Just yesterday, Arthur had said he would use the surveillance footage to prove his innocence. But now, barely a night later, he was saying that all the footage had been destroyed and there was nothing to investigate. The way it sounded—it was like something a cheating man would make up to cover his tracks. Arthur found himself unable to meet Ashley’s gaze. He was afraid. Afraid that the trust she had just started to rebuild in him would shatter completely the moment she heard those words. After speaking, Arthur lowered his head, waiting silently for Ashley’s reaction, bracing himself for her anger. His heart pounded with anxiety, his hands clenched so tightly that his palms were slick with sweat. Even when he had acquired Cloudia Corporation and taken it public, he hadn’t been this nervous. But as long as Ashley didn’t leave him impulsively, as long as she gave him time, he didn’t care if she lashed out at him. He would take it. Seeing Arthur like this, Ashley’s heart ached. He was a proud man, a force to be reckoned with in the business world. Yet now, he was consumed with fear, all because he was afraid of losing her trust. Ashley gently lifted his face, making him look at her. Softening her voice, she said, "Arthur, it’s okay. I heard your call with Mr. Young just now—I believe you. I know you wouldn’t lie to me." Her words were firm and unwavering. For some reason, she had never felt as certain as she did in this moment—Arthur loved her. He loved her deeply, to his very core. A wave of guilt and regret washed over Ashley for ever doubting him. Arthur stared into her bright, unwavering eyes, filled with disbelief. Just last night, she had said they would wait for the surveillance footage before drawing conclusions. He had spent the entire night worrying. After all, Tia had managed to smuggle the dress and wig out under his nose and even deliberately messed up the bed. That level of planning showed just how well-prepared she had been for this setup. And yet, Ashley now stood before him, saying without hesitation that she believed him—completely and unconditionally. At that moment, the weight pressing on Arthur’s heart finally lifted. He pulled Ashley into a tight embrace once more, cherishing the warmth of her presence. He ran his fingers gently through her silky hair.With heartfelt sincerity, he murmured, "Ashley, I must have accumulated endless blessings in my past life to be lucky enough to meet you in this one." Ashley let out a soft laugh. She blinked playfully and teased, "Shouldn’t I be the one saying that? You’re the famous chairman of Cloudia Corporation and a perfect SAT scorer, after all." Hearing her playful tone, Arthur finally relaxed. He playfully tapped her nose, still shaken. "You scared me to death last night." Ashley stuck out her tongue and playfully punched his chest, scolding, "That’s what you get for not paying attention and following someone so carelessly! You’re not allowed to do that again!" Arthur quickly nodded. "I won’t! Once was more than enough. I don’t even want to drink anymore!" Alcohol truly was a troublemaker. After some time spent in each other’s embrace, Ashley finally asked, "What do you plan to do about Tia?" At the mention of Tia, Arthur’s head throbbed. Without the surveillance footage, he had no concrete proof that she had set him up. He wasn’t worried about Tia trying to blackmail him, but the online rumors were spiraling out of control, and it was having too big of an impact on Ashley. As she spoke, Ashley opened her phone. The moment she did, a flood of notifications popped up on her screen, making both her and Arthur’s expressions darkened. Overnight, the news of Arthur’s alleged affair with South High’s prettiest girl, Tia, had spread across the internet like wildfire. Countless headlines related to the scandal had dominated the trending topics. Both Arthur’s and Ashley’s personal accounts had been flooded with comments. The internet was in an uproar, and people were saying all kinds of things. Arthur instinctively opened his own account and skimmed through some of the comments. "The young chairman of Cloudia Corporation—I used to think he was a prodigy, but turns out he’s just another cheating scumbag!" "If he never fully cut things off with Tia, why did he even start dating Ashley? Poor girl, she deserves better." "So talent and character really aren’t the same thing. He’s young, rich, the CEO of Cloudia Corporation, and an SAT prodigy—but at the end of the day, he’s just a jerk." "Aren’t they only eighteen? Kids these days have such messy love lives." "Ashley must be heartbroken. I heard they were really in love before this." "Did you guys see the footage at the hotel entrance? Arthur claimed Tia set him up… do you think that’s true?" "Didn’t Tia publicly call off their engagement to be with Zac?" "Looks like Tia isn’t that simple either. Now that Zac has lost his influence, she’s crawling back to Arthur."