Clutching the armrest of the couch, Ashley gulped as her eyes swept over Mia. She was wearing a fitted black dress that ended just above her knees, adorned with elegant gold accents. Her hair was styled in a sleek French bun, complemented by a delicate gold necklace and a pair of Louboutin stiletto heels.

Ashley blinked, covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh, for the love of God, Mia Tran!" she exclaimed. "Can you please stop being this beautiful?" Her delighted gaze roamed over Mia, as though seeing her for the first time.

Mia raised a brow, scoffing lightly. "And here I thought you were the smooth talker in this relationship," she teased. Ashley, meanwhile, was dressed in a crisp white turtleneck tucked into tailored trousers, topped with a gray-and-black blazer that matched her fitted trousers. Her look was finished with a pair of Louboutin platform boots.

"For once, Ashley," Mia said with a laugh, shaking her head, "can you keep your smart mouth in check? You know it's unfair that you can look both hot and cool at the same time in anything you wear."

Groaning playfully, she added, "Honestly, right now, I'd rather skip your family dinner and just lock you in my room."

Ashley laughed, shaking her head as she stood and walked toward Mia. "Oh, sugarplum, I wouldn't say no to that offer," she replied, her voice warm.

Gently, Ashley tilted Mia's chin upward and gazed into her eyes. "Am I dreaming? Or is this stunning woman really going to be my wife soon?" she murmured, her voice filled with wonder.

Mia rolled her eyes, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Has Nyx been rubbing off on you? This is exactly the kind of smooth nonsense that attracts women to you two like moths to a flame," she teased, brushing her thumb lightly against Ashley's cheek.

"My eyes are only on you, sugarplum," Ashley said with a sweet smile. "Let those women look if they want; it doesn't matter to me." She chuckled softly before adding, "Though, I'm not exactly excited about this family dinner. If it were being held at the main house, I'd have turned it down."

"Do you think they'll like me?" Mia asked, her voice laced with nervousness. "You're literally the heiress of your family's company. I mean, my family has a business too, but—"

A soft kiss from Ashley silenced her. "Mia, just be yourself," Ashley said, her tone reassuring. "You don't have to worry about impressing anyone. This is about me and you. All those assets, titles—they're just labels for my family. Without them, I'm just Ashley."

Mia sighed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Easy for you to say, Detective," she muttered. "Maybe I should take over my family's company too. Though I wouldn't even know where to start. We're in such different industries—how would I even choose which one to handle? Not that I can split myself in two." She laughed at her own joke.

Ashley clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. "Oh, we'd be fine living a simple life. Who needs all those assets anyway?" she said with a shrug.

Mia smiled warmly. "You know, that's one of the things I love about you," she said. "You were born into wealth, but you live so simply—never bragging about your family's money or showing off."

Ashley chuckled. "That's why Nyx and I get along so well. We're both just a couple of stray idiots wandering through life."

Mia rolled her eyes, but her grin gave her away. "Whatever you say," she replied, the corners of her lips curving up in a smile she reserved for Ashley alone.



Ashley heaved a sigh, pulling out a chair for Mia before settling down beside her. Her father's intense gaze weighed heavily on them, a silent pressure that was almost suffocating. Biting her lip into a thin line, Ashley clasped her hands tightly.

"So," Ashley began, glancing around the table. "What's this family dinner really about?"

Manu, Ashley's father, cleared his throat. "How have you been, Ashley?" he asked, resting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands together as his sharp eyes lingered on her.

Ashley tilted her head slightly and forced a polite smile. "Oh, I've been doing just fine, Father. Thanks for asking," she replied evenly.

Manu nodded, his gaze unrelenting. "I heard you're getting married," he said, his eyes dropping to Mia. "Is she your fiancée?"

Ashley straightened up and nodded. "Yes, she is. This is Mia Tran," she said, introducing Mia with quiet confidence.

"And what do you do for a living, Ms. Tran?" Manu asked, his tone steady but probing.

Mia swallowed hard and cleared her throat. "I'm a celebrity, Mr. Amosa," she began, smiling politely. "My family also runs businesses across different industries—"

"A celebrity?" Elena, Ashley's mother, interrupted, her expression shifting as recognition dawned. "Wait a moment. Are you related to Lauren? Lauren Carter-Tran?"

Mia offered a sweet smile. "Yes, she's my biological mother."

Elena and Manu exchanged a look, sharing a subtle nod. "I see," Manu said with a heavy sigh. "So, when are you planning the wedding? Have you thought about a venue—"

"Hold up!" Ashley interjected, raising a hand. Her brows furrowed as she looked between her parents and Mia, confusion evident on her face. "What's going on here?"

Manu tilted his head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You said you're getting married, didn't you? What do you expect from us? To oppose your plans?" He chuckled. "We've opposed your decisions so many times before, and that didn't turn out well for any of us."

Ashley blinked, glancing at Mia before narrowing her eyes at her father. "Wait—if this is some kind of new scheme, I swear, we're leaving," she said firmly.

"It's not a scheme," Azriel, Ashley's elder brother, chimed in, his voice calm. "I'll be taking over the company. You're free to continue living your life however you want."

Ashley turned to him, her brows raised. "You? Taking over the company?" she asked, her tone incredulous. Then she turned back to her father. "What is this really about?"

Elena laughed softly. "Oh, Ashley, dear," she said, shaking her head. "We've been asking you to take that position for over a decade, but you kept turning us down. You've dodged every responsibility and even avoided our security teams by keeping such a low profile. So, we've decided it's better for Azriel to take over. He's been preparing for this for years."

Ashley leaned back in her chair, scoffing. "Wow. So, you've finally figured it out? Does this mean I'm free from all the schemes and manipulation?"

Manu rubbed his forehead, sighing deeply. "Ashley Fletcher-Amosa," he said firmly. "This isn't a scheme. It's your freedom. You've proven you can live just fine without relying on our privilege for the past decade." He shrugged. "Maybe it's time to reactivate your black card and whatever else you might need."

Ashley's eyes widened. "Wait—you deactivated my black card?!" she exclaimed. "What kind of father does that?"

Manu raised a brow. "You said you didn't want to use any of our assets. And now you're acting like the victim?"

Ashley paused, narrowing her eyes as she tapped a finger on her chin. "Wait—I've been using that card all this time! Not daily, but once in a while for emergencies. Isn't that mine?"

"That's Azriel's, idiot," Alysse, her sister, chimed in, rolling her eyes as she shook her head.

Azriel chuckled softly. "Yeah, I switched mine with yours," he said, shrugging. "Didn't think you'd only use it to buy coffee and nothing else."

"Coffee?" Manu echoed, frowning.

Ashley shifted in her seat. "It's my business," she muttered. "I used the card to buy supplies when I was starting out. Once I got the capital back, I stopped using it. But that wasn't mine the whole time?"

"Enough about the card," Manu said, waving a hand dismissively. "Are you coming back to the family home?"

Ashley shook her head firmly. "Nope. I have my own house, and I can manage just fine. Maybe I'll visit, but only if you stop scheming." She softened her tone slightly and turned to her parents. "And I expect you to treat Mia as your own daughter. She's going to be my wife soon."

Elena chuckled, reaching out to pat Ashley's hand. "Dear, when have we ever opposed your preferences? We don't care who you marry. Mia is welcome in our family, and we'll treat her like one of our own."

Mia smiled warmly, her earlier nerves easing. Ashley gave her hand a reassuring squeeze under the table, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years.