When Mia Kane heard that, she nearly lost her composure and slapped him.

Fortunately, she held back.

But to her complete surprise, Adrian Preston, right beside her, was actually about to make a move.

She instinctively grabbed his hand.

"Adrian, don’t!"

She quickly spoke up to stop him.

The man was deliberately provoking Adrian, using the same tactics others used to try and force William’s own hand.

Both sides had the same goal: whoever lost their cool first would be the one to make a mistake.

She couldn’t just stand by and watch Adrian walk into a trap.

"I can handle these kinds of dirty tricks myself."

Mia Kane reassured him.

Using the excuse of making a toast, she walked over and stomped her high heel hard onto William’s shoe, making his brow furrow in pain.

Then, she feigned a stumble, and the wine in her glass spilled all over William.

"Oh, my! I’m so sorry... It was an accident..."

Mia Kane covered her lips, putting on an aggrieved look, and ground her heel in even harder.

William didn’t know whether to be angry or to laugh.

"Mr. William, are you alright?"

A diplomat hurried over. William was an honored guest, after all, so they were extremely apologetic that such a thing had happened.

William raised a hand, casually brushing at his stained clothes.

"It’s nothing. I’m sure Mrs. Preston didn’t mean to. I’m afraid I must take my leave now. We’ll meet again."

William remained as suave as ever.

He took a couple of steps, then turned back. When Mia Kane saw him lean in, she thought he was about to say something vulgar again.

But this time, it was...

"Do you really know the man beside you? Officer Preston... he’s far more terrifying and ruthless than you can imagine. Be careful of him. He’s not much better than I am."

With that, William left.

Mia Kane found it ridiculous. A crime boss was actually telling her to be wary of a police officer.

’Does he take me for a fool?’

"What did he say to you?"

Adrian Preston’s gaze had been locked on her the entire time, and he now watched her with a hint of nervousness.

"He said something nonsensical. He told me to be wary of you, that you’re terrifying and not much better than him. It’s hilarious. Does he think I’m that easy to fool?"

Adrian Preston pursed his lips and said nothing.

"Just don’t listen to him."

"Of course I won’t..."

As they were speaking, the music on the dance floor started.

There was also a ballroom dance in the evening.

"Care to dance?"

"I don’t know how."

"That’s a shame. Then let’s just sit and watch."

Mia Kane picked a corner, got some food, and ate as she watched.

Adrian Preston went to the restroom. When he came back, he saw a man walking towards Mia Kane to invite her to dance.

She refused them all with a smile.

In just that short while, two or three men had already approached her.

’If I don’t show up,’ he thought, ’I’m afraid there’ll be an endless stream of these bachelors.’

Adrian Preston stood before her. "Would you be willing to teach me?"

"Of course! Just follow my lead. I step forward, you step back. It’s not difficult..."

Mia Kane’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t danced in a very long time. The last time was for Chase Lockwood’s birthday, when she had meticulously learned a dance to perform for him.

After she finished dancing, Chase Lockwood held her for a long, long time.

’Chase Lockwood must have felt something at that moment, too. But he loved Vivian Lynch more, so he held himself back.’

’Now, I suppose I should thank him for the ’courtesy’ of not sleeping with me.’

Mia Kane pulled Adrian Preston onto the dance floor. Adrian was skilled with blades and firearms, but here, his limbs were stiff and his whole body was uncoordinated, as if his arms and legs didn’t belong to him.

Mia Kane was an excellent teacher, patiently and tirelessly instructing him.

He stepped on her feet several times, his face filled with apology.

"It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt. You’re doing great and learning very quickly. We don’t have to do anything complicated, just this simple forward-and-back step. Just follow the beat of the music."

Mia Kane soothed him in a gentle voice, praising him for doing so well already.

Her warm words reached his ears, and the anxiety in Adrian Preston’s heart was smoothed away.

His movements grew steadier as he learned to find the rhythm.

