Chapter 1 The Golden Touch

For Astrid Prescott, her twenty-sixth birthday held extraordinary significance.

Oliver Montgomery, her boyfriend, knew how eagerly she had been anticipating this day. He had mysteriously asked her to wait at the venue first, promising he had prepared a special surprise for her.

Astrid hadn't told him that she had also prepared a surprise for him.

Warm light from the crystal chandeliers bathed the grand hall.

For the birthday celebration of a jewelry dynasty heiress, the elite of Cypress Bay had begun arriving one after another.

Astrid checked her watch for the third time. With half an hour before the party officially started, Oliver still hadn't arrived, wasn't answering his calls, and hadn't replied to her messages.

"Astrid, don't worry. The traffic must be bad at this hour," her best friend, Rachel Wilson, reassured her, then stood up. "I'm going to use the restroom, and then I'll accompany you to greet the guests. As tonight's guest of honor, you can't keep everyone waiting."

"Alright," Astrid responded softly.

As she heard the bathroom door close, her attention was inadvertently drawn to Rachel's phone as its screen lit up on the table.

She was about to pick it up when her expression turned to disgust.

In a group chat, someone had posted several screenshots, followed by a crude message: [This woman is so sexy, curves in all the right places. Makes my mouth water just looking at her.]

Not content with that comment, the person added: [This guy says he's going to get her into bed tonight, see what her skills are like for the rest of us.]

Astrid felt nauseated but was about to close the app when her pupils suddenly contracted.

The person had posted another screenshot showing Oliver's profile picture.

Astrid instinctively tapped the screen to enlarge the image, and when she saw the username, she forgot to breathe.

Oliver: [Guys, have plenty of tissues ready—for drooling and other things.]

A: [Oliver, please live-stream it.]

B: [Oliver, you're my idol. When you're done with her, mind sharing with the rest of us?]

Oliver: [Get lost. She's mine! Don't even think about it until I'm finished with her.]

C: [Do you guys know who she is? Be careful what you say.]

Oliver: [She's my girlfriend! None of you gets a chance until I'm done having my fun.]

Astrid's fingers felt numb with rage.

She quickly typed: [Get lost!]

Then she threw the phone back onto the table and forcefully opened the door.

She couldn't believe that Oliver, who had been seemingly devoted to her for three years, could be so perverted and disgusting behind her back!

Sharing her photos with a group of men to evaluate like a piece of meat! The feeling was more revolting than swallowing a fly!

Memories flashed through her mind frame by frame.

The arranged match between the Prescott and Montgomery families had initially made her hesitant, but Oliver, three years her junior, had pursued her relentlessly until even her friends were moved by his persistence.

"Three years younger is nothing. Besides, Oliver may be younger, but he's mature in all the ways that matter. Astrid, we're envious if anything."

"Age doesn't matter now. You have plenty of time to mold him into the perfect man, one who's loyal only to you. Isn't that enough?"

Astrid had reluctantly agreed under pressure.

For three years, Oliver had been the perfect boyfriend—flawless as a pure gem, without a single visible flaw.

Astrid left the venue and walked aimlessly along the street, not knowing where to go, only wanting to escape.

The flickering neon lights of a bar caught her attention. Drowning sorrows in alcohol didn't seem like a bad idea.

She pushed open the door and went in.

The deafening music of the bar temporarily drowned out her troubled thoughts.

Astrid approached the bar counter and ordered the strongest drink they had.

The burning liquid scorched her throat, bringing tears to her eyes and making her heart tremble.

She quickly wiped away her tears and took another strong gulp.

Why should she cry over a bad man? There were plenty of men in the world!

The day was her birthday! She deserved to celebrate!

Without love, she needed to focus on her career now!

The Prescott family had a well-guarded tradition: daughters who experienced their first intimate relationship on their twenty-sixth birthday would gain the ability to accurately determine the authenticity of gemstones and antiques through touch, along with a special intuitive connection to the Four National Treasures.

Thinking about the complex dynamics within the Prescott family, she knew she must acquire this ability.

Astrid's gaze gradually cleared as she began searching for a prospect.

Her presence quickly drew attention, with men continuously approaching her.

But they were either sleazy or unattractive—none caught her eye.

In the dimly lit corner, a man in a black suit sat at a booth.

The top two buttons of his white shirt were undone, and he reclined lazily against the backrest.

His long legs were crossed as he leisurely swirled the drink in his hand, resembling elegance.

Not far from him, several women were whispering among themselves.

One straightened her back and began swaying toward him.

Astrid also noticed the man, her eyes brightening. He was the one!

"What a coincidence."

Astrid moved quickly, as if they were old acquaintances.

She stepped ahead of the approaching woman, pretended to bump her shoulder to block her path, and sat down beside the man.

"Darling, don't be angry anymore. Come home with me, please?" Astrid's voice was as gentle as flowing water, her bright eyes blinking at him innocently.

This was her first time drinking strong alcohol, and she'd consumed it too quickly.

While her mind was still relatively clear, she needed to leave the bar with this man right away—she couldn't afford to wake up alone tomorrow morning.

The woman beside them looked at Astrid's intimate behavior with surprise before walking away, dejected.

The man glanced calmly at the retreating figure, then at Astrid, who was now so close.

With a voice that betrayed no emotion, he asked, "What did you just call me?"

Astrid noticed the woman had left and blinked her innocent-looking eyes. "It's too noisy here. Let's go somewhere else to talk."

Under the influence of alcohol, her soft body instinctively leaned against his shoulder, gradually collapsing into his arms.

The man sensed something unusual about Astrid. He pushed her slightly, but got no response. Looking down, he saw her eyes were closed.

He couldn't tell if she was genuinely unconscious or pretending.

If she were truly passed out and he left her there, someone would likely take advantage of her situation.

Silas Montgomery picked up Astrid with a cold expression and carried her out of the bar, heading toward the hotel upstairs.

When the hotel staff saw him and the woman in his arms, they hesitated for a moment before quickly opening the door for him.

Silas carried her in, and as they entered, a hand seemed to move slightly, closing the room door behind them.

Just as he dropped Astrid onto the bed, Silas felt his collar tighten as he was pulled down onto the soft, fragrant body beneath him.

Then, a pair of warm lips with a hint of alcohol met his own.

Soon, the room was filled with passion.

Astrid lay on the bed, her body sore but satisfied, thinking about how to part ways with this man, when suddenly there was violent knocking at the door.

"Astrid! Open the door! Someone saw you go in there!"

Oliver's voice! How did he find her?

Astrid, whose consciousness had been slightly muddled, became instantly alert.

Before she could confront him about his betrayal, he was already furious.