Ashley Bowen pursed her lips and followed Ryan Osborne to the room at the far left.
Ryan Osborne gently pushed the door open, and an explosion of pink burst into view.
A luxurious, European-style ceiling hung overhead, and a massive fireplace immediately caught her eye. A fine, patterned rug covered the floor. The room featured a wide bed with pink curtains, and even the drapes drawn across the floor-to-ceiling windows were a matching shade of pink.
Ryan Osborne strode into the room and pulled back the bed curtains, letting the red glow of the sunset stream in and pool on the floor.
'It's gorgeous! This room is so magical!'
Ashley Bowen dashed to the large bed and threw herself onto a doll that was taller than her, bursting into giggles.
"This was all arranged for the Imperial Concubine, according to His Highness's instructions."
"Huh?" Ashley Bowen turned around in surprise and nodded, feeling incredibly flattered. "I love it. I love it so much."
"His Highness has gone out and may not return tonight. The Imperial Concubine should get some rest." Without another word, Ryan Osborne bowed, then turned and pulled the door closed behind him.
Ashley Bowen happily kicked off her shoes, sending them flying several feet away. She hugged the large doll and bounced up and down on the soft bed.
"This place is amazing!"
After rolling around on the bed a few more times, Ashley Bowen got up, deciding to take a bath.
As she passed a long bank of closets, Ashley Bowen stopped short. She couldn't resist reaching for a handle and pulling the door open.
Inside, a row of clothes was arranged in perfect order. To her surprise, none of them had even been unwrapped from their packaging. From blouses to jackets, pants, and skirts—it had everything imaginable.
She randomly picked up the tag on a formal dress—the price was 3,000!
'Whoa, don't tell me all these clothes are for me?'
It was her first time sleeping alone in such a large bed. Ashley Bowen, who had always squeezed into a small bed with her mother, had a full-blown case of insomnia. She tossed and turned for what felt like ages and counted over a thousand sheep, but she wasn't the least bit drowsy.
The villa, nestled in the mountains, grew exceptionally quiet at night. Accustomed to being woken up by thunderous snoring from the next room, Ashley Bowen suddenly sat up.
She threw on a jacket and walked out to the balcony. Leaning on the railing with her chin in her hand, she gazed at the moon and began to think about her future.
Suddenly, two points of light pierced the darkness. A car turned into the driveway and stopped in front of the villa.
Ryan Osborne was waiting by the entrance with two maids, bowing as the car pulled up. The door opened and a man stepped out. It was Aaron.
He was impeccably dressed in a suit, as always, clearly paying great attention to his image. He walked with a powerful, measured gait. 'Just as you'd expect from a military man,' she thought. 'He even looks good in a suit.'
Ashley Bowen's gaze remained fixed on the luxury car.
A moment later, a ramp extended from the vehicle, and Aaron carefully guided a wheelchair down it.
'Didn't they say he wasn't coming back tonight?'
Ashley Bowen quickly ducked down, afraid he might spot her. But then, another person stepped out of the car. A woman!
The woman wore a simple, floral-patterned cheongsam and had a tall, slender figure. She followed behind Yuri Sinclair's wheelchair, moving gracefully as she entered the villa.
For Yuri Sinclair to bring a woman home this late... Ashley Bowen knew exactly what that implied.
'No wonder he didn't want me to share a room with him,' she thought. 'I knew his heart wasn't in this.'
She sighed.
A wave of disappointment washed over her. 'After all, Yuri Sinclair is my husband now. I never thought he'd be the type of person to bring a mistress home... especially not on the very first day I'm here.'
Any positive feelings she had for Yuri Sinclair plummeted. With her shoulders slumped, Ashley Bowen went back into her room and collapsed face-first onto the bed.