Not long ago, Zac had publicly declared that he would treat Tia well, that he would marry her after graduation, that he would give her the grandest wedding imaginable. And yet, in the blink of an eye, he had hit her. Tia didn’t know what she had done wrong. She couldn’t believe this was real. She was beautiful, with fair skin and delicate features. The sight of her crying—tears clinging to her lashes like raindrops on pear blossoms—should have made anyone want to hold her, to comfort her. But Zac was too agitated to care. Seeing her cry only made him more impatient. "Crying, crying, crying! That’s all you ever do! Look at Ashley—look at how she helped Arthur! Arthur's sudden improvement is definitely because Ashley tutored him. And you? All you do is go out and waste time! Do you know anything else besides spending my money?" Tia’s eyes widened in shock. Go out and waste time? She bit her lip hard, holding back her tears. After a long pause, she straightened her back, determined to hold onto whatever dignity she had left. Yes, her family wasn’t as wealthy as Zac’s. But she was the most sought-after girl in school—South High’s number one beauty. Dating Zac wasn’t that much of a reach, was it? She couldn’t help but protest. "Zac, wasn’t it always you who asked me to go out? My grades have dropped too! How can you hit me?" "You still dare to talk back?" Zac didn’t care about her feelings in the slightest. He raised his hand again, about to strike her once more. Tia flinched instinctively. The sting from the first slap still burned on her cheek. The moment she shrank back, the straightness in her posture collapsed—like her entire world was bending under the weight of reality. Zac, satisfied that she had finally lowered that proud head of hers, dropped his hand. "Hmph. If I tell you to go out, do you have to? Look at Ashley—she never wastes time playing around with Arthur. You should learn from her!" With that, he turned and walked away without a second glance. Tia stood there, staring at his retreating figure, frozen in disbelief. Just yesterday, they had been enjoying themselves together. Yes, they had spent money, but so what? Zac was a rich young master—what did a little spending matter to him?Ashley? Why is he comparing me to Ashley? That low-class girl? She’s not even worth mentioning in the same breath as me! Zac didn’t see it—the shift in Tia’s gaze. The heartbreak and sorrow were fading, replaced by anger. And jealousy. At the school gate, Ashley looked at Arthur suspiciously. "Why did you call me out here so mysteriously?" Arthur smiled, eyes twinkling with amusement. "You’ll see when we get there." With that, he took Ashley’s hand and led her toward the residential area near the school. Ashley frowned in confusion. "Where are we going?" South High was located in the heart of South City—prime real estate. Any property near the school was outrageously expensive. "You have a friend living here?" she asked, puzzled. Arthur had mentioned before that he didn’t have many friends. Arthur simply shook his head, keeping his lips sealed. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of a house and pulled a key from his pocket. He placed it in Ashley’s hand and gestured for her to open the door. Ashley, though still confused, obediently took the key and unlocked it. The moment the door swung open, her eyes widened in shock. The warm, cozy décor inside—it was exactly what she had once described to Arthur. The dream home she had imagined. Ashley covered her mouth in disbelief and turned to Arthur. "Arthur, this…" Arthur smiled. "So? Do you like it?" Ashley nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, yes! I love it! This is exactly what I dreamed of!" The house wasn’t big, but every inch of it radiated warmth and comfort. It felt like a true home—so much cozier than the cold, empty house she had grown up in. She wandered through the space in awe, her steps light with excitement. "Arthur, this is your house?"Arthur nodded. "Yeah. I bought it fully furnished, but I decorated everything myself." Like Ashley, he had always longed for a warm home. If the Gray family wouldn’t give me one, then I’ll make one for myself. Ashley’s heart skipped a beat. For someone to carefully put together a home like this… he must be an incredibly warm person at heart.