Arthur quickly averted his gaze, his heart pounding as he wiped his nose frantically. At this age, his blood ran hot—how could he possibly handle such temptation? He grabbed a bunch of tissues from the table, stuffing them against his nose to stop the bleeding. Just then, the sound of the gate opening echoed through the courtyard. Natalie stepped inside, only to be greeted by the sight of Arthur staring at her sister, blood streaming from his nose. "Sis? You’re here!" Ashley called out excitedly. Arthur froze mid-motion, his hand still pressed against his nose. “Sis?” Ashley quickly ran over, linking her arm with Natalie’s, looking slightly embarrassed. “Arthur, this is my sister. This estate belongs to her.” “You told me this estate belonged to a friend,” Arthur said, still dazed as he took in Natalie’s striking resemblance to Ashley. Natalie raised a brow at her younger sister, smirking. “Since when did I become your ‘friend’? What, are you disowning me as your sister now?” Now this was interesting. Ashley had always been wary of boys, treating them like some kind of infectious disease. Yet today, she had voluntarily brought one to her private estate? Natalie’s gaze swept over Arthur with keen interest. Just what about this boy had caught Ashley’s attention? Arthur immediately straightened his posture under her scrutiny, feeling as if he were meeting his future sister-in-law for the first time. Ashley, oblivious to their silent exchange, quickly tried to change the subject. She pulled Natalie closer, introducing them. “Natalie, this is Arthur Gray, the one I told you about.” Then, she turned to Arthur. “Arthur, this is my sister, Natalie.” Arthur quickly stood up and greeted her politely, “Natalie, nice to meet you.” Natalie’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Arthur? Your name’s been quite famous lately, hasn’t it?” Arthur scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He hadn’t exactly wanted to become famous. Just as he was bracing himself for a lecture, Natalie surprised him by saying, “You’ve got backbone, kid. When faced with injustice, you should stand up for yourself. Only by protecting yourself can you protect the people you care about. No wonder Ashley likes you.” Wait… Did she just say no wonder Ashley likes him? Arthur turned to Ashley, stunned. “You… you like me?” Even after two lifetimes, Arthur had never been in a relationship—he had never even held a girl’s hand before. Ashley was the only girl outside of his family that he had spent any time with. Ashley’s already blushing face turned an even deeper shade of red. She crossed her arms and huffed, “Who said I liked you? Don’t talk nonsense!” Then, she turned to Natalie, flustered. “Natalie, stop saying things like that! What if he misunderstands?” Natalie burst into laughter at her sister’s reaction. This was a first! Ashley had always been fierce—like a wild hawk, strong-willed and untamed. Yet now, she was standing there blushing like a shy little girl? This Arthur… he really was something special. Natalie composed herself and said, “You’re both still young. Right now, your studies are the most important thing. Don’t let… friendships… distract you from your goals.” She deliberately paused before saying "friendships," making her meaning crystal clear. “And especially you, Ashley! If you don’t get into a top university, I’ll make you regret it!” Ashley nodded quickly. “I know, I know, Natalie!” As they were chatting, Arthur’s phone suddenly rang.Glancing at the screen, he saw John Gray calling. Arthur didn’t want to ruin the moment, so he stepped aside before answering. As soon as he picked up, John’s furious voice erupted through the speaker. “Arthur! You ungrateful brat! Get back to the Gray residence this instant!” Arthur ended the call, completely unsurprised by John’s anger. Richie had obviously gone running to the Gray family, hoping they’d punish him in his place. Arthur was well aware of his own status in the family. With how little John cared for him, Richie’s complaints would be more than enough to stir up trouble. Ashley walked over, her expression filled with concern. “What happened?” Arthur slipped his phone back into his pocket and said casually, “Nothing. I just have to make a quick trip to the Gray residence. I won’t be able to spend the rest of the day with you.” Ashley frowned. “The Gray residence?” “Yeah, I’ll be back soon,” Arthur reassured her. Ashley didn’t look convinced. “Do you want me to go with you?”