The usually composed man dropped his guard. In a hoarse, pleading voice, he said, “If you’re not ready to be my fiancee, let’s start small. Be my girlfriend. Please stop pushing me away.”
Bianca, lips swollen from their kisses and thoughts muddled, nodded against his shoulder without hesitation.
Dave’s heart raced with excitement. He carried her easily from the table and walked into the bedroom.
He gently laid her on the large, welcoming bed. There, Bianca lay, a delicate figure between the mess, her hair tousled and her cheeks flushed a bright red. Her disheveled look only made her more captivating.
Dave, who had restrained his desire for her for so long, held nothing back now.
With a quick movement, he undid the buttons at his collar and leaned over her, his hands reaching to untie the knot at the back of her dress.
As Dave started untying Bianca’s dress, she suddenly felt a wave of seriousness. She quickly grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, stopping immediately.
Bianca looked away. “I… I’m not ready yet.”
Seeing her flushed face and avoiding eyes, Dave knew she meant it. He wouldn’t push her if she weren’t ready.
Respecting her feelings, Dave rolled over, lying beside her.
He held her close and whispered, his voice low, “Alright. Let me just hold you for a bit.”
Bianca didn’t protest, feeling comforted in his arms.
Back in her room, Bianca closed the door and leaned against it, her heart still pounding.
What was she thinking?
She had decided to keep her distance from him, so how did she end up getting involved and agreeing to be his girlfriend?
Whenever Dave flirted, Bianca lost control, increasingly drawn to him.
But she couldn’t let her feelings take over.
Her one-night stand with a stranger weighed heavily on her heart, a barrier she couldn’t overcome.
She doubted if Dave could accept her past after being with him. She feared his disapproval, worried he might reject her because of what happened.
Even though it was unlikely, she couldn’t take the risk. She’d rather lose him than risk losing him because of her past.
Bianca crawled under her blanket, her mind buzzing with thoughts, making sleep difficult.
Suddenly, her phone rang-it was a call from Sophia.
Surprised, Bianca sat up and answered, “Hi, Sophia. How’s everything?”
“Hey, Bianca. I used the phone you gave me to contact a friend. He knows the manager of the Emperor Hotel. We planned to replace the surveillance video of you going there tonight, but the manager said the footage has been deleted and replaced with something else.”
“Who could have done that?” Bianca asked, taken aback.
“I’m not sure. The manager didn’t say anything more. But the surveillance video isn’t an issue anymore. If the police ask, just say you weren’t at the Emperor Hotel. Stick to that story, and Gabriel won’t be able to do anything.”
“Alright, got it.”
After hanging up, Bianca couldn’t help but wonder. Only she and Sophia knew what happened tonight. Who could have found out so quickly and replaced the surveillance footage?
****
That night, at the Scott family’s house.
Ashley had finished talking to the police and was back home.
It was already ten o’clock when she entered the living room, and everything was quiet. She tried to sneak in, but Stacey stopped her suddenly.
“Stop!”
Stacey couldn’t go out alone because Peter was keeping an eye on her. She could only see what was happening outside through the internet. By chance, she came across a news report about the chaos at the Emperor Hotel that evening.
To her surprise, she saw Ashley in the middle of it all.
Anger and worry flooded Stacey.
Stacey waited anxiously in the living room, unable to reach Ashley on the phone.
When Ashley finally came in, Stacey looked at her. Ashley’s lips were tight with fear, and she could not speak.
“Can you explain what’s happening with you and Gabriel? Why did you involve the media? If Joshua finds out, it could ruin your chances of becoming wealthy. Do you understand?!”
Stacey scolded Ashley in a quiet voice, making sure Peter didn’t hear. If he knew, he’d be furious, seeing Ashley’s actions damaging his reputation. That would put Stacey in a dangerous position.
Ashley broke down in Stacey’s arms, crying. “I don’t even know him. Tonight, I got a message warning me about Joshua meeting someone else at the Emperor Hotel. I went there impulsively and found Gabriel instead. He attacked me, trying to… assault me.”
“An anonymous message?” Stacey frowned, suspicious. She immediately thought of Bianca.
Remembering Bianca’s previous anonymous message to Peter, which almost got Stacey caught, Stacey realized something startling: ‘Ashley got a similar anonymous text. Could she be the one who sent it this time?’
“Why were you so careless? Why didn’t you check before going to the hotel?” Stacey’s words hurt Ashley deeply.
“I… I…” Ashley hesitated, unable to admit to her recent argument with Joshua, which left her feeling anxious. His silence on the call made her rush to the hotel impulsively.
Seeing Ashley hesitate, Stacey instinctively attributed it to her daughter’s impulsiveness. Ashley had always been straightforward and impulsive, a trait that sometimes frustrated Stacey.
“Well, you fell into someone’s trap this time. You need to be more careful in the future! Your reputation in the entertainment industry depends on what people think of you. And with your marriage to Joshua, you can’t afford any scandal. Do you understand?” Stacey’s words were both cautionary and parental.
Ashley nodded, but underneath her agreement, she felt resentment growing. “Who would dare do this to me? I need to find out the truth and get revenge!”
Stacey’s face grew serious. She decided not to share her suspicions with Ashley. Instead, she gently patted her head and said, “I’ll take care of this. Just focus on making Joshua happy and getting engaged soon. I’ll handle everything else.”
Feeling guilty, Ashley coughed and leaned against Stacey. “I understand, Mom. Don’t worry.”
After a moment of affection with Stacey, Ashley went back to her room to rest.
Once alone at night, Stacey made a call. “Hey, it’s me. Did you see what happened to Ashley? She was set up, and public opinion is against her now. If this gets out, it will hurt not just Ashley but also you…. I know what I have to do, but I need your help to handle this situation…”
After hanging up, Stacey stood up, intending to go back to her room, when her phone rang again.
Stacey’s expression changed, seeing the caller ID.
It was Haris calling.