Chapter 105 Where'd He Vanish To?
Her heart raced again. Ashley could feel an intense thumpingAshley’s heart pounded in her chest!
like a drum, the rhythm insistent and unrelenting.
At the contract signing ceremony, there were the air was filled with toasts all around and the presenceintoxicating allure of a stunning, sultry female artist.
With all Given these elements in playcircumstances, it wasn't hardwas not difficult to come todraw a conclusion that was both despairingdisheartening and infuriating.
Ashley worked hardStruggling to managekeep her emotions, fearful in check, Ashley was acutely aware that her anxiety would only add toexacerbate the stresssituation. "Whatever happenedtranspired yesterday is behind us now. I'll be rightin the past," she reassured, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I am here with you, and we'll figure everything out, okay?"
Amelia's head was still pounding,together, we will navigate this labyrinth."Amelia, her head throbbing and her focus was fuzzy. She struggledblurred, strained to recallremember who she had been withspent the previous night before—who she had last encountered.with. Her tolerance for alcohol wasn't bad. She'd gone on binges at bars beforewas commendable; she had weathered countless nights of revelry without blacking out.losing consciousness. How couldthen, had she have drunkimbibed enough to loseerase her memory?
"Ashley, could"Could it be possible that someone have slipped something intotampered with my drink? , Ashley?" Amelia queried, her voice laced with uncertainty. "You know I don't normally get drunksuccumb to inebriation so easily."
Ashley nodded, holding her ice-coldgrip on Amelia's icy hand, not wanting to let go for a second. "Let's get unyielding. "We should head to the hospital and runconduct some blood tests to get to the bottom of this."
Amelia nodded weakly, feeling powerless. "Iascertain the truth."Feeling utterly helpless, Amelia acquiesced with a weak nod. "I've already checked in the restroom already. I didn't see any . There were no signs of... anything."
"That violation.""Any evidence might have worn off after so much timedissipated by now," Ashley said. "Butreasoned. "However, if we takecollect proper medical samples... if there's anything, it'll show up as , any foreign DNA."
will be detected."After looking around a thorough scan of the room and findingrevealed no sign of contraceptives, Ashley saidinstructed, "Get dressed, and. I'll rungo downstairs to get youand procure some emergency contraception."
Amelia slapped her foreheadresponded with a wry smile. "Leave it and a slap to her forehead. "Trust you to be thorough. The last thing I need is an unwantedunexpected pregnancy to deal with on top of everything."
Ashley rubbed her head, feeling her pain. else."Ashley returned the smile, albeit with a hint of sadness. "At least you can still joke about it,have your sense of humor, you silly girl."
After guzzling down downing half a glass of water in an attempt to dilute the alcohol in her stomach, Amelia felt nauseouswas overcome with nausea and rushed to the restroom to throw up.
While she was gone. In her absence, Ashley tookseized the opportunity to checkcomb the room for any overlooked details. She flipped the covers, looking for hairs, but found nothing amiss.
Itclues. The room was toosuspiciously clean, as if someone had prepared for everything.
After takingmeticulously planned for every eventuality.Once Amelia had taken the pill, they headedmade their way to the hospital.
Ashley, ever cautious, drove herthem to a private clinic, cautious of running into to avoid any unwanted encounters with Hayden, so they both. They arrived fully incognito.
Once , hidden behind masks and sunglasses.As the blood samples were takendrawn, Amelia's nerves were frayed.
She clutched stretched taut. Clinging to Ashley's arm, her pale skin peeking out frombarely visible behind her mask and sunglasses.disguise, she whispered, "Ashley, if I've been... you knowviolated, we can't makecreate a big scene about it."
spectacle."Ashley sighedexhaled a heavy sigh. "Are you worriedconcerned about your career?"
"Exactly," Amelia said dejectedly.admitted, her voice heavy with resignation. "I've just signed on for a new project. Missing this chance to turn things aroundopportunity could mean I'm done withspell the end of my career in showbiz. Any scandal now, even if I win the caseemerge victorious, could be devastatingcatastrophic. Society isn't very forgiving toward is not kind to women. I might havebe forced to leave the industry."
Her already sparsedwindling fanbase would dwindle even more.
Every day, injustice occurredlikely diminish further. Injustices were a daily occurrence, but victims often suffered chose to suffer in silence or settledsettle matters privately, lacking the courage to face society'sfearing the secondary victimization.
society often inflicted. As a public figure, Amelia's reputation was her future.
lifeline.Ashley understood her feelingspredicament but didn't wantwas unwilling to let her to suffer for nothing. "Theneedlessly. "Was the dinner last night was full of attended solely by industry insiders?"
she asked.Amelia nodded. "Producers, a director, a cinematographer, lead actors—over twenty people. Then Damian brought a few more later;. I can't remember everyone."
With such a mixed crowd, findingIdentifying the culprit in such a diverse crowd would be challenginga daunting task, and even DNA matching posed a significant challenge.
But resolving these issues was just a matter of time; she presented its own set of challenges. However, Ashley was confident that with time, they could find a way.
