Mrs. Lawson wanted to slash her beautiful face and make her lose even her last remaining asset.

This Mia Kane was just so infuriating!

The cold blade hovered over her face.

"It’s not too late to beg me!"

"Mrs. Lawson, you’d better think this through. I’m something of a public figure now. I’m an international designer, and a lot of people pay attention to what I say. If Mrs. Lawson uses her family’s power to disfigure me, I will pursue this to the bitter end!"

"Also, I have another identity: I’m Adrian Preston’s ex-wife. If you dare to cut my face, I’ll make sure you become a cast-off wife of the Lawson Family!"

Mia Kane lifted her head, looking at her defiantly, with neither humility nor arrogance.

She wasn’t some unknown nobody.

She had her own prominent status, it just seemed insignificant compared to these wealthy and powerful families.

But that didn’t mean she had no influence.

Abroad, she was a renowned designer with immense talent, and countless major brands had extended offers to her.

If Mrs. Lawson dared to cross the line, Mia could make sure she met her end!

Mrs. Lawson froze when she heard this. She’d actually forgotten about Mia Kane’s dual identity.

The title of Adrian Preston’s ex-wife alone was enough to draw widespread attention.

Her family had her uncle’s protection, but... she couldn’t cause trouble for him either.

Now Mrs. Lawson was in a bind. Her friends were watching from behind. They looked to her as their leader, and if Mia Kane humiliated her today, who knew what they would say about her behind her back?

Mrs. Lawson’s hand began to tremble, her resolve wavering.

"Mrs. Lawson, maybe we should just let this go. She’s already down on her luck, just let her be."

"Yeah, yeah, we can be the bigger person."

The others also gave Mrs. Lawson a way to back down.

Mrs. Lawson seized the opportunity and threw the knife aside.

"Fine. I’ll be generous and spare you today. Stay far away from me from now on! Or else, you’ll be sorry."

Mrs. Lawson left, her nose in the air.

Mia Kane was left alone in the private room, completely exhausted.

She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and tried to touch up her makeup with her compact, but the slap mark was too deep to be concealed.

She could only let her hair down to barely cover it.

She went to Yara Rivera’s private room and knocked.

"Come in."

Mia Kane pushed the door open. "Miss Rivera, I came to..."

The smile on her face suddenly froze when she saw the man sitting on the sofa.

Yara Rivera pulled her inside. "Hurry and come in. We can have dinner together, and then we’ll discuss other things afterward."

"So you’re Designer Kane. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Yara absolutely loved the dress you designed for her before; she couldn’t stop praising it. This time, we’d like to invite you to design her wedding gown. Yara and I are getting married."

Yara Rivera’s fiancé said.

"Mia Kane, this is Adrian Preston... President Preston. I don’t need to introduce you two, right? You already know each other."

As an insider, Yara Rivera naturally knew about their relationship.

But for them to run into each other at a time like this... she really didn’t know what to say.

"Since you have a guest, I won’t intrude. I’ll be going now."

"Don’t go..."

But Yara Rivera couldn’t stop her; Mia Kane walked away in a hurry.

As she rushed out, she bumped into a waiter and her clothes got wet.

"I’m so sorry, let me help you wipe that..."

The waiter’s hand landed right on her chest.

Mia Kane took several steps back. "No need. I’ll handle it myself. Where is the restroom?"

The waiter pointed her in the direction.

Mia Kane suppressed her annoyance. ’Maybe he didn’t do it on purpose. It was just an impolite mistake made in a moment of panic.’

She went to the restroom. Her dress was covered in red wine stains that were hard to get out.

’It’s real silk; it’s probably ruined.’

Feeling it was a shame, she tried her best to wipe the dress. When she looked up again, her blood ran cold and her face turned deathly pale.

Because Adrian Preston was standing behind her, having appeared without a sound.

"Adrian Preston..."

She turned to face him, and the moment his name left her lips, he sealed them with his own.

His large hand gripped her slender waist, pinning her against the wall.

The air was stolen from Mia Kane’s lungs. He was like a traveler in the desert, parched for who knew how long, frantically drinking the sweetness from her mouth.

Mia Kane was kissed until she was dizzy and disoriented, almost unable to resist.

She finally regained her senses, her eyes wide as she pushed Adrian Preston away with all her might.

"What are you doing!"

She roared.

Adrian Preston looked at her menacingly and moved to kiss her again, but Mia Kane slapped him across the face.

Adrian took the hit but forcefully pulled her in and continued to kiss her.

This kiss was even more domineering and forceful, leaving her no room to struggle.

In her desperation, Mia Kane bit his tongue again.

Angry now, Adrian Preston bit her lip in return.

Mia Kane felt a surge of indignation. ’What was this between them now?’

’He was about to get engaged, yet he was kissing her like this. Was he trying to humiliate her?’

’She was already unlucky enough. Running into him just made her even more miserable.’

She couldn’t break free, couldn’t resist. The helplessness made her heart ache, and large tears began to fall.

Adrian Preston felt her tears and finally stopped.

A clear panic flashed in his eyes. He wanted to wipe her tears away but felt he had no right.

He took two steps back.

"I’ll stop, okay? Don’t cry."

Mia Kane slowly slid to the floor, squatting down and hugging herself tightly.

"You’re all bullying me! We’re over, so why do you keep bullying me? Adrian Preston, are you even human..."

"I’ve never done anything to wrong you, so why do you always hurt me? Why?"

Adrian Preston’s anger completely evaporated at the sight of her tears. He just wanted her to stop crying.

"If you cry again, I’ll take you right here."

Adrian Preston said fiercely.

As expected, Mia Kane’s tears were scared back. She wanted to cry but didn’t dare, her eyes red as a rabbit’s as she looked at him, looking utterly pitiful and wronged.

Adrian Preston’s heart ached for her even more. Her forcing herself not to cry was even more heart-wrenching than the crying itself.

"Who hit you?"

He looked at the slap mark on her cheek.

He had noticed something was wrong the moment she entered the private room. Now that she’d cried her makeup off, the slap mark was even more obvious.

Mia Kane bit her lip, holding back, and said nothing.

"Mrs. Lawson?"

He had already had Theo Thorne investigate. He knew everything that had happened right after Mia Kane left the room.

"If you already know, then why are you asking me?"

Mia Kane yelled, her voice full of indignation.

She sobbed, trying not to let her tears fall.

"I thought you would tell me yourself. It seems I was expecting too much. This invitation is for you. Come to my engagement party. I don’t care about anyone else’s blessings, but Charlotte and I are in agreement—we want to receive your blessing."

"Mia Kane, you absolutely must come that day."

Adrian Preston took an invitation from his jacket and placed it in front of her.

He turned and left without a single look back.

The moment he stepped out, his softened expression instantly turned cold and hard.

"The Lawson Family has had it too easy. Give them something to do."