His voice was deep and hoarse. He looked up at her, his eyes dark and profound, like spilled ink, desire seething silently within them.

’She suspected he was going to devour her whole, right here and now.’

After all, she knew everything now. He had no reason to keep up the pretense.

"I... I won’t try to escape anymore."

’She knew how to adapt to the situation. It was just a lie, of course. She’d dare to do it again.’

’She couldn’t bring herself to send him to jail, but she couldn’t live under the same roof as a rapist, either.’

’If she could tolerate this, would she have any principles or conscience left?’

’She’d tried to convince herself that the situation had been critical. She had been drugged, and it was better for it to have been Adrian than someone else.’

’Understanding it was one thing, but forgiving what Adrian did was another. She never would.’

’She was the victim!’

’She couldn’t possibly empathize with him!’

"Are you that scared of me?"

He gazed at her intently.

"What are you afraid of? That I’ll eat you up? Don’t worry. Unless you’re completely willing, I won’t touch you."

"Adrian Preston, isn’t it ridiculous for you to be playing the gentleman now? Is there any part of my body you haven’t seen? That you haven’t touched? And you have the nerve to say that, as if you’re some kind of saint!"

"So what you’re saying is, I should be more of a beast? Just do whatever I want?"

Mia: "..."

’She instantly fell silent. It was a no-win situation; she would lose no matter what she said.’

’She just couldn’t stand his sanctimonious act!’

’His hypocritical facade was utterly detestable.’

"We’re going home."

Adrian swept her up into his arms.

As they left the restroom, Mia saw the scene waiting outside. Two rows of bodyguards in matching uniforms flanked the doorway, a terrifying sight.

Mia was escorted into a car. Partway through the drive, Adrian received a call from Shannon Preston.

He gave a few curt replies and hung up.

He spoke to Theo Thorne, who was driving. "Send Shannon abroad. She’s not getting any younger. Select some promising young men and let her see if any are suitable. It would be good for her to marry early."

"Yes."

’Mia was shocked that Adrian was actually considering marrying off his sister. Was it because Shannon had helped her escape?’

She didn’t say anything. She wouldn’t interfere in Shannon’s affairs.

When they arrived back at the villa, Adrian summoned all the servants and announced in front of her.

"Watch my wife closely. If she escapes, it will be your failure. And it won’t be as simple as getting fired. I will make your lives a living hell."

He spoke casually, but no one doubted the weight behind his words.

Mia’s face was pale, her lips trembling.

The servants left one by one in fear, leaving just the two of them in the vast living room.

"You... You’re just trying to scare me, aren’t you? You wouldn’t really do something like that. Right?"

"Want to test me?"

Adrian arched an eyebrow at her.

"You think I wouldn’t dare? Their lives and livelihoods have nothing to do with me."

"Fine. Then let’s try it, then."

Adrian agreed.

Mia’s heart hammered in her chest, threatening to leap out of her throat.

"Adrian... have you forgotten who you are? You were..."

"What am I? I’m the CEO of the Preston Group. I’m the rapist in your eyes. I’m a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Let me tell you, the moment I took off my sidearm and that uniform, I knew I was free of all constraints!"

"So everything before... was it all fake?"

Adrian pressed his lips together, avoiding her blazing, tear-filled eyes. He clenched his fists, his heart feeling as though it were being slowly carved up by a dull knife.

’He had been restraining himself, trying to be a good person, because that’s the kind of man Mia liked. That had always been his goal.’

’Without Mia, he would have succumbed to his demons long ago.’

’If he had a choice, he never would have revealed his true nature. He would have willingly worn a mask for a lifetime, as long as she was happy.’

’It was all a deliberate act.’

’But his kindness toward her was all real.’

’But he also knew he had done wrong—a sin punishable by death.’

’He would spend his entire life making it up to her. He had no right to ask for her forgiveness, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go, either. He knew they were both in agony, but he just couldn’t grant Mia the freedom she desired.’

’If he let her go this time, there would be no future for them.’

’Mia wasn’t a kite that could be reeled back in by a string.’

’She was a wild Gyrfalcon. Once set free, she would never be found again.’

"Just assume... it was all fake."

Adrian said softly.

"I won’t restrict your freedom. You can go to your studio, you can even see Shayla Quinn. But you cannot leave Argent. And I’m telling you this plainly: from now on, my men will be watching you from the shadows. After all, you have a history."

"If anything happens to you, I’ll hold whoever was with you responsible. If you escape from the villa, I’ll hold the servants accountable. If you run away from your studio, I’ll go after Owen Sinclair. If you disappear while you’re out shopping with Shayla Quinn, then Shayla will be in a world of trouble. Do you understand?"

"And what if I’m with Shannon?"

"Then she’s finished, too. Shannon is important, of course, but not as important as you!"

He took a step closer, his words slow and deliberate.

Mia’s heart skipped a beat.

’Shannon was actually less important than she was?’

’Years of being brother and sister meant less than a wife he’d known for only six months?’

’Had Adrian fallen in love with her at first sight?’

"Then when we were kidnapped, you chose..."

"I wanted to choose you. But Shannon had been shot. If I didn’t save her, she would have died. My original plan was to let Carter King take her. I have an informant among his men, so nothing would have actually happened to her."

"I never gave up on you. If something had really happened, if I couldn’t have saved you... I would have died with you."

"You’re... you’re lying, right?"

She took a step back, refusing to believe his feelings for her ran so deep he would be willing to die.

’Men and their lies. They were all just pretty words, easily spoken.’

Adrian didn’t explain. He didn’t say another word, just gazed at her intently.

His bottomless, almond-shaped eyes were like a dark, secluded pool, threatening to pull her in.

"You’re tired. Go upstairs and rest."

He changed the subject.

His words snapped Mia back to her senses. She immediately turned and ran.

She locked herself in the room, her heart pounding like thunder, unable to calm down for a long, long time.

Her body trembled uncontrollably with fear.

’When she’d dealt with Chase Lockwood, there had still been a chance to escape, a chance to start over.’

’But with Adrian, she was doomed beyond salvation!’

She picked up her phone, wanting to call Shayla Quinn for help. Even if Shayla couldn’t do anything, just having someone to listen to her vent would be a relief.

’Otherwise, keeping all of this bottled up inside, with no one to talk to, would make her completely fall apart.’

She picked up her phone and called Shayla Quinn.

"Shayla..."

The moment she said the name, Mia’s voice cracked, which terrified Shayla Quinn on the other end.

"Mia, what’s wrong? What happened? Don’t scare me."

"Did you know that Adrian is..."

But her words came to an abrupt halt.

Shayla waited for a long time, but when nothing else came, she asked, confused.

"Adrian is what?"

’Mia froze. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. It would be detrimental to Adrian.’

’What if Shayla called the police, or something else?’

’Mia’s heart clenched. She was a person who couldn’t stand the slightest impurity, so why did she keep breaking her own rules for Adrian?’