3RD POV

"It's cool right," Ryder said, his eyes rooming around the place, Alissa just nodded.

"Oh look, that's our family. Let's go there. It looks like Uncle is calling us."Ryder said, pulling Alissa along towards where the Rossi's stood talking with...the Kingstons? It was Asher, his dad (Dimitri), and mother ( Melora)

And guess what, Asher was wearing all black just like Alissa.

"This is my daughter Mr Kingston, the one I was talking about, her name is Mia." Eric smiled at Mr Kingston.

"Good evening, sir, ma'am, and Hi Asher," Mia said, acting like a shy girl as she went to stand beside Asher, who wasn't even listening to the conversation.

He was so busy in his thoughts, until his eyes saw a certain someone.

"Mr Rossi, are they all your family members, I mean the ones you live with?" Melora asked.

"Oh no, Nick's son is not here as well as my sister's children," Eric said.

"Are they coming? I mean, since invitations were sent to all family members in each family, " she continued.

"Of course, Mrs Kingston, oh look, there they are," Eric said, and signalled Ryder and Alissa to come over.

'What the hell is she doing here. Where did she get the other dress?' Mia and Camille thought as they looked at Alissa who looked so beautiful like a queen in the black dress. It looked like their plan failed. They teared Alissa's dress on purpose so that she doesn't make it to the ball.

"What took you so long" Nick asked Ryder once they arrived where they stood.

"Well um..."

"It's okay as long as you guys have arrived" Elina said.

"Alright, this is Ryder, he is my brother Nick's son" Eric said.

"Hello Mr and Mrs Kingston and Asher" Ryder said."

"Oh who is this gorgeous young lady" Melora said smiling at Alissa. You see Melora was the Donna to the second most powerful mafia inn the world, she knows how to fight, handle guns, use daggers and other stuffs. She was once an assassin too. She is nice but can be scheming if you're not careful.

Oh yeah, she also knows Alissa just like Dimitri, this is because the Kingstons have always been the De Leon's aids. So back on those times when they needed help the De Leons will help them and vice versa. That's why they knew Alissa, we could say they had a very good relationship.

"She is my sister's daughter, her name is Alissa. I'm sorry that her two brothers are not here, the older one has been out of the country while the other one is sick" Eric said.

"Really? I didn't know that my other brother is sick" Alissa said using her usual emotionless voice.

Eric laughed awkwardly "Of course, maybe he didn't tell you because he didn't want you to worry too much" he said.

"It's okay, Mr..?" Dimitri said. Eric's smile faltered when he heard that Dimitri forgot his surname casually as if it wasn't worth remembering

"Rossi" he said with a forced smile.

"Yes that, we will get going. It was nice meeting you Alissa" Dimitri said to Alissa who only nodded her head.

"Bye, hope to see you again Alissa, I like beautiful people and you're beautiful" Melora smirked at her.

Asher gave Alissa a wink without anyone noticing then left with his parents to the VIP section.

"What the hell just happened?" Mia said as she stood where she was contemplating what had happened.

"You got turned off by your crush" Rocco said. Ryder who was besides Allissa snickered.

"Dad he..." Mia was about to complain but Eric cut her off.

"It's okay Mia, you will have a dance with him later "he said and that managed to calm Mia down.

"Now you, tell me, do you know the Kingstons?" Eric asked Alisa.

"No" she said.

"Oh okay"he said before leaving with his brothers and older children to talk to other people and curry favour.

"B*tch, where did you get that dress" Mia asked Alisa who in turn ignored her

"I need fresh air" Alissa whispered to Ryder.

"Okay" Ryder said.

"Hey I'm talking to you" Mia said and was about to follow Alissa when she walked away but Ryder blocked her.

Alissa went outside and she saw a garden a little far away from the crowd, it was kind of secluded.

She sat down on a chair and looked at the contacts on her phone. Her brother Aiden was supposed to call her when he arrived in America.

"I had a hunch that I will see you here,. Away from the crowd and secluded, that's a place you like" Asher said coming from behind.

