Brian wrapped one arm around her waist, feeling a sudden warmth.

When he lifted his hand, he found it covered in blood.

He frowned, “Ashley, let go of me.”

“Mr, please, don’t make me drop out. I want to go to school.” Ashley fumbled her way to his lips, kissing him in an attempt to please him.

Her trembling hands reached up to unbutton his collar.

Brian sensed something was wrong with Ashley. He gripped her chin with one hand, pushing her away.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Ashley’s eyes couldn’t focus, but she clung to his shoulders, trying to get closer to him, repeatedly.

It was only then that Brian realized she had a severe fever.

Her delicate skin felt like it was filled with boiling water, burning his palm.

Her breath, her tears, everything about her seemed to have been heated, scorching his hand as they fell.

Brian stood up and placed her back on the bed. But Ashley clung to him with all her might, refusing to let go.

Although her consciousness was already blurred, her limbs still held on tightly.

Brian was wearing soft, cool silk because of his injury.

As Ashley pressed closer to him, she felt the coolness from his clothes.

Instinctively, she burrowed into his arms, unwilling to let go, like a lost young animal seeking the most basic form of protection.

Though Ashley had no idea what she was doing, Brian was fully aware.

Her instinctual behavior of seeking refuge in his arms gave him an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

Brian leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Ashley’s words became more and more slurred as her fever worsened.

Her breathing was heavy, and her entire body felt limp.

Brian tugged at her arm. “Ashley? Let go.”

“No,” Ashley weakly responded, “No!”

“You have a fever.”

Ashley no longer had the strength to answer, but her fingers, clutching tightly, already conveyed her answer.

Brian frowned.

“Who are you?” Jane had returned, but only saw a man in the room.

She quickly looked over at Ashley, noticing that Ashley was clinging to the man.

...This wasn’t the same man as last night.

Jane noticed that Ashley was completely naked and holding onto Brian without letting go.

Her face flushed, “Young man, are you Ashley’s boyfriend?”

Brian’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he let out a faint “Mm.”

Jane hurried over, placing her things aside, “Is she running a high fever? She’s already had her fever-reducing shot today. The doctor said if the fever spikes again tonight, we can only resort to physical cooling.”

Brian picked her up again. “What should we do?”

Jane noticed that although Brian was inexperienced, he seemed genuinely concerned about Ashley, so she was willing to teach him bit by bit.

For some reason, Ashley refused to let Jane touch her.

Whenever Jane approached , Ashley would resist, even trying to bite. But when Brian approached, she would relax.

Jane had no choice but to leave the task to Brian, guiding him from the side.

Brian patiently used ice water and alcohol to wipe down Ashley’s body. After thoroughly cleaning her, her body temperature finally dropped a bit.

Jane was drenched in sweat, “The fever has finally gone down. Young man, why don’t you go rest? I can stay and watch over her.”

Brian looked at Ashley, “No, I’ll stay with her.”

“But...”

Brian looked at Jane, “There’s a bed available in the infusion room. You can rest there.”

Jane wanted to refuse, but seeing the look in Brian’s eyes, she couldn’t find the words.

In the end, she nodded and left.

As soon as she left, Brian locked the door, went back to the bed, and slipped under the covers.

Ashley, sensing his scent, snuggled into his arms.

Brian spread his arms, loosely wrapping his arms around her.

After all the commotion, Brian’s back started bleeding again, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Breathing in Ashley’s scent, he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Ashley woke up feeling sore all over, as if her joints had been crushed and would creak with the slightest movement.

Jane handed her a glass of water. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Ashley shook her head. “What happened to me?”

“What else? You had a fever all night.”

Ashley sniffed her body, smelling a strong scent of alcohol, as if she had been marinated in it.

She tried to recall the events of the previous night, but her memory was fragmented and disjointed.

Ashley looked at Jane apologetically. “I must have caused a lot of trouble last night. Sorry for that...”

Jane quickly waved her hand, wanting to explain it wasn’t her who helped. But remembering what the man had instructed, she held back.

When Brian woke up in the morning, he had gone to the infusion room to wake up Jane and handed her a card. “Keep last night a secret.”

Jane was surprised and wanted to ask why, but Brian didn’t give her a chance, turning and leaving immediately.

Curious, Jane took the card to an ATM and found it had 100,000 yuan on it.

100,000 yuan!

Jane looked at Ashley, and decided to keep the secret.

...

Olivia returned home in a rage, smashing everything in her bedroom.

The maids stood trembling at the door, not daring to enter.

Chloe came over and frowned.

“What’s going on? Why are you throwing a fit for no reason?”

Her eyes fell on Olivia’s stomach, “Is this how you plan to teach your child?”

Olivia’s eyes welled up with tears. “Mom...”

Thomas dismissed the maids and asked, “What happened? Tell us.”

Olivia could only recount what had happened at the Quinn Family.

“He tricked me! He actually tricked me!” Olivia gritted her teeth.

Her parents exchanged glances, and instead of anger, a strange sense of relief appeared in their eyes.

Olivia’s expression turned sour. “Mom, Dad, aren’t you angry? Don’t you want to stand up for me?”

“Angry? What is there to be angry about?” Her father sat on the edge of the bed. “Brian’s right.”

Olivia was stunned. “Dad!”

Her mother poked her forehead. “Stop shouting! Have you even thought about what a foolish thing you did? That lie was so obvious; if it were me, I would’ve slapped you on the spot!”