Shayla Quinn was stunned, unable to believe these were the words of a male escort.

"Then why are you in this line of work? Is it because life is too difficult?"

"No, I’m doing this willingly. I just don’t want to work hard anymore; I want to be a kept man. Sweet-talking women is the easiest thing in the world. I could trick a whole crowd of young girls like you."

"Alright, it’s getting late. You two should get some rest. If you ever need this kind of service again, you’re welcome to call me."

Tanya Shaw left with a smile.

Shayla Quinn watched him leave, only snapping out of her daze after he had disappeared from sight.

"He’s gone?" Mia Kane came out to find Tanya Shaw missing.

"He... he said since it’s my first time, I shouldn’t give it away to someone who doesn’t deserve it. He’s... so strange."

"He actually said that?"

’Why the different treatment? Is it because I’m not some innocent girl, so Tanya Shaw wants to target me and take my money?’

’Did he see how naive Shayla Quinn was and decide not to corrupt her?’

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if this Tanya Shaw was a good person or a bad one.

"The power just went out at home, did you know?"

"I had no idea. Tanya Shaw and I were taking a walk outside. He asked me to walk with him."

"What?"

Mia Kane’s brain froze for a few seconds before it hit her. The man who had been so intimate with her wasn’t Tanya Shaw at all—it was clearly Adrian Preston.

’I should have recognized him right away. That familiar silhouette, that faint scent of mint...’

But she’d had too much to drink, and with her mind in turmoil, she was so focused on pushing him away that she didn’t think about it any deeper.

’What is he doing, running over here to mess around with me on the night of his engagement party?’

’The one thing she despised most in this life was being the other woman!’

She had her own relationship destroyed by a mistress; she refused to become the very person she detested.

Mia Kane desperately wanted to call Adrian Preston and tell him to watch himself, but then she remembered he was engaged now. If his ex-wife called him out of the blue, his new fiancée would surely be upset and it would create unnecessary misunderstandings.

She could only suppress her anger and pretend nothing had happened.

But unexpectedly, the next day, Rosalyn Shield received a client order. It was from Adrian Preston, requesting a custom-made gown for his fiancée.

"Not taking it."

She refused outright.

"That’s right, we’re not taking it! Even if they offered a hundred million, it’s not worth a damn!"

Rosalyn Shield immediately chimed in.

"Wait, how much did you say?"

"A hundred million."

Mia Kane calmed herself, then patted Rosalyn Shield on the shoulder. "Even if Vivian Lynch herself asked me for a custom design, I’d take the job. A customer is a customer. We’re in the service industry; how can we turn clients away?"

"I’m taking this order. But they have to pay first—in full!"

"They’ve already transferred the money."

Mia Kane froze for a moment, suddenly feeling like this was a trap.

’Who in their right mind could refuse a hundred million? It’s not like she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.’

’If a hundred million didn’t faze her, would she even be normal?’

The client had already paid and she had accepted the job, so she had to go see them no matter what.

She went to the Preston Group. She needed to take Charlotte’s measurements to create a custom design sketch for her.

But as it turned out, Charlotte wasn’t there.

"Since she’s not here, I’ll come back another day."

"But our President Preston is here. President Preston knows Miss Wilson’s measurements."

"I’d rather deal with Miss Wilson personally later on."

"Unfortunately, Miss Wilson has already returned to her country. You won’t be able to see her anytime soon."

With no other choice, Mia Kane went to see Adrian Preston.

"Sit. Tell Theo Thorne what you want to drink, and he’ll get it for you."

"What would you like to drink, Mrs. Preston?"

"Watch what you say. Call her Miss Kane."

Adrian Preston was quick to correct Theo Thorne.

Mia Kane’s heart was filled with fury. Only after Theo Thorne left did she turn to face Adrian Preston.

"What exactly are you playing at?"

"And what might you mean by that?"

"What were you doing at my house in the middle of the night? And pretending to be Tanya Shaw?"

"The middle of the night? Which night was that?"

"Last night!"

"Last night was my engagement party. I certainly didn’t leave early."

Mia Kane almost laughed out loud. ’He didn’t leave early, but he used the excuse of being drunk and never showed his face again. Isn’t that the same thing?’

"Adrian Preston, have you become this shameless? Putting on an act like this? Where has your sense of responsibility gone? You even admitted to what happened on the ship, so what won’t you admit to?"

Adrian Preston pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

"Adrian Preston, since you’re engaged now, just live a good life with your fiancée. We’re already divorced, so please stop disturbing my life!"

"And as for this order, I’m not doing it. But I’m still taking the money. Sue me if you have the guts."

Fuming, Mia Kane got up to leave.

But Adrian Preston grabbed her wrist and pinned her down on the sofa.

"Last night, what did I do to you?"

"This?" He kissed her.

"Or this?"

Adrian Preston released her lips, only to grab her slender ankle, his hand tracing a path upward.

Everywhere he touched felt like it had been struck by a tiny jolt of electricity.

"You... you let me go."

She tried to slap him, but he caught her wrist.

"Adrian Preston, do you have any idea what you’re doing?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"I do. Getting engaged on one hand, while getting entangled with my ex-wife on the other! What do you think? Isn’t it exciting?"

"You... Adrian Preston, don’t forget you used to be a public official!"

"If I had been so concerned with my position, I never would have defiled you on that ship! I’ve already set this in motion; there’s no going back to shore for me now."

"Mia Kane, you can only belong to me..."

With that, he continued to kiss her deeply.

Powerless to resist, she was overwhelmed with a sense of grievance, and large tears began to stream down her face.

Adrian Preston felt her tears. His heart clenched, and he stared at her, stunned, not daring to make another move.

"Don’t make me into a reviled mistress. You know I hate that more than anything, so why do you keep humiliating me like this!"

"Adrian Preston, I haven’t done anything to wrong you. Why do you keep bullying me?"

The moment she cried, Adrian Preston’s composure completely fell apart.

He was at a complete loss, wanting to comfort her but not knowing what to say.

"Charlotte and I... it will only go as far as the engagement. We have an agreement. Once our objective is met, we’ll announce our breakup."

"What is a mistress? When a relationship or marriage is publicly established, any third person who gets involved improperly is a mistress. As long as the world thinks Charlotte is your partner, then I’m nothing but a shameless homewrecker!"

"Adrian Preston, if you want to completely destroy me, then... do as you please."

Her face was pale as she closed her eyes in despair, abandoning all resistance.

Adrian Preston’s whole body went rigid. A coldness spread through him, and his fists clenched tight.

He could have taken her by force countless times, but he had always held back.

He had never crossed that line, always suppressing his desires and his baser instincts.

He was truly on the verge of losing control, wanting to protect her on one hand, while recklessly hurting her on the other.

"Go! Get as far away as you can. Didn’t you want to go abroad? Take your money and get the hell out of the country!"

Adrian Preston roared, his violent rage terrifying.

Mia Kane immediately straightened her clothes and left without a single look back.

The moment she was gone, a searing pain shot through Adrian Preston’s head.

He pressed his fingers hard against his temples as a voice echoed in his mind: ’Useless! You piece of trash, you think you’re worthy of controlling this body?’

’Let me teach you what it means to take what you want by force!’