Chase Lockwood watched her retreating figure, his feelings complicated. She was actually willing to bow her head for Adrian Preston.

He silently clenched his fists, fury burning in his heart.

Mia Kane returned to the room. The other women had tidied themselves up but still looked miserable. Mrs. Lawson had a red palm print on her face, and Vivian Lynch was clutching her stomach, looking pathetic.

"What do you want? Are you going to beat us again?"

Trembling, they huddled together.

"Just now... I was reckless. I shouldn’t have gotten physical. Mrs. Lawson, I hope you can be the bigger person and forgive me."

Everyone in the room was stunned for a moment. They hadn’t expected Mia Kane to cave so quickly.

"Are... are you serious?"

Mrs. Lawson’s voice trembled as she spoke.

"Mhm, I was rash. I didn’t consider the consequences. I’m sorry."

She offered a sincere bow.

Mrs. Lawson immediately smoothed out her clothes, stood up, and regained her swagger.

"So now you’re considering the consequences? Is it because you found out my husband’s uncle is a high-ranking official in the provincial government?"

Mia Kane pursed her lips, remaining silent.

"What will it take for you to forgive me?"

"You hit me just now. I’m going to hit you back."

"Fine."

"But not just one slap. For that one, you’ll give me a hundred!"

Mrs. Lawson folded her arms, looking as haughty as a strutting rooster.

Even though Mrs. Lawson was from the second, less powerful branch of the family, everyone in Argent’s circle of high-society ladies deferred to her. This was because her husband’s second uncle doted on him exclusively, paying no mind to his elder nephew.

Although he had little chance of inheriting the main family fortune, with his uncle’s patronage, they were set for life.

Mia Kane clenched her fists, her face pale.

At that moment, Chase Lockwood walked in.

"Mrs. Lawson, don’t you think this is a bit much?"

"Chase!"

Vivian Lynch hurried to his side and tugged on his sleeve.

’Why is he speaking up for Mia Kane?’

"She hit me just now, too. Look, it really hurts!"

She lifted her shirt, revealing a stomach covered in bruises.

After seeing that, Chase Lockwood no longer tried to dissuade Mrs. Lawson.

’Mia Kane was just too audacious. It would be good for Mrs. Lawson to teach her a lesson. After she takes a few slaps, I’ll step in at the right moment and rescue her.’

"Is this really necessary?"

Mia Kane’s voice trembled slightly.

"Otherwise, this isn’t over! As far as I know, the Preston Family has a lot of government contracts, and some of their projects even have specially approved incentives. Do you really think Adrian Preston would throw all that away for you? I’m afraid you’ll be cast out of the Preston Family after this!"

"If you want to keep your glamorous life as Mrs. Preston, then start hitting. Don’t make me dirty my hands—you can do it yourself. And if they’re too light, they won’t count!"

"Fine. Let’s put it in writing, then. I’m willing to do it, but I want a guarantee that this will be the end of it. If you try to sabotage the Preston Family behind their backs afterward, I’ll release this agreement and let everyone see how you abuse your authority."

"Deal!"

Mrs. Lawson signed eagerly. As long as Mia Kane took her punishment and allowed her to vent her anger, she would let the matter drop.

Seeing it in black and white, Mia Kane also let out a sigh of relief.

’As long as Adrian Preston isn’t dragged into this, it’s fine.’

She let out a shaky breath, raised her hand high, and then brought it down fiercely.

She put her all into it. The others couldn’t even imagine how much the slap would sting.

She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the pain to land, but to her surprise...

A large hand suddenly seized her wrist.

Her eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes. She stared blankly at the newcomer, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

’Adrian Preston...’

’Why is Adrian Preston here?’

Chase Lockwood was the first to react, his expression darkening.

"Are you all useless? You just let anyone waltz in here?"

Adrian Preston had entered Lockwood Manor as if it were unguarded territory.

A security guard came in, holding his back, his face beaten to a pulp.

"Sir... we just couldn’t win against him..."

Adrian Preston didn’t have a speck of dust on him, a clear sign that taking them down had been child’s play.

Chase Lockwood’s face turned absolutely foul.

"Then replace them all! Get better muscle!"

"President Preston, you’ve come at just the right time. Your wife is in serious need of some discipline. I was just doing you a favor and teaching her a lesson for you."

Hearing this, Adrian Preston pulled her behind him and stared directly at Mrs. Lawson.

Mrs. Lawson didn’t even dare to meet his gaze. His eyes were just too chillingly cold and terrifying.

"It’s not your place to discipline my wife."

"She hit me!"

"Mia, is that what happened?"

"No, she started it! Was I supposed to just stand there and let her hit me? From the very beginning, she was deliberately making things difficult, and they all ganged up on me. I only fought back after she hit me."

Mia Kane didn’t know why, but the moment she saw Adrian Preston, she found her resolve. All her pent-up frustrations came spilling out at once.

At this moment, she had completely forgotten that she was still upset with him and hadn’t forgiven him yet.

"In that case, my wife was acting in self-defense!"

"You... How can you be so unreasonable? She left us in this state, and you call it self-defense? Look at how beaten up we all are..."

"Are you hurt?" Adrian Preston didn’t even glance at Mrs. Lawson and the others, turning to look at Mia Kane instead.

Her hand was scratched up, with several bloody marks, as if from someone’s fingernails.

He frowned instantly. "I always tell you to practice, but you just laze around, always so inconsistent. If you trained more, they wouldn’t have been able to lay a finger on you."

"Does it still hurt?"

Adrian Preston took her hand and blew on it gently, trying to ease the pain.

The others were dumbfounded.

’Are they seriously putting on a public display of affection right now?’

Mia Kane felt a bit awkward as well and quickly pulled her hand back. "It... it’s not that bad."

’Compared to them, this little scratch is nothing.’

Adrian was so blatantly taking her side that even she felt a little embarrassed.

"You... you dare to ignore me! I’m telling my husband’s uncle! The Preston Family is done for!"

"Is that so? Mrs. Lawson, you’re the one at fault, yet you’re acting this arrogant and trying to abuse your power. Fine. I’d like to see if the Lawson Family can actually manage to shut down our partnerships. Every single Preston Family project is won through legitimate bids and multiple levels of approval. Do you really think they can just cancel them?"

"Then let’s test it out. We’ll see who’s tougher. I can promise you this: even if I suffer massive losses, I’ll make sure to drag that uncle of yours down with me. If the fish dies, the net breaks!"

"I’d like to see whether he’ll protect you, his nephew’s wife, or his own career."

"You... you... you..."

For a moment, Mrs. Lawson was so furious she was speechless.

Adrian Preston showed no sign of backing down, choosing to meet them head-on.

"What if we do dare? Are you really going to lose so much just for one woman?"

"She is my wife. We share the same fate. Anyone who bullies, humiliates, or harms her is my enemy. If you don’t believe it, then by all means, try me!"

Adrian Preston’s voice, filled with authority and power, resonated in every corner.

The other two wives who had tagged along couldn’t help but look on with envy.

’Who wouldn’t want their husband to dote on them and protect them so unconditionally?’

"Fine. So this is the great Preston Family. Just you wait!"

Mrs. Lawson stormed out.

Adrian Preston took Mia Kane’s hand, about to leave as well.

Chase Lockwood blocked his path.

"Don’t come here again without a reason, or I’ll call the police."

"I have no desire to find my wife in this place, either. If she’s ever brought here against her will again, I will raze this manor to the ground. You might want to find somewhere else to live."

Adrian Preston was terrifyingly confrontational.