Yates Donovan was a man of his word. Not long after Mia Grant and Simon Adler arrived at the airport, people started filing into the quiet VIP lounge.

The newcomers were dressed in a variety of styles. Some wore business attire, others were in casual clothes, and a few had an edgy, alternative look.

’They looked a little strange.’

Simon Adler was seated next to her in a large armchair, the armrest separating them wide enough to fit another person.

For some reason, she snuck a glance at Simon Adler.

He was looking down, replying to work messages. Mia Grant didn’t know if he had eyes in the back of his head or what, but she heard him say in an unhurried tone, "No need to stare. The ones on the left are Yates Donovan’s men. Those two diagonally in front of you are Kian Keller’s people. I don’t recognize the two on the right, but judging by their vehicle records, they’re from the Sinclair Family."

"..." Mia Grant was stunned. The way she looked at him changed completely.

’Does this guy really only have two eyes?’

Mia Grant didn’t recognize anyone from the Sinclair Family, so she focused on observing Yates Donovan’s and Kian Keller’s men.

’All that effort to disguise themselves was for nothing. They were still spotted in a single glance.’

’On closer inspection, Kian Keller’s men were all quite large and tan, perfectly matching her stereotype of military types.’

’But she didn’t recognize a single one of them.’

The only one she recognized was Aaron.

However, Aaron had been pulled from her security detail after she returned from Portia. Kian Keller needed him more.

After a moment of hesitation, Mia Grant stood up.

As she rose abruptly, a shadow fell over Simon Adler. He paused and looked up.

"What are you doing?"

"Don’t mind me." Mia Grant rubbed her nose, walked straight ahead, and then sat down beside one of Kian Keller’s men with feigned nonchalance.

At this hour, there was barely anyone else in the VIP lounge.

A quick glance around revealed they were all "acquaintances."

Mia Grant averted her gaze, glanced at the burly man beside her, and asked in a low voice, "You’re with Kian Keller?"

The man hadn’t expected her to recognize him. He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Hello, Miss Grant."

"Does he know I’m going to Portia?"

"He didn’t at first, but he does now."

"?" It quickly dawned on Mia Grant. "Are you the ones who’ve been protecting me in secret?" ’That would explain why they knew her movements better than Kian Keller, and why Simon Adler recognized them.’

"Yes."

"I see. So, yesterday, during my engagement party... were you in the banquet hall?"

"We were downstairs. Mr. Donovan’s men were upstairs, and we’re too conspicuous, so it wasn’t convenient for us to be there."

Mia Grant nodded. "What are your names?"

"I’m Zelo, and he’s Zero."

"..." Mia Grant let out a blank "Huh?"

"Besides Aaron, we all go by code names. It’s more convenient than using our real names."

’I see.’

After a pause, Mia Grant leaned closer again and asked:

"How’s your boss doing today?"

"He’s doing okay."

"And yesterday?"

"..." Zelo was suddenly at a loss for words.

A few seconds later, he repeated himself. "He’s doing okay."

But that seconds-long pause said it all.

A knowing silence fell between them.

"How about... if you have a moment, you give the boss a call?"

"Huh? And say what?" Mia Grant recalled Kian Keller’s tone the other day. ’Calling him would just be asking to get yelled at.’

Zelo said, "Anything’s fine! Chat about the weather, what you had for dinner..."

"..."

Mia Grant blinked. "Are you sure someone with his personality would chat with me about things like that?"

’Felix Sinclair is a man of few words too, but at least he’s accommodating. If she wanted to chat, he’d chat with her.’

’But Kian Keller...’

’...was a completely different story.’

’He’s so stoic. Making small talk with him would be incredibly stressful.’

"Of course he will!" Zelo said, his tone excited and incredibly earnest. "As long as it’s you, what you talk about isn’t the point. The point is that *you’re* the one calling him."

Suddenly, Mia Grant saw him in a new light.

’I never would have thought such a big, burly guy would be so perceptive. No wonder Kian Keller sent him over. It clearly wasn’t just for his brawn.’

"Go on, call him! You’ll be boarding soon. By the time you land, it’ll be the middle of the night. The boss’s leg pain gets so bad at night that he can’t sleep at all. If you could give him a call right now, it would be more effective than any painkiller!"

Mia Grant was impressed by his silver tongue. She chuckled and replied, "And here I thought you were just like Aaron."

"Oh, please. That lunkhead could never handle such delicate work. That’s why the boss sent me, right? Hehehe."

’That "hehehe" was quite something.’

Mia Grant really enjoyed talking to people like him. It was easy and surprisingly fun.

And so, thanks to Zelo’s powers of persuasion, Mia Grant dialed Kian Keller’s number.

"You’re sure he’s awake?"

The phone rang for a while with no answer. Listening to the ringing on the other end, Mia Grant couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt.

Zelo frowned too. He glanced at his watch, then put down the fashion magazine he’d been using as a prop. As he pulled out his own phone, he asked Zero next to him, "That’s weird. Is there anything in the group chat? Did the boss go to sleep? It’s too early, right? No way."

"Nothing." Zero scrolled through the chat history. "Aaron’s last message was an hour ago, telling us to report in as soon as we land in Portia."

Zelo tutted. "Call Aaron. The boss’s phone is probably on him."

As the call connected, Zero asked, "Is the boss asleep? No? Then do you have his phone? Quick, give it to him. Don’t ask questions, just hurry. Take it to him and then..."

Zelo snatched the phone, covered the mouthpiece, and hissed furiously, "Ask what? What is there to ask! Give the phone back to the boss, right now! If my bonus flies out the window because of this, just you wait! I’ll come back and murder your entire family!"

"..." Mia Grant’s eyes widened in shock. She was utterly floored.

After tearing into the person on the other end, Zelo turned back to her with a kind, friendly smile. "So sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Grant. It’ll just be a moment."

The next second, his smile vanished. He covered the mouthpiece and barked, "Faster! Run!"

’Listening to that tone,’ Mia Grant thought, ’it’s really hard to believe Aaron is their captain.’

While she was still dazed, the call she was holding to her ear suddenly connected. A low, raspy male voice came through. "It’s me. Kian Keller."

Mia Grant’s eyelashes fluttered as she quickly collected her thoughts.

From the other end of the line, she could faintly hear someone panting, probably Aaron.

"Oh, you... you’re still awake. I thought you might be asleep."

"No. I had a check-up today and gave my phone to Aaron. He had just stepped out to get the results and didn’t notice the call."

"Oh, I see. How did the check-up go? Are you okay?"

"No."

The cold, heavy word made Mia Grant’s heart skip a beat.

Almost instinctively, she let out a confused, "Huh?"

’He was never willing to bring up his injuries in front of her.’

’His pride wouldn’t allow him to expose his vulnerability to her.’

’But this time...’

"Silas Grant isn’t dying, yet you’re in such a rush to see him."

The man’s voice was hoarse in her ear. "What about me?"