"Keep it. It’s just a worthless thing."

Ashlyn turned away, never looking back.

But quietly, in the car, Davis changed his profile picture on the chat app to a photo of the two cups he had just taken.

She had to remind herself constantly. If she only sought love within her career, she would inevitably end up heartbroken.

In the remaining month, she promised herself she would focus on loving herself.

On the same day, the filming for The Biggest Dream Returns wrapped up and Davis could not wait to bring the girl he had arranged to meet the day before to his home.

He had contacted Ashlyn that morning and she was still hospitalized. Thus, tonight was the perfect opportunity.

The last time Ashlyn went on a business trip to another province, she had also brought this girl home. The girl was incredibly attractive, with flawless white skin and a stunning figure. Most importantly, she kept her mouth shut and did not flaunt her connection to a celebrity. He found this kind of arrangement particularly enjoyable and was confident in the girl's discretion and character.

However, as soon as Davis opened the door, he was stunned.

The house had changed so much that, for a moment, he thought he had entered the wrong place!

He quickly pushed the girl toward the kitchen and, panicked, made a video call to Ashlyn.

He tried calling three times in a row, but each time his call was rejected.

As Davis’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach, Ashlyn finally called him back.

"Honey, where did everything at home go?"

Suddenly, a warm breath swept up from behind him, making him so nervous that his voice trembled. He quickly turned around and instinctively covered the girl’s mouth.

In the next moment, her coat slipped off, exposing a large area of snow-white skin that brushed against his face. The rope that held the coat was so delicate it nearly snapped and the fabric was so thin it was almost transparent, sending a wave of shock through Davis's senses.

"Davis, I recently went to my mother's house to stay for a while. After my brother left, she’s been in poor spirits and struggling with her health."

Davis fought to control his rapidly rising breath, trying to stay composed.

"The house has been cleaned and I'll explain everything to you later. Davis, are you listening?"

"Yeah, yeah, I’m listening!" The girl’s soft body pressed against him, her warm breath misting on his face. Her red eyes were clouded with desire.

His mind was clouded, unable to think clearly and his entire body seemed to lose its ability to move.

"I’ll stay with Mom for now. You should get some rest." Ashlyn quickly hung up after noticing the sound of his heavy breathing.

Davis’s thoughts spun in a whirlwind.

Why was it more convenient for Ashlyn to go to her mother’s house?

But if it was just a short visit, why had she taken her most cherished collectibles?

"Eve, stop it! I need to find her!" The more Davis thought about it, the more unsettled he felt and he abruptly shoved the girl off him.

Eve, however, was not about to back down. "You have become a famous celebrity. Can she really be taken from you? Without you, she’s nothing."

"But…"

"No buts. Davis Miller, focus on me. We agreed to go to the kitchen, didn’t we? Why aren’t we keeping our promises?"

The sound of the girl’s high heels clicking against the floor was both mysterious and seductive, completely overwhelming Davis and pushing away the last vestiges of his remaining sanity.

"You just said I am now a famous celebrity and she’s nothing without me. Then who are you?"

"Well, a cute little devil," Eve replied with a playful smile in a way that was irresistibly cute.

"Well, little devil, let this famous celebrity take you in..."

The next day, at noon, while Ashlyn was having lunch with her mother, Davis and his friend, Jonathan Lewis, arrived at the house carrying a mix of large and small bags.

"Mrs. Anderson, I’m so sorry. I’ve been too busy filming lately and haven’t had the chance to visit. I know you’ve been having trouble with your heart, so you must take good care of your health!"

He gestured to the pile of gift boxes stacked on the floor, which were filled with luxurious supplements.

Ashlyn’s mother waved her hands, visibly touched by the gesture. "Davis, I haven’t even finished the supplements you brought last year. Don’t waste your money. You’ve lost so much weight from staying up late filming. Just keep them for yourself!"

Ashlyn smiled softly, but it did not reach her eyes.

He should really take care of himself, so he did not end up with kidney deficiency.

Jonathan chimed in from the side, "Mrs. Anderson, it's not because of Ashlyn that Davis works so hard. He’s always saying he wants to make more money so that Ashlyn can raise their children without worry. Then, you’ll get to be a grandmother sooner than you think!"

"No, Davis’s actually planning to buy a new villa and have you move in with him!"

Ashlyn’s expression darkened slightly. Buy a villa? Could this be the surprise Davis had mentioned before in the hospital?

Davis looked a bit embarrassed. He scratched his head and pulled out a bunch of keys.

"Baby, I came today just to take you to see our new home. It’s a single-family house with a river view and an art gallery. You’ll be the queen in that palace from now on."

Ashlyn was coaxed into visiting Azure Horizon Villa, a luxurious courtyard villa worth more than 28 million dollars. Such a place could only be afforded by the exceptionally wealthy or powerful.

Jonathan Lewis, a third-generation heir to a wealthy family, was the developer behind the project. He and Davis met after Davis’s rise to fame and they quickly became close with Jonathan, who offered Davis significant resources. They got along well.

"Baby, there’s a golf course over there. You can take the kids to play golf in the future."

"And there’s an exhibition hall in the back. Your collection of calligraphy, paintings and porcelain can go there."

"The dressing room in the master bedroom is over 100 square meters. You can fill it with all your favorite Chanel pieces."

He had made this villa a dream come true, a place filled with the hopes and wishes they had shared when they were younger. It seemed he had never forgotten those vows.

So, when had this love changed?

Ashlyn's eyes welled up with tears.

"Baby, look over there."

Ashlyn turned her head and the sky lit up with fireworks. Davis stood in the midst of the fireworks, backlit, his smile forming crescent-shaped eyes.

