Mia Grant had only said it on a whim, wanting to see him get flustered.

Looking up, she glanced at the closed door diagonally across from her. "Tsk."

’His mouth says no, but his body’s honest.’

’Well, this is just perfect. Now he really has to be my slave.’

’In that case, he can’t blame me for not holding back from now on.’

Mia Grant didn’t really want to eat it, but since he’d gone and bought it...

The next morning, Mia Grant woke up to find her period had started early.

’Was it because I ate too much ice cream last night?’ she wondered. ’Or am I just not used to the new environment?’

Her lower abdomen throbbed with a dragging pain, worse than usual.

Another knock sounded at the door, and Mia Grant dragged herself over to open it.

It was a maid, calling her down for breakfast.

Mia Grant didn’t want to go, but the thought of the old gentleman made her sigh. She obediently headed downstairs.

Simon Adler was already there.

He hadn’t planned on saying anything when he saw her, but his gaze happened to fall on her face. She looked completely drained and listless, and even the corners of her eyes were drooping.

"You... didn’t sleep well?"

The old gentleman hadn’t arrived yet, so they could speak freely.

Mia Grant sat down, her body instinctively leaning forward until she was nearly slumped over the table.

"This is all your fault." Her voice was hoarse.

"My fault?"

Simon Adler looked her up and down, and then it dawned on him. He laughed. "You ate too much ice cream, didn’t you."

"Serves you right."

It wasn’t that he was gloating; seeing her in this state, he wasn’t nearly as happy as he’d imagined he would be.

He waved a hand, signaling a maid to fetch some medicine.

"There’s no need..." Mia Grant let out a long sigh. "It’s period cramps, not an upset stomach."

Just as Simon Adler was about to say something, footsteps sounded outside. It was the old gentleman.

Mia Grant noticed too and forced herself to pull it together, sitting up straight.

The old gentleman ate little for breakfast and was soon gone.

The moment he was gone, Mia Grant couldn’t bear to sit there any longer. She put down her chopsticks and made a run for it.

Simon Adler had a morning meeting and had to leave as soon as he finished eating.

Simon opened the rear car door for him. Simon Adler started to get in, then paused, putting his foot back on the ground. He turned and called out to Lee, "You..."

Lee stepped forward, ready to listen.

"Go up and check on her in a bit. She’s on her period. Ask if she needs anything, and then go buy it for her."

"I’m the one who should go buy it?" Lee asked, pointing to himself. "But if I leave, won’t Miss Grant’s safety be at risk?"

"Then just find someone random to go buy it."

"Ah, but I don’t know anyone here."

"..." Simon Adler’s lips twitched. "Then just text me what she needs. I’ll buy it. Happy now? I’ll buy it."

"Okay!"

...

「The Hughes Corp, Conference Room.」

Simon Adler flipped through the documents at his side. "Let’s do this afternoon. I’ll go to the Central District for an inspection. You should take a break when you have time."

Silas Grant asked, "You’re free this afternoon?"

"I have a meeting with the marketing department, but I can squeeze in some time."

"Oh, right. I heard from the old gentleman that Hayes Hughes is coming back tonight. Aren’t you going back?"

"No time," Silas Grant said, his expression flat.

Simon Adler nodded and said no more.

Their idle chat ended. Across the table, the project department was still in the middle of its report.

Suddenly, a phone rang in the room.

...

For a moment, all eyes turned to Simon Adler. He pulled out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, then quickly declined the call and set his phone to silent.

"Sorry, I forgot to put it on silent when I came in."

"Please, continue."

"Of course, Mr. Adl—" Before the person from the project department could finish, the phone on the table lit up again.

Silas Grant was sitting very close to him. "’Troublemaker.’" He scoffed. "Is that the girlfriend you’re currently seeing?"

"..." Simon Adler declined the call again. "No."

"Not answering? They’re calling again."

"Let’s just continue the meeting."

Silas Grant was surprisingly understanding. "What if it’s an emergency?"

After a moment’s thought, Simon Adler unlocked his phone. "I’ll just send a message. You can all continue; I’m listening."

[What do you want?]

Kitty: [? Why aren’t you answering my calls?]

[Am I your nanny? Do I have to be on call for you 24/7?]

Kitty: [...]

The other end went silent.

Simon Adler was about to put his phone down, but he paused, picked it back up, and typed: [What is it? Spit it out. I’m in a meeting.]

Kitty: [Oh. Then go be busy.]

Simon Adler felt a lump in his throat. [Silas Grant is right next to me. Say what you need to say, quickly. You don’t want him finding out, do you?]

[?] Kitty: [That’s a weird thing to say.]

[Get to the point.]

[I need pads. Lee said you’d buy them for me? When? I’m kind of desperate.]

[I need this brand. This specific kind for nighttime. I need overnight period underwear, too. This kind.]

[Image]

[Image]

[Only these two brands. Nothing else will work.]

After staring at the pictures on the screen for two seconds, Simon Adler tossed his phone down, his head throbbing.

With a CLACK, the conference room fell silent once again.

Silas Grant glanced over, a faint smile playing on his lips. "What’s wrong? A lover’s quarrel?"

"..." Meeting his gaze, Simon Adler forced a smile, choosing to grin and bear it. "It’s nothing."

Silas Grant narrowed his eyes, staring at the phone on the desk for several seconds before looking away, his face impassive.

The instant the meeting ended, Simon Adler was gone.

Silas Grant walked out of the conference room at a leisurely pace, with Eric right behind him.

"Any news on that matter I asked you to investigate?"

Eric understood immediately. "Mr. Adler has been staying at the Hughes residence for the past two days," he explained. "There’s nothing too unusual about his itinerary."

"If I had to point out anything, it’s that he was spotted with a woman near the Central District yesterday."

"However, the woman was just catching a ride with him. After they got to the Central District, they had no further contact."

"If you need me to, I can have Ken pull the surveillance footage from that area."

"No need."

"Just see what he does next."

"Yes, sir."

As they exited the elevator, Silas Grant scrolled through his social media feed. Utter silence.

She hadn’t posted anything recently.

Not on any of her other social media accounts either.

"What’s the situation back in Jynsia?"

Eric knew who he was asking about. "Miss Grant’s routine is unchanged. Classroom, library, dorm. She hasn’t left campus."

"She isn’t with Yates Donovan?"

"No."

"And the Sinclairs?"

"No contact there, either."

Hearing this, Silas Grant stopped in his tracks and glanced back at him. "Aren’t they at the same university? Are you certain there’s been no contact?"

"None." Eric confirmed. "The young master of the Sinclair family has also been on campus for the past two days. The two of them have not crossed paths."

Silas Grant’s brow furrowed, his thoughts unreadable.

"Is something amiss?" Eric asked tentatively.

"She didn’t go to the hospital to see Kian Keller, she didn’t go out messing around with Yates Donovan, and even on campus, she had no contact with that fiancé of hers. They haven’t even seen each other once."

At some unknown thought, Silas Grant gave a cryptic laugh, but his eyes were frigid. "Don’t you find this wildly inconsistent with the activity reports you were giving me not long ago?"

"It would be normal for her to not want to initiate contact, but do you really think *they* would be able to restrain themselves?"

...

Just as Eric was about to respond, his phone rang. He answered it, and his expression turned strange as he looked at Silas Grant.

After a pause, he said, "Mr. Grant, Mr. Adler just left the office. He’s at a nearby supermarket, currently selecting feminine products."

"Feminine products?"

"Uh, it seems to be... sanitary pads?"