The next day at work, Ashley packed away the many unused items in her office. Once, she had imagined spending her entire life by Mason’s side, treating this place like a second home.

But that dream had come to an end.

“Why is the office so empty?”

Mason’s voice sounded behind her, catching her off guard.

Ashley’s body tensed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself. When she saw Georgina standing beside him, her expression returned to calm.

“The office was too cluttered. I’m just tidying up.”

Mason nodded, not sensing anything off.

“Looks much cleaner now.”

His eyes landed on the certificates and trophies inside one of the boxes and his brows drew together.

“You’re even packing up the awards you earned here? Why?”

Ashley gave a quiet, self-mocking smile. “I won’t be needing them anymore.”

Mason felt a flicker of discomfort. Ashley had been with him since graduation and she’d always taken pride in those accomplishments. Now, she was giving them up like they meant nothing.

Georgina stepped forward, taking Ashley’s hand with a bright smile.

“My little sister has always been a great help to Mason at work. I’ll need to learn a lot from you.”

Ashley froze, unsure what Georgina meant.

The next second, Mason spoke, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

“Georgina wants to come to the company to learn. Your office is spacious and has a nice view. It’s perfect for two people.”

“Okay. I’ll pack up my things and make room for my sister.”

Ashley didn’t hesitate or show any displeasure. After all, she would be leaving soon.

Sensing that her attitude was different from usual, Mason instinctively wanted to say more, but Georgina cut in.

“Thank you, little sister. Now we’ll get to see each other often.”

Ashley remained silent, expressionless, continuing to pack.

Georgina’s smile faltered slightly. Then, while Mason wasn’t looking, she deliberately knocked over the cup on the desk. Hot water spilled out, shards of glass scattering.

The cup was engraved with both Ashley’s and Mason’s names, a wedding anniversary gift she had begged him for.

Ashley knew it was intentional. But unlike before, she didn’t react. No anger. No complaint.

Mason rushed over to Georgina, his focus entirely on her. He checked her carefully, concern written all over his face.

Nestled in his arms, Georgina looked pitiful. “I didn’t mean to. My sister won’t blame me, right?”

Ashley gave a slight shake of her head.

A flicker of surprise crossed Georgina’s eyes, but she quickly masked it with a bright smile. “My sister is so understanding. Are you hurt?”

“She definitely won’t blame you. As long as you’re not hurt, that’s all that matters.”

Mason didn’t spare Ashley a single glance. He took Georgina’s hand and hurried out. “Let’s go. The concert you’ve been dying to see is about to start.”

After they left, Ashley crouched down. A bloody gash on her ankle stood out sharply, glass shards still lodged in the wound as blood continued to seep out.

She gritted her teeth against the pain, pushed herself up and leaned against the wall for support as she limped toward the hospital to get treated.

If that injury had been on Georgina, Mason probably would’ve been devastated.

Ashley had long since grown used to everyone placing Georgina on a pedestal while treating her like she was invisible.

At the hospital.

“If that shard had gone any deeper, it would’ve been much harder to remove. Where’s your family?”

The intense pain had drained all color from Ashley’s face. Her lips, pressed tightly together, had turned pale.

“I have no family.”

The doctor froze for a second, then resumed treating her wound with more care, gently reminding her to rest and avoid walking too much.

As soon as she stepped out of the hospital, Ashley got a call from Mason.

“Where did you go? Why aren’t you at the office during work hours?”

“I was at….”

Before she could say “hospital,” Mason cut her off.

“Georgina’s having cramps. Come to the concert hall and drive us to the hospital.”

“But I…”

“Georgina’s pain is really bad. I had a drink today and can’t drive. You better be here in ten minutes.”

Ashley swallowed the rest of her words. Listening to the busy tone, she stood silently, lips pressed tight.

When she finally arrived, limping, her ankle still burning with pain, Georgina was curled up in Mason’s arms. He was gently rubbing her abdomen.

The tenderness on his face was something Ashley had never once received. She thought her heart had already gone numb, but sharp pain still cut through it. She bit back her tears.

Mason looked up and saw her. The softness in his expression disappeared instantly. With a glance, he signaled for her to get in the car without noticing her limp at all.

As Ashley climbed into the SUV, the sharp pain surged again, making her gasp. She felt the wound on her ankle tear open, warm blood seeping out.

“Hurry up. Georgina’s been in pain for a while now.”

Mason frowned, clearly annoyed by how slowly she was moving, a rare show of impatience.

Georgina added lightly, “It’s such a small thing. Why’d you even bother asking a little sister to drive?”

Mason responded coldly, “What, my secretary can’t even handle something this basic?”

At the wheel, Ashley’s focus faltered. She didn’t see the truck barreling toward them.

By the time she realized it, her injured ankle made it impossible to hit the brake fast enough. She could only jerk the wheel, narrowly avoiding the truck, but the SUV crashed violently into the landscaped divider.

