Ashlyn smiled softly, but it did not reach her eyes.
He should really take care of himself, so he did not end up with kidney deficiency.
Jonathan chimed in from the side, "Mrs. Anderson, it's not because of Ashlyn that Davis works so hard. He’s always saying he wants to make more money so that Ashlyn can raise their children without worry. Then, you’ll get to be a grandmother sooner than you think!"
"No, Davis’s actually planning to buy a new villa and have you move in with him!"
Ashlyn’s expression darkened slightly. Buy a villa? Could this be the surprise Davis had mentioned before in the hospital?
Davis looked a bit embarrassed. He scratched his head and pulled out a bunch of keys.
"Baby, I came today just to take you to see our new home. It’s a single-family house with a river view and an art gallery. You’ll be the queen in that palace from now on."
Ashlyn was coaxed into visiting Azure Horizon Villa, a luxurious courtyard villa worth more than 28 million dollars. Such a place could only be afforded by the exceptionally wealthy or powerful.
Jonathan Lewis, a third-generation heir to a wealthy family, was the developer behind the project. He and Davis met after Davis’s rise to fame and they quickly became close with Jonathan, who offered Davis significant resources. They got along well.
"Baby, there’s a golf course over there. You can take the kids to play golf in the future."
"And there’s an exhibition hall in the back. Your collection of calligraphy, paintings and porcelain can go there."
"The dressing room in the master bedroom is over 100 square meters. You can fill it with all your favorite Chanel pieces."
He had made this villa a dream come true, a place filled with the hopes and wishes they had shared when they were younger. It seemed he had never forgotten those vows.
So, when had this love changed?
Ashlyn's eyes welled up with tears.
"Baby, look over there."
Ashlyn turned her head and the sky lit up with fireworks. Davis stood in the midst of the fireworks, backlit, his smile forming crescent-shaped eyes.
It reminded her of when he graduated from high school, the brilliant young man holding a bunch of firework sticks, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Ashlyn Anderson! Be my woman! Even if the seas and rocks break, we’ll never break up!"
A wave of regret fluttered in Ashlyn's heart.
Just because a cat stole fish did not mean it stopped catching mice.
Life was fleeting. If she closed her eyes, ignoring everything she did not want to see or hear, could she make do with it?
Jonathan came over with many friends and hosted a party at his villa. Among the guests was a senior with a strong reputation in the industry, someone whose connections could offer opportunities.
Ashlyn could not refuse and reluctantly went along with it.
Davis held her close, smiling as he shielded her from anyone who tried to pressure her into drinking.
The skins of nuts, pomegranates and shrimp were all cleaned off and fed to her by hand.
Jonathan and his friends laughed boisterously. "It turns out that when you’re loved, any food no longer has skin!"
"Davis, are you showing to your friends how to treat women?"
"Ashlyn, you’re so lucky. Davis still does these little things, even at his level. Frankly, I’m impressed!"
Ashlyn forced a smile as their compliments piled up, but her chest grew tighter with each passing moment.
She stood up and made her way to the public restroom. The confined space felt like a relief, as it allowed her to breathe easier.
The sound of high-heeled shoes clicking outside the door echoed randomly and it seemed there was more than one person approaching.
"Sarah, have you had any work recently?"
"Yes, ever since Lilia introduced me to a few male celebrities in the entertainment industry, my value has skyrocketed. Recently, someone even offered me a high bid for a photo shoot. Oops, I almost forgot. I’ll add him to ask."
The next moment, a friend request notification popped up on Ashlyn's phone.
She quickly muted her phone and began sending over explicit photos one after another.
With her innocent face and ample bust, which could not be overlooked, Ashlyn was struck by a sudden memory. Three years ago, she had helped Davis meet with this girl at a support club for a few days. This girl had also been one of Davis's fans.
"How could you join a stranger like that, Sarah? What if you get cheated?" asked the girl sitting across from her.
