him? Asis saw him with disbelief, "How can you be so cruel? I don't have a switch to turn on or off for anyone." He rudely responded, "You became heartless and ignored all the loved ones for so long." She tried to leave when he held her hand and looked into her eyes, "Asis, you had to face the truth and stop pushing others away from you ." She freed herself from his hands and slapped him. "You have no right to talk to me like that." He glared at her, slammed the door loudly, and left.
She went to her room and tried to calm herself. "Am I selfish for saving myself from being hurt again?" Asis was deep in her thoughts when Riya saw her. "Are you okay?" She tried to smile, "Just worried about work." Riya sat with her on the sofa, "There must be something else you're worried about. What is it?" She knew Riya wouldn't let this go, so she told her about Mateo. "You shouldn't have to worry about him, and you didn't do anything wrong, and soon he will apologize for his rudeness. I don't think he is stupid enough to end childhood friendship because you don't like him more than a friend." Riya hugged her, "Mateo isn't mature enough, and don't blame yourself ever."
The Next Morning, Asis didn't see Mateo and tried to call him, but his phone was switched off. She went to her mother's room. "Ma, did you know about Mateo?" She answered, "He had some work; he said he needed to finish." Asis was leaving when her mother asked, "Are you two starting to fight again?" She answered, "No, and please don't worry yourself." Her mother nodded, "Okay, I will mind my business."
Asis was preparing for lunch when Riya asked, "Are you going somewhere?" She was combing her hair. "Yes, for lunch." Riya smirked, "You are going with Mr handsome. What was his name?" She replied, "Karl Marius, and it is just lunch." Riya said, "Maybe it is a date for him and lunch for you, whatever. I am glad you are moving on." Asis pushed her gently out of her room." See you later." She was ready when her phone vibrated and a message popped on her screen: "I am waiting outside." Asis looked through the window, and Karl's car was in Front of her house at the gate.
Harald Dyre was standing near his car when Asis came out wearing a white dress, and her hair was flowing because of the wind. She smiled at him, "I hope you didn't wait too long." He came forward and opened the door for her, "I don't mind waiting for you". She sat in the car, and he closed the door and sat in his seat. "You're looking magnificent, Miss Asis." She turned and looked at him, "You are also looking fine, Mr Karl." He chuckled, "Thank you and please call me just Karl." She look amused, "Sure If you call me just Asis." He nodded with a smile.
He took her to her favourite South Asian restaurant and booked the best table. He pulled a chair for her, "Please sit down." After they sat down, their order came within a few minutes with her favourite dishes. Asis said with a pleased smile, "This is great, but is it too spicy for you, Karl?" He looked at her with a delightful smile, "I am glad you like this, and don't worry, I can handle spicy foods." After Asis finished her lunch, she was surprised Karl had already finished eating and wasn't affected. "This was pretty impressive, not everyone can handle this much spicy food." Karl stated, "I wasn't bluffing when I told you I could handle it."
She laughed softly, "I didn't know you were a tough one, and I didn't expect I would enjoy your company." Asis' phone rang when he said, "I am glad I didn't fulfill your expectations." She excused herself, "Sorry, I need to take this call." Asis went outside. Mateo softly said, "I am sorry for hurting you with my bad behaviour, I shouldn't have behaved like that last night. Please forgive me." She silently listens to him, "Asis, please say anything." She let out a long sigh. "I will if you promise me you won't ever behave like that again." He answered with relief, "I promise."
Harald Dyre's hearing sense was great as he heard Asis' conversation with Mateo. Ingold was a bit angry, "I will kill him, he must hurt her, otherwise why would he be apologising?" Dyre responded, "We can't, and you know why? We need to know what happened between them." He dropped Asis at her home. "Thank you for having lunch with me." She softly replied, "You're welcome."
Harald Dyre was in his office at the Bo Liv Mansion when Itzel Mya came in and bowed before him. He motioned for her to sit down. "Itzel, I want you to tell me everything about Asis' past since you knew her family very well."
She sat on the seat In Front of him, "Your Majesty, Our family terms are close, but I know as little as everyone else who isn't living under Sinha House. Asis was born in Bo Liv, and her mother sent her far away from here to her mother's house when she was five. She lived there with her grandma for the last twenty years, studied and worked there, and wasn't going to come back until her grandma died, which happened six months and two weeks ago. Her mother convinced her to come here to Bo Liv for Aarav and my wedding, and no one knows if she will permanently settle here or go back after that, other than her own." He asked, "What do you know about Mateo? She replied carefully, "Mateo is her father's best friend's son, and they are also close like friends; he is interested in her, but she isn't." He asked, "Isn't there someone she liked before, or did she have a relationship with in the past that she was serious about?" Itzel didn't want to anger the Alpha King, she said with a hesitation, "I heard something in the puja last week from Aarav's maternal relative that Asis was engaged two years ago and her fiance died because of an accident a year later and she hasn't move on from that her grandma died four months later."
Harald Dyre was hurt, he didn't know her mate went through this much pain, "Did you know why Mateo was behaving strangely yesterday at the dinner?" she took a deep breath, "Yes, I stayed an hour after the dinner, Mateo was in his room when she went to meet him, he seemed jealous when he saw Asis with you at the dinner" Itzel explained what she listened and what happened after that. He listened to all this calmly, but anger was growing inside him. "Itzel, I am grateful for your help, I know it is difficult for you as you're becoming part of their family. Goodbye," she said, lowering her gaze, "It is my honour, Your Majesty."
After she left, Ingolf roared, "I knew that Mateo was going to trouble us when I first saw him. You heard how he hurt her last night." Dyre replied, "Asis did slap him. She is strong and fearless, and Mateo can't come between us and our mate ." Ingolf growled, "Yeah, she is ours."
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