The glass exploded across the cabin. Cuts opened on Ashley’s face and hands. Her body was wedged into the seat, too stiff and weak to move.

She cried out, “Mason, my leg is stuck. I can’t move.”

But all she heard was Mason’s voice, soft and reassuring for Georgina.

“Georgina, don’t be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Through the rearview mirror, Ashley saw him cradle Georgina carefully in his arms.

He opened the door and gently lifted her out. Just as he turned toward the driver’s side, Georgina clung to his arm.

Tears in her voice, she whimpered, “Mason, my stomach hurts even more. Don’t leave me.”

Mason glanced once in Ashley’s direction, hesitation flickering across his face, but in the end, he turned away. Lifting Georgina into his arms, he said, “I’ll take Georgina to the hospital first. Wait for me.”

Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Ashley felt her heart turn colder. She quietly dialed for an ambulance.

By the time she was rescued, her legs were bruised and swollen. The extended loss of blood flow had left her unable to move them.

Inside the treatment room, several nurses chatted as they cleaned and bandaged her wounds.

“That was President Bennett earlier, wasn’t it? He treats his wife so well, so gentle and caring. And he’s so handsome too!”

“Right? How can someone be that rich, loyal and attractive? His wife is really lucky.”

“I heard he was hurt in the accident but didn’t let anyone treat him. He brought his wife in first.”

“And she didn’t even get hurt, just some cramps. But he still booked an entire floor just for her.”

One nurse finally noticed Ashley and gave her a curious look. “Were you in the same car as Mr. Bennett? Who are you?”

Looking down at her freshly bandaged legs, Ashley slowly wheeled herself forward and replied coldly, “I’m the Mrs. Bennett you’re all talking about.”

Not long after Ashley came out of the consultation room, she ran into Mason, making a phone call in the hallway.

He ended the call and walked straight toward her.

“Why are you in a wheelchair? Georgina wants red bean tapioca from Maggie’s Spoon. Go get her a bowl.”

Ashley didn’t nod like she usually did. Instead, she looked at Mason with a face full of sarcasm.

“My legs can’t walk.”

A flash of unease crossed Mason’s eyes. He instinctively moved closer to check on her, but Georgina, who had just followed them out, quickly pulled him back.

“Mason, little sister got hurt too. You go get it for me. I’ll have a chat with her.”

Whatever Georgina said was never questioned. Mason smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go right now.”

With a sisterly expression, Georgina hooked her arm through Ashley’s and led her toward the rooftop.

But the moment Ashley’s foot touched the rooftop, Georgina gave her a sudden, forceful shove, knocking her out of the wheelchair. Gone was the usual gentleness; her eyes now burned with an open challenge as she slammed the rooftop door shut behind her.

Stunned, Ashley ignored the pain in her legs and crawled on her hands and knees to the door, pounding on it.

“Georgina, let me out!”

Soon, Georgina’s smug voice rang out from the other side of the door.

“Ashley, did you forget who you are? You’ve always just been my substitute.”

“If I hadn’t been away back then, you wouldn’t have gotten the chance to marry Mason. And now you actually have the nerve to call yourself Mrs. Bennett? How shameless.”

Staring at the darkening sky, Ashley’s voice grew hoarse. “I’ll be divorcing Mason in a few days. I don’t love him anymore.”

Georgina let out a sharp scoff and placed a signal jammer at the door.

“Mason, the Patel Family, none of it was ever yours. You’ve always been the outsider.”

“Now that I’m back, you deserve a little lesson. No one’s coming to help you tonight. Sit here and reflect.”

As the sound of heels faded down the corridor, Ashley’s heart sank.

The rooftop was rarely visited and now her phone had no signal.

Was she really going to be stuck here until morning?

When Mason returned with the red bean tapioca and found Georgina alone in the hospital room, he asked without thinking, “Why are you here by yourself? Did Ashley go home?”

Georgina nervously fidgeted with her fingers.

“Maybe little sister got upset with me and left.”

As Mason set the dessert in front of her and handed over a spoon, he asked casually, “She’s still in a wheelchair. Why would she leave upset?”

“I just told her that I’ve just come back and still have a lot to figure out, so I need you with me. I told her not to take it the wrong way.”

Mason didn’t give it much thought and gently reassured her.

“Don’t worry about her. She’s always gone against you since you were kids. You’re the real Miss Patel. No need to walk on eggshells around her.”

“She’s got nowhere else to go. She probably went home. Forget it. Try the red bean tapioca. See if it still tastes like you remember.”

Georgina obediently took a bite of the sweet soup and glanced at the weather app on her phone. Thunderstorms were expected that night.

A satisfied smile played on her lips.

Ashley, I’ll make sure you regret ever trying to take what belongs to me.