"Aren’t you cold?"

Alaric Blackwood paused, feeling the chill of the late autumn wind, and shivered.

"You know, it actually is a little cold."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sophie Shaw felt a lightness on her shoulders.

The man’s hands, along with his coat, were pulled away.

She watched, dumbfounded, as Alaric Blackwood, who had been trying to act cool just a second ago, took the coat he had draped over her and put it back on himself. She couldn’t help but let out a "Pfft."

"What are you laughing at? Can’t a man be afraid of the cold?"

Alaric Blackwood had been afraid of the cold since he was a child, which was why he hated winter.

Before Sophie Shaw could wipe the smile from her face, the man had already strode off toward the parking lot.

He walked quickly, leaving her far behind.

Sophie Shaw hurried after him for a few steps, but her high heel twisted. It was the same foot she had injured not long ago. That sprain hadn’t been serious; she had hidden in the breakroom and massaged it for a long time until the symptoms mostly subsided.

This time, it was a real sprain. The pain was intense.

Alaric Blackwood had just reached his Maybach and pulled open the driver’s side door when, just as he was about to get in, he heard a THUD behind him.

He looked toward the sound and saw Sophie Shaw slumped on the ground, one hand pressed hard against her right ankle, her face scrunched up in pain.

He walked back, bent down to look at her swollen ankle, and without another word, squatted in front of her, pulling her arm to drape over his shoulder.

"Hold on to me."

Alaric Blackwood’s tone left no room for argument.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. The man tightened his grip on her waist, slid his other arm under the crook of her knees, and effortlessly lifted her into his arms.

She wasn’t exactly light. At 1.7 meters tall and weighing just under sixty kilograms, she was a considerable weight, but Alaric Blackwood’s face didn’t flush, nor did his breathing quicken. He held her steadily and walked toward the Maybach.

When they reached the car, he set her down, pulled open the door, and helped her inside.

The car drove away from the private kitchen and headed to the nearest hospital.

When they got out, the man reached out to carry her again, but she quickly stopped him. "You don’t have to. Just give me a hand."

In a crowded place like a hospital, she was afraid of dying from embarrassment. Besides, she wasn’t a small woman; if Alaric Blackwood had to carry her through registration, the examination, payment, and picking up medicine—the whole ordeal—she was afraid she’d work him to death.

The man gave a thoughtful quirk of his thin lips. "As you wish."

He reached out to support her, one hand gripping her arm and the other placed securely on the small of her back.

They took an X-ray, which confirmed there were no broken bones, just ligament and soft tissue damage. The doctor applied a pressure bandage, prescribed a spray-on medication, and instructed her to ice it, rest, avoid walking, and keep the injured limb elevated when she got home.

After leaving the hospital, Alaric Blackwood drove straight toward Maplewood Estate.

By the time Sophie Shaw realized he wasn’t planning on taking her home, the car was already far from the city center.

"Where are we going?"

"My place."

"You’re not taking me home?"

"Is there anyone at the Kane family home to take care of you?"

"I can take care of myself."

"I’ll pretend to believe you."

’She sprained her ankle just by walking normally. Take care of herself, my ass.’

Alaric Blackwood sped up. Just as they were approaching Maplewood Estate, Sophie Shaw spoke up again, her tone firm. "Please, take me back."

’If I don’t come home tonight, there’s no telling how Joseph Shaw will tear into me.’

Alaric Blackwood was silent for a moment before yanking the steering wheel, turning the car around, and heading back toward the city.

When he dropped her off at the Kane family’s house, Sophie Shaw pushed the door open and got out before he could.

"Thank you, Mr. Blackwood."

"Can you walk on your own?"

"Yes, I can."

"Go on, then."

Sophie Shaw nodded, closed the car door, and shuffled toward the courtyard on her sprained foot, limping badly.

She moved at a snail’s pace.

"Mr. Blackwood, you can go now."

Sophie Shaw looked back, gave him a polite smile, and even waved.

"Don’t forget the dress fitting tomorrow."

"Okay."

Alaric Blackwood watched until her back disappeared from view before driving away.

He drove to a billiard club he owned. He had just entered a private room and poured himself a drink when the door was pushed open and Evan Ford walked in.

"Just you?"

Evan Ford, his face stern, shot him a cool glance and pulled out his phone to call Jaden.

"When are you getting here?"

Jaden: "Almost there. One minute."

Hanging up, Evan Ford sat down on the sofa. He watched Alaric Blackwood tilt his head back and down a glass of liquor, then frowned. "Did you stand up my grandmother today?"

"It wasn’t on purpose."

"She called and grumbled for ages. Said you chasing a wife is harder than The Monk’s journey for the scriptures."

Alaric Blackwood put down his glass, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. "It’s not that dramatic."

"My grandmother isn’t in good health. Stop teasing her all the time."

"Today was an exception."

’He hadn’t expected that the person who was perfectly fine during the day would have a slap mark on her face by nightfall.’

He poured himself another drink, walked over to Evan Ford, and sat down. He threw an arm over Evan’s shoulder. "Hey, my future cousin-in-law, there’s something I’m curious about."

"What is it?"

"How are you Fords so proper? He told you not to see Sophie Shaw, and you really just... don’t? You never tried to contact her secretly?"

Evan Ford’s expression was cool, his gaze unwavering. "I was young then. As far as I know, they did try."

"Does Sophie Shaw know you exist?"

"Probably not."

"Probably?"

"Joseph Shaw won’t allow anyone from the Ford family near his daughter. He threatened to kill himself over it."

When Mina Ford passed away, he didn’t even allow the Fords to attend the funeral.

At the time, the only person invited was Alaric Blackwood’s mother, Mandy Halloway.

She was Mina Ford’s best friend. Even after Mina left the Ford family, the two of them never lost touch. Joseph Shaw wasn’t as hostile toward her, plus, when Mina and Joseph were starting their business, Mandy Halloway had provided them with a lot of help.

"Joseph Shaw has an extreme personality. He’s held a knife to his own throat more than once. Would you dare provoke someone like that?"

Alaric Blackwood lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs.

"He plays dirty, so why don’t you hold a knife to your own throats and play dirty right back?"

Evan Ford shot him a glare. "..."

"The way to deal with a scoundrel is to be an even bigger scoundrel."

"That’s easy to say, but..."

The Fords had a very upright family culture. The way they were raised made it impossible for them to act like Joseph Shaw—crying, fighting, threatening suicide, throwing themselves on the ground to make a scene, and acting shameless.

"Being too concerned with appearances just gets in the way."

Alaric Blackwood blew a smoke ring and smirked at Evan Ford. "I don’t have that problem."

Evan Ford shot him another glare and shoved the arm resting on his shoulder away.

Just then, Jaden burst through the door in a panic.

He made a beeline for the liquor cabinet, a look of pure terror on his face. He grabbed an empty glass and poured himself a drink to calm his nerves.

After downing the entire glass, he caught his breath and said to Alaric Blackwood, "Can you please talk to your sister? Tell her to stop chasing me."

Alaric Blackwood sneered, "My sister chasing you is your good fortune."

"Are you even my friend?"

"Don’t pull the ’friend’ card. You’re the one who’s in the wrong here."

Jaden bristled. "How am I in the wrong? I’ve told you a million times, I already love someone else! Tell your sister to let me go! She’s haunting me day and night. If my girlfriend finds out, she’s going to lose it on me."

"First of all, you and my sister got engaged *before* you got a girlfriend. My sister doesn’t know your girlfriend exists. You’re the one who won’t tell her the truth and keeps avoiding her. Who’s to blame for that?"