Chapter 138: I Want To Go
"Gustav, you are Dominion’s right hand for a reason."
"I understand you opposed this marriage from the beginning. However, I believe your emotions have been clouding your judgment."
"Take a step back and observe from an unbiased perspective, Gustav."
Regardless of the confusing remarks Lucian had uttered, these words stuck with Gustav.
It was rare for Lucian to say things like this to him. Lucian would only speak his mind this way when he was beginning to be concerned.
"What do I think of that woman before she entered Dominion?" he hummed to himself, recalling Lucian’s question.
Gustav stopped in his tracks, realizing he had been walking aimlessly. Snapping out of his thoughts, he shifted his gaze to the people in the lobby.
A few helpers were working under Nolan’s supervision. Primo was also there, checking the boxes they were carrying. Then there was Ashley, who seemed to be pretending to check just to make herself look useful.
"Clearly, she has no idea what she’s doing," he muttered, standing in place as he studied her.
Just two minutes of watching Ashley was like watching a dance group where one member kept skipping practice.
She simply copied Primo and Nolan, nodding whenever they did.
"What kind of person did the Di Carpios create?" he muttered, his face twisting. "This... oblivious kind."
If this had been before, Gustav would’ve been more careful with his assessment of Ashley. But the more he interacted with her and observed her actions, the more ashamed he felt for ever thinking she was capable.
Just because she was sent on missions doesn’t mean she was capable, he thought. Maybe it sharpened her survival instincts, but that was all.
"What am I thinking?" he whispered, shaking his head with a light chuckle.
But then, Gustav paused as he sensed someone looking in his direction. When he turned, his gaze landed straight on Ashley, Primo, and Nolan.
His brows knitted as he saw Ashley smiling from ear to ear, nodding along with Nolan.
"Was it just me?" he whispered, narrowing his eyes. "Mhm... I’m probably just overthinking."
With that, Gustav convinced himself and glanced at her one more time. This time, he caught Ashley briefly glancing to her right.
Gustav didn’t know what came over him, but before he could question it, his eyes followed the direction she had looked.
The moment he did, it felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over him.
There, he saw his own reflection in one of the large vases nearby.
A second later, he snapped his eyes back to Ashley.
"Primo, let’s go check on Betty~! We’re done now, right?" she mused happily.
But Gustav simply stared at her oblivious-looking smile, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"Has she been... watching me?" he asked himself, a strange sense of dread creeping up his spine.
Again, he lifted his gaze, following Ashley as she walked away with Nolan and Primo.
"No," he whispered. "That’s just a coincidence. It’s too early to jump to conclusions."
He nodded to himself, convincing himself one more that she had only turned out of habit—nothing more.
When Gustav was almost convinced, he told himself to stop overthinking and get back to work. But he barely took a step when Lucian’s voice echoed in his head.
"I believe your emotions have been clouding your judgment. Take a step back and observe from an unbiased perspective, Gustav."
Slowly, his brows rose as he looked back toward the lobby. But Ashley, Nolan, and Primo were no longer there.
"Take a step back..." he whispered. "...and observe."
For some reason, Lucian’s words hit him like a truck. It was the perfect example of how Gustav’s emotions and prior opinion of Ashley had blinded him from assessing her professionally.
To him, she had always just been a troublemaker from the Di Carpios. Someone who had ruined many things for Dominion.
"I... have to reassess myself as well," he murmured, drawing a deep breath to steady himself.
He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, he turned toward the vase where he could still see his reflection, even from a distance.
*****
Meanwhile, in the plantation...
Ashley sat on the side while Betty took Primo to Nelly to check the plants he had grown himself. The ones Primo tended and consistently cultivated were marked not for sale, according to Ashley.
She crossed her arms, watching Primo lean closer to inspect the plants. The young master’s eyes twinkled faintly, a subtle smile forming as he admired their progress.
"How fast time flies," she whispered, exhaling softly. "Not long ago, I was still trying to figure out why I’m back here... and now he’s about to go to school. His first real school."
Her eyes softened as she watched Primo interact comfortably with everyone in the plantation.
She couldn’t remember much of her life before this.
Back then, Primo had been nothing more than a bystander in her life. They were practically strangers, despite living under the same roof.
She stayed out of his life, and he stayed out of hers.
But somehow, she had grown fond of him so quickly and so unexpectedly.
She didn’t understand it, especially whenever she thought of her past life. She shouldn’t feel this strongly attached to him... but she did. And only now did she realize just how much she cared for this precious boy.
Lucian’s intention in sending Primo to a boarding school is to help him experience life beyond this territory, she thought. From what I know, it was Lucian’s last resort to make Primo speak.
Hoping he would find friends... and his smile again.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t what Primo found. Instead of friends, he found torment. And instead of opening up, he shut himself off completely.
Above all, sending Primo away was simply inviting trouble.
Why?
Because no matter how discreet Lucian was, Primo was still Dominion’s young heir. Once his location leaked into the underground, he would be dragged into a mess of criminals.
Back then... I just watched and let everything unfold.
Ashley pushed herself to her feet and walked toward Primo. When she stopped in front of him, he paused and looked up. Betty, Nelly, and the others doting on him also turned their attention to her.
"Primo." She bent slightly, resting her hands on her knees. Then she smiled and ruffled his head. "Do you want to take them with you?"
Primo blinked, brows lifting as he glanced at the pots. He pressed his lips together before nodding.
Seeing his reaction, everyone’s hearts warmed. Even Ashley’s smile softened with affection.
"Okay," she nodded. "Let’s take them."
Primo and the others didn’t think much of her words, assuming she meant sending at least one pot so he could feel closer to home.
But that wasn’t what she meant.
*****
In the middle of dinner, Ashley grabbed her glass and chugged down the water. Then she turned to Lucian.
"Lu," she called. Somehow, everyone in the dining room found themselves looking her way.
"I want to go."