"And how long do you plan on staring instead of treating her?" Mia spat out arrogantly.
She had noticed how Ashton had been taking peaks at Elizabeth's naked body and if it weren't for the fact that she was willing to remain calm until her friend was healed, she would have poked his eyes right out of their sockets.
Ashton let out a soft laughter. "Ms. Cooper is remarkably beautiful, I apologize for staring but there was no way one could hold himself from taking as much as a glance at a beautiful flower."
His words caught her by surprise. Why would he apologize for what he did when most men would out rightly deny ever doing it in the first place.
A strange man he was, or so she found him. Even though he had proved to be a better fighter then she, she would never still respect him or show any sign of remorse for giving him a nosebleed unless he was truly able to cure Elizabeth.
"Do you think... Acupuncture can heal me?" Elizabeth asked him.
"I know it can. I'll have to mix up a concoction to cleanse whatever bad energy will be left inside you after the acupuncture needles do their work though." Ashton replied.
He walked towards the bed where she laid and trailed his hands softly down her hand. He needed to find the perfect spot to place the needle to open up her insides and allow good energy flow in her once more.
Picking up the first needle, his hand trailed across her shoulder, sending a sweet sensation through her body but she gasped as the needle suddenly pierced into her collar.
Continuing down her body, he inserted another needle above her abdomen and she let out another gasp.
Her hands grasped the sheet of the bed as she closed her eyes tightly to keep out the pain.
At a point in time, a thought came to his mind. With the three years of marriage to his ex wife, they never slept in the same bedroom, talk less of sharing an intimate moment together.
Being a man in his prime, he couldn't help but to think shady thoughts with a naked woman lying in front of him.
He allowed himself a moment of air as he inhaled to clear his head and the thoughts did disappear as he exhaled.
He was able to focus on his work again.
He didn't want to think of his wife at all now, looking back at the way she treated him, it would only bring back bad memories.
Every single time the needle pierced into her skin, Elizabeth would let out a wince from the pain and sometimes bit down on her lips.
But there was something else she noticed, as every needle was inserted into her skin, the pain would elude and become a feeling of simple pleasure after a moment or two.
With about forty needles already inserted into her skin, she let out a soft groan as she realized he was still not done.
"Are you okay, Elizabeth?" Mia asked.
Worry flashed through her eyes as she stared down at Elizabeth's needled body on the bed. Her hands clenched into fists at her side as she gulped heavily.
Elizabeth only responded with a nod of her head and a weak smile on her face.
"When will you be done?" The words came out of Elizabeth's mouth with more ease now as she spoke.
"Only two more to go." He responded without taking his eyes off of what he was doing.
With the second to the last inserted below her abdomen, the last needed to be placed a little further down.
Her eyes widened as she noticed his hands were trailing down to her sensitive part. "Uh excuse me? Where do you need to place the last needle?" Her cheeks were starting to flush red as she asked.
She already knew where, judging from his hand movements but still she felt the need to ask.
Ashton swallowed gently. Nothing about what he was about to do should phase him, he wouldn't even let it. It was only his job he was doing and nothing more.
"A few inches down from your abdomen." He said in a firm tone.
"How few?"
He didn't say anything more. As his hand got to her crotch, her body shuddered from his touch and she didn't even realize when the needle went in as the only feeling she was getting at the moment was embarrassment.
Even though she sternly convinced her father that he allowed her to be stripped for the treatment, she still felt a little shy. After all, he was still a man.
But she told herself not to think much of it but now he had touched her sensitive part and her face was burning red.
"That few." He responded after inserting the last needle. He let out a soft sigh as he straightened his back and stood upright. "That's the last of it. How are you feeling?"
She raised her hand slowly and to her amusement, it didn't feel like a boulder was weighing her down. She let out a soft chuckle. "This is amazing! I feel amazing."
"That's because you are." Ashton said with a smile.
"You are truly the best healer in the whole of Beaumont city, I have to give you that."
"And you are the best at endurance, I have to give you that."
She let out another chuckle. Her cheeks flushed red. "Uh, not to be rude but, can you leave now?"
"Right!"
There was no reason for him to be there again, she was still naked as well. "In a few minutes, you'll be all better. As carefully as you can, take out the needles and dress her up." He said to Mia who gave him a respectful bow. He turned around and left the room.
As he climbed down the stairs, he met with Mr Cooper who stared at him with optimism as he showered him with questions.
