Matthew suddenly red at her with a frown.


    “Snap!”


    With a loud p, he struck Jessica across the face..


    Jessica was utterly stunned and covered her face with her hand.


    “Matthew, how could you hit me?” She eximed..


    The p was so forceful that her face began to swell.


    Jessica was already frustrated. She was on the show with Matthew today, hoping that after Matthew met Ash, she would be able


    to bond with the famous Ash herself.


    But fate dealt her a harsh blow.


    She had never expected Ashley to be Ash!


    Watching Ashley being praised and admired by everyone, Jessica’s jealousy grew uncontrobly, her insides burning with rage.


    Ashley, that despicable woman, always seemed better than her in every aspect!


    During the two years since Ashley''s return to the Ramos Vi, she had been treated like an unwanted child, unloved by her


    family. It should. have been Jessica who was in the spotlight, receiving all the praise.


    Now, everything had changed.


    Jessica couldn’t ept it, nor could she bear it!


    She covered her swollen face, and her mind grew increasingly sinister.


    Jessica insinuated slyly. “Matthew, | know that finding out Ashley is Ash must have been a huge shock to you...


    “Ashley is really something... Why didn’t she tell you earlier that she was Ash?”


    Jessica’s words were undoubtedly fanning the mes.


    Matthew, of course, knew what Jessica was implying and looked at her with a smirk.


    Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Jessica stammered, “Matthew, why are you looking at me like that?”


    Matthew softened his expression, smiling more tenderly.


    “Jessica, during those dark days when | was lost, you wrote a song, “The Brightest Star, to encourage me. Besides the lyrics,


    you said two more. lines to cheer me up. Do you remember what they were?*


    Jessica clenched her fist upon hearing this. Forcing a smile, she stuttered. “Matthew, it''s been so long, I’ve forgotten.”


    “Forgotten, have you?” Matthew gently lifted his hand to tuck Jessica’s hair behind her ear.


    But his face turned sullen the next instant, and he forcefully grabbed Jessica’s hair.


    In pain, Jessica’s face turned pale, filled with panic. “Matthew! I... | just forgot, and that’s all!”


    Holding her hair tightly, anger seething in his eyes, Matthew used.


    “You''re lying! There were no encouraging words besides the lyrics! | was just testing you, and you gave yourself away right there!


    “Because “The Brightest Star’ wasn’t written by you, was it?


    “That’s why you got the name wrong, calling it The Brightest Flower’ back on the stage!”


    Matthew should have realized this earlier. How could Jessica get the name wrong, especially for such meaningful, encouraging


    lyrics?


    “This song, The Brightest Star, was written and given to me by Ashley, wasn’t it!”


    Matthew''s grip on Jessica’s hair tightened, the raging fury in his voice. nearly scorching her to ashes.


    Pain surged through Jessica. Her nose tingled with soreness, and tears welled up. “Matthew, please stop... I’m scared...”


    “Scared?” Matthew’s anger and regret violently shed within him, desperately seeking an outlet. “When you were


    impersonating Ashley, why weren''t you scared? Huh?”


    Matthew yanked Jessica’s hair, pulling her down forcefully, mming her


    08:11


    to the ground!


    He despised Jessica for impersonating Ashley.


    But he hated himself even more!


    Back then, he had been unkind to Ashley, even venting his pain on her.


    Still distressed over her brother''s descent into darkness, Ashley even wrote the lyrics, hoping to help him.


    However, Matthew disdainfully ignored Ashley’s efforts, considering them too despicable to nce at.


    This created an opportunity for Jessica. She offered to deliver Ashley''s lyrics to Matthew, only to brazenly im them as her own.


    Meanwhile, Ashley had no choice but to find another way. Under the name Ash, she secretly continued to guide and support


    Matthew.


    Upon realizing the truth, Matthew''s heart ached intensely, his cheeks. streaked with bitter, salty tears.


    He reflected on the countless injustices and abuses Ashley had suffered within the Ramos Vi.


    Matthew also acknowledged his hypocrisy. He had shamelessly epted. Ash’s help while mercilessly mistreating Ashley.


    ‘What on earth do | owe Ashley?’ Matthew wondered.


    He felt the debt was too vast ever fully to repay.


    Clutching his chest in agonizing pain, Matthew gasped for air like a fish. on the brink of death.


    In a fit of rage, he violently kicked Jessica on the ground and staggered. off in the direction Ashley had gone.


    Matthew rushed out to the parking lot


    As he walked outside, he saw Ashley and Bryce walking away.


    Suddenly, he was seized by a wave of nervousness, simr to the feeling. of encountering a long-lost friend. He yearned to run


    over to Ashley, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it.


    Somehow, he found himself stealthily trailing behind the two, like a thief in the shadows.


    28


    08


    Matthew''s gaze was fixed unblinkingly on Ashley’s profile.


    The sunlight draped her in a glow, casting a sacred air around her. Her skin, delicate as the first snow of winter, shimmered with


    a fragile, crystal-like beauty.


    Her eyshes were long, and her eyes sparkled with tiny, scattered lights, like a gxy spilling over, with all its stars captured in


    her gaze.


    Matthew watched until his eyes burned, but he refused to blink.


    It was the first time he realized that his sister was indeed beautiful.


    She was such a delicate girl, born to be adored by all.


    But Matthew and his family treated her that way...


    All the suffering Ashley endured came from her own family!


    How ironic was that!


    Matthew had never hated himself so much, to the point of wanting to end his own life.


    Then, he overheard Ashley and Bryce’s conversation.


    Walking beside Ashley, Bryce nced at her with a yful smile.


    “Ashley, since you''ve severed your mentorship with Matthew, how about taking on a new student?”


    Ashley nced at him casually.


    Bryce pointed himself and eagerly volunteered. “What about me? | am a superstar with over 80 million fans, after all. | won''t


    embarrass you!


    “Plus, | love art! I''d give up money for art. Remember when | did not hesitate to pay at least ten million dors for your song? So,


    please take me on, will you?”


    Ashley tly refused. “No.”


    Persistent and pleading, Bryce urged, “Don’t reject it so quickly. | may not know how topose, but I’m willing to learn. Plus, |


    have a good grasp. of music theory. | want to write my own lyrics and music for a song!


    “Ashley, Matthew never paid you the teaching fee when he was your student, right? | can pay! No matter the amount, | can afford


    it!”


    Bryce might not have others, but he was not short on money.


    Ashley was visibly annoyed upon hearing this. It seemed like he was trying to solve everything with money.


    Did she look like someone who was swayed by money?


    However, when Bryce mentioned his desire to write his song, Ashley’s interest was piqued, and she somewhat wanted to help


    him.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Ashley mused. “I''ll think about it.”


    Matthew, trailing behind, instantly changed hisplexion upon


    hearing this. Unable to hold back, he rushed forward to intervene, eximing. “No way!”


    Startled, Bryce clutched his chest. “Matthew, are you insane? Coming like that out of nowhere!”


    Matthew hadn’t intended to ambush, but he couldn’t be bothered to exin. He looked at Ashley intently. “Ash, please don’t take


    anyone else as your student...”


    Ashley had noticed Matthew following earlier but had simply ignored him.


    Ashley frowned at him. Her eyes showed unmistakably distant.


    “Matthew, who | want to teach is none of your business.


    “Do you think you can meddle with my actions?”