"This... is your girlfriend?" Adrian Preston asked.

"She’s not..."

Mia Kane denied it, flustered, as Owen Sinclair smiled and explained, "She’s my junior from college, Mia Kane. Mia, let me introduce you. This is Adrian Preston, CEO of the Preston Group. My grandmother’s family lived across from his, so I often went over to play when we were kids."

"She’s opening a design studio in Argent, and I’ll be joining her. You’ll have to send some business our way. Team uniforms, bespoke pieces, we can do it all."

"You’re going into business together?"

"Yep."

"That’s great. I’ll be sure to support you. Mind if I take a seat? It’s not often we get to see each other."

"Sure, the more the merrier."

Adrian Preston casually sat down, but Mia Kane felt like she had a guilty conscience, wishing a hole would open up and swallow her.

Just then, Mia Kane’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Owen Sinclair.

"Weren’t you just worried about finding clients? Get on Adrian Preston’s good side, and you’ll have more orders than you can handle."

Mia Kane felt her world go dark. Her ’dealings’ with Adrian Preston were already far too deep.

"Adrian, aren’t people pressuring you to get married? Has your grandfather finally let you off the hook?"

"Of course he is. In fact, thanks to his arrangements, I’m a married man now."

"You’re married?"

"Yeah. There’s no point in keeping something like this a secret, right?"

Adrian Preston was clearly speaking to Owen Sinclair, but Mia Kane felt that every single word was aimed at her.

She was sure of it; Adrian Preston must have overheard something.

"What surprises me, however, is that a woman as young and beautiful as Miss Kane is still single?"

Adrian Preston had turned his fire on her.

Mia Kane desperately wanted to find a hole to hide in. Today was just not her day.

"I... I haven’t found the right person, so I’ve just stayed single."

"And what does Miss Kane consider ’the right person’? What’s your type?"

"Adrian..."

Owen Sinclair hadn’t expected Adrian Preston to be so blunt; it seemed a bit rude.

He leaned in and lowered his voice, "Why are you giving a girl a hard time like that?"

"Is this giving her a hard time? Don’t you want to know what her type is?"

At this, Owen Sinclair’s own interest was piqued, and he looked at Mia Kane with bright, eager eyes.

Adrian Preston glanced at Owen Sinclair, then at Mia Kane. He was smiling, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

"Well... it’s up to fate. I’m not really sure myself."

’This is a trap. No way I’m answering that.’

"’Fate.’ What a mysterious answer."

"Okay, okay, let’s drop it. That’s Mia’s private life. But you, getting married without even a wedding? I didn’t hear a thing. You should have told me so I could give you a gift."

Owen Sinclair sounded a little displeased.

"It’s out of my hands. I wanted to make it public, but my dear wife wasn’t so keen on the idea."

"She didn’t want to? Why?"

"I have no idea. Maybe she doesn’t want people to know she’s married. Makes it easier to line up her next option."

"Adrian, you’re kidding, right?"

Owen Sinclair was taken aback. Who talks about their own wife like that?

Adrian Preston glanced at his phone. "Something’s come up. You two take your time. I won’t bother you any longer."

"Alright, go get to it then."

"Miss Kane, could I get a business card? It’ll make it easier to contact you if a collaboration comes up."

’How could Adrian Preston be so hypocritical, asking me for a business card?’

"I... I don’t have them with me."

"Then let’s just exchange numbers."

"Yeah, Mia, go ahead and save his number."

Adrian Preston handed over his phone. With trembling hands, Mia Kane put on a show of typing in her number. A contact page immediately popped up, with the name "Wife." Thank god Owen Sinclair didn’t see it, or she would have died of social embarrassment.

Adrian Preston raised an eyebrow, then dialed the number.

Mia Kane’s phone rang, and everyone glanced over.

A string of numbers appeared on the screen.

Adrian Preston’s eyes narrowed.

’She didn’t even bother giving me a contact name!’

’Fine. Just fine.’

