Mia Kane froze.

Shannon Preston wasn’t biologically a Preston, just an adopted daughter? ’And no one on the outside knew. They must have kept it a very strict secret.’

Shannon Preston gazed obsessively at the picture frame, muttering to herself. Her love for Adrian Preston was clearly bone-deep.

’No wonder she’d felt the siblings’ relationship was a little too close, that something was off.’

Mia stood rooted to the spot. She suddenly felt she shouldn’t be here—it was as if she’d accidentally uncovered something huge.

She stumbled away, rushing back to the studio and shutting herself in her office.

’No wonder Shannon dislikes me so much. She sees me as a love rival.’

’And Adrian?’

’Does he love Shannon too, but rejects her because he can’t accept it due to societal norms?’

’Or is it something else entirely?’

She recalled the gentle tone he used when he was on the phone with Shannon.

He’d never spoken to her that way. He’d never spoken to *anyone* that way.

He doted on Shannon, and he’d known from the very beginning that they weren’t blood-related. ’Could he really not have developed feelings he shouldn’t have?’

Mia’s mind was a mess. She desperately wanted to get to the bottom of this.

She recalled that Owen had grown up with Adrian; he was bound to know something.

"You’re asking if Shannon and Adrian are close? Of course they are! He’s got a total sister complex—he’d do anything she asks. I still remember when we were kids, someone made his sister cry. You should have seen him. He looked like he was ready to kill."

"Oh, and I just remembered something else. Adrian was kidnapped once. He was seven at the time, and his sister was only three. Adrian managed to escape, but his sister was still being held by the kidnappers."

"We thought for sure she was a goner, but then Adrian went back and rescued her. I bet that’s when he first got the idea to become a cop."

When Mia heard this, her heart sank.

But she wasn’t ready to give up. Since she couldn’t get any more information out of Owen, she thought of Chase Lockwood.

Maybe he knew more.

She used concern for Vivian’s condition as an excuse to visit.

"Vivian just fell asleep. She’s been terrified, and with all the nasty rumors spreading around, she’s cried herself unconscious several times. I just barely managed to get her to sleep. I’m so afraid she won’t be able to handle it."

"I’m sure she’ll be all right." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Mia offered a hasty platitude before cutting to the chase.

"Do you know Shannon Preston well?"

"Why the sudden question?"

"Just curious. She seems really clingy with Adrian. They’re incredibly close, almost unnaturally so."

"Shannon was practically raised by Adrian. Their parents didn’t pay much attention to the kids. In fact... when Shannon got her first period, it was Adrian who taught her how to use a sanitary pad."

"How do you know that?"

Mia was surprised, but what she felt more than anything was a bitter pang in her heart.

Adrian, personally teaching her how to use a pad... It was an unimaginable level of intimacy.

"After Vivian was sent abroad, I went through a bit of a wild phase. Shannon was going through her rebellious years at the time and asked me out. I wasn’t one to care about much back then, so I agreed. But I only ever saw her as a little sister; nothing ever happened between us. Shannon really cares about her brother, so she told me a lot about the two of them. To be honest, I’m pretty jealous of families with two kids. It’s nice to have a companion. Being an only child is too lonely."

"I remember Adrian got furious. He got into a huge fight with me and locked Shannon up. Their relationship was really strained after that, and eventually, Adrian left in a huff to become a police officer. Because of the special nature of his unit, he didn’t contact his family for several years. It drove Shannon crazy; she was constantly asking me to find out where he was."

"Their bond as brother and sister is really deep, huh."

"Did Shannon find out about you and Adrian and give you a hard time? Mia, you should end it. Adrian is far more dangerous than you imagine."

"Thanks for the concern. I’ll handle it."

Mia left Lockwood Manor feeling light-headed and unsteady on her feet.

She didn’t know why her chest felt so tight, like a heavy weight was pressing down on it.

She let out a shaky breath, forcing herself to calm down.

’Because Adrian has saved me so many times, he’s like a god to me. I can’t help but admire and revere him, holding him in the highest esteem.’

’It even led me to learn about the hardships that police officers and soldiers face.’

’That’s why I couldn’t stop myself from developing feelings for Adrian. Even though I know men can’t be trusted, it still hurts to learn that he might have forbidden feelings for Shannon.’

But the feeling only lasted for a moment before she composed herself.

’It’s a good thing I found out early. If I’d only learned the truth after I was in too deep, wouldn’t I just be repeating the same mistakes all over again?’

’Maybe this is a sign from the heavens, a warning: forget men, make money.’

At that thought, she immediately returned to the studio and threw herself into her work.

Seeing her so fired up, Owen was a little curious.

"What’s with the sudden burst of energy?"

"I’ve realized that the only thing you can really count on is cash in hand. I want to improve our studio’s promotional materials and start actively pursuing clients. We can’t be so passive anymore."

"I want to make tons and tons of money, then just live off the interest from the bank. When I’m older, I won’t have to deal with clients anymore. I’ll just live happily and do whatever I want."

Just thinking about that kind of life made Mia happy.

Hearing this, Owen ruffled her hair. "What about your boyfriend, then?"

"We’ll break up sooner or later. It’s nothing serious."

Mia said without a second thought.

Just then, Rosalyn Shield’s voice came from the other side of the door.

"Excuse me, sir, do you have an appointment?"

Mia looked toward the entrance. She couldn’t see clearly through the frosted glass door, but the silhouette looked vaguely familiar.

"I’m here to see Designer Sinclair about an order."

That voice...

Mia froze. ’Is that Adrian?’

Mia and Owen hurried out and saw Adrian Preston.

They hadn’t hired anyone else yet, so Rosalyn was pulling double duty as both receptionist and designer. It was understandable that she couldn’t greet Adrian, as she couldn’t be in two places at once.

Still, she was surprised. Why was Adrian here?

"Why are you here?"

Owen was just as surprised.

"Didn’t you ask me to help you get some orders? So, here I am."

"You could have just called! You didn’t have to come all the way here. Come on, let’s go to my office for some tea. Mia, you come too."

"Owen, actually, he and I..."

Mia wanted to take this chance to confess that Adrian was the boyfriend she’d been talking about.

But Adrian cut her off, his voice chillingly indifferent.

"This is a conversation between old friends. We shouldn’t involve an outsider. She doesn’t belong here. I don’t know her very well."

When Mia heard that, her mind went completely blank. She could only stare at him, stunned.

’What does he mean... *don’t know her very well*?’