Tristan Sterling sprayed out the mouthful of soup he had just taken.

"Grandpa!"

He hurriedly grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth, his face a mixture of shock and anger.

His grandfather’s intentions were obvious: he wanted to set Holly Sinclair up on a blind date.

’So this is how family ties just vanish, huh?’

He and Holly Sinclair weren’t even officially divorced yet, and the old man was already this impatient to pull a stunt like this?

"What are you yelling for? I’m not deaf!"

The old man shot his grandson a look of utter disdain and snapped irritably.

Then he turned to Holly Sinclair, his expression instantly shifting to one of warm affection. "Holly, when do you think you’ll have some time to go meet him?"

The old man was serious.

His health was deteriorating, and he worried about how much longer he could protect this girl. So, while he still had some life in him, he wanted to find a reliable future for her.

Even though Holly was smart and capable, he couldn’t rest easy thinking of her as a young woman all on her own, with no one to protect her.

"Uh... Grandpa, about that..." Holly Sinclair was stunned, the corner of her mouth twitching. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

"She’s not going!"

Tristan Sterling’s face was grim as he refused on her behalf in a hard, forceful tone.

The old man was furious.

SLAM! He slapped his palm on the dining table and cursed, "What business is it of yours? Either eat or get lost!"

It was meant to be a domineering statement, but due to his physical condition, it lacked its usual authority and power.

"Grandpa!" Tristan Sterling’s brow was tightly furrowed.

"Feeling better, are we? Has the back healed?" the old man barked coldly.

"..." Tristan Sterling was rendered speechless.

He was deeply displeased, but he didn’t dare provoke his grandfather.

His grandfather was in poor health; he couldn’t take any more agitation.

Tristan Sterling could only turn his gaze to Holly Sinclair.

His chilly gaze was filled with warning and threat.

His face was practically etched with the six words: "Just you dare agree to this."

But Holly Sinclair couldn’t even be bothered to spare him a glance.

"Holly?" The old man watched her with a gentle gaze, waiting for her reply.

"Grandpa, it wouldn’t be appropriate," Holly Sinclair said, gently shaking her head.

Upon hearing this, the corners of Tristan Sterling’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

’Perfect.’

He just knew she was still in love with him!

Pleased, he immediately picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and placed it in her bowl.

A reward, of sorts.

She’d said she liked boiled fish in chili oil, and he had remembered.

Holly Sinclair frowned, looking at the piece of fish in her bowl not with gratitude, but with a sense of irony and disgust.

She slowly lifted her gaze and shot him a side-eye.

The way she looked at him was practically an eye-roll.

"How do you know it’s not appropriate when you haven’t even met him?" the old man pressed, not giving her a chance to brush him off.

Holly Sinclair put down her chopsticks. "What I mean is, our divorce isn’t finalized yet."

She would never stoop to something as despicable as cheating on her spouse.

Tristan Sterling’s expression froze.

He stared in astonishment at the completely unfazed Holly Sinclair.

’What was that supposed to mean?’

’Is she saying she’s not against going on a blind date?!’

’Has she forgotten who she is?’

’She’s still his Mrs. Sterling!’

’She wants to go on a date with another man while still holding the title of Mrs. Sterling...’

’How could she even dare?!’

"Holly Sinclair!"

Tristan Sterling exploded, a sour feeling of jealousy bubbling up inside him. He was so angry he nearly flipped the table.

But neither Holly Sinclair nor the old man paid him any mind.

It was as if he were invisible.

"That doesn’t matter. There’s only half a month left anyway. Just meet him first, see if there’s any chemistry," the old man said, his face breaking into a wide grin.

Tristan Sterling nearly coughed up blood. "Grandpa, I’m not dead yet!" he yelled.

’Has Grandpa gone senile?’

Just a short while ago, he had been vehemently against the divorce. Now, before it was even finalized, the old man was impatiently arranging these ridiculous meetings.

’Who is he trying to piss off?!’

Suffocating with frustration, Tristan Sterling couldn’t help but glance at the young woman beside him again.

Holly Sinclair was eating her food in a slow, deliberate manner, completely unaffected.

This made Tristan Sterling even angrier.

’She wants to go on a blind date? Over my dead body!!’

"Some people are alive, but they are already ’dead.’ S"

The old man shot his grandson a vicious glare and snorted coldly. "Holly is such an outstanding young woman. Your divorce is happening one way or another, so what’s wrong with me lining up a good candidate for her ahead of time?"

"Grandpa, who’s your real flesh and blood here?"

"You were picked up from the street!"

"..."

"The Sterling Family has no room for a fool like you!"

"..." Tristan Sterling was choked speechless.

The old man turned back to Holly Sinclair and sighed softly. "Holly, I’ve come to accept it. You don’t want to be my granddaughter-in-law anymore, and I won’t force you. But I can’t rest easy with you all alone. I want to find someone to protect you, to make sure no one can bully you." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Hearing this, Holly Sinclair felt a sting in her nose.

The corners of her eyes grew a little red, but she managed to force a smile. "Grandpa, I can take care of myself."

"If I can’t find someone to protect you, I won’t be able to rest in peace," the old man said gravely.

"Grandpa! Don’t say such things!" Holly Sinclair’s eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Just meet him, okay?" the old man coaxed.

Holly Sinclair fell silent.

She understood her grandfather’s meaning.

’He wanted to give her more options.’

Elders were all like this. They always habitually expressed their love and concern in their own way.

It was like that mentality where your mother always thinks you’re cold and need another sweater.

Even if you didn’t need it at all, their intentions were always good.

Meeting her grandfather’s expectant gaze, Holly Sinclair found she couldn’t refuse.

’It wouldn’t hurt to just meet him.’

’I’ll just treat it like completing a mission.’

’And as a way to make Grandpa happy.’

Tristan Sterling had been staring at Holly Sinclair intently the entire time.

He took in every subtle change in her expression.

Seeing her resolve waver, he rushed to speak first. "Grand—"

"You shut your mouth!"

But he was immediately cut off by his grandfather’s sharp command.

The old man was so agitated that he burst into an uncontrollable coughing fit. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

"Grandpa!"

Startled, Holly Sinclair quickly rose to pat his back and help him catch his breath.

It took the old man a long moment to recover.

His old face was a little pale.

His breathing was unsteady.

His clouded eyes fixed on Holly Sinclair, and his aged voice came out in a slight gasp. "Holly, will you? Okay?"

"Okay," Holly Sinclair agreed.

The old man nodded in relief.

Tristan Sterling’s face turned black as charcoal.

’She actually dared!’

...

Holly Sinclair had arranged for the Sterling family’s driver to take her home.

But just as she was about to get in the car, Tristan Sterling appeared and forcibly shoved her into his Maybach.

Before she had time to react, he quickly got in and locked the doors.

Her face was frosty as she glared at him coldly.

Tristan Sterling ignored her, started the car, and drove down the mountain.

The confined space fell into a dead silence.

There was nothing to say to each other.

Holly Sinclair had no desire to speak to him.

They drove on in silence.

Forty minutes later, the Maybach pulled up in front of Holly Sinclair’s apartment building.

The moment the car stopped, Holly Sinclair impatiently reached for the door handle.

She didn’t want to spend another second with him.

But it wouldn’t open.

He still had the doors locked.

Anger flared in Holly Sinclair. Her last shred of patience was gone.

She lifted her eyes and stared coldly at the man’s flawless profile.

"Tris—MMPH..."

She had just been about to demand what he thought he was doing when he cupped her face firmly in his hands.

A scorching kiss descended upon her lips, filled with a savage intensity, as if he wanted to devour her whole.