“When you gave the freshman speech in your first year, I though you were so fair and delicate, and I have to take care of you. For the past two years, I’ve helped you in every way, protecting you with all my heart. And what did I get in return? I pampered and cared for you, only for you to sleep with other man and, and to be a stripper.”

Not only did she become Brian’s mistress, but she also performed strip dances at Vee!

He used to think she was so pure and stunning, but now He’s utterly disgusted and furious!

Robert stared at Ashley with intense anger.

Ashley, however, remained calm, her expression indifferent as she looked at him. “So what? Just because you thought, that I have to be?”

Robert was taken aback. “What?”

Ashley continued, “Whether I’m the perfect image you had or a cheap slut, that’s not me. I have no obligation to meet your fantasies, nor will I pay for your unrequited love. Robert, considering you helped me once, I won’t mention today’s incident to anyone. But I hope we never see each other again!”

“Ashley!” Robert roared, grabbing her collar. “Don’t think I won’t dare!”

Ashley’s eyes were cold as she looked at him, and her gaze was filled with contempt, disgust, and rejection, like a resounding slap across Robert’s face.

How dare she!

Bitch!

Robert gritted his teeth, and with a violent tug, he tore her cheap sweatshirt along its seams, ripping half of her shoulder.

Her ample chest spilled out, making the man’s eyes burn.

Ashley quickly covered her chest with her arm. “What the hell are you doing!”

Her fair skin was marked with love bites, confirming all his suspicions.

She really was a slut!

Robert clenched his fists tightly, glaring at her with gritted teeth.

As Robert’s eyes turned red with rage, Ashley, covering her chest with one hand and grabbing his arm with the other, twisted her body and shoved him away!

With a loud bang, Robert was thrown to the ground, landing on his back.

Ashley picked up a whip from the floor and was about to strike Robert with all her strengthen.

But her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

“That’s enough,” a deep voice sounded behind her. “What the hell are you young people?”

Ashley didn’t turn around, and her eyes fixed on Robert lying on the ground.

Robert was speechless, lying there with his eyes red as if they were bleeding.

After a long silence, Ashley dropped the whip and hoarsely said, “Get out.”

Robert scrambled to his feet and left with the man.

Ashley walked to her wardrobe, took out a spare outfit, and changed.

When she went out, Robert was gone, with only Mark standing by the door.

Ashley nodded and was about to leave.

Mark raised his hand to stop her and handed her a business card.

“Robert is... a friend of mine. I promise you, you won’t see him again. Take this card. Contact me if you need anything.”

Ashley took the card absentmindedly and glanced at it.

It was Mark’s private number.

She left the bar with a heavy heart.

Once outside, her hands were still shaking.

She casually tossed the card into a trash can and took the bus home.

Upstairs, Mark stood by the window, watching everything.

...

Ashley took the bus home. As soon as she got off, she saw John squatting nearby.

“John?”

John stood up. “I knew you’d come home.”

“What do you mean?” Ashley checked her phone, but there were no messages or calls from John. “Did you come here... to ambush me?”

“What ambush? I just wanted to see you.” John looked at her worriedly. “Did something happen? You have recently stopped going to the library, skipped dance practice, and even missed classes. What’s going on? Got rich behind my back?”

John looked at her with a pained expression. “Don’t forget your friends if you strike it rich, girl.”

Ashley was amused. “Come on... I’ve just been unwell and needed more rest.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Ashley was about to respond when John suddenly grabbed her chin. “You’re hurt?”

He lightly pressed a spot on her neck.

Ashley winced. It was probably an injury from her earlier scuffle with Robert.

“I’m fine,” Ashley pushed his hand away. “I might have scratched myself accidentally.”

Suddenly, a pink sports car pulled up and screeched to a halt by the roadside.

Ashley instinctively pulled John back half a step.

The window rolled down, revealing Olivia’s face. “Ashley? Who’s this, your boyfriend?”

Olivia’s gaze lingered on John before shifting to Ashley.

Seeing John and Ashley holding hands, her eyes flickered, and she raised an eyebrow.

Her smile was faint, but her eyes were filled with undisguised contempt and scrutiny.

John stepped forward, trying to shield Ashley. “Who are you?”

“I asked first,” Olivia blinked. “There’s an order to these things.”

John’s impression of her worsened. “You—”

Ashley pulled John behind her, cutting him off, and stood between him and Olivia with a faint smile. “Miss. James, you’re here to see Mr, right?”

“Yes, I’m here to see my fiancé,” Olivia’s eyes reddened as if she was about to cry. “He’s hurt, and I’m so worried.”

“Huh?” Ashley pretended not to understand her sarcastic tone. “Miss. James must be very worried. You should go inside and not waste time because of me.”

Olivia’s expression turned cold in an instant. Soon, she gave Ashley a chilly look before raising the car window.

The car, which was initially driving normally, suddenly roared with a loud noise.

The rear wheels spun rapidly but didn’t accelerate, instead kicking up a cloud of dust and smoke.

“Damn it, she’s burning the tires!”

John pulled Ashley into his arms, shielding her against his chest. “Are you crazy!”

Laughter erupted from the car before it drove into the Quinn Family estate.

Ashley emerged from John’s embrace, coughing from the pungent smell in the air. Her long hair was covered in dust, which she quickly shook off.

John helped her dust off her clothes. “Are you okay? Eyes, mouth, nose, all good?”

“I’m fine,” Ashley coughed twice more. “How about you?”

“I’m good too.” John ran a hand through his hair. “Who was that? Has she bullied you before?”

“The future Mrs Quinn, the junior, you know,” Ashley said succinctly. “Hey, didn’t you skip the job to see me?”

Seeing that Ashley didn’t want to talk more about it, John didn’t press further. “I took half a day off. We haven’t seen each other since we left the hotel that day. I was worried about you.”

Hearing him mention Megan, Ashley probed, “What about her?”

“It’s over,” John adjusted his collar. “We were never compatible anyway.”

“That’s good,” Ashley sighed in relief. “Be careful around her; it’s best to stay away from people like that.”

They chatted for a bit longer until the bus back to the city arrived, and Ashley urged John to get on.

John took a few steps forward and tentatively asked, “What do you think about Megan?”