Chapter 12: I'd Rather Die Than Marry!

Words : 2020 Updated : Dec 11th, 2025

Asher Jauncy spent the night at Scurr Villa. The next morning, just as he sat up in bed, a servant tapped gently at the door. "Mr. Jauncy, are you awake? A Miss Juliana Yale is here to see you." "Juliana Yale?" Asher blinked. How did she track him to the Scurrs? He dressed and headed downstairs. Juliana stood in the middle of the living room, a pink dress skimming her knees, light makeup set with care, a petite designer bag dangling from her hand. The moment she saw him, she plastered on a syrupy smile. "Asher, you're up? Sleep well?" She was a far cry from the woman who'd sneered last time that he was way out of his league. Asher frowned, his tone cool. "What do you want?" Juliana didn't mind his chill. She even reached for his arm. He stepped aside, and she withdrew with a forced laugh. "My dad wants to see you. He says he hasn't seen Zakiel in ages and wants to treat you to a meal." "Your dad?" Asher raised an eyebrow. If it had been Juliana inviting him, he would have refused. But Garrett Yale had old ties with Zakiel, and for a moment Asher couldn't find a clean way to turn him down. Sensing his hesitation, Juliana pressed her advantage. "My dad specifically sent me to pick you up. We're going to eat at Riverview Pavilion-the best place in Zerton! It's crazy expensive, and you can't even get a table most days. He pulled a lot of strings to book it!" Privately, Juliana chafed at how much weight her father gave Asher. Riverview Pavilion belonged to the Black Gold Society and was the highest-end restaurant in the city. Even the heads of the four great families needed reservations to get in. To host Asher, her father had paid a steep price. What right did this bumpkin have? She'd thought Asher would beam at the chance to show his face in such a high-class place. Instead, he only gave a mild nod. "Fine. Lead the way." He said it like she was a maid. Juliana's temper flared, but she swallowed it for the sake of her plan. Asher Jauncy, I'll make you regret this. Asher followed her out of Scurr Villa to a red Porsche idling by the gate. Juliana opened the passenger door. "Sit in front. Better view." Asher took the seat without fuss. As he buckled up, Juliana turned her back and slipped out her phone, thumbs flying. He spotted it but didn't call her out. He leaned back, closed his eyes, and feigned a nap. He wanted to see what game she intended to play. The sports car pulled away from Scurr Villa and headed for Riverview Pavilion. Before long, they arrived. The place was imposing, the entrance lined with luxury cars. Hostesses in red qipaos came forward the moment they saw Juliana. "Miss Yale, you're here? Mr. Yale is already waiting in Orchid Hall on the second floor." A server led them in. When the door to the private room in Orchid Hall swung open, Garrett Yale stood at the window. The instant he saw Asher, he got to his feet, joy breaking across his face. "Asher, you made it! Please, sit!" Asher nodded and took the seat opposite him. "Asher, I asked you here mainly to ask about Zakiel," Garrett said. "If not for him, I'd have died back then. I've wanted to repay him all these years, but after he saved me, he never returned to Zerton…" Reverence softened his eyes and lowered his voice. Asher lifted his teacup and took a light sip. "My master has already ascended." "Ascended?" Garrett froze, then his eyes shone. He stood in his excitement. "R-really? Zakiel truly attained immortality?" "What do you mean ascended!" Juliana, scrolling her phone on the side, rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with mockery. "Asher, quit the spooky act. Dead is dead. What 'becoming an immortal'? You think you're in a TV drama?" "Silence!" Garrett snapped around, glaring at her, his voice sharp. "Mind your manners! Zakiel is a true master-what do you know? When he saved me, his methods were beyond ordinary people. What's so strange about ascension? Spout one more word of nonsense and get out!" Juliana's eyes reddened. She ducked her head and muttered under her breath, "It's true though… can't even say it…" Garrett ignored her and turned back to Asher, apologetic. "Asher, I'm sorry. I spoiled my daughter. Please don't hold it against her." He knew exactly what Zakiel was capable of. As Zakiel's disciple, Asher was not someone he could take lightly. He'd been away on a business trip; when he returned and heard his wife and daughter had offended Asher, he'd nearly disowned those two fools on the spot. Asher waved it off. "It's fine. Kids are thoughtless. I don't mind." Garrett let out a breath, then continued, "Actually, besides asking about Zakiel, there's another matter. The marriage agreement I made with him years ago." Asher's fingers paused on the teacup. He looked up. "Mr. Yale, I already made things clear to Mrs. Xie and Miss Yale last time…" "They don't get to decide!" Garrett cut him off, anxious now. "That betrothal was set personally between me and Zakiel. He saved my life. I had no way to repay him except to promise my daughter to you. It's my pledge to him." He glanced at Juliana and softened a fraction. "I know Juliana and her mother went too far before. I've already disciplined them. But the engagement won't change. I've decided that, in a little while, we'll hold the wedding and have Juliana marry you." It was no joke. Marrying Asher was an opportunity for the entire Yale family. He would not watch their future get cut off by those two fools. "What?" Juliana's head snapped up, her eyes round with disbelief. "Dad! Are you crazy? I'm not marrying him! He's a penniless nobody dressed like a beggar. If I marry him, Zerton will laugh me to death! I'm marrying Harris Zorn, the Zorn family's eldest!" Garrett's face sank. "Harris Zorn? Do you know what kind of people the Zorn family are? If you marry him, you'll be dragged down sooner or later." "I don't care!" Juliana threw a fit and shoved aside the bowls and chopsticks in front of her. "I'm marrying Young Master Zorn! He's richer than Asher, better-looking than Asher, more capable than Asher! If you force me to marry Asher, I'll die right in front of you!" Garrett trembled with rage, pointing at her, words catching. "Y-you unfilial girl! How did I raise something so ungrateful? Asher is Zakiel's disciple, a masterful physician with upright character. He's a hundred times better than that wastrel Harris Zorn! If you dare marry him, you are no daughter of mine!" Juliana saw the iron in his eyes and knew he meant it. Fear and resentment churned in her, but she didn't dare talk back. She dropped her head to the table and sobbed. Asher watched and sighed. The Yale family's mess ran deeper than he'd thought. He was about to refuse Garrett when hurried footsteps thudded outside the private room and a voice shouted, "Juliana, I'm here! Where's that punk Asher Jauncy?"

Chapter 12: I'd Rather Die Than Marry!

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