Recently, Drake had been traveling extensively to secure investment for hispany.
Since businesses in London were unlikely to invest in <b>Ashcroft </b>Capital, he had been forced to look elsewhere. Most of his timetely had been spent in <b>hotels </b>and <b>on </b>nes.
Today, he had just returned to London, with Mason picking him up from the airport.
In the evening, they were driving to a dinner engagement.
While waiting at a red light, Mason nced over at Drake.
Drake was scrolling through old photos <b>of </b>himself and Thalia on his phone.
Mason’s lips parted and closed again, hesitating to speak.
Before he could say anything, Drake leaned over, showing him the phone screen, his expression softening
with tenderness. “Look how happy we were back then.”
Mason’s expression wasplicated.
Drake had previously asked him to purchase a ring in France, saying he would use <b>it </b>to win Thalia back.
At the time, Drake had mentioned that Thalia was about to get engaged, and Mason hadmented that stealing someone’s fiancée was hical.
Since returning to London, Mason had avoided bringing up the topic of Thalia with Drake.
He hadn’t seen Thalia since she left their city, and didn’t know anything about her fiance.
What he did notice was that Drake rarely smiled these days.
At social gatherings, Drake had once been the life of the party. Now, he often drank alone, and when drunk, would call out Thalia’s name with profound sadness.
At this moment, looking at old photos with Thalia, Drake showed a smile <b>that </b>hadn’t been seen in a long time, seemingly lost in self–deceptive memories.
Mason thought Drake had be obsessed.
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Your Gold Digger is Actualy A Tr
He wanted to ask, “Did you give her that ring?” but couldn’t bring himself to form the words.
In the end, Mason just sighed deeply.
The traffic light turned green.
The driver pressed the elerator, and the car continued forward.
Mason finally couldn’t hold back. “Drake, as your buddy, I gotta say something. Yeah, you guys had a good thing going, but when it’s over, it’s over. She’s engaged now. Don’t go doing something you’ll regret.”
“Regret?” Drake scoffed dismissively. “I’ve already told you, I don’t give a damn about ethics. I just want
her back.”
Mason frowned, continuing his argument: “She’s about to get married, man. You can’t just-”
Drake waved this off carelessly. “Come on, Mason. Look at our social circle. How many married people do we know who are still sleeping around? Husbands and wives having their separate things going on is basically the norm, isn’t it?”
Mason was silent for a moment before responding. “Drake, just because something’smon doesn’t make it right.”
Drake’s face turned cold, and he didn’t reply.
Mason stopped pushing the issue.
It seemed that once someone abandoned morality, ethics could no longer constrain them.
He thought Drake was being pathetic.
He hadn’t valued Thalia when he had her, and only regretted losing her after she was gone.
The car reached the busy downtown area.
During rush hour, traffic had backed up into a long queue.
Drake leaned back, staring out the window with boredom, letting his mind drift.
Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure.
“Stop the car!” Drake shouted.
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Mason looked confused. “What?”
Seeing Drake staring out the window, Mason followed his gaze and instantly froze.
He immediately understood why Drake had suddenly demanded they stop.
On the sidewalk, Thalia was walking alongside a man.
They were facing in the direction of the car, close enough that their faces were clearly visible.
The man was strikingly handsome with an aristocratic air about him. His attire was impable–clearly
someone of significant status.
The two were talking andughing together, their manner intimate.
Drake muttered under his breath: “Out of the hospital already? Tough bastard.”
Mason guessed that this man must be Thalia’s fiancé.
Drake pulled the car door open and stepped out, walking straight toward Thalia.
I’ll incorporate the suggested restaurant and continue refining the trantion.
Asher had been out of the hospital for a week.
During this time, Thalia had been monitoring his diet closely, ensuring he ate only mild, easily digestible
foods.
Initially, he hadn’t minded, but after days of nd meals, he was growing weary of the restrictions.
After much persuasion on his part, Thalia had finally agreed to improve his menu today by taking him
out to eat.
The restaurant Thalia had chosen was Clos Maggiore, located in the bustling heart of Covent Garden.
It was a renowned establishment, often cited as one of the most romantic restaurants in the world. With its elegant ambiance and modern European cuisine, both Asher and Thalia had dined there on special asions since they were young.
Being the dinner hour, the main dining area with its famous blossom–adorned conservatory waspletely full, with a long queue of people waiting outside for a chance at a table.
Thalia had made a reservation in advance. They were about to follow the host inside after checking in
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when someone called out to her.
“Thalia!” Mason shouted.
Thalia turned around, seeing Mason first.
Then she noticed Drake standing beside him.
Thalia’s brow furrowed.
What was he doing here?
He was like a persistent ghost that wouldn’t be exorcised.
Drake and Mason walked up to them.
Mason greeted her warmly: “Hey, long time no see, Thalia. I had no idea you were from London originally. Howe you never mentioned it?”
A few days earlier, Mason had only heard from Drake that Thalia was a London native and about to get engaged, but knew nothing else.
He didn’t know she was the Winters heiress, nor did he recognize the man beside her as the CEO of
ckwood Industries.
When Sienna and Rachel had falsely used Thalia of theft at the Sterling party, resulting in her public humiliation, they had been too embarrassed to spread the story.
Consequently, people in their social circle still remained unaware of Thalia’s true background.
Mason was one of the few people in Drake’s circle with solid principles, who had never looked down on “poor little Thalia.”
Sometimes he had even helped her out.
Thalia had always thought well of him, so she responded politely now: “Indeed, it has been quite a while.”
“And who’s this?” Mason asked, feigning ignorance.
Thalia smiled as she made the introduction: “This is my fiancé, Asher ckwood.”
“Asher ckwood!” Mason was genuinely shocked, his eyes widening. “You’re… you’re that Asher
ckwood?”
Your Cold Digger is Actually A True
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He had never met Asher in person, and there were few interviews or reports about him online.
But the name Asher ckwood was instantly recognizable.
Almost everyone in their social circle knew that name.
This was Asher ckwood, the heir to the ckwood empire!
Asher’s face was cold, his jaw tense, his gaze like a drawn de, fixed intently on Drake as if he wanted to eviscerate him. “Is there something you require?”
Mason couldn’t help but shiver.
This Asher ckwood had an incredibly powerful presence, truly befitting the ckwood heir.
The innate authority andmanding aura he projected was something that privileged yboys like
themselves could never emte.
Mason awkwardly scratched his head. “I was just wondering if we could maybe join you guys for dinner?”
Thalia had been very busy at lunch, only managing to eat a sandwich, and was now starving. All she wanted was to get inside and order.
“You may join us,” she said, pointing at Drake, “but he cannot.”
Drake’s expression grewplicated.