By the time they returned to the Land Family’s house, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

He smelled himself, the unpleasant scent of smoke and alcohol clinging to him.

He didn’t return to the master bedroom but went straight to the guest room’s bathroom.

Cold water flowed from above his head; he slightly tilted his head up, eyes closed, as if trying to make himself wake up, wake up...

It was probably about an hour later when he finally came out of the bathroom.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Sophie Smith standing at the doorway, dressed in sleepwear.

"You... why are you up so early?" Asher Land was somewhat surprised.

Actually, it wasn’t waking up early, but she hadn’t slept all night.

Just as dawn broke, she heard the sound of a car driving into the villa’s driveway.

Then, she heard Asher Land go upstairs. She thought he would go to the master bedroom, but he didn’t. She came out of the master bedroom, following him into the guest room a few steps behind, and watched him stay in the bathroom for an hour...

His short hair was still a bit damp, and Sophie pulled him in to sit down.

"Wait a minute, I’ll get a hairdryer and help you dry your hair."

"Sophie, there’s no need..." His words weren’t completely finished before Sophie’s small figure swiftly went out and quickly returned with a hairdryer.

"I can do it myself." He just reached for the hairdryer, but she deftly moved her hand aside, dodging his hand.

"I just want to do something for you, why, don’t you want me to?" Her eyes earnestly gazed at him for a moment before Asher Land finally lowered his hand.

She carefully helped him dry his hair, with only the sound of the hairdryer filling the room.

After about ten minutes, she had finished drying his hair.

Asher Land stretched out his hand and pulled her to sit on his lap; holding her soft body made him inexplicably more at ease.

"Asher Land, what’s wrong? I... feel your mood doesn’t seem right."

"It’s nothing." His voice was somewhat tired, a bit husky.

"You’re lying to me." Sophie gently pushed him away and stood up, "Asher Land, is there something you can’t tell me?"

"Don’t overthink things, I’m really fine."

He also stood up, hesitated for a moment, then stepped towards the master bedroom, lying down on the bed. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Come here, I’m a bit tired, can you accompany me to rest for a while?"

Sophie lowered her head, staring at her toes for a long while before silently walking over.

She climbed onto the bed and lay beside him, finding a comfortable spot in his embrace.

His slender fingers casually played with her smooth black hair, wrapping around his fingertips.

"Asher Land, are you... really sure you don’t want to tell me anything?"

She felt a bit uneasy, as he’d been somewhat distracted since the evening before last. Early yesterday, he left without saying a word and hadn’t come back until now...

All his actions were telling her he must be troubled by something.

She didn’t like not being able to understand his feelings at times, nor was she intentionally trying to monitor him or anything like that; she just felt that given their current relationship, they should learn to share.

Not only sharing sweetness and happiness but also sharing annoyance and pain.

At least, in her worldview, love is supposed to be like this.

She heard Asher Land’s sigh, and after a long pause, his voice slowly came through.

"Yesterday, I went to see Irene..."