"I want to report Adrian Preston! When he was an anti-smuggling officer, he broke the law he was sworn to uphold and forced himself on me!"

"He committed a crime, and I want him to pay the price and go to jail..."

The words, rehearsed countless times, were stuck in her throat. She couldn’t get them out.

Young Zane, standing to the side, was getting anxious.

"Ma’am, what’s going on? What exactly are you reporting..."

"She’s going to report me for malfeasance..."

Adrian Preston took a step forward, speaking up so Mia Kane wouldn’t have to struggle.

Mia Kane’s heart skipped a beat. He had actually said it himself.

She didn’t know what to do, but her first instinct was to shut Adrian Preston up.

"I... We’re just kidding with you! Are you free today? We just wanted to treat you to a meal. If you’re busy, we’ll just go..."

Mia Kane said in a rush, then pulled Adrian Preston into the car.

Young Zane was completely bewildered, unable to make sense of it.

Once they were in the car, Mia Kane finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why didn’t you let me say it? Is it because you can’t bear to lose me?"

"Shut your mouth!"

She roared, her heart filled with anger and grievance. It was impossible not to have developed feelings after all the time they had spent together.

He was such a good person. How could he have suddenly become like this?

Of course, she understood that people don’t change overnight. This must be Adrian Preston’s true nature—one he had always suppressed, forcing himself to be a man of absolute integrity.

She should bring this villain to justice, but for some reason, she kept hesitating. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

"Tell me the truth. Are there extenuating circumstances? I’m willing... to trust you one more time."

Hearing this, Adrian Preston lowered his gaze slightly.

"There are no circumstances. I just lost control and defiled you."

As he spoke, the hand hidden in his sleeve clenched into a fist.

"So you’ve had designs on me since then? And when we met later at Vivian Lynch’s birthday party, you pretended you didn’t know me."

Mia Kane was trembling all over.

Adrian Preston pursed his lips. ’I wanted to tell her it wasn’t just then that I had wicked intentions toward her. It started long, long ago. Her image has been buried in my heart for over a decade, tormenting my every nerve.’

In his years undercover, he had seen so much darkness. More than once, he’d wanted to use improper means to imprison her by his side, to make her his alone.

But he had always resisted.

He never expected that on his last mission—to take down a smuggling ship—he would see Mia Kane on board.

Her eyes were blindfolded, her clothes torn, revealing flushed, pink skin.

Her red lips were slightly parted, her mind already lost to the effects of a drug.

He wanted to save her like a gentleman, but that was completely useless.

He could only resort to his own methods to relieve her suffering.

It was she who had grabbed his hand, crying and begging him to go faster, saying she was about to go crazy, to die, that the lonely emptiness was about to drown her.

That night, he was drenched in sweat, carefully satisfying her every need.

Afterward, he knew he had committed malfeasance, an unforgivable mistake. He had defiled the girl he loved.

He cleaned her up, treated all her wounds, and finally laid her on a soft, large bed.

He watched her for a long time before reluctantly leaving.

He could have remained a police officer. His superiors would have made arrangements for him, allowing him to maintain multiple identities.

But he insisted on taking off that uniform.

Because his conscience was not clear.

And also because that uniform would restrict him from doing many things.

Things that couldn’t satisfy others, but could satisfy himself.

He wanted to be selfish for once. What was wrong with that?

"Mia Kane, don’t ask any more questions. I’ll admit to all of it."

His voice was very, very soft. He didn’t know if he regretted it. If he had to do it all over again, he probably still would.

He knew his sin was unforgivable, and he knew that now that the truth was out, a deep rift had formed between them. But what was done was done; there was no denying it.

"Whether you resent me or hate me, it’s too late. I won’t let you go."

Mia Kane’s heart plunged into a bottomless abyss.

"Why me? Why did it have to be me!"

she demanded.

His face paled slightly, but in the end, he pressed his thin lips together and said nothing.

Mia Kane closed her eyes in pain and despair as a tear slid from the corner of her eye.

She had known such a good Adrian Preston.

He always appeared when she was at her lowest, saving her from dire straits.

He protected her, respected her.

But in the end, it was all a joke.

"Adrian Preston, have you done anything else that’s wicked and unconscionable?"

"No. I have a clear conscience about everything else I’ve done. Only you... I’ve wronged you."

Mia Kane’s despair deepened. ’Why did it have to be me?’

She was utterly exhausted, body and soul. Adrian Preston’s heart ached watching her. He wanted to reach out and caress her pale cheek, but she stopped him.

"Don’t touch me."

She was like an angry little animal, her eyes sharp and fierce.

A pang of pain shot through his heart, and he silently drew his hand back.

"Do you want to be treated at the hospital, or would you rather rest at the villa?"

She didn’t answer.

"Then I’ll decide for you. Let’s go to the hospital. I’m still worried."

Adrian Preston took her back to the hospital.

Mia Kane didn’t want to say another word to him, so he didn’t press his luck and turned to leave.

Just as he left, his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and hesitated for a long time.

He walked to the end of the hall and answered the call.

"This police-civilian cooperation went very well. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. You’ve got your sidearm now, too. Are you really not planning on coming back?"

Normally, as he was no longer a public official, he couldn’t get a sidearm, but his superiors had given special approval.

The General Administration of Customs Anti-Smuggling Department had been keeping an eye on Adrian Preston. When they learned he wanted to apply for a sidearm, they approved it immediately, hoping he would return.

The Chief had no intention of letting such an outstanding anti-smuggling officer go. He even wanted to promote him, but Adrian Preston had turned him down several times, using the excuse that he had to go home and inherit his family’s business. His position had stagnated, but everyone around him held him in high regard.

If he had any intention of climbing the ranks, he would have become the youngest deputy director in history.

"Chief, I’m sorry... I have other things to do..."

Adrian Preston still politely refused.

"Young Preston, do you think that just by taking off that uniform, you’ve completely rid yourself of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau? Once you put it on, it’s for life. I’ll give you some more time. Think it over. I’ll be waiting for you."

The call ended, and Adrian Preston’s expression grew solemn.

He looked down at the suit he was wearing and gave a bitter smile.

His greatest hope had been to wear his police uniform and marry Mia Kane. He thought she would have felt incredibly proud at that moment.

But in the end, he had stained the uniform. He was unworthy of being a public official.

But that was fine. The world was short one anti-smuggling officer, but it had gained an Adrian Preston. He would use his own methods to make those people pay.

Just then, Theo Thorne hurried over.

"Adrian, William’s been caught."

Hearing this, a cold smile spread across Adrian Preston’s face, his frigid eyes looking as if they were laced with poison.

"Good. Very good!"

He quickened his pace. He was actually looking forward to meeting William.