Chapter 1 The Golden Touch

For Astrid Prescott, her 26th birthday held extraordinary significance.

Her boyfriend, Silas Montgomery, knew she'd been looking forward to this day for ages. He mysteriously told her to head to the party venue first, saying he had a huge surprise for her.

Astrid didn't tell him that she'd also prepared a surprise for him, one that could change both their futures.

In the warmly lit crystal chandelier hall, as the heiress of the Cypress Bay jewelry dynasty, Astrid's birthday party was packed with distinguished guests.

She checked her watch for the third time. There was still half an hour before the party started, but Oliver still hadn't arrived.

He wasn't answering calls or replying to messages. Anxiety crept up on her like vines.

"Astrid, don't worry. Traffic's probably terrible at this hour," Her good friend Rachel Wilson comforted her, then stood up. "I'm going to the restroom. I'll come back and go greet the guests with you."

"Okay," Astrid replied softly.

Rachel's figure had just disappeared around the corner when Astrid noticed Rachel's phone light up on the table.

Astrid was about to pick it up to remind her when her eyes landed on the screen.

In a group chat, someone had posted several screenshots with a sleazy comment: [This woman is so hot, such a tiny waist, my mouth is watering.]

Not satisfied, they immediately added: [This guy says he's going to sleep with this woman tonight and share his sexual experience with us.]

Astrid felt sick. She was about to get up when her pupils suddenly contracted.

The person sent another screenshot; the individual in the image was her, and her boyfriend’s profile picture was clearly visible in the chat window of the screenshot.

Astrid's finger unconsciously tapped the screen to enlarge it. The moment she saw the username, she forgot to breathe.

Oliver: [Guys, have plenty of tissues ready for drool and nosebleeds.]

The group chat immediately became animated.

[Oliver, please livestream it. I'm bowing to you.]

[Oliver, you're my hero. When you're done with her, let us have a taste.]

[Do you guys even know who she is? How dare you talk like this?]

Oliver: [Get lost! She's mine! Until I'm done with her, none of you can touch her!]

Astrid's fingers went stiff. Furious, she quickly typed: [Get lost!]

After sending it, she threw the phone back on the table and stormed out.

She couldn't believe that Oliver, who'd been with her for three years and always seemed so devoted, was actually this perverted and disgusting behind her back!

Treating her like a trophy, letting a bunch of men judge her in a group chat! It felt disgusting!

Memories flooded her mind.

The Prescott family and the Montgomery family had arranged a business marriage. She'd been hesitant at first, but Oliver, three years younger, had pursued her relentlessly, even winning over her friends.

"It's just three years younger. Except for his age, everything else is well. Astrid, we're jealous."

"Being young now doesn't matter. You have plenty of time to train him. Just raise him to be a man loyal only to you, right?"

Astrid had given in and reluctantly agreed.

For three years, Oliver had been the perfect boyfriend, flawless in every way. Turns out, it was all an act.

Astrid left the banquet hall and walked along the street. She didn't know where to go, just wanted to escape.

She'd rushed out and forgotten her coat. The evening breeze was cool.

The flickering neon lights by the roadside caught her attention.

Using alcohol to ease the pain seemed like a good idea.

She pushed open the door and walked in.

The bar's music was deafening, matching her current mood perfectly.

Astrid headed to the bar and ordered the strongest drink. The burning liquid hit her throat, bringing tears to her eyes and making her heart tremble.

Why cry over a bad man! There are plenty of men in the world!

Today was her birthday! She would celebrate it with lots of joy and excitement!

The harsh liquid burned away her rationality, but a secret she'd buried in her heart for years became clearer.

Without love, she couldn't afford to lose her career, too!

The Prescott family had an unspoken tradition: when a Prescott daughter first had sex on her 26th birthday, it would fully activate the talent, Golden Touch, for identifying treasures in her bloodline.

