After their discussion, Old Parrish and Young Zane left.

The look Old Parrish gave her was full of apology.

Mia Kane knew they considered Adrian Preston a brother. If they had known the victim was Adrian’s wife, none of them would have done such a thing.

It was a complete accident, which suggested this was simply her fate.

After they left, the room became exceptionally quiet, making even their breathing sound heavy and stifled.

Adrian Preston wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind.

"I know people will be sacrificed, and I’m prepared to be sacrificed at any moment myself, but I don’t want you involved in this."

He couldn’t bear to imagine a day when Mia Kane might be sacrificed too.

"What, am I getting special treatment from you?"

Mia Kane turned around, her eyes curving into crescents as a warm smile spread across her face.

She feigned a relaxed air, trying to comfort Adrian Preston.

But her clenched fists betrayed the fear and tension she felt inside.

"Adrian Preston, we’re doing the right thing. So, let’s not worry about anything else."

Adrian Preston didn’t respond. His expression was grave, his eyes deep and dark, holding an emotion she couldn’t decipher.

She understood that Adrian Preston didn’t want anyone to get hurt.

’To him, I’m no different from the people he’s protected before.’

"Adrian Preston, let’s get a divorce," she said after a moment of thought.

"If something happens to me, you’ll be listed as a widower. That doesn’t seem right..."

"Nothing will happen to you. I’ll protect you!" Adrian Preston cut her off, his voice stubborn.

The corners of his eyes were red, like a beast on the verge of erupting. She didn’t dare provoke him further.

Mia Kane nodded and said no more.

She didn’t go home to visit either, afraid that the more she had to worry about, the less courage she would have to step forward.

’Someone has to step up.’

’I’m already broken. No one is more suitable than me.’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Afterward, as the news slowly spread, William’s men, as expected, grew restless.

But they held back, making no moves.

William was even more cautious than they had imagined.

’Looks like we need to add more fuel to the fire.’

Adrian Preston found out he would be attending a Ministry of Foreign Affairs social event and planned to provoke William there.

Adrian Preston easily obtained tickets and attended with Mia Kane, who was dressed to the nines.

Earpiece communicator.

Her hair, bracelet, shoes... multiple tracking devices were hidden on her.

The pearl button on her collar concealed a pinhole camera.

Outside, Old Parrish and Young Zane were monitoring the surveillance feeds in real time.

The car stopped. Adrian Preston offered her his hand.

"Are you ready?"

Mia Kane let out a shaky breath and slowly got out of the car.

"So, are we comrades-in-arms now, fighting side by side?"

"Yes."

That single word was a profound acknowledgment.

Mia Kane did her best to overcome her fear, worried she would act unnaturally and let William see that something was amiss.

At the diplomatic function, she moved with ease.

William was tied up with someone and never came over to speak with Adrian Preston, seemingly avoiding him on purpose.

Mia Kane had to find an opportunity to strike up a conversation.

"What if I go off on my own? Give him an opening? At a big banquet like this, with so many diplomats around, he probably wouldn’t do anything to me."

"No," Adrian Preston rejected the idea flat out.

"Adrian Preston, don’t worry about me. I’ve already taken this step. The news is out; there’s no turning back for me. Either we make him commit a crime now, catch him, and ensure he can never recover, or he hides in the shadows and kills me later when we least expect it. You choose."

Adrian Preston fell silent.

"Then... be careful."

Mia Kane went to the garden out back, where there was, surprisingly, a swimming pool.

Everyone was gathered in the main hall, so no one was around.

Feeling a little tired, she sat down on the edge of the pool.

From behind her came the sound of soft footsteps.

Someone was approaching.

’Did William see me alone and come looking for me specifically?’ Mia Kane’s heart leaped into her throat.

She was the culprit responsible for the deaths of many of William’s underlings. As their boss, to maintain his authority, he would have to take her out, even if it meant taking a huge risk. Otherwise, it would be hard for him to maintain his standing in the underworld.

Those men were capable of any evil, yet they placed extreme importance on loyalty. A boss had to value his men to make them willing to die for him.

She lowered her voice and asked, "Young Zane, is that William coming over?"

"Someone’s tampered with the surveillance in the back garden! We can’t see anything right now!"

When Mia Kane heard that, her heart dropped.

She wanted to run, but her reason told her that if William took this chance to push her into the pool and fake an accidental drowning, their objective would be achieved.

Beads of sweat were already forming on her forehead.

She didn’t dare move a muscle, instinctively holding her breath.

Just then, a tall, dark figure crouched down beside her.

William, holding a champagne flute, smiled and greeted her.

"Mrs. Preston, why aren’t you in the main hall? It’s windy out here. Be careful not to catch a cold."

Mia Kane froze.

’Is William greeting me to deliberately test me?’

Mia Kane was so terrified that her vocal cords felt like a worn-out old speaker. She couldn’t get a single word out, her lips just trembled uselessly.

"You seem to be very afraid of me. Did my bastard of a brother do something to you?"

"Stop pretending. You know perfectly well what you did," Mia Kane finally found her voice.

William raised a hand and moved toward her. She wanted to pull away, but her body felt as if it were under a spell, frozen in place.

He actually reached directly for her ear, plucked out the earpiece communicator, and tossed it into the pool.

"You..."

"What? Trying to force my hand? I won’t do it. Tell Adrian Preston to give up on that idea. I care about my own life more than I care about my underlings."

Those words were as good as a confession.

Mia Kane’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected him to be so shameless.

"You really are beautiful. I was quite captivated by the taste of you, too. It’s just a shame..."

A shame that he never got to the final step.

He was interrupted by Adrian Preston at the most critical moment.

In the end, some other man got to benefit.

William narrowed his eyes. His gaze, lecherous, disgusting, and clinging, fell upon her like a demon from Hell, every fiber of his being saturated with the genes of a criminal and the aura of evil.

He raised his hand and gripped her chin.

She tried to break free, but the man’s strength was too great. She struggled until it hurt, but she couldn’t get away.

He watched her with amusement, his eyes lingering on the skin reddened by his violent grip, as if admiring his own handiwork.

"I’ve never seen such a fine specimen, nor have I met anyone with the guts to use themselves as bait to lure me in. I have to say, I’m impressed. No wonder Adrian Preston chose you."

"If you ever find yourself with nowhere to turn, you can come find me. This is my private number. I can take you in as my mistress..."

"Just a mistress?" Mia Kane laughed lightly. "I would have thought that with my looks and abilities, I’d at least qualify as your ’bandit queen’."

"I have a wife, and I can’t divorce her. So you’ll have to settle for being my mistress, I’m afraid."

"Is that so..."

Mia Kane said slowly, then lowered her head and bit down hard on the fleshy part of William’s hand between his thumb and index finger.

She glared at him ferociously, like a small animal pushed to the peak of its fury.

The bite sank deep into his flesh, and her mouth filled with the taste of blood.