He made far fewer mistakes, and he gradually fell in step with her, no longer treading on her feet.

After the simple dance ended, there was a surprise special event.

"Please, everyone put on an identical mask. Men and women, please separate. Now, find your dance partner as quickly as you can and form a pair. Let’s see if you can find each other!"

Mia Kane found this event quite interesting. Most of the people who came up to dance were already involved in some sort of flirtation.

This mixer was more like a large-scale matchmaking event.

Mia Kane put on the mask.

Soon the stage lights brightened again, and the crowd began to stir.

"Miss, may I have this dance?"

Several tall, masked men were already standing before her.

’None of them feel like Adrian,’ Mia thought. ’They don’t have his reassuring presence.’

Everyone quickly found a partner, but Mia Kane couldn’t see any sign of Adrian Preston.

Just then, her phone rang.

"Come to the backyard."

Mia Kane immediately went to the backyard. There, under the bright moonlight, a man in a tuxedo and a black mask stood by the pool like a mysterious prince out of a fairy tale.

He extended his hand toward her.

A silver gleam shone from his palm.

Mia Kane lifted her skirt hem and walked over. The closer she got, the faster her heart beat, until it was nearly pounding out of her throat.

’She didn’t know why she was so nervous. Perhaps it was because the scene was so exquisitely romantic that she was afraid to break the spell.’

Adrian Preston took her hand and, with a gentle tug, pulled her soft form into his embrace.

His large hand clasped her slender waist and suddenly lifted her upwards.

Her feet left the ground, causing her to let out a cry of surprise.

But the next second, she landed on his shoes, and he led her in a graceful dance.

Mia Kane pressed close to his warm body, her own stiff posture gradually relaxing as she moved to his rhythm.

The pool water shimmered.

The moon was as bright as a silver plate.

He led her in a dance, her skirt swirling like the fluttering wings of a butterfly taking flight.

Even their shadows on the ground were beautiful.

At that moment, upstairs, William took a sip of red wine.

He leaned against the windowsill, the scarlet wine reflecting a strange light.

He curled his lips. "How very interesting."

’A woman Adrian Preston finds interesting... I find her interesting too. Besides, Mia Kane is an alluring woman in her own right. Who wouldn’t be captivated?’

’Last time, she put herself in harm’s way for Chase Lockwood.’

’And now, so quickly, she’s in Adrian Preston’s arms.’

’So when will she fall into *my* arms? I’m almost looking forward to it.’

When the mixer ended, Mia Kane was exhausted. The whole evening had been on a knife’s edge.

After she returned home, she fell into bed and slept. The next day, something was unexpectedly delivered to her house, sent by William’s people.

It was an exquisite gift box. She’d half-expected a dead rat or a bloody, severed finger, but when she opened it, she found a gorgeous and very expensive gown.

A card was left with it: "I hope that one day, you can wear this for me, so I can take it off with my own hands."

Mia Kane was instantly disgusted. ’Where does this man get his nerve?’

"Throw this far away... wait, list it for sale online, then donate the money to a charity that subsidizes military families."

Mia Kane changed her mind.

In the morning, she went to her studio to handle some business.

With the contracts from Adrian Preston, her studio at least wouldn’t go bankrupt.

Unexpectedly, Rosalyn Shield suddenly knocked on the door.

"Boss, there’s someone here to see you. I think it’s Eldest Young Master Lockwood."

Mia Kane froze. ’Why would Chase Lockwood be looking for me?’

She went out to see Chase Lockwood. She hadn’t seen him for just a few days, but he looked much more haggard and somewhat dejected.

A rich young master like him, with his superior build and features, possessed an indescribable handsomeness even in his dejected state.

Chase Lockwood seemed to have a more gloomy aura about him.

"What is it?"

"Mia Kane, let’s get married."

Chase Lockwood looked at her earnestly, enunciating each word.

A violent tremor ran through Mia Kane’s heart.