This gift not only allowed them to accurately judge the authenticity and quality of gemstones and minerals by touch, but more importantly, it gave them a unique sixth sense for the legendary lost Four National Treasures.

This was the true foundation of the Prescott family's power, and her only card to escape the family's complicated relationships.

In the diary her mother Lillian Baker left her before dying, she'd written: [Astrid, the Prescott bloodline is like a sleeping seed that needs a child of destiny to awaken it. Remember, this gift is too powerful. If the energy is too strong, it can backfire. Do everything within your limits, don't be greedy.]

Oliver, a playboy who relied on his family and only knew how to have fun, was he a child of destiny?

She'd originally planned to give everything to him. Now, thinking about it, how ridiculous.

She'd almost ruined her only chance to turn things around for a bad man.

With this thought, Astrid's eyes gradually cleared, and she began hunting for prey in the bar.

She needed a man with a powerful presence, destined for greatness.

Her presence soon attracted some men's attention, and people kept coming over to chat her up.

These guys were either too old or ugly, reeking of sleaze and decay. Not one was worth looking at.

In the dim lighting, a man in a black suit sat in a booth. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top two buttons. He leaned back lazily, his long legs crossed, slowly swirling a wine glass in his hand. He was like a lurking wolf, radiating an air of nobility and danger.

A face Astrid had recently seen in a financial magazine flashed through her mind: Cypress Bay's most mysterious and low-key business emperor, Oliver's uncle, Silas Montgomery.

The magazine said he rarely appeared in public but occasionally visited the bar he owned.

This was a heaven-sent opportunity!

Astrid's alcohol and determination both kicked in. It had to be him!

Not far away, several women were whispering.

One of them gathered her courage and slowly walked toward him.

"What a coincidence."

Astrid walked briskly, as if seeing an acquaintance. She stepped ahead, accidentally bumping the woman aside with her shoulder, then naturally sat down next to Silas.

"Honey, don't be mad. Come home with me, okay?"

Astrid's voice was gentle. Her bright eyes, shimmering from the alcohol, blinked at him. Her hand instinctively found its way to his chest. Her pale, supple fingertips grazed it gently, tentatively exploring.

This was her first time drinking hard liquor, and she'd drunk it quickly. She had to execute her plan while she was still somewhat conscious.

The woman who'd been pushed aside looked at them in shock, seeing how intimate they were, and left embarrassed.

Silas glanced at the departing figure, then looked at Astrid, who was so close, showing no haste to withdraw from her. His voice revealed no emotion. "What did you just call me?"

His eyes were as deep as a pool.

Astrid noticed the person behind her was gone. The alcohol had gone to her head, making her bolder. "It's too noisy here. Let's go somewhere else to talk."

As she spoke, her soft body unconsciously leaned toward Silas's shoulder, slowly falling into his arms. Her hand instinctively slid downward to a certain point before suddenly veering upward, finally resting and encircling his waist. The contours of his waist were exquisitely firm and lean, radiating strength.

Silas felt Astrid's unusual state and tried to push her away, but couldn't. He looked down and saw her eyes were closed; whether she was faking or not, he couldn't tell.

If she were really drunk and left here, she'd be taken away and assaulted within ten minutes.

With a cold expression, Silas picked up this bold Astrid and carried her through the noisy crowd toward the hotel above the bar.

The hotel staff saw him, then looked at Astrid in his arms. After a moment's hesitation, they respectfully opened the elevator door for him.

Silas carried her into a room. The door quietly closed the moment he entered.

He'd just tossed Astrid onto the bed when his collar was suddenly yanked with force, and his whole body fell unexpectedly onto that soft, fragrant form.

Feigning the demeanor of an experienced temptress, Astrid draped her arm gracefully around his neck and initiated a kiss. His lips were fervent yet tender, the supple tip of his tongue delving inside, gently prying apart his teeth. Beside her ear, his breath grew ragged and unsteady.

Soon, the room was filled with passion.