Chase Lockwood slammed his fist on the nightstand. It immediately turned bright red, but he seemed to feel no pain.

"She’s actually with Adrian Preston now. How is this possible..."

"Miss Kane was probably heartbroken by you and chose President Preston to get revenge."

"Really?"

Chase Lockwood frowned, his tone filled with doubt.

The secretary quickly replied, "Of course. Miss Kane still loves you, that’s why she’s doing this. She just wants to see how you’ll react, sir. If you get anxious, you’ll be playing right into her hands."

Hearing this, the anger on Chase Lockwood’s face gradually faded.

He scoffed. "She’s really pulling out all the stops. Does she think this will make me come back to her? How ridiculous."

"As long as I don’t care, there’s nothing Mia Kane can do. But Adrian Preston..."

’Adrian actually agreed. He’s probably trying to get revenge on me, too.’

Back then, his mother disapproved of his relationship with Vivian Lynch. During that time, he became a playboy, drinking heavily and dating countless women.

Adrian Preston’s sister had a crush on him and wanted to date him. Adrian had explicitly warned him not to play with his sister’s feelings.

But back then, he couldn’t be bothered with any of that. He dove headfirst into a relationship with Shannon Preston anyway.

After that, their relationship, once as close as brothers who could talk about anything, became strained.

Later, his philandering ways became too much for Shannon Preston to bear, and they broke up.

Heartbroken after the breakup, she moved abroad with her parents to settle down.

Later still, Adrian Preston graduated from the police academy and started running missions, and the two of them lost contact.

’Two people who want revenge on me, teaming up. As long as I act like I don’t care, they’re the ones who will end up looking desperate.’

Chase Lockwood let out a heavy breath. "It’s one thing for Mia Kane to be childish, but Adrian Preston isn’t a kid anymore. For him to be this immature... Since they want to play games, I’ll play along."

...

Mia Kane spent two anxious days at home. Even though Adrian Preston said everything was fine, she couldn’t help but worry.

But when nothing happened, she breathed a sigh of relief.

’Chase Lockwood was probably too embarrassed to make a scene. It’s pretty humiliating for a man to have *that* part of his life become gossip.’

She had already framed the master embroidery and hung it in the most conspicuous spot in her studio. She could see it just by looking up, a constant reminder that the thing was worth two hundred million!

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Adrian Preston.

After that last incident, she had obediently changed his name in her contacts.

"There’s a cruise ship banquet tonight. I need to bring a date. You’re coming with me."

"Adrian, aren’t you afraid of the gossip?"

"Gossip is the last thing I’m afraid of. Are you? Chase Lockwood will be there."

Hearing this, Mia Kane’s heart began to pound.

’Is this going to be our first head-on confrontation?’

Adrian had told her that after he so publicly won the auction item, the matter could no longer be kept secret.

That being the case, there was no need to hide it anymore.

"If you’re not afraid, then I have nothing to be afraid of."

’My conscience is clear. What’s there to be afraid of?’

"I’ll pick you up at five p.m. We’ll go buy a dress then."

At five o’clock sharp, Adrian Preston appeared downstairs.

They went straight to a high-end department store. The sales associate picked out several gowns for her. With her tall, slender figure, not an ounce of fat on her, and that stunning face, it wasn’t the clothes that chose the person, but the person who chose the clothes.

But Mia Kane tried on several gowns and wasn’t satisfied with any of them. Then, unexpectedly, Adrian Preston brought over a jade-green qipao that was incredibly flattering to her figure and fair skin.

"This one. Try it on."

Mia Kane’s eyes lit up. She never would have guessed that Adrian Preston had such excellent taste in women’s fashion.

In the dressing room, she tried to change out of the previous gown and into the qipao, but the zipper on her back got stuck.

She opened the door, intending to ask the sales associate for help, but found only Adrian Preston standing outside.

"What’s wrong?"

"My zipper is stuck. Could you ask the sales associate to come help me?"

"I’ll do it."

"Is... is that a good idea?"