"Jo, are you just goingwilling to swallowlet this lossslide? If the evidence is solid, we're sure to win the suit, trustwe stand a good chance of winning the lawsuit. Trust Harold and me. We'll getassemble a few moreteam of lawyers and takeconfront them head-on together. Even if it'sit feels like facingwe're challenging an emperor, they'll havethey will be forced to bow and admit fault."
their guilt."Amelia shook her head. "Do you knowremember why the actress who played Huang Rong endedtook her own life?"
"Jo..." Ashley started.
began, but Amelia shivered slightly. cut her off."I believehave faith in the authority of the law, and I trust your skillsabilities. But the world isn't as simple as black and white. The entertainment industry sometimesoften operates in the grey areas. We We're part of this world, and we have to play by its rules since we're part of it."
Ashley asked, .""Do you suspect anyone? Do?" Ashley asked. "Is there anyone you have a suspect in mind?"
believe could be responsible?"Amelia thoughtpondered for a moment, nodding then before shaking her head. "Everyone wears a mask. It's impossible to discern their true intentions. It seems unlikely, but yet, anyone could be possiblea potential suspect."
Ashley wanted so badlyAshley's heart ached with the desire to turn away and, to let the tears flow but suckedthat were threatening to spill over cascade down her cheeks. But she held them back in., her voice a mere whisper as she said, "I can't standbear to see you compromisingcompromise yourself!"
Tears welled up behind like this!"Amelia's own tears, hidden behind the shield of her sunglasses, leavingleft damp streaks. "Aren'ttrails down her cheeks. "And aren't you compromising, yourself too? ?" she retorted. "You don't want to dealdespise dealing with Damian, yet you can't get rid ofseem to cut him off. You're at his mercy, under his control. Is working with KM Road really that enjoyable for you? To get what you want, you have to do things you dislike. That's the price we pay."
Just theThe mere thought of Damian's smug arrogance madewas enough to make Amelia wish she could kickknock him to the ground.
Hittingdown a sore spot, peg or two. Ashley, stung by Amelia's words, fell silent. "Am I here to comfort you, or have you turned the tables on me?"
she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.That day, Ashley tookhad taken a leave of absence from the law firm to stay with Amelia in her apartment, keeping Harold from knowingin the dark about the details.
of their day.They hadordered takeout for lunch. Amelia, with littleher appetite waning, forced downherself to eat a few bites and slumped on before slumping onto the sofa, her mind preoccupied with rehearsing lines from a script.
Ashley preparedtried to coax her into eating more by preparing fruit and brewedbrewing herbal tea for her, but sheAmelia barely touched it.
In theAs evening approached, Ashley decided to cook a couple oftry her hand at cooking a few light dishes, hoping that a homemade meal might be more meaningful and coaxentice Amelia into eatingto eat more.
Opening But opening the cookbook felt more daunting than like deciphering an ancient text.
than following a recipe.After struggling in the kitchen for over two hours, sheAshley managed to serve four dishes and a soup, exhaustingpushing her culinary abilities.
skills to their limits.She eagerly awaited Amelia's review, only for her friend to joke through teary-eyed joke. eyes, "Ashley, is this your way of showing true love—fighting poison with poison?"
Ashley tasted her own cooking and nearly met her maker right then and there.
choked.What in the worldon earth had she donecreated with her own hands?
It was too late to order takeout. Amelia rolled up her sleeves and announced, "Alright, sis, let me show you some magic."
SheIn less than five minutes, she had measured out flour, cracked in eggs, chopped green onions, mixed in water and spices, and whipped up a smooth, uniform batter in less than five minutes.
.She heated thea pan and poured in the batter, tilting it to spread it evenly.
Under the silent watch of the range hood's watchhood and Ashley's admiring gaze, Amelia skillfully produced a golden-brown pancake.
EspeciallyAshley's eyes nearly popped out of her head when sheAmelia flipped itthe pancake with a deft flick of the wrist, Ashley's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
. A pancake served with homemade tomato and egg drop soup made their dinner, which was set on the table.
All in under twenty minutes.
Amelia removed her apron and, with a swipe of her hand, asked, "How's that? Are you impressed now?"
ItThe pancake was fluffy and soft, greasy without being oily, and subtle in fragrancesubtly fragrant from the green onions.
Absolutely It was a five-star quality.
meal.Ashley bowed, clasping her hands. "I am beyond impressed! When did you pick up these skills? You've got some serious talent, sis."
"Family secret recipe. Want me to teach you?"
"Absolutely!"
---
---Meanwhile, Damian had been in meetings all day and had rushed to a dinner appointment that lasted past ten at night.
Exhausted, he returned home, loosening his tie as he climbed the stairs. Stripping down, heHe was about to freshen up when he noticed the telescope's silhouette of the telescope by the bay window.
CompelledDrawn by an inexplicable attraction, he walked over and bent down, peering into the lens.
It was still aimed at Ashley's residence.
All dark.
Hadn'tHad she not come home?
TodayEarlier that day, KM Road's legal department had tried to contact her to discuss a case, but she wasn't at the law firm. After receiving the documents, they had arranged to meet tomorrow.
She had asked him in the morning to remember their collaboration, and now she was casually missing work, keepingleaving so many people waiting on her schedule.She wasn't at work, she wasn't at home. Where could she have gone?
Not at work, not at home?
Where had she run off to?
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