"I promise you, she is already feeling better as we speak, allow me a moment to prepare the concoction."
He excused himself and took to preparing the needed concoction. As he returned to the living room, he saw Elizabeth climbing down the stairs with the assistance of Mia and her father rushed to her with teary eyes.
"Oh my daughter!" He exclaimed as he hugged her tightly. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine dad, thanks to Mr Pearce." Elizabeth smiled.
"Mr Pearce, you kept your word as it is a must I do mine as well. The herb is being shipped in and will arrive in three days. You can have as much as you must." Mr Cooper said.
Ashton shot Mr Gomez with a confused look. "Three days?"
"The herb is not here but in his other garden out of the country. If he says three days then I can assure you you will get it by then." Mr Gomez assured him.
Ashton nodded his head. "Since he has vouched for you, I'll be taking my leave now."
What a remarkable man he was, Elizabeth thought to herself. A powerful healer and a good fighter, surely she would be foolish to lose a man like him. "Wait, Mr Pearce, allow me to see you off and thank you properly." She chased after him with Mia in tow.
Mr Gomez's lips curved into a grin. "So, my dear friend, what do you think of a man like Mr Pearce?"
"He is really as talented as you claimed!" Mr Cooper remarked.
"A rare gem he is and a great suitor he will be as well! Most women don't deserve him, but perhaps your daughter is off that list."
Mr Cooper gave Mr Gomez a glance. "Are you perhaps suggesting that I have Elizabeth married to him?"
"He is a good, fine man and he would definitely be the best choice for a wonderful daughter like yours." Mr Gomez confidently praised.
"I see. Ah yes! What are you doing in Beaumont city these days? I know you work abroad but you have been around lately and I also wonder where you came across a man like Mr Pearce." Mr Cooper questioned.
Ashton was a man with no connection or power and even with his healing skills, it would mean nothing to the Cooper's.
A strategic marriage ought to be set between two important families.
Even Mr Gomez didn't know why he routed for Ashton so much. He let out a chuckle. "I'm afraid I have no answer to that. I must be on my way now but I would like you to give my words a thought."
Mr Cooper was left cogitating over Mr Gomez's words as he immediately called in his secretary to do a background check on Ashton.
A Lamborghini Urus drove to the front of the Cooper's apartment as Ashton left the front door. The car stopped in front of them and that was when he noticed that Mia had left them for a moment. She came out of the car and opened the door. Ashton turned around to look at Elizabeth who was standing next to him. She too had come to a stop as her eyes met with the confused look on his face. Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "I would like to show my gratitude in full if you would allow me." "And what exactly do you have in mind?" Ashton raised a curious brow. "Allow Mia to drop you at your home. Where do you stay?" Ashton felt a little ashamed to admit it but he didn't have any home in the whole of Beaumont city. With his divorce from his wife, he had nowhere to return to at the end of the day. "I don't... I don't have a place." "Oh..." She muttered. She gave him a gentle smile. "So where were you going?" "I was going to find a hotel nearby to stay for a while." "Then you're ju
A disgusted look played on Elizabeth's face as she heard the words from Theron's mouth. The way his eyes looked her up and down gave her an eerie feeling as he licked his lower lips.A smile curved on Theron's face as he looked down at her. Judging from the mini skirt and shirt she had on, the only job he found befitting to her was room attendant. He needed no one to tell him how difficult it must be to get a job at sky castle hotel so he figured she must have laid down her body to get the job.He took out his wallet and forced a few hundred dollars into her hands. "Your time's not now baby girl, just wait and let me finish up with that bloody bastard." Elizabeth frowned. What the hell did he take her for? She threw his money back at him as rage filled her up. "What exactly do you think you are doing? Mr Pearce is a good friend of mine and I advise you to withdraw before I ask you to be thrown out." Her tone was as cold and deadly as sharp icicles. Ashton was completely silent stil
The drive from Ashton's penthouse apartment down to the villa where old grandpa Knowles lived was a shorter distance than he had predicted it to be. Ashton got down from the taxi and paid the driver with both cash and a kind smile. As he strode down to the entrance, he was surprised to see Rebecca's mother, Diana, pacing about at the entrance. Her eyes sparked as she saw him, and she hurried to him with her high heels, calling attention as she walked towards him. The knee-length black dress she had on moved upward, revealing her thighs as she walked. The look on her face wasn't that of someone who was pleased. Ashton stood with a plain expression on his face. His clothes were as simple as they had always been; he tucked his hand into the pocket of his jacket and held his head high. "Listen to me," Diana started with a deadly scowl. "I don't know why my father wants to see you, but you better compose yourself in there. Don't go talking like a retarded fool about things you shouldn