"And I didn't know you and Mia where a thing" Alissa said she didn't notice that her voice wasn't emotionless like usual rather it sounded as if she were jealous.

"Oh please, are you for real" Asher said and sat next to her on the chair.

"Nah, I'm for fake" she said.

"You look beautiful by the way. I thought you were not going to wear the dress I sent you" he said.

"You're right, I wasn't going to wear it, if it weren't for those stupid b*tches 'I wish to kill' who ruined my dress" Alissa said annoyed.

"Glad they did that, cause now we are wearing matching clothes, it's as if we are a couple" Asher said.

"Yeah right." she said and stood up and walked to pick a marigold flower. Which was the only odd one among the other flowers.

It was so silent for a while and Asher looked at Alissa, his eyes, always sharp and calculating, couldn't tear themselves away from her. The black ball gown hugging her figure perfectly, the fabric flowing like liquid shadows around her legs. Her dark blonde hair cascaded in waves down her back, so out of place in a sea of polished, pristine elegance, yet it suited her perfectly. Her grey eyes, cold and stormy looked at the marigold flower.

Asher wasn't used to feeling like this. He wasn't used to admiring someone. But she? Alissa? She made him forget the rules. The way she moved—smooth, yet dangerous—he could almost hear the defiance in her every step. She wasn't just a pretty face in a fancy dress. She was a force. A wild storm wrapped in a delicate gown.

To Asher, she was a puzzle he wanted to solve, but one that scared him. She was dangerous—he knew that much—but in the kind of way that made him lean in closer, knowing he might burn in the fire she carried. Her eyes, those piercing grey eyes, seemed to see straight through him, as though they knew all his flaws, all his sins. Every time they go to do missions together and the other moments they are always together has him thinking about her.

He leaned against the chair, watching her, his usual smirk replaced by something more real, more vulnerable. "She's trouble," he muttered to himself. "But damn, she's the kind of trouble I can't stay away from."

His gaze lingered on her like it was the last thing he'd ever do, the dark gleam in his eyes softening just enough for someone to see the depth of what he was thinking—she was everything he never thought he needed. The bad boy, the rebel, falling for the girl who could break him. But in that moment, he couldn't care less. She was his kind of chaos, and he was ready to drown in it. They would drown together it that day ever comes.

"Hello, earth to Asher" Alissa called out to him

"Yeah" he said.

"Do you know this flower" she asked and he nodded.

"It symbolises many things, it could be used to show grief and sympathy in some cultures, marigolds are linked to mourning and remembrance. They are commonly used in funerals or celebrations of life to honor the deceased, particularly in Mexican culture during the Day of the Dead which is Día de los Mue."She said, not noticing that she was speaking longer than usual

"It also shows joy and positivity, their bright, golden hues also symbolize happiness, positivity, and vitality. The vibrant color of marigolds is often associated with warmth, good fortune, and optimism. Can you see that these two reasons are like opposite, it could show happiness and also sadness" she sighed and dropped the marigold flower she was holding.

"I want to tell you something, alright and don't say anything until I finish" Asher said and she nodded.

"You know I used to joke about us being a couple and stuff and I didn't notice that I was slowly falling for you but now it's too late, I've fallen for you Alissa Iris De Leon. I know this might sound crazy but can we be a real couple?" he said, his heart was beating so fast, he didn't know if he was going to stand being rejected.

Alissa studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. She slowly walked towards where he sat, her presence both fierce and calm.

"You're a mess, Asher," she said softly, her fingers brushing against his black suit. "But maybe that's what I like about you. And maybe... I could be the mess with you."

She leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear. "Let's see if we can be bad together." After she said that Asher put his hand around her neck and kissed her.

"Damn, I thought you were going to reject me" he said after the intense kiss.

"And by the way marigold also symbolises affection and love." he said and kissed her again.

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I KIND OF MADE THIS CHAPTER LONG BECAUSE I DIDN'T UPDATE FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS, SO IT'S AN APOLOGY. I'M SORRY LOVELY READERS😔