I Came From Ashes

In the world of dating and romance, I had been pursued by many men.

No one would believe that I had been with only two men in my entire life.

They offered me a glimpse of luxury life, yet also reminded me of my humble background.

1

"Thalia, something bad happened. Haley was prevented from leaving by a guest."

I received the call from my assistant while lying on the bed in a VIP room on the top floor of the club, having just experienced a passionate encounter.

My mind was blank, and it took me a moment to recall who the girl named Haley was.

The shower door opened, and Alfred emerged, wrapped in a towel, revealing his muscular upper body.

As he approached the bed, I pressed myself against his chest. "Something's come up. I need to handle it."

Alfred picked up his glasses on the nightstand and cleaned them leisurely. "Every time I come here, something happens. Although I've entrusted you with managing this place, not everything requires your personal attention."

"Don't go," he said, lifting me up and carrying me to the balcony. "I want to do it here."

I hesitated, but the phone rang again.

Without a second thought, I pushed Alfred away, giving him a passionate kiss.

"They can't handle that without me. I'll be back soon."

2

When I arrived at the private room, Haley was kneeling on the floor, arms crossed over her chest, her eyes vacant, with traces of tears still visible on her youthful face.

Her work uniform had a button torn off, and I took my assistant's jacket to cover her.

She looked up slowly, and as soon as she saw me, her tears began to well up again. She choked out, "Thalia, I'm sorry."

I didn't reply to her words. Instead, I stood up and surveyed the room, recognizing several familiar faces.

I tried to keep my tone calm. "Mr. Lawson, we're friends, so I'll skip the pleasantries. You know the rules here. Why bother her?"

Vincent looked embarrassed, frequently glancing at a spot another man was on.

Once I saw that figure, my heart skipped a beat.

Vincent was all bark and no bite. I wasn't afraid to confront him directly.

After all, in such situations, it was his dignity and reputation that were at stake. The club had the backing of the Fletcher Group, and even if I was bluffing, not many people could afford to provoke me.

But why was Theo involved in such a disreputable affair?

"Miss Pena, you're exaggerating. Look how frightened you made Mr. Lawson. I just asked her to pour a drink. But she unexpectedly fell, and I was merely trying to help her up. Who knew the quality of your uniforms was so poor?"

Seeing Haley's tears growing, I knew Theo was spouting nonsense again.

I didn't want to engage with him further, so I exchanged a few polite words and prepared to leave with Haley.

Just as we were about to exit the room, Theo spoke again. "Since you're going to work in such a place, you should be mentally prepared for such things. If you can't accept it, then it's time to leave the job. You can't have your cake and eat it too."

I knew Theo's words were an innuendo about me, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "We earn a living through hard work. You're just like us, aren't you?"

"You!"

"How dare you?!"

Theo stood up, his eyes slightly glazed with drunkenness. He raised his chin. "Miss Pena, is this how you treat your guests?"

He lit a cigarette. "Come over here and apologize."

I clenched my fists tightly, taking a deep breath.

The relationship between the Fletcher family and the Evans family was complicated, and I persuaded myself not to cause trouble for Alfred.

Composing myself, I put on a polite facade and poured myself a full glass of red wine. "I apologize for my earlier impoliteness. Please don't take it to heart."

I downed the glass in one go and slightly bowed to Theo. "I'm sorry, Mr. Evans."

He squinted, sneering. "But Miss Pena, I don't think you're sincere enough."

He mixed a drink for me, using nearly every type of alcohol in the room, along with some soup.

"Drink this, and you can take her away."

Theo sat back down, and the others began to egg me on. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, he exuded an arrogant demeanor, so different from before.

I looked at the "special concoction" in my hand, feeling a sense of disappointment.

I held the glass, ready to accept the situation.

But just as I brought it to my lips, the glass was snatched away with the unpleasant smell still lingering.

I turned my head to see Alfred's handsome face entering my line of sight.

In the next moment, the entire drink was poured onto Theo's face.

Silence fell over the room, and Theo, regaining his senses, cursed a string of profanities.

Alfred looked at Theo, his tone cold. "What a despicable man you are!"

Outside the room, Alfred released my hand, glanced at his watch, and said, "I have something to take care of. I'll be back before ten."

I stood on tiptoe, leaning close to his neck.

