Ashley felt her face burning. “I... I’ll go downstairs now.”

Brian responded with a soft “Alright.”

Ashley put on her clothes and retraced her steps downstairs.

She had turned off the lights before leaving, but when she opened the door, the room was brightly lit.

Melissa had arrived at some point and was sitting by the bed.

“Ashley,” Melissa stood up. Seeing Ashley’s disheveled clothes and messy hair, she hesitated. “Did you... go upstairs?”

Ashley lowered her eyelids and gave a faint “Hmm.”

After closing the door, she went to the cabinet to retrieve a medical kit.

Without hesitation, she took out a birth control pill and swallowed it.

There was no way she would have Brian’s child.

Even if it meant never being able to conceive in her life, she would never give birth to the Quinn Family’s damn offspring.

Melissa noticed Ashley swallowing something and frowned as she approached. “What are you taking?”

“Vitamins,” Ashley replied as she put the bottle back into the medical kit. “What?”

Since the incident, Ashley had been cold and distant toward Melissa.

Melissa’s eyes reddened. “Ashley, you are still blaming me, right? I really didn’t mean to hurt you, I just...” “

“You just wanna stay here.” Ashley turned around, tiredly rubbing her temples. “I don’t get it. What is it about the Quinn Family that’s worth your attachment?”

Melissa’s gaze flickered. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Ashley pondered for a few seconds and said, “You wanna be the new ‘Mrs Quinn Quinn’?”

Melissa’s face turned pale.

Ashley spoke bluntly, “Fine, but I need to tell you. Mrs Quinn Quinn’s just in her early fifties. She’s healthy, and she has no bad habits.

“Even if she divorces David , with your current status as a married woman with no background, do you think you can marry to the Quinn Family?”

She thought: There are no fools among the rich; it’s always about strong alliances.

What Brian said that day had awakened her.

Melissa wasn’t as pitiful as she seemed.

She had a husband who constantly siphoned money from her and a daughter who needed lifelong anti-rejection medication.

The large monthly expenses should have left Melissa struggling.

But she was well-maintained, impeccably groomed, and radiant, showing no signs of being worn down by life.

As Ashley looked at Melissa, she couldn’t help but find her increasingly unfamiliar.

Melissa met Ashley’s gaze, feeling a moment of panic.

She hurriedly grabbed Ashley’s hand. “Ashley, what are you talking about? I don’t—”

Ashley shook off her hand and coldly said, “I need some time alone.”

“Ashley...”

“I need some time alone!” Ashley opened the door. “You should get some rest too.”

Melissa still wanted to speak, but Ashley directly pushed her out.

That night, Ashley had many strange dreams.

When she woke up, it was already lunchtime.

Ashley reached for her phone to check the time and saw that John had sent her many messages in the morning.

She opened them one by one.

“Did you ask someone for help? The results are out. The forensic report says all the photos are fake. Someone smeared your reputation for the scholarship! The school has issued an official announcement!”

Ashley suddenly remembered that she hadn’t inserted her SIM card.

She quickly inserted the SIM card, and a flood of messages poured in.

She put the phone aside, opened her laptop, and searched for information about herself online.

Nothing.

Overnight, everything was clean.

On all major media platforms, the only thing pinned was the school’s official investigation report.

It was a lengthy statement, explaining how someone had framed and defamed the excellent student Ashley to increase their chances of winning the scholarship.

The photos were fake, the information was fabricated, and the handwritten posters and online posts were maliciously spread by hired trolls.

Ashley was cleared of all charges, and the internet was filled with apologies to her.

John was still congratulating Ashley, but only Ashley was focused on that so-called “someone.”

Ashley knew the matter was fake, but the photos were real.

The “someone“ probably didn’t exist.

Someone had pressured the school into fabricating an investigation result.

Ashley instinctively looked up at the ceiling.

Could it be him?

...

The James Family didn’t sleep a wink all night.

Thomas grabbed Andrew and called in the financial director to calculate how much they had lost in this collaboration with Brian.

“The contract you signed last night is the biggest mistake,” the financial director sighed.

“Since Brian started dating Miss. James, we’ve signed over a dozen agreements with him.

“If Brian was sincere about marrying into the James Family, these deals would all be beneficial.

“But if he betrays us...”

Thomas’s face darkened. He told Andrew to continue reviewing the finances with the director and headed straight to the second-floor study with his phone.

Upon entering, he locked the door and pulled out a hidden phone.

“Morgan, I got some troubles...”

...

Olivia took her mother back to her room.

She returned to her room, retrieved the previous medical report, and drove out.

...

This was Ashley’s first time returning to school since the incident.

The online and school information had been dealt with, and the school had even posted a notice in a prominent location.

But even the posters torn down, she couldn’t mute the students.

As soon as Ashley entered the campus, she noticed her classmates whispering about her.

She studied in the library all morning and went to the cafeteria for lunch during the break.

As soon as she reached the entrance, someone blocked her way.

Megan, dressed in a pink dress, stood there, looking cute and innocent, but her eyes were full of contempt. “Huh, Ashley, you’re back!”

Ashley frowned, ignoring her as she walked inside, but Megan blocked her again.

Ashley’s voice was cold. “What do you want?”

Megan reached out and patted Ashley.

Whether it was intentional or not, her hand landed on Ashley’s chest.

As she pushed, her fingers tightened, grabbing hard.

Ashley felt a sharp pain in her right chest and instinctively bent forward.

The pain in her chest was both dull and sharp, and she wanted to rub it, but held back due to the inappropriateness of the situation.

Megan laughed as she bent down. “It feels nice. No wonder you are popular.”

Ashley’s face turned pale as she straightened up, enduring the pain.

She sarcastically replied, “Huh, you don’t have to be envious. Just have more seafood, maybe it may help you.”

Megan’s figure wasn’t great, with a rather flat chest.

As soon as Ashley finished speaking, Megan’s face darkened. “Huh, nice mouth.”

“Not as good as yours,” Ashley’s expression turned dark, “Move!”

Megan gritted her teeth. “I heard you were a stripper outside, right? Well, there’s a part-time job here. I wonder if you’d be interested.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a few men with sleazy appearances came over.

One of them spit on the ground as he looked Ashley up and down.

“Is this her?”

Megan chuckled. “Brother Go, this is Huai University’s popular queen. Be nice to her.”