"I’ll have the driver take you somewhere else. I’ve arranged for a housekeeper and a chauffeur for you. Call me if you need anything."

Adrian Preston said faintly.

When Shannon Preston heard this, she was dumbfounded. She never imagined that she would be the one asked to leave.

She always stayed here! But now that her brother had a new sister-in-law, he didn’t dote on her anymore.

She felt incredibly wronged, and tears began to stream down her face.

"Brother, are you kicking me out?"

"I’m doing this to protect you, too. If you keep getting hurt, it means you and your sister-in-law’s horoscopes clash. I’m doing this for your own good."

"I..."

Shannon Preston deflated. "Our horoscopes don’t clash. I was just careless. I’ll be more careful from now on."

Her brother cared about her health more than anything. ’I thought I could take Mia Kane down, but it ended up backfiring on me.’

She had no choice but to back down.

"Then apologize to your sister-in-law. You got hurt, and you scared her."

"Me, apologize to her? I’m the one who got hurt!" Shannon Preston found it unacceptable. Adrian Preston had always protected her unconditionally, but now he was making her apologize to Mia Kane!

"Then move out. You won’t get hurt that way." Adrian Preston’s attitude was firm, his voice cold and leaving no room for negotiation.

"I don’t want to... Sister-in-law, I’m sorry."

She apologized with extreme reluctance, her eyes red.

"It’s fine. I don’t hold grudges against children."

Mia Kane was being magnanimous.

"Hmph."

Shannon Preston angrily snatched her suitcase and took it back upstairs.

"Go take a shower so you don’t catch a cold."

His clothes were soaked through. The workout clothes he was wearing were quite form-fitting, and she now noticed Adrian Preston’s perfect abs and pecs.

Flushed with blood from the exercise, they looked even fuller now, the muscle definition incredibly alluring.

So alluring she wished she could reach out and touch them.

’The moment the thought occurred to her, she felt a little embarrassed.’

"I’ll go upstairs and shower then."

Adrian Preston took a shower but realized he’d forgotten to grab a change of clothes. Thinking no one was outside, he casually wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out.

He entered the walk-in closet, not expecting to bump right into someone.

The towel immediately fell off.

"Sorry about that."

Mia Kane instinctively crouched down to help him pick up the towel. The moment she looked up, she was hit with a visual overload.

She stared, forgetting to blink. Adrian Preston’s ears turned crimson as he slapped a hand over her eyes and said fiercely, "Don’t look!"

"Alright, alright. If you say don’t look, I won’t look."

She mumbled, her eyelashes fluttering restlessly and tickling his palm.

Adrian Preston quickly re-wrapped the towel around himself. Mia Kane hadn’t expected him to have a bigger reaction than her. ’He seems so innocent and easy to tease.’

It was a complete mismatch with his muscles, which radiated sex appeal.

"Adrian Preston, have you ever been in a relationship?"

"No."

"Not even the kind that didn’t go anywhere? No talking stage?"

"No."

"So you’ve never been with a woman? What have you been doing all these years when you have... needs?"

Mia Kane’s questions grew bolder and bolder.

Adrian Preston glared at her. "Why are you asking that? How can you bring yourself to ask such a crude question?"

"What’s so crude about it? Sex education is pretty common now. We’re a married couple, which is a very intimate relationship. What’s wrong with asking? You’ve never had someone... help you out? Don’t tell me... you’ve relied entirely on your own two hands..."

Mia Kane was genuinely surprised.

From what she knew, Chase Lockwood had been a total playboy before meeting Vivian, sleeping with anyone and everyone. But after getting together with Vivian Lynch, he’d settled down and remained completely faithful.

’Men are driven by their appetites. Adrian Preston is a big guy, and *that thing* of his looks pretty formidable, too. Logically, he should have a ton of pent-up energy with no outlet.’

’He should need a woman even more. Could he really have been taking care of it all by himself?’

A flash of shock crossed Adrian Preston’s eyes. He seemed ashamed to even discuss it, as if the topic sullied his ears.

"So, does that mean I’m the first?"

She was utterly astonished.

’Am I the first woman to... help him with his needs?’

"Mia Kane!"

The man’s voice had changed, and Mia Kane realized she had gone too far.

"Ahem, I... I was just curious..."

"You know what they say. Curiosity killed the cat."

The man strode closer, cornering her against a counter.

It was a glass display case, filled with expensive watches and jewelry.

Her back was cold against the glass, and her heart felt cold, too.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Help me."

Adrian Preston pressed close to her ear, his voice low and strained as he suppressed his desire.

That one phrase, like a puppy crying for help, made Mia Kane’s heart tremble. She was instantly disarmed and surrendered completely.

Who could resist such an adorable contrast?

On the outside, Adrian Preston seemed fearless—cold, proud, and indomitable. But in front of her, he could also look wronged and pitiful.

She didn’t respond, simply allowing him to take a silk scarf and tie it over her eyes.

Adrian Preston looked down at the exquisite woman before him. She was like his very own Barbie doll.

Her crimson lips were slightly parted, like ripe cherries waiting to be picked.

He couldn’t resist. He leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss.

The fresh scent of sea salt mouthwash filled his mouth.

He clumsily but fervently pried her lips open, slowly exploring inside as she was forced into the entanglement.

He seemed to be searching for carnal pleasure, tasting her bit by bit as if stealing a taste of forbidden fruit.

He drank in the sweetness of her mouth.

It left her breathless, her face flushing red from lack of oxygen.

A sound that didn’t seem her own, a soft, melodious moan, involuntarily escaped her throat.

Time passed, second by second. Finally, it was over.

Adrian Preston quickly backed away, unwilling to dirty her.

She only heard his sigh of satisfaction from a distance.

After a while, Adrian Preston finished cleaning up and came over. He carefully wiped her hands with a wet wipe, and, still not feeling assured, disinfected them as well.

"Is all that really necessary?"

"Yes."

Adrian Preston said with great seriousness, as if he were disgusted with himself.

He lifted her off the display case. The blindfold was finally removed, and her vision returned. She saw the blush that still hadn’t faded from the tips of his ears.

’Why is he acting even shyer than me? It’s as if I’m the one who forced myself on him and did something unspeakable.’

"Adrian Preston, since you have physical needs too, and your wife—me—is pretty as a picture with a hot body, have you never thought about taking things a step further with me...?"

Her damn curiosity had flared up again.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the air seemed to freeze. The look Adrian Preston gave her was terrifying, like she was being targeted by a wild beast.