Adrian tried to push her away.

But the moment he pushed her away, she snuggled right back.

"Cuddle..."

She mumbled, hugging him tightly once more.

Her soft body clung to his arm.

His breathing was ragged.

Adrian didn’t know how he made it through the night, fighting back his desires and not daring to move an inch.

’He even started to wonder if there was something wrong with him. Otherwise, how could he remain so composed with a woman in his arms?’

Time became unbearable.

「The next morning.」

Mia Kane felt she’d had a great night’s sleep. Feeling refreshed, she couldn’t help but stretch her arms for a good morning stretch.

Only to bump into a wall of flesh.

She froze for a moment, her mind going blank as she stared at the man beside her on the bed. His clothes were wrinkled; he was still wearing the same outfit from yesterday.

’How did I end up sleeping with Adrian?’

Adrian Preston opened his deep-set eyes. They were bloodshot, a clear sign he hadn’t slept well.

His voice was hoarse.

"Mia, do you have any idea how hard it was for me to hold back from touching you all night?"

"We... how did we end up sleeping together?"

"Don’t ask me. Ask yourself."

Adrian rubbed his aching temples.

"I’m going to check on Grandpa. You can come over after you’ve freshened up."

Adrian left first, and Mia tried hard to recall what happened last night.

She had been watching over Grandpa and had fallen asleep because she was so exhausted.

Later, she felt like she’d been moved somewhere soft. She wanted to open her eyes to see where she was, but she was just too tired to open them.

She vaguely sensed a familiar presence beside her—a light, crisp scent of mint.

It made her feel safe, so she’d instinctively sought it out.

’So he came back last night. He was right beside me.’

His words from just now echoed in her ears.

Mia, do you have any idea how hard it was for me to hold back from touching you all night?

The words made her cheeks burn.

’Strictly speaking, she was the one who had been inappropriate last night.’

Feeling guilty, she freshened up and went out to find Adrian having breakfast with Grandpa.

"Mia, you’re here? She took care of me all day yesterday. It was very hard on her."

"It was hard on me, too."

Adrian remarked nonchalantly.

Donovan Preston shot him a glare. "You disappeared without a trace. What was so hard for you?"

"What do you think?"

He wasn’t asking his grandfather; his question was for Mia. The tips of her ears instantly turned crimson, as if they were about to bleed.

Donovan Preston glanced between the two of them. ’Looks like there’s a story here!’

Adrian never brought it up again, which made her feel a bit more at ease.

She had been staying at the nursing home, and as she watched Grandpa’s health improve, time flew by. She’d completely forgotten about the family banquet at her grandmother’s house.

Vivian Lynch had already picked out the perfect outfit. It wasn’t overly ornate, but it still looked luxurious and elegant.

Fortunately, she had been careful during her pregnancy, so her figure hadn’t changed too much.

She also chose a lovely hat to protect herself from the wind, a precaution during her recovery period.

Chase Lockwood came home to change before heading to his maternal uncle’s house.

"Chase, what do you think of my outfit?"

Seeing she was all ready to go, Chase Lockwood froze for a second. He’d just remembered he forgot to tell her not to come.

’He thought he’d already told her.’

"Vivian, I forgot to tell you. You’re still in your recovery period, so it’s not a good idea for you to go out. You should just stay home and rest."

The color drained from Vivian Lynch’s face.

’They invited Mia Kane to the family banquet, but they’re telling me—the grandson’s wife—not to go? Is that right?’

"Chase, Mia is going, but I’m not? What will people think of me?"

"It’s a family banquet at my uncle’s house. Everyone there is family, no outsiders. No one is going to be gossiping about you. They’re just being considerate, worried you’ll overexert yourself."

"I get it. This was your grandmother’s idea, wasn’t it? She wants me to stay home, but she’s letting Mia go. Is it because she found out about my miscarriage and wants to set you and Mia up again? Does she want to kick me out of the Lockwood family?"

"You’re overthinking things. That’s not going to happen."

"Then take me with you!"

Chase Lockwood was tempted to just give in, but then he remembered what Mia had said before: don’t let Vivian cause trouble in front of her.

’He still cared for Vivian. He worried about what would happen if she found out she was now infertile, especially when she hadn’t even finished her recovery period.’

’Besides, it really wasn’t a good idea for her to go out during her recovery. He was just looking out for her in every way.’

"I said, you’re staying home to rest!"

Chase Lockwood’s tone hardened.

This was no longer a suggestion. It was a command!

Vivian Lynch’s face went ashen as she stared at him in disbelief.

"Chase, who do you choose? Me or Mia?"

Chase Lockwood’s brows furrowed in annoyance. "How did we get back to this? Of course I choose you!"

"Are you disgusted with me because I miscarried? Do you want to get back together with Mia...?"

"What are you even talking about? Vivian, can you please stop letting your hormones run wild? I can’t be bothered with this. Just... calm down on your own."

’She was the one who wanted to set him up with Mia as his mistress in the first place.’

’But now, at the slightest hint of anything happening between him and Mia, she has a ridiculously short fuse.’

’He missed the gentle, charming Vivian he used to know.’

Chase Lockwood stormed out, leaving Vivian trembling with rage.

’The man who once had eyes only for her had changed completely.’

’No, I have to go to that banquet. I’m going to see for myself what shady business Mia and Chase are up to.’

She put on her hat and followed close behind him.

...

Mia Kane hadn’t forgotten that today was the day of her grandmother’s family banquet, so she made sure to call and offer her well wishes.

Her grandmother still wanted her to come.

"It’s alright, I won’t be able to make it. I’ll treat you to a nice meal to make up for it later."

"But if you’re not here, I’ll feel so lonely. The house will be full of people, but I won’t have anyone to talk to."

Because Chase Lockwood’s parents had both passed away, his grandmother couldn’t bear to leave him. So she gave up her plans to go abroad with her younger son and stayed by Chase’s side.

But as her health began to fail, it was Mia who ended up taking care of her.

Her grandmother often thought to herself that for an outsider, Mia had done more for her than any of her own grandchildren.

She felt that a family banquet would only be complete if Mia was there.

"Please come. You can just stay for the meal and then leave." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I... I’m at the nursing home. Grandpa Donovan is sick, so I’m here taking care of him."

"Didn’t you divorce Adrian? Why are you still taking care of that old coot?"

Donovan Preston, who was nearby, heard this and immediately blew up. The man who had been listless just moments ago snatched the phone from Mia and roared with surprising vigor.

"Orchie Ziegler, don’t you go too far! Who are you calling an old coot? You’re the old coot!"

"What are you barking about? I’m talking to my dear girl, what are you butting in for?"

"She’s my granddaughter-in-law!"

"Ha! The Preston family wasn’t so lucky, were they? Didn’t they get divorced?"

"Still better than that tasteless Lockwood boy of yours! He threw away a diamond to pick up a pebble."

"You old coot, nothing good ever comes out of that mouth of yours! Don’t tell me you’re faking sick just to stop Mia from coming over to pay her respects? You devious old coot."

"That’s bullshit! I’m not that devious!"

"I don’t believe you. If you’re not, then let Mia come over for a bite to eat."

"Fine, she’ll go! I’m not faking sick just to keep her here."

"Good. Then give the phone back to Mia and tell her to hurry over."

Donovan Preston handed the phone to Mia.

"Go on, go have dinner at her place. Quickly..."

Before he could finish, Adrian’s sharp gaze shot over to him.

It was a look that could kill.

Donovan Preston’s heart dropped.

’He was screwed. Hadn’t he faked his illness specifically to keep Mia from attending Old Mrs. Ziegler’s family banquet?’