The medicine began to take effect, the morning sunlight gently sprinkling Astrid's clear, clean skin. Anyone who saw her would say she looked like an angel... The angel was slowly drawn into the world of dreams-Joshua-she whispered the name of her beloved.

At Los Angeles airport, people came and went, drawn by the hustle and bustle. When they turned their eyes to the source of the noise, they saw a tall man standing in the middle of the crowd.

He was approximately 1.90 meters tall. This allowed him to be the center of attention among the crowd. The man looked around, as if he were looking for someone. The moment the man turned his face, his high nose, firm jaw, and sensual vermilion lips made the women around him sigh, as if they had been robbed of their breath.

His face was so beautiful that it could never be forgotten after just one glance, and it would surely take root like a tree with strong and firm roots.

But the only thing that was sad about that face was the coldness that made it difficult to want to approach him. The people around him limited themselves to talking among themselves, with no one having the courage to approach him to speak.

He frowned slightly, and someone in the crowd said, "It looks like the president of Steel Technology! Joshua Steel."

Suddenly, the people around him seemed to have come to their senses, and his surroundings reminded him of a pot of boiling water as they desperately and sloppily searched for their cell phones to take pictures.

The sound of the shutter distracted him. If this were normal, Joshua would not let this kind of thing happen at all. In normal times, even if something like this happened, Joshua would immediately take care of the situation, but not today. He did not want that person to see that side of him.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd, a voice that Joshua recognized and found very familiar, a voice he had thought about countless days and nights.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to disappoint you all, but he's not a president." It was a soft, charming voice, almost hypnotic to Joshua.

Joshua turned his head. It was really her. She was back!

Seeing her walk slowly toward him, his heart raced for no apparent reason. He was ecstatic just to see the face of the person he had longed for so long. He hadn't seen her in over three years.

"Right?" Marilyn approached Joshua and touched his shoulder, an action that brought Joshua's thoughts back.

Joshua looked with immense tenderness at Marilyn Dean, the person who stood quietly beside him. "I'm sorry to disappoint everyone; I'm not Joshua Steel. President Steel should be in a meeting right now." Even as they spoke, his eyes never left Marilyn's face.

In fact, he wasn't lying. Joshua did have an important meeting today, but to see Marilyn on her first day back home, Joshua had canceled the meeting on the spur of the moment. She was more important than the meeting.

However, Joshua didn't know that the person at home, like a fool, had given up everything she had for him, even her own dignity and aspirations, discarded by and for Joshua. Joshua took the initiative to take the luggage from Marilyn's hand. Marilyn looked at the unfamiliar surroundings. Three years had passed, and everything that was once familiar was now unfamiliar. Even he had changed.

"Are you hungry?" Joshua looked at Marilyn, who was dazed, and spoke softly, "I know a traditional European restaurant that will blow your mind. It's a place that just opened; it's very good; you'll like it."

"European food?"

Marilyn thought that if she were the same person she had been three years ago, she would have begged Joshua to take her there, but unfortunately, after spending so much time outside the United States, she was tired of eating European dishes. Even her meal before boarding the plane had been cassoulet.

"No, really, I don't want to eat European food. Let's go to that Chinese restaurant we always went to when we were students." Joshua froze at that moment, his heart inexplicably panicking. Suddenly, he couldn't remember which restaurant Marilyn was referring to.

"Hua Yuan Restaurant," Marilyn replied when she saw Joshua's face. For Marilyn, that reaction made her heart flutter, and she had a feeling of loss. "Have you forgotten?" she added with a smile. "It's a few blocks away, very close to Chinatown. You mentioned that it tasted like authentic Asian food."

Only then did Joshua react. She was referring to that place. He hadn't been there in over two years. That's right, since he took Astrid there once, he hadn't been back. Astrid... Astrid White... He wondered what that cheeky woman was doing at that moment. How annoying.

"How silly," he patted his forehead playfully, "how could I forget something so important?" He opened the car door affectionately for Marilyn. The Porsche drove smoothly along the highway. "In these few years, I see everything so differently, everything has changed so much," said Marilyn as she looked thoughtfully at the streets. "Yes, many things have changed, everything is different." Joshua looked at Marilyn as if he had guessed what she was thinking.

"Silly, what are you thinking? Even if all this has changed, we'll still be together." Hearing that statement, Marilyn turned her head to look at Joshua. His eyes were soft, as if he were openly declaring that she was Joshua's world. Before Marilyn even had time to respond, Joshua continued, "We're here already."

