Mia Kane tried to struggle free, but he was holding her too tightly, squeezing her ribs until they ached.

"It hurts..."

She couldn’t help but cry out softly. Adrian Preston immediately let go, looking at her nervously.

"I... I didn’t mean to. I hurt you, didn’t I? I’ll be more careful next time..."

He looked completely lost, like a child who’d done something wrong.

"I’m fine. Get back in bed and lie down."

Adrian Preston obediently lay back down on the bed.

"Are you hungry? I passed by a wonton shop. It was still crowded this late, so it must be good. I got two orders to go."

He nodded.

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

She looked up and fell into those deep, dark pools.

His gaze was locked on her, making her a little uncomfortable.

Only then did he avert his eyes, no longer staring.

’This feels surreal,’ he thought.

"I thought you were still mad at me and wouldn’t come see me."

"I am mad at you. I’m mad that you didn’t trust me. If there’s a next time, I’ll never forgive you. Adrian Preston, this is just how I am—I’m very clear about who I love and who I hate. If you think I’m too harsh or difficult to be with, you’re free to..."

"Let’s eat the wontons."

He seemed to know what she was going to say next and gently cut her off.

She didn’t press the issue. The two of them ate the warm food, their bodies warming up as drowsiness washed over them.

The hospital bed was too small, only big enough for him, so she lay down on the sofa.

She stayed until the next morning, but then had to rush to her studio to handle something urgent.

"I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. I’ll bring you lunch."

As she was leaving, she didn’t forget to remind him, "Cooperate with the treatment. A recurring wound infection is no small matter."

Even long after she was out of sight, he couldn’t bring himself to look away.

Theo Thorne arrived with some documents.

"You handle these for me. I need to focus on getting better."

Theo Thorne’s face lit up when he heard that.

"Looks like what Mia says is the only thing that works. I was at my wit’s end."

Adrian Preston gave him a light kick. "Cut the chatter. And don’t just say whatever you want in front of her. She gets embarrassed easily."

Just then, Adrian Preston’s phone rang. It was Young Zane.

"Brother Preston, your paperwork went through. I’ve got the gun. Where are you? I’ll bring it over."

"A gun?"

"Yeah. Mia knew your birthday was coming up. She knows you don’t like frivolous things and figured you must miss handling a gun after retiring, so she had me ask my superiors if a special exception could be made."

"I thought the paperwork would be a nightmare, but it was approved right away. The gun’s with me now. I’ll bring it to you."

Adrian Preston was silent for a long time after hearing this.

His chest felt like it was being filled with something warm, swelling until it felt full.

"I’m at the hospital. Bring it over."

He couldn’t wait to feel his old partner in his hands again.

Young Zane delivered it. The brand-new firearm was sealed in a leather pouch.

His hands trembled as he opened it and took out the handgun.

The bullets were separate; it wasn’t loaded. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The cool, heavy feel of metal.

"Mia really nailed the gift. Brother Preston has always loved these things. She really went to great lengths for you."

Hearing this, Adrian Preston suddenly thought of the tie Shannon Preston had shredded. The embroidery had been exquisite; Mia had probably made it by hand.

She had put so much effort into celebrating his birthday, and he hadn’t shown her a single pleasant expression from beginning to end. He had been truly awful.

When Mia Kane returned, there were no visitors in the hospital room, only Adrian Preston.

"You must be starving. I’m a little late. Go on and eat, it’s still hot."

"Young Zane came by today."

Mia Kane’s heart tightened. She had almost forgotten about it. It seemed the application had been approved, and he had received his firearm.

"I see."

She wanted to ask if he liked it, but remembering he never celebrated his birthday, she couldn’t be bothered.

But Adrian Preston seemed to guess her thoughts and said softly, "I love the gift you gave me."

"As long as you like it. Let’s eat."

"I’m sorry. I let you down."

"It’s nothing. You should have told me beforehand. I don’t want to hear things about you from Shannon Preston’s mouth. You can tell me yourself. If you don’t want to talk about it... then forget it. I’m not that interested anyway."

She gave a casual smile, acting as if she didn’t care.

Adrian Preston felt that even though she was right in front of him, she seemed miles away.

She didn’t bring up what had happened before, never mentioning it, as if nothing had ever happened.

But he knew the incident had still created a rift between them, one that would be hard to mend.

He had betrayed her trust.

During this time, Mia Kane visited him often. He cooperated fully with the treatment, and his wound healed quickly.

After he was discharged, she never mentioned him moving back to the villa. She just called him occasionally, telling him not to overwork himself and to take care of his body instead of focusing only on work.

She was like someone just clocking in, completing a task.

Even though he knew her concern was just perfunctory, he still cherished it.

Owen Sinclair could tell something was off between them.

"What’s wrong? Having a fight?"

"No."

Mia Kane answered without hesitation.

"Mia, we’ve known each other for many years, same major, same department. I’d like to think I know you pretty well. Something’s on your mind, and it’s about Adrian Preston, isn’t it?"

Mia Kane pressed her lips together.

"Adrian Preston has secrets."

"Everyone has secrets, don’t they?"

"Yes, but given our relationship, I feel I have the right to know his secrets. Yet he hasn’t said a single word."

When Shannon Preston framed her, she had felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

’Does he think it’s unnecessary for me to know, or does he think I shouldn’t know?’

In any case, he never said a word about not celebrating his birthday.

In that whole farce, she was the only one who had put in any effort, preparing a gift, only for all her thought and care to go down the drain.

She had even looked forward to seeing the happy expression on his face when he received his gift.

’This is the first time since we got married that I get to be a part of his birthday,’ she had thought. ’I have to prepare well and give him a surprise.’

In the end, she became a joke.

Although Theo Thorne explained a lot later, and she could understand that Adrian’s ignorance had almost led to her starving to death, she could also understand his difficult position.

But she didn’t want to have any more expectations of him.

No expectations means no disappointment. It means not letting more emotions sprout, not becoming insatiably greedy.

"Owen, I can’t control other people, but I can control myself. I think things are fine the way they are now."

It was good to have a friend like Adrian Preston—righteous, powerful, influential, and someone who made her feel safe. She would stay in touch and maintain a basic relationship. Anything more was unnecessary.

That way, if she was ever in trouble, she could still ask him for help.

"Mia, if you’re not happy with him, then leave him. You’ll eventually find someone who only has eyes for you, someone who will only ever be good to you."

As Owen Sinclair said this, he couldn’t stop his voice from trembling slightly.