She worked hard, earned top grades, and never once relied on Arthur’s money. She had clear goals and a vision for the future. Ashley and Tia were complete opposites. Tia lived her life full of complaints—resenting the fact that she hadn’t been born into a wealthy, powerful family, blaming herself for choosing the wrong man, and cursing the world for treating her unfairly. But she never once stopped to consider that, compared to so many people barely scraping by, her life was already far better. In a fast-paced society where financial pressure was constantly increasing, countless families had no choice but to work long hours, day and night, just to raise their children and care for aging parents. They didn’t even dare to take a break. Because if they stopped working, their income would stop. Household expenses, mortgage payments, and car loans all required money. At the very least, Tia’s family wasn’t suffocating under the weight of survival. If she was willing to put in the effort, she could still build a bright future for herself. The room fell into silence. Arthur’s patience snapped. "Open the door." Tia, watching his irritation, suddenly let out a soft laugh. Instead of throwing herself at him again, she took her time. She reached for the light switch and flicked it on, then deliberately mussed her hair and tugged at her dress, making herself look as disheveled as possible. Looking at Arthur with a mocking smile, she said, "Stop resisting. The moment I brought you here, I sent Ashley a message, telling her exactly where we are. She should be arriving any minute now." Then, she suddenly leaned in, her breath warm against his ear, and whispered, "What do you think Ashley will think when she walks in and sees us alone in this room, our clothes in disarray?" Arthur’s fist clenched. In a split second, he lunged—his hand seized Tia’s throat, his grip tightening. "You dare threaten me?"Tia choked, coughing violently as she clawed at his fingers, desperately trying to pry them off. But Arthur was immovable. The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t break free. Her face turned paler by the second. She could barely breathe. Her vision blurred. For the first time, Tia truly felt the chilling presence of death. She was terrified. She regretted everything. He’s going to kill me. He really is going to kill me! Survival instinct took over. Panic-stricken, she frantically signaled to Arthur, desperately trying to show him she would hand over the key. She would give him the key! She would! Arthur’s eyes remained cold and unyielding, his grip unwavering. Just as Tia was on the brink of suffocation, he finally released her. With a loud thud, Tia collapsed to the floor. She no longer cared about anything else. All she could do was lie there, gasping for air, sucking in deep, desperate breaths. She had never realized how precious it was just to be able to breathe. Her vision slowly cleared, and as she regained her senses, Arthur’s cold voice rang above her. "Open the door." Tia’s entire body trembled. She didn’t dare play any more games. Shaking uncontrollably, she scrambled to her feet and fumbled for the key. "Okay, okay! I’ll open it! I’ll open it!" she stammered in terror. She was truly afraid now. If she hesitated for even a second, she knew—Arthur would wrap his hands around her throat again. And this time, he might not let go. And she had no doubt—he would do it. Tia didn’t dare question it for a second.But just as Tia pushed the door open, a figure appeared in the doorway—one that made Arthur’s heart drop. His breath hitched. Ashley. She stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the scene before her, her face etched with shock and disbelief. Behind her, a swarm of reporters crowded the hall, cameras flashing wildly, capturing every second of the moment. Arthur and Ashley locked eyes; both of them stood completely frozen. And just like that, time stopped. For a moment, Tia forgot to breathe. But then—just as quickly as the fear had consumed her—a wave of triumph washed over her. Satisfaction. She had won. With her back to Arthur, she reached up and slowly pulled up her slipping dress strap, lowering her head just enough to appear flustered and embarrassed. She didn’t say a word. But she didn’t need to. Ashley’s wide eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Her body trembled slightly as she glanced from Tia to Arthur, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Arthur snapped out of his shock. Without hesitation, he shoved Tia aside and rushed toward Ashley. His voice was urgent, desperate. "Ashley, it’s not what it looks like! You have to believe me!" With another thud, Tia was thrown against the wall, hitting it hard. "Ah!" she yelped, her face twisting in pain. Cameras immediately turned to capture the scene, flashing nonstop as they focused on her.