Owen Sinclair watched her pupils contract as her face paled slightly, and he found it a little amusing.

’She’s so dense. She didn’t notice my feelings for her in the slightest.’

"Senior, you... have you been drinking?"

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"I haven’t been drinking. I’m perfectly sober."

"Then why are you saying such crazy things?"

She was so flustered her tongue felt tied. ’When did this even happen? Why is this so sudden? He didn’t give me any time to prepare!’

"Mia, I didn’t just start liking you. I’ve liked you for a very long time. I fell for you back in college. But then I had to go study abroad, and I was afraid you couldn’t handle a long-distance relationship. I was also too much of a coward to take that first step. If I hadn’t been, we would have been together back then."

"Later, when your family ran into trouble, I found out too late. By the time I returned, you were already with Chase Lockwood. I thought coming back this time would be a perfect opportunity, since you had just broken up with him, but I never expected that bastard Adrian Preston to beat me to the punch."

"Mia, I’ve missed my chance with you too many times, and I don’t want to miss it again. Please, give me a chance. Let me take care of you, okay? From now on, we can brave the storms together and walk the path ahead side by side."

Owen Sinclair’s expression was earnest, his eyes shining with a fiery, genuine light.

’She knew what kind of person her senior was. He was an upright man, not one for tricks or games. If he said he would be good to her, he would absolutely keep his promise.’

Only one thought surfaced in her mind.

’Owen Sinclair is a wonderful person, perfect partner material.’

’But, he wouldn’t be *her* partner.’

She knew in her heart that she still had feelings for Adrian Preston. No matter how much she loathed it, how unwilling she was to admit it, his shadow was always cast over her heart.

’If she were to use Owen Sinclair to forget Adrian Preston, it would be far too irresponsible of her.’

"Senior..."

She let out a heavy sigh. "I’m sorry, but we’re not a good match."

The color drained from Owen Sinclair’s face.

"How... how are we not a good match?"

"Senior, you’re brilliant. You were always at the top of our department. I looked up to you as my role model, my guiding light. I wanted to become a person just like you."

"Even now, I still respect and admire you immensely, but... I don’t have romantic feelings for you. It’s true that Adrian Preston and I divorced, and with his engagement, I want to win this fight. I don’t want him to look down on me or laugh at me. But... I can’t be with you. I can’t hold you back."

"I’m sorry, Senior. You deserve better. Someone like me... I’m not worth it."

She was grateful for his affection; it had brought a glimmer of light into her ruined life.

’It meant that even though she was divorced and no longer ’pure’ in the eyes of the world, there was still someone who wouldn’t hold it against her.’

This strengthened her conviction: She had done nothing wrong. The ones at fault were the people who had hurt her.

"You are worth it. In my heart, you have always been worth it."

Fearing she would continue to put herself down, Owen Sinclair gripped her by the shoulders.

His gaze was so intense that she didn’t dare to look at him directly, but he made her face him, enunciating every single word.

"Mia Kane, you have to believe that you are a wonderful person. If someone doesn’t cherish you, that’s not your fault—it’s theirs for being blind. Don’t waste your energy on self-doubt and anxiety for people who aren’t worth it. They don’t deserve to have that power over you."

His words were like a stone dropped into the still water of her heart, sending out endless ripples.

The tip of her nose tingled, and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

She fought to compose herself, not wanting to look too pathetic, and subtly broke free from his grip.

"Thank you, Senior."

"So... you still won’t accept me?"

Owen Sinclair had already guessed as much.

"Why? Is it because of Adrian Preston? When you were betrayed by Chase Lockwood, you weren’t heartbroken for long before you found Adrian. Why can’t it be me?"

He couldn’t accept it.

Mia Kane shook her head gently. ’It’s not the same.’

’She was a woman who had already died once.’

’While in the hands of her kidnappers, she had already learned that Chase Lockwood wasn’t coming to save her. He was celebrating the birthday of his ’one that got away.’ ’

Her heart had already died when it came to Chase Lockwood. Making it off that boat alive, she felt nothing but the profound relief of a survivor.

