Saving the Villain

Cosette wasn't even surprised when she heard that their guests would stay over the weekend. Deep in her bones, she somehow expected the worse, and the worse came her way. She told herself repeatedly the weekend would pass quickly, just like how the first few weeks of school passed without anyone noticing. However, Cosette could've sworn the day felt longer as if an hour turned into three hours.

"Care to share, why would you purposely ignore the young master of the Stone?"

Cosette turned to her side offhandedly. Asher was looking back at her with slight intrigue in his eyes from the couch. They already returned to the manor when the night was about to fall. The elders — the men — were having a barbeque party with drinks after their outdoor dinner with everyone. They could've stayed just like Ezekiel, but Cosette wasn't in the mood to humor the adults. Ezekiel was the type who knew how to get along with the elders. Wasn't that the reason he was favored when they were engaged?

So here she was, idling in the lobby with Asher. This guy stuck with her like glue, but she knew he was simply using her as an excuse so he wouldn't have to deal with the adults.

"Because I don't like him?" she replied with a poker face. "It's painful to listen to his humble bragging. Why is this happening to me?"

"Do you decide whether you like the person or not at first sight?"

"No. I talk to them for five minutes. I'm not like you." Cosette scrunched her nose up at him while he arched a brow. "Will you deny that?"

"No." He shook his head. "It's true. I decide whether I like the person at first glance or not."

"See." She snorted, shaking her head mildly. "Gosh… why am I being surrounded with insufferable mister know it all type of guys."

"I'd pretend I didn't hear that."

"No. Please don't." Cosette set her dead eyes back to him, only to see him on his phone.

A shallow breath slipped past her lips, recalling her dearest Maxen wasn't replying to her. Or rather, he barely texted her a few times during the day, telling her to 'enjoy' the family day. If only Maxen knew how she wished he was there to accompany her instead of letting all these guys annoy her to death.

'Gosh… what is Maxen doing? I really feel like crying.' Cosette checked her phone, hoping to see Maxen's name on the screen, but to no avail. All she saw was a single message from him telling her to eat dinner.

Maxen was obviously trying to be considerate, wanting her to focus on the family event instead of texting him. Cosette let out another long-suffering sigh, not replying to Maxen as she didn't want to worry him.

'He's probably with Luke now,' she thought, and her brows rose at the thought of the second young master of the Quinn family. Cosette turned to Asher, who was still busy on his phone, and she assumed he was doing something important since the guy had no notion of what fun was.

"Now that I think about it, you haven't asked me about Luke." Her voice broke the setting silence between them, watching Asher slowly raise his head at her.

"Why would I ask you about my brother?" he quirked a brow.

"Because… I'm her friend and her classmate?" she cocked her head to the side. Didn't he know his brother had run away from home? She wondered.

"Exactly." Asher slowly placed the phone down on his lap. "You are his friend and classmate only, but I am his brother."

Cosette's face contorted, looking at him from head to toe in dismay. "Can you be more insufferable?" she mumbled.

"I don't need to ask you about my brother when I already know where he is and what he is up to."

"And you'll let him be?"

"Why not?" Asher bats his eyes, tilting his head to the side. "Do you want me to beg him to come home? Do you have any idea how he takes all my deeds as offensive?"

'Because they were all offensive,' was what she wanted to tell him, but bit her tongue to stop herself.

"Luke left home, so he should come home voluntarily. The last time I went to get him, he returned my good intention with insults. Our father also supports his decision, so I don't see the reason to waste the slightest of my energy on him."

"Waste?" Cosette frowned. "Young Master Quinn, are you doing everything you've done to Luke because you think that would make your father happy?"

"No. I've done everything to help my brother and give him the liberty to live the life he wanted because he is my brother. However, he always makes it sound like I am the villain who takes everything from him." Asher deadpanned. "He doesn't even acknowledge that while he was laughing without worry with his friends, I have to humor the people I don't like and be in a place I am forced to stay."

"I don't think I deserve such rude treatment. At least, I don't deserve that sort of treatment from him," he added, rendering Cosette speechless. "Now, if that satisfies you, I would appreciate it if you refrain from bringing up our family matter."

Cosette pursed her lips into a thin line, relaxing her body against the couch. She kept her eyes on him while Asher refocused his attention on his phone. How was she supposed to argue with him if he put it that way? Asher might be a piece of work, but what he said was the truth; Luke also knew that.

"You know… I'm sorry if I'm being nosey," she remarked, making Asher's brows raise at the apology he didn't expect. "But I think that is the reason Luke left. While he was doing all the nonsense he was doing, you are sacrificing your youth for him. I may be wrong, but if I were in his shoes, I would also do the same thing. I would rather be happy or suffer because of my own doing, instead of having fun, knowing my brother is sacrificing something for me to have the liberty to laugh like that."

"That isn't life that had freedom. That was simply a life of guilt. This is the last time I would comment on your family matters," Cosette added, smiling meekly at him as she picked up her phone to send a lengthy insult to Luke.

Meanwhile, Asher silently watched her get busy on her phone after spewing nonsense. However, deep in his heart, he knew her remarks weren't just mindless rambling.

"What do you know?" he mumbled, shaking his head as he gaze down at his phone. "Nothing."