The Swaying Of His Dormant Emotions

||Asher||

Asher was unsure of how he acted today. He was baffled by his own actions.

The more the clock was ticking, the more unstable Asher's focus became. It was a rare occurrence for him who always gave his full attention to his tasks without fail.

In between his focus, a small piece of remembrance of the court hearing flashed in Asher's mind.

He kept thinking of the important event that would change his marital status today, something that he deemed useless to be bothered with.

Caleb was also not helping. His reminder about the divorce finalization made those words stick with Asher. The chief assistant brought the topic up when he came to deliver several files to him.

"President, the court hearing is scheduled at two o'clock. Attorney Yue has made his way there. I received a report saying Attorney Su is already at the bureau. Both are so early."

Attorney Yue was the head of the Shen Corporation legal department. He was a disciple of Attorney Su. Asher appointed the former to oversee the divorce proceedings from the start.

Asher lowered his gaze to the small clock displayed on the laptop screen. It was already a quarter past eleven o'clock, less than three hours before the court session began.

According to Attorney Yue, the process might end as soon as it started because of its simplicity. Asher just told the lawyer to follow whatever Attorney Su requested if there was anything new.

"...cancel all of my schedules today."

Caught off guard, Caleb repeated the question, "I'm sorry, President. I didn't catch that. Do you want to cancel all of your schedules today?"

Nodded, Asher's eyes gleamed coldly. Looking up, he stared back at Caleb.

"Prepare the car. I'm heading to the bureau."

"Yes... yes?"

In the end, the confused Caleb still did what he was told.

Asher grabbed the coat he hung on the rack. On impulse, he was determined to attend the court hearing at the bureau.

While buttoning up the dark gray coat, Asher's eyes fell on the silver tie clip he wore on the black tie with thin white diagonal stripes. The tie clip was simple with only a carving of AS on the far end.

At random, Asher picked up this tie clip among the ones he possessed. A blurry memory of a smiling Liliana presented him with the tie clip resurfaced in his mind.

"I don't know what to get for you but, I hope you'll like it... Happy 31st birthday, Asher."

The tie clip was given to Asher by Liliana on his previous birthday. He faintly remembered that he thanked her curtly yet, she kept smiling as if he told her that it was a really wonderful gift.

'How annoying.'

Asher was frustrated with himself. He didn't know why he started to think more about Liliana when he never had done so during the previous four years of their marriage.

Having his emotions easily swayed was something that Asher loathed.

But...

Asher's eyes moved to his left hand where his wedding ring was still there despite Liliana's snarky remarks. He tried to remove the ring but, his hand felt strangely empty with its absence.

All these years, Asher just wore it only out of obligation. Now, it seemed as if the simple piece of jewelry was a part of him.

'This is getting more annoying.'

Letting out a harsh sigh, Asher turned around to leave.

By going to the bureau, Asher silently comforted himself that his turbulent feelings right now were actually nothing. They would calm down once the divorce was finalized.

"..."

Before Asher took more than two steps, his mind forced him to remember something. He returned to the work desk just to retrieve it.

In the next second, a red leather-bound book was held in Asher's hand. It was the diary handed to him by Mr. Zhao, the one that belonged to Liliana.

With the diary close to him, Asher made his way to the bureau. From time to time, his eyes fell on the book. He was so tempted to open it and read its contents again but, Asher restrained himself from doing so.

Ever since the day Asher had his rationality defeated by his rare curiosity by reading the diary, his thoughts and emotions regarding Liliana went out into a spiral. He also didn't understand why.

"President, we have arrived."

The driver's words brought Asher out of his reverie. With a slight turn on his chin, Asher saw the building of the bureau. A thin layer of snow iced the rooftop.

Irked by his impulsive action, Asher was uncomfortable being here alone. As the other party, shouldn't Liliana attend the hearing too?

Asher momentarily chose to ignore their initial arrangement of having their respective attorneys represent them.

Taking out his phone, Asher dialed Liliana's number. It took several ringings before it got connected.

"Hello, Mr. Shen."

Asher scoffed at how formal and distant Liliana sounded. The frustration inside him continued growing.

"Come to the court hearing."

Asher caught the sound of Liliana being flustered by the sudden order, she even asked what it was for.

"Just come. I'll wait for you here."

Asher frowned, racking his brain to find a valid excuse but nothing came to his mind right now. He could only say that to her.

Liliana's reply was a firm rejection, "Mr. Shen, if there's anything important, please have your lawyer discuss it with mine. Attorney Su is there to help me."

Asher clenched his jaw. He really disliked how defensive Liliana was with him now. There was a stark contrast between how she usually behaved around him and the one she showed him recently.

What did he do to make her react like that?

And...

What was wrong with him caring about her perception of him?

Asher pushed down the irritation from overtaking his rationality. Lowering his voice, he gave Liliana an excuse that he never thought he would.

"I changed my mind. We've been husband and wife for four years. Can't you come for the old time's sake?"

Liliana's chuckle was laced with mockery.

"Mr. Shen, I never thought of you as a sentimental person."

Glancing at the diary in his other hand, Asher replied, "Maybe I can be one. Aren't you one, too?"

Should he tell her that he got the diary? If he mentioned it, surely she would come, right?

But...

Asher felt like Liliana would distance herself more from him if he did that.

"My answer is no. Goodbye."

Tut!

Closing his eyes, Asher's grip on the phone grew firmer. He bit his lower lip, regretting his action in coming here.