Adrian Preston’s pupils constricted the moment he heard her words. His thin lips pressed into a tight line, and his jaw tensed.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. "I’ve said it before. As long as you have Chase Lockwood in your heart, I have no interest."

"I might be heartbroken over him for a couple of days, but not for a lifetime. After all this time, I’ve seen his true colors. There’s no one in my heart now."

"Adrian Preston, if you don’t want me, just say so. Why bother with excuses? If I can’t be Mrs. Preston for the long haul, I’ll find another way out for myself..."

’Worst case, I’ll take the US Dollars Vivian Lynch gave me, take my family, and go hide abroad.’

’I’ll always find a way to live...’

But before she could finish, Adrian Preston suddenly surged forward, pinning her body down.

"Who says I don’t want you?"

Adrian Preston’s large hand pushed up the hem of her skirt.

"Ah..."

Mia Kane was startled. She hadn’t expected him to actually go through with it.

She felt a flicker of fear. When it came time to put her plan into practice, she never thought she’d be the one to back down.

’Turns out, theory and practice are two completely different things.’

The key was, she still had to overcome her fear.

Vague, fragmented memories flooded her mind, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably. She didn’t know if it was from fear or from Adrian Preston’s touch.

Her breathing grew ragged, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead.

A complex emotion flickered in his eyes as he took in her uneasy, pained expression.

Mia Kane bit her lip hard, her gaze hazy as she looked at him, wanting to beg him not to do anything reckless.

Adrian Preston stared at her intently, as if he understood something.

"Mia Kane, you’re not ready at all. Turns out your courage is just paper-thin; one poke and it tears."

The last few words were a double entendre.

Mia Kane’s face instantly burned with shame.

She thought it would be easy to take that step, but Adrian Preston had just proved to her how terrified she really was.

Mia Kane wished she could bury her head under the covers. It was utterly mortifying. She was the one who had boasted about seducing him, yet when it came down to it, she was the first to fall apart.

"Mia Kane, once a woman starts thinking of her body as a shortcut, she’s finished. Wasting three years of affection on the wrong person wasn’t stupid. But becoming this shameless for him, willing to sacrifice anything to get what you want—that is the height of foolishness."

He pursed his lips, his gaze fixed on her.

"Regardless of whether you become Mrs. Preston or not, for the sake of making my grandfather happy, I won’t abandon you. I... will protect you for the rest of my life."

"Really?"

Mia Kane was stunned.

’Adrian Preston is this righteous? Just because I made his grandfather happy and helped him put on an act, he’s willing to protect me for life?’

"I rarely lie to you."

"Huh? So you’re saying you have lied to me?"

Mia Kane seized on his choice of words, looking at Adrian Preston strangely. ’He’s lied to me before? What about? It’s not like I’ve lost anything.’

"Don’t ask what you shouldn’t."

Seeing Adrian Preston’s fierce glare, Mia Kane shrank back and didn’t dare ask any more questions.

"Adrian Preston, are you always this good to people? Are you like this with everyone?"

"It depends on fate. If I take a liking to someone, I’ll help them a bit more."

Mia Kane felt like she’d heard those words before.

"Mia Kane, it’s not that you can’t offer yourself to me. If one day you find yourself truly, hopelessly in love with me, then I’ll welcome you into my bed."

With that, Adrian Preston turned and left.

Mia Kane remembered one more thing. "Remember... remember to wash your hands..."

He was gone, and the room fell quiet, but the man’s powerful presence seemed to permeate every corner.

There also seemed to be a lingering, decadent scent in the air.

Mia Kane pulled the covers over her head. ’This is so humiliating. The tables were completely turned on me.’

Later, Mia Kane wanted to find Adrian Preston to discuss something, but she found out he had gone to the company and wouldn’t be back for some time.

Mia Kane didn’t think much of it at first, until Theo Thorne called her and asked cautiously.

"Ma’am, did you and Adrian get into a fight?"

"No, we didn’t."

"Then why has Adrian been living at the office every day and refusing to come home?"

"Isn’t it because the company is busy?"

"He can be busy without staying out all night. I thought you two might have had a fight."

Mia Kane was also a little puzzled. If he wasn’t that busy, why was he staying away from home every day?

Mia Kane decided to go and see for herself.

Night fell. Adrian Preston finished his work and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling exhausted.

It was late, and almost everyone had gone home. He had even sent Theo Thorne away.

When he heard a knock, he assumed Theo Thorne had come back.

"Come in."

To his surprise, the person who entered was Faith Donovan, the top salesperson from the Sales Department.

Faith Donovan had been a star in the Sales Department, landing numerous contracts. Adrian Preston had a decent impression of her and was even planning to promote her to Deputy Head of Sales.

"Is there something you need?"

"There are a few documents that need President Preston’s signature."

"Alright."

Adrian Preston responded coolly and took the documents from Faith Donovan.

As he was signing, Faith Donovan leaned in very close, bracing her hands on the desk and pressing her upper body down.

The strapless neckline of her top gaped open, revealing the impressive curve of her chest.

Mia Kane, who was at the door, saw this scene and immediately froze.

’Why didn’t they close the door?’

She wanted to pull the door shut, but she couldn’t stop her curiosity and peeked inside.

"It’s done. You can go."

Adrian Preston signed the papers and dismissed her, but unexpectedly, Faith Donovan’s high heel twisted, and she stumbled, falling right into his arms.

Adrian Preston’s brow furrowed instantly.

"Ah— President Preston, my ankle hurts so much! Could you rub it for me?"

Such a blatant seduction.

Mia Kane’s eyes widened. She was very curious to see if the woman would succeed.

"Get out."

Adrian Preston was certainly direct.

Faith Donovan wasn’t ready to give up.

"President Preston, my ankle hurts too much to walk..."

Before the words were even out of her mouth, Adrian Preston tossed her onto the floor.

"Then crawl out. And remember to close the door."

Faith Donovan on the floor and Mia Kane outside the door both stared wide-eyed, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.

Faith Donovan snapped back to her senses, and still not giving up, she actually started taking off her clothes.

Underneath, she was wearing a full set of provocative lingerie, which was barely concealed and even more eye-catching than her red "battle dress."

"President Preston, I’ve admired you for so long. I joined this company just for you. Do you remember? You saved me once. My father was a bank president. I was kidnapped, and the kidnappers demanded a ransom. My father wouldn’t pay a cent and was ready to let them kill me, but you risked your life to save me."

"From that moment on, I fell deeply in love with you. I don’t dare dream of being with you, but if I could just spend one night with you, I would be content. Please, I’m begging you, just grant me this one wish. I won’t bother you ever again after this."