It reminded her of when he graduated from high school, the brilliant young man holding a bunch of firework sticks, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Ashlyn Anderson! Be my woman! Even if the seas and rocks break, we’ll never break up!"

A wave of regret fluttered in Ashlyn's heart.

Just because a cat stole fish did not mean it stopped catching mice.

Life was fleeting. If she closed her eyes, ignoring everything she did not want to see or hear, could she make do with it?

Jonathan came over with many friends and hosted a party at his villa. Among the guests was a senior with a strong reputation in the industry, someone whose connections could offer opportunities.

Ashlyn could not refuse and reluctantly went along with it.

Davis held her close, smiling as he shielded her from anyone who tried to pressure her into drinking.

The skins of nuts, pomegranates and shrimp were all cleaned off and fed to her by hand.

Jonathan and his friends laughed boisterously. "It turns out that when you’re loved, any food no longer has skin!"

"Davis, are you showing to your friends how to treat women?"

"Ashlyn, you’re so lucky. Davis still does these little things, even at his level. Frankly, I’m impressed!"

Ashlyn forced a smile as their compliments piled up, but her chest grew tighter with each passing moment.

She stood up and made her way to the public restroom. The confined space felt like a relief, as it allowed her to breathe easier.

The sound of high-heeled shoes clicking outside the door echoed randomly and it seemed there was more than one person approaching.

"Sarah, have you had any work recently?"

"Yes, ever since Lilia introduced me to a few male celebrities in the entertainment industry, my value has skyrocketed. Recently, someone even offered me a high bid for a photo shoot. Oops, I almost forgot. I’ll add him to ask."

The next moment, a friend request notification popped up on Ashlyn's phone.

She quickly muted her phone and began sending over explicit photos one after another.

With her innocent face and ample bust, which could not be overlooked, Ashlyn was struck by a sudden memory. Three years ago, she had helped Davis meet with this girl at a support club for a few days. This girl had also been one of Davis's fans.

"How could you join a stranger like that, Sarah? What if you get cheated?" asked the girl sitting across from her.

"Can you tell me who's really cheating in this circle? Men are out here seeking sex and I'm just looking to get money for free. You’ve only been in the industry for a short while, but trust me, you’ll understand it all once you've seen the world."

"Geez, you're amazing. Is Davis Miller outside? Can you take me to see him now?"

"Heh! I was with him just last month. He's got a great figure and his face is just as handsome. But tonight, it's Mr. Lewis who invited me here. Who do you want me to accompany? You can tell me later. Behave yourself and try to catch Mr. Liam’s attention."

The sound of high heels gradually faded as Ashlyn received another text message on her phone.

[Commercial shooting starts at 70,000 and the shooting location and details can be customized as needed. We’re all in the same circle, so we can discuss the details in person.]

Ashlyn stared at the sultry portrait in the message, her expression blank. Her vision began to blur.

After a long time moment, she stood up and went to find Davis. She told him that her mother was not feeling well and wanted to go home, asking him to take her back.

This felt like a transaction, dirty and repulsive. However, if Davis was willing to go back with her, it would mean his conscience still lingered somewhere and maybe she could find some comfort in that.

Too bad, Davis hesitated.

Ashlyn smiled, as soft and gentle as ever. "Then I'll go back first. Remember, don’t drink too much. The D family's offline event is coming up soon, so you can't afford to have a swollen face."

"I got it, baby. You are helping me a lot by stopping me from drinking. I promise I won’t drink anymore. Let’s pick out a wedding dress tomorrow. Just wait for me at home! Kiss me goodbye before you go…"

Ashlyn pulled back before his kiss could reach her lips. She walked swiftly, not wanting to stay for even a second longer.

Fireworks exploded again in the garden while several men laughed, their arms around the women beside them.

Under the brilliant bloom of the fireworks, everyone smiled brightly, but Ashlyn could not bring herself to enjoy the fleeting beauty.

She forced herself to stay alert.

The driver was waiting outside and once she got into the car, Ashlyn let herself sink into the seat, her head resting against the window. Exhaustion and nausea overcame her and she felt as though she might vomit, but nothing came. In desperation, she thought of calling Lindsey to ask for some stomach medicine.

It was then that Ashlyn realized her phone was missing. It must have been left behind in her haste and anger when she stormed out of the bathroom earlier.

Frustrated, she instructed the driver to turn back.

But if life could be rewound, Ashlyn would have given anything to tear her eyes out the moment before she entered that bathroom.

She had seen Davis, his shirt unbuttoned, with several red lip prints scattered across his chest. He was staggering, clearly intoxicated and barely able to stand, relying on Jonathan’s support.

"Davis, you're so good to her that even I would be jealous. We’re so close, but you’ve never peeled a shrimp for me."

Jonathan teased, glancing at Davis’s chest while tugging at his shirt with a half-smile. "You’ve been working out a lot lately. Your figure’s looking better than ever."

"If you want me to peel the shrimp, just say the word! You’re my boss. I’ll peel whatever you want, without question!"

"You really know how to speak nicely. Aren't you worried about making Ashlyn angry?"

"What do I have to fear? With you, I don’t need any other resources!"

"You’re so sweet, man. Go upstairs now. Let me show you something new today."

Davis was drunk and staggered upstairs as Jonathan helped him. He did not notice Ashlyn standing silently behind them, her face ashen.

Ashlyn was barely aware of how she managed to retrieve her phone or how she even made it out of the villa.

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to disappear quietly from this world.

But now, her thoughts were consumed with the idea of ruining Davis!

The dim lights of the old community flickered in the late night as Ashlyn stumbled, tripping twice at the entrance and down the stairs in her distraught state.

By the time morning came, her ankles were swollen and bruises covered her arms.

When Davis saw her injuries in a video the next day, he rushed to her side.