’Relieved that she hadn’t sacrificed her life for that scumbag, relieved that it had only cost her three years, relieved... ’

So, from the moment she realized their relationship was a joke, she had forced herself to suppress her feelings, refusing to hold out any more hope for Chase Lockwood.

But Adrian...

Her feelings for Adrian were far too complicated. She had always seen him as her savior. In her moments of crisis, he was the first person she thought of. She had revered him like a god; his presence alone gave her courage and a sense of security.

But then, suddenly, her savior became her tormentor.

That he had forced himself on her was real.

That he had treated her well in every other respect was also real.

This left her conflicted and in pain, unable to accept the reality of it.

They had parted ways amicably, but she was finding it difficult to sort out her feelings in such a short amount of time.

Adrian hadn’t betrayed her. There was no third person who came between them; their own conflicts had torn them apart.

"Senior... if I got together with you now, it would be irresponsible. It would only end up hurting you," she said calmly.

’She couldn’t take advantage of his feelings when she knew how much he loved her.’

"I don’t mind..."

"But I do. I’m sorry, Senior."

Owen Sinclair’s face was ashen. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end, not a single word came out.

Anything more he said would be futile.

He turned and left, dejected, his footsteps heavy. When he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back to look at her.

"Can we... still be friends?"

"Of course."

She offered a small smile.

Only then did Owen Sinclair walk out the door.

Mia Kane collapsed into her chair, gasping for breath.

’How did it come to this? Her senior had liked her all this time, and she’d never once had a clue.’

’Was she really that oblivious?’

’Adrian Preston had said his pursuit of her was premeditated, and she hadn’t realized that either.’

She rubbed her temples, a sharp pain throbbing in her head.

When she left the studio, she saw that Owen Sinclair was gone and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

"President Kane, Designer Sinclair said he’s taking a few days off. He’s not feeling well and wants to get some rest."

"Rosalyn, he’s probably not coming back. Maybe you should find another job as well."

"Then what will you do all by yourself?"

"I have a fallback plan. Worst-case scenario, I’ll just go abroad. Besides, there are still people who want to hire me over there."

"That’s a good idea. If you’re not happy working here, then go abroad. You’re already well-known overseas. If you move your career there, you’ll reach even greater heights..."

"Rosalyn, do you really want me to go abroad that badly?" Mia Kane asked, watching her.

Rosalyn stopped mid-sentence. For some reason, her gaze flickered evasively.

"I just want what’s best for you, President Kane."

"That’s right. People always strive to climb higher," she murmured, then turned and walked away. Whether Rosalyn stayed or left was her own decision.

’She had to start seriously planning her own path forward now, too.’

「Soon, the day of Adrian Preston’s engagement arrived.」

The media wasn’t invited, and a security team was hired to prevent any paparazzi from sneaking in.

Security at the hotel was so tight you couldn’t get a fly in.

’Adrian Preston was obviously trying to protect his fiancée.’

Mia Kane made a stop at the airport before rushing over.

The Preston family’s engagement party had brought the streets near the hotel to a standstill. Traffic police had to be called in just to get things moving again.

Everyone else arrived in a luxury car. Only Mia Kane came in a taxi.

Even the driver was a bit flustered. A Maserati was parked to his left, a Lamborghini to his right. As far as the eye could see, there wasn’t a single Mercedes or BMW in sight—it was all top-of-the-line luxury vehicles.

As he pulled up to the hotel entrance, beads of sweat broke out on the driver’s forehead. If he so much as scratched one of these cars, he’d be screwed.

Many of the guests chatting and mingling by the entrance noticed the taxi and began to murmur amongst themselves, wondering who could possibly be arriving in it.

Mia Kane calmly paid the fare, opened the door, and stepped out.

"Is that Adrian Preston’s ex-wife, arriving in a taxi?"

"Does she have no shame, showing up to an event like this?"

"You don’t think she’s here to cause a scene, do you?"