Mika Summers dragged Tristan Grayson out of the hotel. She didn’t let go until they reached his car, where she shoved him away.

She swept a stray lock of hair from her face, spun around, and said angrily, "Tristan Grayson, how many times do I have to tell you? Stay out of my business." ’He can barely take care of himself, yet he’s still trying to meddle in my affairs. Does he expect me to thank him for it?’

’Or does he want me to feel indebted to him?’

’If that’s his plan, then Tristan Grayson has seriously miscalculated! I won’t thank him, and I certainly won’t feel indebted to him...’

’All I want is to do everything I can to stay far, far away from him and never have anything to do with him again.’

Tristan Grayson hadn’t expected Mika Summers to say that. He was clearly taken aback, his gaze heavy with complex emotions as he stared at her.

’If she doesn’t want me looking after her, who does she want? Silas Kent?’

’By what right should another man take care of *my* woman!’

Seeing Tristan Grayson remain silent only made Mika Summers angrier. "Tristan Grayson, are you an idiot? From now on, you are forbidden from meddling in my life!"

Her words made Tristan Grayson’s expression stiffen, and the look in his eyes grew increasingly complex.

He strode toward her, closing the distance...

"...Tris..." Mika Summers shoved panickedly at Tristan Grayson, but he held her in a death grip and refused to let go. Eventually, she slowly stopped struggling.

Seeing that she had quieted down, Tristan Grayson’s brow furrowed, and he slowly released her.

"You bastard!"

The moment Tristan Grayson let her go, Mika Summers swung her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist firmly. His brows knitted as he asked in a cold, displeased tone, "Are you hurt?"

"No!" At his question, the anger on Mika Summers’s face faded slightly. She awkwardly pulled her hand back, turned to fish out her keys, opened the car door, and slid inside.

Seeing Mika Summers sitting in the passenger seat, a flash of disappointment crossed Tristan Grayson’s eyes. He let out a soft sigh and walked around the car to the driver’s side.

’Just how much does she hate me? To the point where she can’t even have a normal conversation with me?’

...

Mika Summers tossed him the keys. Without another word, Tristan Grayson took them, started the car, and drove off.

Mika Summers turned to look out the window, her brow still tightly furrowed.

’I’m supposed to despise Tristan Grayson, right? Then why have I been acting so strangely lately? This is completely different from what I imagined while I was abroad.’

’Wasn’t I supposed to get my revenge on him? Wasn’t I supposed to make him feel all the pain and hurt he once caused me?’

***

Meanwhile, after Silas Kent dropped Eleanor Bishop off, he gave her a business card and told her to come to his office the next morning. Then, he drove away.

Eleanor Bishop watched the luxury car speed off. She glanced once at the business card in her hand before tossing it to the side of the road.

’Mika wanted to help, but I don’t want to drag her down with me. If it weren’t for me, Mika probably wouldn’t have done what she did today...’

’Anyone who gets involved with the Bishop family ends up miserable.’

Just then, the front door opened, and a woman walked out. She looked in the direction the luxury car had gone, her brow furrowed. "Eleanor, who was that who just dropped you off?"

"No one," Eleanor replied coldly, snapping out of her thoughts.

But her mother didn’t believe her and pressed on, "Was it Jason who brought you home? I knew it. That boy, he truly cares for you."

Hearing her mother, Yara Ross, speak, Eleanor’s eyes filled with anguish. "Mom, why do you and Dad insist on forcing me and Jason Lockwood together? Hasn’t he made our lives miserable enough?"