"Mia, we’re legally married. Every time you do this, you make me feel like we’re having an illicit affair."

Mia Kane’s face flushed. ’It’s just a zipper, after all.’

Adrian Preston entered the dressing room. Although the room was large, his powerful presence seemed to invade the space, making it feel cramped and tight.

The dressing room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the only sound being the slow slide of the zipper.

His pinky finger brushed unintentionally against her back.

’Her skin was like satin. Utterly flawless.’

’It would be a shame not to use a back like this as a canvas.’

’To use the sweat on her skin to mix the pigments, and paint a vibrant peony.’

At this thought, his eyes grew dark and inscrutable.

"Are you done yet?"

Mia Kane felt a strong sense of unease, as if she were being watched by a hawk.

She shifted uncomfortably, and in doing so, accidentally brushed against him below the waist.

At first, she didn’t realize what she’d touched and urged him to hurry up, saying she’d do it herself if he couldn’t.

But then Adrian Preston’s hand shot out, grabbing her slender waist and holding her still.

"If you keep rubbing against me," he growled, "I’m going to take you right here."

Mia Kane froze, finally realizing what had happened.

’He doesn’t think I’m trying to seduce him, does he?’

Little did she know, Adrian was the one who had started having wicked thoughts.

"It’s done. I’ll wait for you outside."

Adrian Preston’s voice was a few shades deeper and huskier, but in the end, he didn’t act on his impulse. He turned and left.

For some reason, her legs gave out, and she sank onto the sofa.

Her back was covered in beads of sweat.

She quickly changed into the qipao and came out. She saw Adrian Preston sitting there, his legs crossed and his body leaning slightly forward, obviously trying to hide something.

The tips of Mia Kane’s ears turned red.

"Is... is it okay?"

"It’s beautiful. We’ll take this one. Pair it with a white leather bolero and a small, pearl-studded clutch."

Mia Kane was stunned. She hadn’t expected Adrian Preston’s ideas to align so perfectly with her own.

"Your neck and hands look too bare. We’ll go pick out some jewelry next."

"Isn’t this a bit too extravagant?"

’This gown already costs a fortune.’

"Extravagant? Not at all! Sir dotes on his wife so much. Isn’t earning money so you can spend it on your woman what being a man is all about?"

The sales associate chimed in eagerly. If she made this sale, her bonus for the month was guaranteed!

"She has a point."

Adrian Preston swiped his card without another word, then took her to a jewelry store to pick out a matching set.

From head to toe, she was completely transformed. He even hired professionals for her hair and makeup.

The banquet started at eight p.m. Starting their shopping and styling at five was cutting it a little close.

Soon, they arrived at the pier. Mia Kane was filled with anticipation. She had never been to a cruise ship banquet before; it was sure to be a unique experience.

"When do we get off the ship tonight?"

"We don’t. After this, we’re going to a private island. We won’t be back until after the luncheon tomorrow."

It was a birthday banquet for a real estate tycoon’s 80th birthday. Surrounded by his children and grandchildren, he had specifically arranged for such a grand celebration.

Mia Kane was about to get out of the car when Adrian Preston pulled her back.

She fell into his arms, her lips brushing against his Adam’s apple, leaving behind a faint smudge of pink.

"You..."

Her breath hitched.

"I’m suddenly having second thoughts."

Adrian Preston said, tilting her chin up to look down at her.

"Second thoughts about what? About bringing me here? It’s not too late for me to leave."

Her eyes dimmed, and a pang of pain shot through her heart.

’I tried to talk him out of it.’

’Why did he have to hurt me like this when I came here full of anticipation?’

’Wouldn’t it have been better if he’d never mentioned it in the first place?’

"Well, you have fun. I’ll just take a taxi home."

Mia Kane fought back the bitterness in her heart and opened the car door to get out.

"Did I say you could leave?"

The man pulled her back into his arms. "My regret is that I shouldn’t have let you dress up so beautifully tonight. I’m afraid someone will covet my treasure."

With that, his thin lips pressed down hard against hers.