The art exhibition was on the fourth floor.

When Mia Grant walked in, quite a few visitors were already inside, admiring the art.

Mia had studied painting for a few years as a child. According to the introduction, this was a traveling exhibition by a very famous artist in the field.

She’d looked around but couldn’t find Silas Grant’s blind date, so she assumed the other person hadn’t arrived yet and decided to look at the paintings while she waited.

"You really like this painting?"

"I do." Mia Grant folded her arms, carefully studying the richly colored oil painting in front of her.

"Everyone says its colors are exaggerated and that it lacks a theme."

"I think it’s wonderful. The colors express emotion so directly. The artist must have been very sad when they painted this, maybe even a little angry."

"What do you think might have caused such emotions?"

Mia tilted her head and blinked. "Parting?"

"Why do you say that?"

"If you look at the painting from a different angle, it kind of looks like a mother holding a baby. It must be about a mother and child being separated."

Silence fell beside her. Mia glanced over at the man.

She found him looking at her, too. The moment she turned and their eyes met, his gaze trembled as if he’d just felt an aftershock.

"You..."

The man’s gaze seemed to be glued to her, unable to look away.

"I’m here. I don’t see Mr. Grant?"

The exhibition hall was spacious and quiet, filled only with the sound of footsteps, so the sharp voice of the woman behind her carried clearly to Mia’s ears.

She gave the man in front of her a slight nod before turning and walking toward the woman behind her. "Miss Cameron."

Iris Cameron, still holding her phone, looked the girl up and down and frowned. "And you are?"

"Mr. Grant has been very busy with work lately, so Mr. Hughes sent me to meet with you in his stead."

"..."

As soon as she heard it was Mr. Hughes’s arrangement, Iris didn’t dare show her dissatisfaction, no matter how annoyed she was.

She gave an awkward smile and hung up the phone.

"Oh, I see. Well, should we find somewhere to sit down?"

"Let’s just talk as we walk. It’s very quiet here."

"Okay."

Since they were going to talk, the two walked to the innermost part of the gallery.

Iris’s mind wasn’t on the paintings at all. She kept stealing glances at Mia. Overcome with curiosity, she couldn’t help but ask, "You look quite young. Are you from the Hughes Family?"

"I’m a few years younger than you, Miss Cameron. I’m from an extended branch of the Hughes Family."

"Oh, I see." Iris had just graduated from college. With her youthful face and simple way of thinking, she didn’t question it further. "You’re so pretty."

"Thank you, so are you." Mia smiled. "Feel free to ask me anything you’d like to know, Miss Cameron."

"I just got back to the country not long ago. I’ve heard about Mr. Grant but never had the chance to meet him in person. Is he... really that handsome?!"

Mia didn’t expect that to be her first question, though it did suit someone her age.

"Of course! My..." The word "brother" was on the tip of her tongue, but she forced it back. "Our Mr. Grant’s looks, physique, and charisma are absolutely top-tier in all of Portia."

"More handsome than Simon Adler?"

"You’ve met Mr. Adler?"

"Yes. I met him a couple of days ago, and I thought he was pretty handsome. Is Mr. Grant even more handsome than him?"

"Definitely! Compared to Mr. Adler, he’s drop-dead gorgeous."

"Wh-what about his personality!"

"His personality is great, too. I think Mr. Grant is absolutely perfect, it’s just that most of his energy is focused on work. After marriage, well... you know."

"Oh." Iris looked a little disappointed. "That’s not great. He doesn’t even have time for a blind date. After getting married, would he only come home once a month?"

Mia said, "But on the bright side, you’d have a lot of freedom."

"That’s true."

"But can I ask, why was I chosen?" Iris asked. "I heard Mr. Hughes had files on dozens of unmarried young ladies from The Portia Circle, so I never expected to be picked! My mom was so happy she bought me a new car."

"Because..." Mia blinked. "Because you’re young, beautiful, and you have a great family background and personality."

Iris touched her chin. "Is that all?"

"You mentioned ’young’ first... so Mr. Grant likes younger women, right!"

Mia’s gaze flickered away. "I suppose so."

’I really did choose Iris because she’s young. There’s a big age gap between Silas and me, after all. And I’ve always wondered if Silas likes girls my age, with my kind of personality.’

The two of them walked around for a long time. As it neared noon, Iris invited her to have lunch at a nearby tea restaurant.

They also exchanged contact information.

"Then I’ll be counting on you to send me Mr. Grant’s personal interests and hobbies! When I really marry into the Hughes Family and become Mrs. Grant, I definitely won’t forget you!"

"Hahahaha, okay," Mia agreed, sighing to herself.

Before they parted, she didn’t forget to remind Iris, "Don’t tell anyone that it was me who met with you today. It’s also best not to mention the blind date at all."

’So it doesn’t get back to Silas.’

"Why not?" Iris frowned. "I wanted to share this with my friends."

"Because this time, I’m here representing Mr. Hughes, so... the fewer people who know, the better."

"You understand."

"Ahhh," Iris nodded. "No problem!"

"Where are you headed now? I can give you a ride in my new car!"

"No, no, it’s fine. I’m waiting for a friend."

Iris waved goodbye, then left, humming a tune and swinging her purse.

Not long after she left, someone sat down in the empty seat across from Mia.

Mia didn’t even have to look up to know who it was.

She speared the last shrimp on her plate with her fork and popped it into her mouth.

Chewing, she looked up. "Are we meeting the second candidate this afternoon?"

Her cheeks were puffed out, making her look like a little hamster.

She hadn’t had much of an appetite that morning, so she was starving now.

There was a smudge of tomato sauce at the corner of her mouth. Simon Adler picked up a napkin and handed it to her. Mia took it, confused.

Simon stared at her for a few seconds, then leaned over slightly and wiped it away for her.

"Not this afternoon. After we eat, we’re going back to the Hughes residence."

Mia snapped back to attention. "Meeting the second one tomorrow, then?"

"What are your plans for the afternoon? Going to the company?"

"My, you’re quite concerned about me."

"Tch." Mia rolled her eyes at him. "It’s important to have some self-awareness."

"Be careful when you go to the company. Don’t let my brother find out anything."

"Mr. Hughes arranged for a decoy ’you’ to be active around Jynsia right now, so he won’t get suspicious." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"...That’s certainly thorough of him."

Simon Adler didn’t think much of it and arrived at the company on time for the afternoon meeting.

The first thing Silas Grant said when he saw him was, "You skipped out this morning to go on a date?"

"What?" The pen spinning in Simon’s hand abruptly stopped. He lifted his gaze to the head of the table.

Silas Grant was sitting primly, a faint curve playing on his lips. "Someone saw you near Central this morning with a girl."

After a pause, Silas added, "Did no one tell you that your jacket reeks of women’s perfume?"

"That scent... it’s a bit familiar."

"..."