Saving the Villain

The plane ride was an unforgettable experience for the rest of them, except Luke and Maxen. They all took pictures, admired the clouds, enjoyed the food experience, and all the perks of the one-hour plane ride.

Why did Maxen and Luke didn't enjoy it?

Apparently, Luke wanted to sit beside Cosette, but Maxen didn't want to stand up from the aisle seat while Cozie was in the window seat. To stop them from arguing, Cosette gave up her seat and told Maxen to sit in her spot. And then she sat Luke down on the aisle seat before she joined the girls so she could chat with them.

That was why the rest thought the one-hour trip was relatively quick, but to those two, it felt like an eternity. After they landed in the farthest region of the country, a bus was already outside the airport, waiting for them. They took another hour to reach Quinn's family vacation home, which was situated in the countryside.

Standing in front of the enormous mansion in the driveway that was in the middle of a vast landscape, everyone's jaw hit the ground once again. They would stay in this mansion? That looked more like a high-end luxury resort where only the rich could go.

"Hey, what are you guys waiting for?" Luke looked back after taking the steps up to the entrance. He tipped his head at the main door.

"Let's go so we can rest."

"Right..." they nodded on instinct, following Luke while carrying their bags.

"Wow. Cozie, I can't believe your suitor is this rich." Fay hooked her arm around Cosette and leaned closer to whisper in her ears. "I thought he was rich, but not this rich! You should get married!"

"That's right. Not only is he handsome, but he is also as rich as Croesus! You will not worry about your future!" Sarah tugged Cosette's other arm and whispered loudly.

"Cozie, he will surely spoil you rotten!" Amie added, walking next to Fay.

Cosette chuckled awkwardly as the girls started rooting for Luke to her. Meanwhile, Maxen, who was walking behind the four of them, was digging a hole into those three girls' heads. But he couldn't really blame them. The Quinn family's wealth would awe anyone, but it wasn't like Cosette hadn't experienced these things too.

"Wait. Does he have a brother?" Fay suddenly inquired as soon as they reached the entrance of the mansion. Their steps came to a halt as they noticed everyone stopped by the entrance.

"What's going on here?" she wondered as she walked to the side, dragging Cosette and Sarah with her to see if there was a problem that arose. As soon as they did, their eyes fell on the person standing right in front of their group, who was also looking back at them with surprise.

Their expression went blank for a moment, especially the girls before their eyes twinkled in awe. Meanwhile, Cosette furrowed her brows, but excitement filled her eyes upon recognizing that person standing in front of their group.

Asher!

Asher's brows slightly furrowed, studying Luke's dismay plastered on his face, and then his eyes glossed over the people with him. He cocked his head to the side. This was a large group his little brother brought with him. But... what were they doing here?

'What is he doing here?' he wondered before catching a familiar face among them. His eyes lingered on Cosette, who was looking back at him in awe. 'And he brought her here? I don't like the conclusion in my head.'

"You!" Luke gasped in disbelief, his voice echoing in the spacious lobby of the castle-like mansion. "What the! Brother! What are you doing here?!"

"He is your brother?" asked someone as they darted their eyes between Luke and Asher. Unlike Luke, who had this boyish charm, Asher appeared to be more mature and aloof. He looked like a young adult with the suit he was wearing.

"Yes! That's my big brother, but what is he doing here?!" Luke scrunched his nose up in dismay and set his eyes back to Asher. "Are you following me?"

"Why would I follow you? I don't have spare time like you," answered Asher in a distant voice. "I've been here since last night to check the construction here."

"What? Don't they live in the same house?" Sarah wondered, snapping the girls out of their trance. But Asher's beauty mesmerized Fay and Amie. Sarah failed.

Meanwhile, Maxen glanced down at them. He noticed the odd look in Cosette's eyes. It was different; something he hadn't seen in the past. A look Cosette never gave Luke and him or anyone. It was pure admiration, and it didn't sit well with him. Before Maxen could even think, he placed a hand in front of Cosette to block her view.

She frowned and looked back at him. "Max?"

"Your eyes were crossing," he lied shamelessly, but she somehow believed him as she snapped her eyes.

She turned on her heel and faced him. "Are they still crossing now?" she asked, looking up at him with wide eyes so he could check.

"Uhm…" Maxen lowered his head slightly, narrowing his eyes to check hers up close. "Their crossing on their own."

"Really?" she gasped, blinking to relax them for a bit.

"Have you been straining your eyes?"

Cosette looked back at him and pondered. "Well, I guess? I've been sleeping late and then waking up early before the school year ended to finish our individual projects."

"You should take a nap."

While Maxen successfully distracted her, Sarah, who wasn't as stupefied as the rest, could not help but stare at Maxen. She flinched when he glanced at her with sharp eyes, silently telling her to shut up when Cosette wasn't looking.

Sarah lowered her eyes in horror. 'Max can be really scary,' she thought, averting her eyes to avoid Maxen's death glare. 'I'm starting to get worried at Cozie…'

When Sarah raised her head, her brows furrowed. As soon as she lifted her eyes, she caught Asher looking in their direction. She followed his gaze and her eyes landed on Cosette. Sarah glanced at Asher once more and realized Asher wasn't looking at Cosette.

Asher was staring at Maxen sharply, while Maxen's eyes bore menace.

Sarah gulped at this silent tension between the two. 'Am I the only one who notices this…? Or am I simply reading too much into this?'