"It’s for Shannon."

He pursed his lips and said.

Mia Kane froze, feeling a bit awkward. ’So I was just getting ahead of myself.’

"Then... then are there any requirements?"

"Just go with your own aesthetic judgment. I want to have it ready for her so she can wear it when she gets married. She’s about your height and has a similar build, so you can just use yourself as a reference."

"Alright, I’ll see what I can do. But a wedding dress is intricate work; it will take a long time."

"There’s no rush."

After dinner, the two of them went back. The next day, as soon as Mia Kane arrived at the design studio, she learned that Rosalyn Shield had secured a new order.

However, the client wanted to meet the designer and asked that she bring a portfolio so they could get a feel for her work.

"Then let’s have Senior Sinclair go."

"But the client is ordering clothes for his wife. I think it’s more appropriate for you to go, Boss."

Hearing this, Mia Kane nodded. ’She has a point. It would be better if I went.’

The client scheduled the meeting for eight o’clock that evening. Since she believed it was a female client, Mia Kane didn’t have her guard up and went with Rosalyn Shield.

The car had just arrived, and as they were about to get out, Rosalyn Shield suddenly clutched her stomach, her face pale.

"What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know if I ate something bad, but my stomach really hurts."

"Then we need to get you to a hospital. I’ll take you."

"I... I’ll just take a taxi myself. The studio worked so hard to get this order. If it gets delayed because of me, I’ll feel terrible."

"You’re obviously more important. We can just reschedule. If that doesn’t work, then so be it."

"Boss..." Rosalyn Shield looked at her, her eyes glistening with what looked like tears of gratitude.

"How about this? I’ll go to the hospital first, and you can come over after you finish the meeting quickly. It’s probably just a bout of acute gastroenteritis, nothing serious. The contract is more important. If we land this design, it will really put the studio on the map."

"Are you sure you’ll be okay?"

Rosalyn Shield insisted again and again that she would be fine, so Mia Kane called a cab for her and gave her all the spare cash she had in her purse.

"Let me know what the doctor says."

"Okay, and you be careful too."

Mia Kane watched Rosalyn Shield’s car drive away before heading into the clubhouse.

But when she opened the door to the private room, she was shocked to see a portly man with a fat head and big ears. The buttons on his shirt were strained over his belly, looking like they were about to burst.

"I’m sorry, I must have the wrong room."

Mia Kane quickly tried to leave, but the man got up, came toward her, and grabbed her hand.

"You’re not in the wrong place. This is it. I’m the one who’s here to order clothes for my wife."

"Oh, so you’re Mr. Chaucer. I thought I was supposed to be meeting with your wife? Why trouble yourself to come in person?"

Mia Kane felt a sense of repulsion and discreetly pulled her hand back.

"Well, she’s too busy, isn’t she? So I came instead. It’s all the same if I’m the one you liaise with. I know all her requirements. Did you bring your portfolio?"

Mia Kane handed it to him, and Mr. Chaucer ordered some wine.

’There’s no way I’m drinking that wine.’

But then she remembered the order was worth two million. After a moment’s thought, she decided to stay.

"Your designs are very much to my wife’s taste. I like this draft, but it still needs a bit of polishing. You see, my wife’s waist is exceptionally thin, just like yours, Miss Kane..."

As he said this, Mr. Chaucer actually reached out and pinched Mia Kane’s slender waist.

Like a startled rabbit, Mia Kane immediately shot to her feet and stared at him warily.

"Mr. Chaucer, what are you doing?"

"Don’t be nervous, I was just getting a feel. You’re very much to my taste, Miss Kane. I’ll raise the price—five million for the set!"

When Mia Kane heard that number, she gritted her teeth and endured it.

"Thank you for your generous offer, Mr. Chaucer."

"You brought your tools, didn’t you? Why don’t you take my measurements and make a custom set for me?"

"Our studio has a designer who specializes in menswear. I can introduce you to him later and even offer a discount."

"I don’t want anyone else. I want you to design it for me. Come on, measure me. Measure me thoroughly."

"Mr. Chaucer, I think it’s best we do this next time. We can discuss it further when your wife comes to see me. I have other things to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now."

The lecherous look on Mr. Chaucer’s face was utterly disgusting, and his wandering hands kept "accidentally" groping her.

Anger flared in Mia Kane. She grabbed her things and was about to leave, but just as she stood up, her vision went black and she felt dizzy.

’What’s going on? I didn’t drink any of his wine.’

Mia Kane looked in shock at the wine glass in front of her. She hadn’t touched a drop.

"The wine is fine. The problem is the lemonade. Haven’t you figured it out yet?"

Mr. Chaucer chuckled sinisterly.

Mia Kane’s heart trembled. It was the lemonade a waiter had brought over later. She had assumed it was safe and had taken a few sips.

She instantly felt light-headed, and her body collapsed heavily onto the sofa.

Mr. Chaucer quickly lunged, his two-hundred-plus pounds of flesh pressing down on Mia Kane, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Let go of me..."

Mia Kane struggled relentlessly, but the drug had made her limbs weak.

She didn’t feel any sense of arousal. ’It must not be an aphrodisiac, just a knockout drug meant to make me powerless to resist.’

"You’re so beautiful. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to send you to heaven."

"No... Don’t... Let me go! Help! Adrian Preston... save me..."

She called out weakly.

RRRRIP—

Her clothes were ruthlessly torn open, her skin exposed to the cold air.

His wandering hand roamed over her body, trying to rip off her pants.

Mia Kane kept her wits about her, defending herself with everything she had.

Her resistance, however, infuriated Mr. Chaucer.

He hadn’t expected Mia Kane to be so stubborn. ’Maybe the dose wasn’t strong enough,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, she’d be completely powerless by now.’

He raised his hand and slapped her.

"Behave yourself! Or I’ll make you suffer."

He said viciously.

The slap made Mia Kane see stars, and her ears rang.

But she still didn’t give up. Remembering what Adrian Preston had taught her, she gathered all her strength and viciously kicked upward.

Mr. Chaucer gasped in pain, rolling off her and onto the floor with a dull thud.

He howled in agony, writhing on the ground.

Mia Kane struggled to her feet and staggered to the door, fumbling to open it and escape.

But just as she leaned out, Mr. Chaucer grabbed her and yanked her back inside.

"You bitch!"

Mia Kane was thrown hard onto the floor. Her head slammed against the coffee table, the pain so intense it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"Fuck! You tried to end my family line! If you break such a precious treasure, who’s going to pleasure you? I specialize in taming feisty little things like you. Soon enough, you’ll be begging me for it."

Mia Kane curled into a ball on the floor. She couldn’t tell if it was the drug that made her weak, or the pain from the fall and the blow to her head that was draining her strength.

Mr. Chaucer brutally ripped at her clothes and pulled her hair.

CLICK. Impatiently, he began to take off his own clothes, his eyes glowing with a green, predatory light. He stared at her with a vile, disgusting, and excited expression.

She truly had no strength left to stop him...

’Who can save me now?’

’I don’t want to go through something so terrifying again! I don’t want to be ruined a second time!’

’Who—who can save me?’

Just as Mia Kane sank into utter despair, the door was suddenly kicked open.

BANG! The sound struck her very soul.