Mia Kane frantically picked up her phone. She always felt that she and Adrian Preston weren’t that familiar with each other. Even though they had each other’s numbers, she’d never given it much thought.

’As long as I remember this number is Adrian’s, it’s fine.’

But now...

She felt Adrian Preston’s icy gaze sweep over her.

"We’ll meet again."

With that, Adrian Preston left.

Long after he was gone, Mia Kane still couldn’t collect herself.

"Mia, what’s wrong? You look so pale. Are you not feeling well?"

"I... I’m fine."

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a text message from Adrian Preston.

"Meet me in the underground parking garage in ten minutes."

Mia Kane wanted to cry but had no tears. This was instant karma.

"Um... I just remembered I have something to do, so I’m going to head out. Come by tomorrow, and we’ll sign the contract."

"But you haven’t eaten..."

"I don’t have time."

Mia Kane left in a flurry, taking a detour before heading to the underground parking garage.

She was searching for Adrian Preston’s car when, as she passed a van, a hand suddenly reached out from behind it and yanked her over.

She jumped in fright and was about to scream, but then she smelled a familiar scent.

She was pinned against the car door by Adrian Preston, his arms encircling her.

He loomed over her, his gaze icy and judgmental.

"Ad... Adrian..."

Her voice was trembling.

"Miss Kane, I had no idea you were single?"

Adrian Preston said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Goosebumps broke out all over her body. She didn’t know if it was from fear or something else.

"Ahem... Adrian Preston, this is a contract marriage. The doctor said Grandpa only has about a year left, and we’ll get divorced then. If you meet someone you fancy, feel free to pursue her. I won’t stand in your way."

"Is Owen Sinclair the one you fancy? You sure move on fast."

"You’ve misunderstood! He was just my senior in college. I don’t think of him that way!"

She explained hastily.

"Is that so? ’Mia,’ he calls you. So intimate. You say a college senior can call you that, so what about me? I’m your legal husband. What should I call you?"

Adrian Preston leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. His voice was low and husky, laced with a bewitching charm.

His warm, damp breath curled into her ear, making her heart tremble violently.

While she was still in a daze, a sharp pain on her earlobe made her cry out.

That bastard Adrian Preston had actually bitten her earlobe. It hurt so much that tears welled in her eyes.

As if sensing her trembling, Adrian Preston loosened his bite.

She thought it was over, but unexpectedly he took the lobe into his mouth, his wet, hot tongue circling it, as if trying to soothe her pain.

Mia Kane’s heart gave a violent lurch. That was one of her most sensitive spots.

She instinctively moved to push Adrian Preston away, but then she suddenly heard Owen Sinclair’s voice.

"Mom, I’m heading back now."

"Alright, got it..."

She instantly froze.

Owen Sinclair also noticed the area behind the van; his car was right next to it.

Adrian Preston had tossed his jacket in the car and was wearing a white shirt, so Owen didn’t recognize him at first.

As for Mia Kane, she was completely hidden by the man’s tall frame, not a bit of her visible.

Seeing this, Owen Sinclair smiled to himself.

’Kids these days are so bold,’ he thought. ’Can’t even wait to get in the car, just making out passionately right here.’

’If it were me...’

’I probably wouldn’t be that bold.’

Every nerve in Mia Kane’s mind was stretched taut, yet her body felt tingly and weak.

Adrian Preston grew even more wicked, his large hand slipping under the hem of her shirt to grasp her slender waist.

His lips trailed downwards, kissing her neck.

Nearby, Owen Sinclair started his engine and drove the car away.

Mia Kane finally snapped back to her senses and violently pushed Adrian Preston away.

In her haste, she accidentally hit his wound, and the man let out a muffled grunt.

Soon, fresh blood seeped through the white shirt, and his face paled a shade.

’The wound reopened!’

"Adrian..."

Adrian Preston’s gaze was frigid. "Mia Kane, I advise you to remember your place. Even if this is a marriage by contract, we are still legally husband and wife. You should know what I used to do. If you dare to cheat on me, I’ll make sure you get locked up."