"This gun can’t kill anyone! It’ll only cause a flesh wound."

Someone had seen through the bluff.

She had gotten the gun from Old Parrish. If it were really that lethal, they’d all probably have been arrested by now.

"Mia, run..."

Shayla Quinn threw herself forward and grabbed the nearest bodyguard, trying to buy Mia time to escape.

But the door was locked from the other side and couldn’t be opened quickly. Shayla’s slender frame wouldn’t hold out for long.

Seeing the bodyguard’s elbow coming down hard, about to smash into Shayla’s spine, Mia’s heart pounded. She lunged forward and blocked the blow with her arm.

CRACK.

A sharp pain shot through her. Her face turned frighteningly pale. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if her bone was broken or just dislocated. All she knew was that her right arm was hanging limply, completely numb.

’Is my arm going to be useless?’

"What are you waiting for? Tie them up and drag them into the room! Hurry up and record the video so we can shut them up for good."

The bodyguards tried to drag the two of them into the room, slapping them hard anytime they resisted.

Both of Shayla Quinn’s cheeks were swollen high, and Mia Kane was in no better shape. She was slapped for just the slightest movement.

She had stalled for long enough. ’Why isn’t Adrian here yet?’

Just as they were about to be dragged into the room, Mia’s heart, hanging by a thread, felt like it was about to shatter. Finally... the main door was kicked open with brute force.

BANG.

The door crashed flat onto the floor, gouging a hole in the ground.

"Adrian..."

The moment Mia saw him, her heart finally settled.

She hadn’t wanted to cry at all. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. She’d been focused solely on how to save herself and escape.

But for some reason, seeing Adrian Preston’s tall, imposing figure, her tears fell, betraying her.

She felt like a child who had been bullied by other kids and was now looking at her parent who had just arrived, feeling incredibly wronged.

Seeing her tears, Adrian’s heart tightened. He strode over and pulled her into his arms.

"Didn’t I tell you not to act rashly and to wait for me?"

he scolded.

Mia felt even more wronged. If she hadn’t found a way to sneak in, Shayla Quinn’s reputation would have been ruined.

She had been through something this horrible before. She didn’t want her best friend to go through it too.

She alone was enough to bear all the pain.

She said nothing, unable to argue, and her tears just fell faster and harder.

Seeing her cry, Adrian was completely at a loss.

"Alright, alright. I’m here now. You’re safe with me, don’t be afraid."

Mia, deeply aggrieved, pointed at the menacing Talia. "She... she bullied me!"

That pitiful, wronged look of hers...

It made Adrian feel as if his own child had been bullied outside and had come running to him to complain.

Adrian’s heart completely melted. He ruffled her hair. "You and your friend go to the room. I’ll handle things here."

Mia nodded and led Shayla away.

"Who are you? Do you know who I work for?"

"I don’t care who you are. You touched someone you shouldn’t have, and now you’ll pay the price!"

Adrian said coldly. With a slight raise of his hand, his men immediately sprang into action.

...

Screams rose and fell from outside. It was a little horrifying for Mia to listen to.

Shayla’s clothes were torn, so she quickly changed into a new set.

"It’s a good thing you came when you did, or I would’ve been done for. The truth is, I never got any photos of that movie star cheating. The places he goes are all tightly secured. I couldn’t even get my equipment inside."

"I was just passing by when he saw me. He was the one with a guilty conscience, thinking he’d been secretly photographed, so he kept giving me a hard time. What an undeserved disaster. I just hope I didn’t get you two into trouble."

"Don’t talk about ’getting into trouble’ between us."

The noise outside died down. Mia was about to open the door to check when Adrian knocked softly.

"It’s a bit bloody out here, not a pretty sight. Wait until we’ve cleaned up before you come out."

"Okay. Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine."

Only then did Mia breathe a sigh of relief.

"What’s this? Worried about him?"

Shayla suddenly leaned in, teasing her.

Mia quickly tried to cover. "Of course not. He only came here because of me. If he got hurt, I’d feel responsible."

"Seriously though, that Adrian Preston really seems to care about you. He got here so fast. That’s why I called you. Isn’t he way better than Chase Lockwood?"

"Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Neither of them is any good."

Mia said irritably.

Soon, Adrian told them they could come out. The area outside was spotless, with no one else around, but the air still held the faint smell of blood.

"You won’t be able to live here for a while. Why don’t you stay at my place?"

Mia offered.

"If I go, will it be inconvenient for you two? I don’t want to be a third wheel."

"It’s not inconvenient at all. We... don’t live together."

Hearing this, Shayla’s eyes widened. She looked at Mia, then back at Adrian.

Mia helped Shayla pack her things. Theo Thorne would drive them back, while Adrian had to rush back to the Preston Group.

"I can’t believe Adrian isn’t even driving you home,"

Shayla couldn’t help but complain.

"Miss Quinn, you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Preston has a very important contract to sign. He rushed over here in the middle of it and has already kept them waiting for an hour. This project is crucial for the Preston Group. Missing it could very well affect the stock market."

"It’s that serious? Then why didn’t Adrian just send someone else?"

"Mr. Preston was too worried. He insisted on coming himself."

When Shayla heard that, she immediately nudged Mia’s arm.

Theo Thorne dropped them off at the villa and left in a great hurry, not even staying for a glass of water.

’It seems that project really is important.’

After touring the villa, Shayla flopped onto the soft, big bed and rolled around.

"When will this kind of insane wealth ever fall into my lap?"

"This house isn’t mine. It’s Adrian’s."

"Tsk, tsk. You two have a fight, and the homeowner moves out? I’ve never heard of such a thing. If you ask me, Adrian really cares about you. What more could you be unhappy about?"

"He would do the same for you if you were his wife, out of a sense of duty. I’m not special. That’s just the kind of person he is. He treats everyone the same!"

"You’re kidding, right? Isn’t he just one of those guys who’s nice to every woman?"

Shayla shot up into a sitting position.

"It’s because he used to be a cop. He has a strong sense of mission and responsibility. I’m his legal wife, so of course he’s going to be good to me. But there’s an upside to a person like that. You don’t have to worry about him messing around. Anyone might cheat, but Adrian won’t. His moral compass is too strong. He’d never allow himself to break the law."

"Well, that sounds pretty good to me. If I had a husband like that, I’d probably wake up laughing in my sleep. So, have you two... you know?"

Mia shook her head.

"Not yet? But isn’t he so responsible? You’re married. Aren’t... marital duties... part of his obligation? Where’s his sense of responsibility now?"