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.

A pang of guilt flickered across Davis’s face when he saw Ashlyn was injured and lying on the bed, yet she still focused on fine-tuning the details for D's upcoming event.

"Baby, I heard from Mr. Liam and the others that you came back after leaving last night? Did you forget something?"

He had checked the surveillance footage earlier, but the area she had passed through was in a blind spot. He was not entirely sure whether Ashlyn had seen him drunk, but he was certain she had not gone upstairs. There was no way she could know about the absurdity of the previous night.

However, Ashlyn had always been careful and steady. How could she have ended up like this?

"I forgot my phone. I picked it up and went home. Where did you go after that? I didn’t see you."

"Oh, the guys were singing upstairs. You know Jonathan. He’s always dragging people into the karaoke room. Those guys like to act childish, so I had to keep them company." Davis exhaled in relief, feeling his anxiety dissolve. It seemed he had overthought the situation.

Ashlyn did not glance at him, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard.

"I bought asparagus earlier. I’ll cook them for you later. You’ve always loved them," Davis said as he got up and moved toward the kitchen.

Before he became famous, life for the two of them had been tough. Asparagus was a luxury, priced at twice the cost of meat. Ashlyn would never splurge on them, so he would secretly buy some and stew them for her. Back then, she would eat the tender tips while he saved the rough bottoms for himself.

He could not recall the last time he had made that for her, not in the past few years, at least. Yet today, he found himself wanting to make it again.

He had no idea why, but she had grown so thin, her face pale and worn.

As the savory aroma of the asparagus soup began to fill the air, a knock came at the front door. Ashlyn shifted slightly to glance at the commotion. One after another, women dressed in sharp suits, uniforms and elegant skirts entered the house.

They were managers from a high-end bridal boutique.

Davis had gone all out, instructing them to bring more than a hundred brand-new wedding dresses for her to choose from. Beyond the physical dresses, they carried iPads loaded with thousands of styles for her to browse.

The sheer volume of items required several vans, which were parked just downstairs.

Davis knew her swollen feet would not allow her to visit a bridal boutique comfortably, so he brought the entire shop to her instead.

The house where Ashlyn's mother lived was modest and with the sudden influx of people and dresses, it felt cramped.

Ashlyn browsed through more than a dozen wedding dresses, yet the more she looked, the more unsettled she became.

From the innocence of school uniforms to the elegance of wedding dresses, it had always been a dream she cherished deeply. However, she no longer desired it.

The white wedding dress was a symbol of pure love, but it no longer held meaning when the man meant to stand beside her was dirty and not worthy of her.

"Are none of these to your satisfaction, Miss Anderson? I can show you more options."

The manager tapped on her iPad, scrolling through the gallery of designs. She paused after the tenth image.

"Let’s go with this one."

Her eyes immediately recognized the Swarovski crystals adorning the dress. It was the latest design from the D family, part of a rare collaboration where the chief designer released only one exclusive dress with this bridal brand each year.

Ashlyn decided she would take a series of solo wedding photos before freezing this chapter of her life and she only wanted the most gorgeous wedding dress.

She could be her own princess.

The store manager hesitated and exchanged a quick glance with Davis. Their expressions tightened awkwardly.

"Baby, that dress is too heavy and uncomfortable to wear for long. Let’s pick another one, okay?"

"Miss Anderson, I must be honest. This particular wedding dress has already been reserved. I really apologize, but I can show you other equally stunning styles."

Irritated and disheartened, Ashlyn grabbed a random card, made a quick decision and ended the ordeal abruptly.

There was a time when Ashlyn wanted something, Davis would have moved mountains to get her anything she wanted, but this time, he was persuading her to give up.

Perhaps he had grown tired of constantly accommodating her.

After recognizing Davis’s aggrieved demeanor, Ashlyn could not help but despise herself for still clinging to unrealistic hopes about him.

Such a man was no longer worth her time or anticipation. She glanced at the cup in her hand and pinched herself lightly.

Once the wedding dress decision was settled, Davis seemed noticeably lighter in mood. With a smile, he fed her a piece of steamed asparagus.