Marilyn didn't notice the sweat Joshua had left on the steering wheel due to his nervousness. Joshua was scared. He really feared being rejected once again, so this time he decided to be more cautious. Joshua didn't know that this path would change his whole life. He opened the car door for Marilyn and arrived at the restaurant they used to go to a long time ago. The restaurant owner was a heavyset man who approached Joshua when he saw him arrive.

"Mr. Steel, it's been a long time since I've seen you around here. The last time I saw you was two years ago." Joshua nodded in agreement. "The usual."

Only then did he notice the person standing next to Joshua. "How is Mrs. Astrid these days?" Joshua was perplexed. He did not expect that after two years, the restaurant owner would remember Astrid, whom he had only seen once. He remembered that when he brought Astrid here for the first and last time, the owner had asked why the person who had come with him before had not come. Looking at Marilyn's confused face, Joshua replied coldly, "Sir, she's not Astrid." The owner knew he had said something wrong, quickly apologized, and said nothing more. Joshua, in a state of panic, opened his mouth to explain, "Marilyn, listen to my explanation.

Mrs. Astrid is a customer. Her name is Astrid White..." I brought her here two years ago and haven't brought anyone else since. Then a customer, thinking about this, Joshua laughed coldly, "How could that waste of space be a customer? Bringing her here last time was a hassle. For that person, it was better to just give her instant soup to live on. Marilyn slowly raised her head and looked at Joshua. The tension was clearly visible on her face, but she let out a sigh of relief.

"You, this place is our secret. How could you bring someone else here?" After hearing Joshua's explanation, her heart felt relieved, and she didn't care too much. However, this meal felt different from the past, as if something was missing.

After lunch, Joshua took Marilyn to another of his properties, another private villa.

When they arrived, Marilyn looked around and soon realized that it didn't seem to be the same place Joshua had taken her to last time. Although she had only been to his house once before, she was sure that it definitely wasn't here. This was somewhere else.

But Marilyn didn't ask; she was sure Joshua must have his own reasons for bringing her here, and she simply trusted him because he had never let her down before.

The moment he turned on the light, the room slowly emitted a purple glow, dotted with tiny points of light, as if it were a starry sky.

"This is it?" Marilyn looked at Joshua in surprise. So he still remembered!

Five years ago, when she and Joshua first met, she casually mentioned that she liked the starry sky, and Joshua remembered it for five years.

"This is my other home. I remember you said you liked the stars. When I saw this room for the first time, I thought you would like it if I brought you here, so I bought this place." Joshua looked tenderly at Marilyn; it was in this place and at this moment that he felt she belonged to him.

Only here could it be his home. That place... He thought about it, a hint of disgust flashing across Joshua's face. That place wasn't as comfortable as a hotel, but if it weren't for his grandfather, he would have gotten rid of the undesirable Astrid immediately. But now that his grandfather was dead, it was only a matter of time before that trash left. As soon as she did, he could propose to Marilyn.

What could that scum know compared to the talented Marilyn? All Astrid had was a pretty face.

"Joshua?" Marilyn's hand waved in front of his face. "What are you thinking about?"

Marilyn tilted her head slightly and looked at Joshua. Joshua's heart raced, and his jumbled thoughts were pushed to the back of his mind. "Come with me." With those words, he pulled Marilyn along, and they went upstairs.

The moment the door opened, the starry sky made Marilyn's eyes redden. In fact, when she first saw Joshua, she couldn't help it, but she didn't want Joshua to see her like that, so she tried to hide her tears.

"Well? Do you like it?" Looking at Marilyn at that moment, Joshua felt so happy that he even wished time would stop forever and just let him and Marilyn stay together.

"It's so beautiful! I've never seen such a beautiful sky abroad." Marilyn was so captivated by the starry sky that she didn't even notice Joshua's affectionate gaze.

"I'm going to get jealous if you keep looking like that!" Joshua gently caressed his beloved's face. He had worked hard for this day. Originally, it was a cloudy day. Joshua had contacted the weather office to get rid of the clouds so that Marilyn could see such a starry sky on her first day back, and since it was slightly away from the city, the starry sky was really beautiful at that moment.

Her face was slightly red, and she gently pulled away. Joshua smiled and felt a little remorseful. What was wrong with him? Marilyn had just returned; he couldn't be so anxious, or he would scare her away.

Looking at his beloved, who was staring at the sky in fascination, Joshua placed a blanket over Marilyn. Although the third floor had an insulated glass layer, he was still uneasy, fearing that she would catch a cold; it made him feel restless.

At that moment, Joshua's phone rang.

Joshua frowned. Who the hell was disturbing his and Marilyn's world at this moment?

