Just as she reached the door, Hannah blocked her way.

“Mark’s not in here,” Hannah said, crossing her arms and giving Ashley a disdainful look.

Ashley glanced at the second-floor office where the lights were on. “I have something important.” she said.

“Important? Huh,” Hannah sneered, looking her up and down. “What’s so important?”

Ashley was wearing a simple, plain dress with no makeup.

Because she was sick, her lips were pale, and her face showed signs of fatigue. Although she should have looked worn out, there was an unexpected fragility to her appearance, making her seem delicate and vulnerable.

This only made Hannah full of hate. She rolled her eyes, irritated, and said, “I told you, he’s not here!”

Knowing that Hannah’s troubling her, Ashley didn’t get angry.

She tried to walk around her to go upstairs. “Then I’ll wait for him in the office.”

“Hey!” Hannah grabbed Ashley and shoved her back downstairs. “Are you crazy?”

Ashley, who had been frequently injured and hadn’t been able to rest properly, was already drained.

She stumbled a few steps, and then, her back was slammed into the railing.

“Ah—”

The pain in her back flared up, and she felt something warm trickling down.

The wound must have been worse.

Ashley’s face turned pale from the pain. “I just need to say a few words to Mark.”

Hannah didn’t believe her.

“Ashley, ever since Mark started working here, you’ve been taking leave after leave. Stop playing your stupid tricks.”

Ignoring Hannah’s hostility, Ashley steadied herself and said, “Come on, I am not your threat. I’m here to resign.”

“Resign?” Hannah scoffed. “Do you think I believe that?

“Mark mentioned a raise last night, and now you’re quitting? What is it? Not satisfied? Looking for a promotion, hoping to climb up the ranks? You wish!”

Hannah still remembered the day Mark had kept Ashley behind after everyone else had left.

There was no way she was going to let them be alone together now.

Looking at Ashley’s frail appearance, Hannah sneered, “Ashley, do you know what kind of women attract men?”

Ashley ignored her.

“Being pretty is not enough. Men like sluts in bed. Look at you, kind of a dead fish.”

Suddenly, Hannah stepped closer and pulled out a knife, flashing it in front of Ashley’s face.

“What do you think would happen if I—”

“Wanna see me?” A man’s voice came from upstairs.

Ashley looked up to see Mark standing on the second floor, looking down at them.

He was wearing a black shirt, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, but he was smiling.

Hannah quickly put away the knife. “Mark, she says she’s here to resign!”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Resign?”

Ashley clenched her fingers and looked up. “Mark, I might not be able to dance at Vee anymore.”

Mark frowned. “I thought you’d changed your mind.”

“Sorry, Mark,” Ashley said.

Mark was silent for a few seconds. “Come up. Let’s talk.”

“Oh no, no. I just—”

“Come up.”

The commanding tone reminded her a bit of Brian.

Ashley hesitated for a moment, then decided to go upstairs.

Once in the office, Ashley didn’t sit down.

Mark looked at her. “Tell me why.”

“I want to stay alive.”

Mark, who had been flicking ash from his cigarette, paused and looked at her, surprised. “Did he threaten you?”

Ashley didn’t hide anything. “Yes.”

Mark chuckled. “And this is the Quinn Family you want to stay with? He’s threatening you, and you’re not leaving him?”

“I have my reasons.”

Mark’s smile faded slightly. “Ashley, you should know when to stop.”

“I’m not here to negotiate with you, Mark. I’m quitting this job for real.”

...

When Ashley left Vee, she was surprised to see a black Cayenne parked at the entrance.

Brian was leaning against the car door, smoking.

When he saw her come out, he flicked the cigarette away, grabbed her wrist, and shoved her into the car.

The partition slowly went up, turning the back seat into a confined space.

Brian pinned her down in the back seat, his gaze fierce like a lone wolf’s.

“Ashley, you always trying to piss me off.”

His voice was calm, but the hand gripping her wrist kept tightening.

Ashley tried to move, but his hold only grew stronger.

She smiled bitterly, found herself pathetic.

It was as if anyone passing by could just slap her or kick her.

For the first time, Ashley felt like a dog.

Unable to break free, Ashley stopped struggling.

She looked him straight in the eyes and said calmly, “Mr, I’m here to resign.”

“Resign?”

“Last night, you accused me of lying to you,” Ashley said, leaning up to kiss the corner of his mouth. “I want to show you that I wasn’t lying. At least, I don’t want to lie to you.”

Brian looked at her, his dark eyes filled with emotion. “What?”

Ashley met his gaze, trying her best to appear sincere. “I can’t go abroad.

“As for John… he just help me get rid of those annoying guys at school.

“As for working at Vee, it’s because Jack has been gambling and getting into debt.”

Ashley raised her right hand and placed it on his face. “Mr, I want to go abroad, but it’s not because I’m trying to get away from you.

“I fell for you when I was 15, and when I was 18, I got into your bed because I love you. I really love you.”

“But I have a father who’s a gambler and a mother who always use her love to blackmail me...”

As she spoke, tears welled up in Ashley’s eyes, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

Brian watched her.