For the first time in my life, I kissed him in public.

Alfred was always unpredictable, and I didn't want to know what he thought of my kiss.

But I never expected him to kiss me back, with a passionate and lingering embrace.

3

It was half past eleven when Alfred returned, reeking of alcohol.

The penthouse suite had become our exclusive hideaway.

What he wanted to do on the balcony this afternoon was completed just before dawn.

Alfred seemed particularly energetic today, and I was overwhelmed by wave after wave of passion.

Afterward, he carried me to the bathroom, and we indulged ourselves once more in the bathtub.

Back in bed, I nestled in his arms and asked, "What happened? Why are you so late tonight?"

He twirled my hair with his fingers, "Nothing much. Some idiots in my family were trying to pressure me into giving them a project. I couldn't just turn them down because of my father."

I stayed silent for a while, and Alfred rubbed my shoulder, "Are you upset because I didn't come on time?"

I shook my head.

He continued, "Is it because of what happened during the day? I've already instructed Joe to cancel the membership of everyone in that room. You won't see them again.

How about I take you shopping tomorrow?"

I was naturally pleased that Alfred wanted to cheer me up, nodding as I turned over and straddled his waist, "I'm not easily upset. Those people's membership is worth millions. Why cancel it? It's a pity not to earn from them!"

He tapped my nose and chuckled, "You're being petty. We're not short of their millions."

I mumbled against his chest, "I am."

Alfred suddenly realized something and sighed, "I didn't mean anything by it."

"I know."

He changed the subject, "What's going on with that young girl?"

I then recounted Haley's situation.

He asked, "Do you want to help her?"

I hesitated for a moment and nodded.

Regarding Haley, I wasn't sure what I truly wanted to do.

4

Haley and I had similar backgrounds, both from poor families, so we had to work at sixteen or seventeen with only a few hundred bucks for travel and forced courage.

The difference was that she had to drop out of school because her father was critically ill, while I had no such sympathetic reason.

It wasn't because my family was so poor we couldn't sustain a living, nor because I had to support my family, not to mention any catastrophic disaster.

It was simply because my parents didn't value education due to backward living conditions, and my own mediocrity made me distrust that education was the simplest way to know the world.

Arrogant and ambitious, I believed that education was pointless, which led to constant setbacks, leaving me no choice but to work in such a club.

Haley was about the same age as I was back then. I had no choice now, but she could back out of this career.

She loved learning and excelled in her studies. Dropping out was entirely out of necessity.

Yet, at this age, she was willing to sacrifice everything.

How could she not regret it in the future?

Once Alfred fell asleep, I slipped into the office and dialed my assistant's number.

"What's going on? Why did Haley move from the kitchen to the front hall?"

"Haley's father is in the ICU, and the daily treatment costs nearly ten thousand. The hospital has been urging payment several times recently, and she's very anxious. She wants to earn your approval, hoping you'll give her a chance..."

I rubbed my temples, "Tell her that even if she entertains guests in the front hall, she won't earn ten thousand a day."

I wanted to say something harsher but stopped myself, only instructing, "Tell her to go back to school. This place isn't suitable for her."

I made a cup of coffee, and my assistant hesitated before asking, "Thalia, why don't you tell Haley that you've already contacted a charity fund to help her raise money?"

I replied, "The charity's attitude has been ambiguous. I'm afraid if I tell her too soon and her application doesn't go through, she'll be even more desperate."

My assistant asked, "Can't Mr. Fletcher help?"

I put down the coffee, "He's helped me a lot. The Fletcher family is large and complex, with many conflicting interests. I can't rely on him for everything."

5

The next morning, I was awakened by the sound of a woman's voice.

It took me a moment to realize it was the ringtone I had recorded for Alfred, and he hadn't changed it.

I couldn't help but feel touched.

But soon, another woman's voice came through the phone, "Alfred! I'm back! Come pick me up at the airport!"

Alfred hesitated for just a few seconds before agreeing.

My heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

It seemed the shopping trip today was off.

I knew the girl. She was Alfred's childhood friend, and they were very close.

She had gone abroad for graduate studies two years ago and had just graduated and returned home this year.

"Hannah is back. I'm going to pick her up."

Alfred kissed my forehead and got out of bed to get dressed.

I leaned against the headboard and suddenly said, "Theo asked to meet me."