When he saw Astrid's name on the phone screen, Joshua clenched his fist tightly. Even at this moment, in the place that belonged only to him and Marilyn, someone calling was already bothering him, but seeing that Marilyn had returned, he would grudgingly forgive her.

But it was her! Only that useless woman. How dare she call him? How dare she come and disturb his first meeting with Marilyn after three years?

"Joshua? Your phone is ringing. Why aren't you answering it?" The sound of the phone caught Marilyn's attention, and she turned her head to look at Joshua, but she didn't notice the glimmer of panic on Joshua's face, as it was dark.

"Oh, it's nothing," Joshua said casually before hanging up the phone. What could that trash want? She was probably calling to ask when he was coming home.

Home? Hmmm, it's ridiculous, no matter how you look at it, you can't call that place home.

Marilyn became a little agitated. "But what if it's important...?" Before Marilyn could finish her words, she was interrupted.

"No way," Joshua realized his outburst and regained the sweetness he had just shown. "Nothing is as important as you, nothing can disturb us today."

Seeing Joshua's unusual reaction, Marilyn was a little scared. That feeling was like tonight's dinner, it made her uncomfortable, but Joshua's words told her that there was nothing hidden, and that they had agreed before that there would be no secrets.

Marilyn turned back to see who it was, but then Joshua turned the phone back without thinking. Marilyn frowned. She felt that something must be going on because Joshua was panicking. It was the first time she had seen Joshua like this; even when he introduced her to his parents for the first time, he had a calm and composed look on his face.

No, she had to know who that person was!

Joshua's skeptical eyes were visible to Marilyn. Her heart ached.

He really wanted to tell Marilyn that it was someone he could never be with, he wanted to tell Marilyn that it was only her in his heart, but not yet. The marriage certificate was like an invisible shackle that bound him to Astrid.

If he told Marilyn right now, Marilyn would definitely understand and leave him. But... No, he couldn't let that happen. Even if he had to bear all of Astrid's resentment, he couldn't let Marilyn know. As long as there was even the slightest chance that Marilyn would leave him, no matter what it took, he wouldn't let Marilyn know.

Damn it, if it weren't for that trash. If that scum had calmly signed the divorce agreement yesterday, he wouldn't be in this situation now! Everything was like this because of that damn infiltrator! Now he couldn't be with his precious Marilyn!

How selfish Astrid was! Blinded by her own selfish desires, forcing two people who loved each other to separate, Astrid White was truly a ruthless woman.

Joshua's hatred for Astrid deepened again. Of course, Joshua didn't show it to Marilyn. He would definitely find a way to get Astrid to leave him immediately.

"It's a client. Well, it's a little cold here. Shall we go downstairs?" he said, and this time he was about to take Marilyn's hand.

But Marilyn's hand withdrew, and Joshua's hand stopped in midair.

“Mari?” Seeing the look of loss on Marilyn's face, Joshua cursed Astrid a million times in his heart. Damn it.

“It's okay, my hand is a little cold; it might freeze you.” Marilyn also didn't expect him to unconsciously avoid her; her heart was filled with regret. What was wrong with her? How could she suspect him? He must have some reason for not telling her now. When the matter was resolved, he would definitely tell her.

“Silly girl, what silly words. It's all my fault for keeping you here for so long.” This time, Joshua took Marilyn's hand directly. And when his warm fingertips touched Marilyn's cold hand, Joshua's heart seemed to be grabbed by someone. Holding her hand a little tightly, he couldn't wait to hold it tighter to keep it warm.

The night was getting colder, and the room was gradually getting darker. The lavender light was a little dim, and Marilyn couldn't see the room clearly. Suddenly, the room lit up, only to see the yellowish light filling the entire room, dotted with stars from pure white to golden yellow, reflected in the yellowish light, as if it were the starry sky of the day.

Indescribable emotions rushed to her heart, and Marilyn's eyes were slightly red. Joshua, the man who had touched her countless times, decided that today was the day he would give himself to her. On this first day of their reunion after three years, she would take the initiative to tell Joshua how important he was in her heart, and today, she would make him her man. She would forgive him for his untimely departure three years ago. His departure was not because he felt nothing for Joshua, but because he cared too much.

Marilyn's vermilion lips parted slightly; she was about to let Joshua, the man she had loved for years, know her true feelings.

Before the words could leave her mouth, the sudden sound of her cell phone broke her thoughts.

Damn it, who the hell was calling at this hour?

Her impulse to confess was interrupted, and she had to put the matter aside for now and find another opportunity to tell Joshua since she would be staying with him today anyway.