Benjamin didn't know what to feel or how to feel. How did this ever become a reality? A divorce? Why and how?"Grandpa." Ashton's words snapped him out of his thoughts, and he looked into his eyes. "I'll come visit you when I can, but for now, I have to leave." He said it with a meek smile. Ashton had gotten on one knee to speak to him but now rose to his feet. He didn't spare Rebecca as much as a glance as he strode towards the door. Mixed emotions of anger and hurt filled his body as he walked. "Where the hell do you think you are going to be good for nothing, freak?! Who gave you permission to walk away from the midst of a prestigious family and ourselves? Come back here, let me teach you some manners." Theron growled angrily as he started towards Ashton. All eyes were on Ashton as he walked out, and they didn't seem to notice when the old man sprung to his feet. He pulled Theron by his collar and gave him a resounding slap that brought gasps from his daughter and his granddaug
The pleasant smell of freshly brewed coffee caressed Mia's nostrils as she sat cross-legged on a sofa couch in Ashton's living room. Her eyes traveled across the room, taking in the explicit decor of the place, but she hadn't expected less. It was a property owned by the Coopers, so it definitely would be made to high taste. Ashton sat himself down opposite her as he placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of himself and handed another cup to her. She accepted it with a grateful smile before raising the cup to her mouth to take a sip. She felt positive energy flow down her body as the coffee slid down her throat. It was good. "I didn't know you were such a good brewer." Ashton smiled. "I'm more than just a good healer. So tell me, why have you come to see me?" She carefully dropped the cup of coffee on the table before adjusting in her seat. "I wanted to know something. You were right about what you said; my ancestors did die early, but they believed it was nothing but a cur
The alarm clock next to Ashton's bed rang vigorously at seven in the morning. The sun reflected through a slight opening in his window blind and outlined his face. He groaned as he reached out his hand to turn off the alarm clock. He didn't have any plans for the day, but he didn't mind going on a walk that morning. He sat up in bed and reached for his phone. A message displayed on the screen, and it was only then noticed that Elizabeth had left several messages and calls. "Shit," he muttered to himself. He had placed his phone on silence the night before he went to bed, but he hadn't expected Elizabeth to have called. Clicking on one of the messages, he read it in his mind. She had requested he accompany her out that morning and also mentioned she had a favor to ask of him. He immediately placed a call through, and she answered almost in an instant, like she had been waiting for his call. "Hello, good morning. My sincere apologies for missing all your calls; my phone was in sil
The men shared confused glances at each other before they chorused mocking laughter. Who the hell was he to give them such threats?Elizabeth didn't know what he was planning on doing, but if anything, she knew he couldn't take on about ten buff men all by himself! Trying to move without getting noticed, she slowly reached for her purse that had fallen from her lap and onto the ground of the car. "Who the hell do you think you are? Batman? Superman? Only a fool would stand in front of men like us and try to threaten us." The boss said,. He was obviously irritated by Ashton's confidence. His face was covered, but anyone would be able to tell from the look in his eyes. "I'm too busy to entertain clowns; just beat him up already; I'll watch." One of his men advanced towards Ashton and tried to attack with the baton in his hand, but Ashton caught it with a firm grip and punched him with his other hand. The man went flying backwards. As he landed on the floor, he felt as though the im
The evening sun set over the sky of Beaumont City, and a chilly wind blew in through the open window of Ashton's bedroom. His eyes were set on the clock, with the long hand standing over twelve and the short one over six. The event was to take place at eight that night, so he had to be at Elizabeth's home before then. A part of him felt hesitant about the whole idea—what if Mia was there? After what she told him, and now worse, it would look like he was trying to replace her. But a deal was a deal, and he wouldn't be going against his words just because of his doubts. He rose to his feet with a sigh. She had requested his presence extra early too, so he had to be on his way. ★Rebecca walked towards her large bed, dressed in a thick red robe and a white towel wrapped around her head, and sat herself down as she picked up her phone that had been vibrating. To her surprise, it was Myles, and she instantly answered it. "Hello? Sorry for not answering on time; I was in the bathroom.