Joshua opened the door and asked, “Was it your uncle who called?” As soon as he got off the plane today, Marilyn had been picked up by him, so perhaps he hadn't had time to tell his uncle that he was back.

“I don't know.” There was little emotion in Marilyn's response. Could it be her father? But how could that be? He hadn't called her once in the three years she had been abroad, and it certainly wouldn't be him now.

As expected, there was a string of numbers on the screen that she had never seen before. Marilyn didn't think much of it and pressed the answer button.

“Hello?” Marilyn's face was filled with confusion. Who the hell was calling at this hour? She hoped it wasn't a junk sales call, or she would curse it to death.

Only to see the confusion on Marilyn's face suddenly freeze.

The next second, her face was filled with disbelief, followed by her hand beginning to shake, breaking the phone that had just fallen to the floor.

“Mari, what's going on?” Seeing this, Joshua rushed to hold Marilyn, suddenly having a bad feeling that this call might be related to him. “Who called?”

Marilyn looked at Joshua with empty eyes, her voice trembling as she asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Joshua, did you get married...?”

“What!” Joshua's eyes widened as a feeling of weakness suddenly filled his heart, and along with this feeling, anger suddenly burned as if he couldn't control it. How did he know? Who the hell was on the phone? What kind of beast was calling? Better not tell him who it really was, or he'll kill him for sure!

Joshua picked up the phone from the floor and held back his anger: “Hello?” He wanted to see who was so bold.

A familiar voice sounded from the other end, “Joshua?” Astrid's voice was very weak, but Joshua didn't notice its abnormality. Hearing this voice he had heard for three years and was already sick of, Joshua finally couldn't contain his anger and exploded, “Astrid White? You really have the guts to call this place.”

“No, Joshua, I... I can't talk to you.” Hearing the disgust in Joshua's tone, Astrid covered her heart. It hurt, it really hurt.

Had he done something wrong again? Would Joshua hate him even more? Tears gently rolled down his cheeks. No, if Joshua knew he was crying right now, he would definitely get even angrier. Joshua unconsciously touched his pants pocket. His cell phone was gone. Right, just now Astrid called him and asked him to hang up. To avoid upsetting Astrid again, Joshua simply put his cell phone on the sofa upstairs. He never thought this kind of thing would happen.

There was no doubt about it. When he heard it was Astrid's voice, Joshua hung up the phone directly and added her to his blacklist. That idiot even bragged about disrupting his date, ridiculous. There was no time to deal with him now. He just had to seize this opportunity. He had to explain everything to Marilyn properly.

“Marilyn, listen to my explanation...” He paused only to see Marilyn's shoulders shake, leaving only a helpless figure with her back to him. Damn it, he made Marilyn cry! He couldn't hold back anymore. Today he was going to tell her everything. He was going to hug Marilyn and tell her he didn't want any of that.

Had he done something wrong again? Would Joshua hate him even more? Tears gently rolled down his cheeks. No, if Joshua knew he was crying right now, he would definitely get even angrier. Joshua unconsciously touched his pants pocket. His cell phone was gone. Right, just now Astrid called him and asked him to hang up. To avoid upsetting Astrid again, Joshua simply put his cell phone on the sofa upstairs. He never thought this kind of thing would happen.

Unfortunately, the phone rang again, and Joshua took a deep breath.

Suppressing the urge to hug her, he said patiently, “I'll explain it to you properly later; wait for me.” Joshua pressed the answer button and was about to speak when a hurried voice sounded from the other end.

“Mr. Joshua, it's not good; the lady has fainted!” Hearing this, Joshua's anger subsided slightly, but his voice was still impatient. “She fainted? Why don't you take her to the hospital? Do you have to call me for such a small matter? Whose orders are you following? If you don't understand, get out.”

After hanging up the phone, Joshua's mood was completely ruined, and he was arguably in a bad mood.

It was really too annoying. How could he faint when he was obviously fine this morning?

Just as he wanted to go upstairs to get his phone, his own body was suddenly embraced by a soft touch. “Joshua!” Marilyn's face pressed against Joshua's, and he could feel Marilyn's tears slowly soaking his shirt.

Damn it, she made him cry. Joshua could imagine her eyes red from crying, and he couldn't help but feel his heart tighten. It was all because of that trash! It was all because of that trash that made his Marilyn so sad!

“I'm sorry, Mari, I can't stay with you today, but I'll definitely be with you tomorrow, okay?” Joshua had just been hugged by Marilyn. At that moment, he wanted to hug Marilyn back tightly, but he didn't dare to look at her face. Just remembering her tearful gaze made his heart ache so much that he couldn't breathe. He would definitely not let Astrid White go!