At that moment, a deathly silence fell over the private room.

The music stopped, the chatter died down, and everyone stared wide-eyed at the two of them.

Adrian Preston was already on his feet, his face clouded with anger.

"What’s this? Is President Preston stepping up to defend her? So is she Mrs. Preston right now, or Designer Kane? Does this mean that from now on, when Mia Kane takes a job, even if her designs are terrible and the clothes are garbage, no one can say anything? Because she’s Mrs. Preston, and criticizing her means facing retaliation from President Preston?"

"In that case, Mia Kane, why bother being a designer? Just go home, wash your hands of it all, and be the pampered Mrs. Preston."

Chase Lockwood’s words were sharp and cruel.

The man was obsessed with his image; the moment he felt someone was messing with him, he’d turn savage.

Mia Kane let out a long breath and wiped the liquor stains from her clothes.

"When we’re discussing business, I am me, and Adrian Preston is Adrian Preston."

She gave him a look, signaling for him to stay out of it.

’I have to walk this path as a designer. After the divorce, I’ll need my own company to fall back on.’

"If President Lockwood isn’t satisfied, I can make revisions. There’s no need to get so worked up. I’ll head back and get to it, and I won’t disturb your evening any further."

"Mia Kane, you sure learn fast. This way, everyone knows where they stand with you in the future. I’m sure your future studio will be very prosperous."

"Thank you for your kind words, President Lockwood. I’ll be leaving now."

Mia Kane fought back her rage, forcing herself to maintain a perfect smile.

The moment she stepped out the door, she sent Adrian Preston a text telling him not to follow her. Doing so would only give Chase Lockwood the satisfaction.

Adrian Preston was about to get up and follow her when his phone chimed.

His gaze grew complicated as he read Mia Kane’s text.

"Feeling bad for her, President Preston? Well, that’s what happens. When a woman won’t stay put and be a good little housewife, when she insists on running out to work, she should expect to suffer a bit in the professional world."

"Are your methods always this despicable?"

Adrian Preston shot him a cold glare, his voice low and seething with anger. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Me, despicable? Aren’t you the ones who are despicable?"

Sensing the tense atmosphere, the other people in the room began to make their excuses and leave.

The two men had only met today because there were some projects that required negotiation.

After this, the next time they met, they would be mortal enemies in the business world.

"She’s my ex-girlfriend. Even if I’m done with her, you can’t just pick up my scraps. I thought you were just playing around, but you actually married her. Adrian Preston, you really will take anything, won’t you? Don’t you find her filthy?"

"Is it because I haven’t beaten you into submission yet?"

"Go on, then! Kill me if you’ve got the guts! Hit me right here. The moment you do, I’ll call the cops. You used to be a public official. You should know the consequences of assault, right? Is the spotless Officer Preston not concerned about his reputation anymore?"

Hearing this, Adrian Preston clenched his fists tightly.

"Adrian Preston, you better remember this: your wife is the trash I threw away. And you? You’re nothing but a trash can."

"If you really thought of her as trash, you wouldn’t be acting like this now." Adrian grabbed him by the collar but didn’t throw a punch. "Right now, you look like a pathetic clown! Chase Lockwood, no one wronged you. You had her and you didn’t cherish her. You have no one to blame but yourself."

"Let me tell you, she’s not trash. To me, she’s a precious treasure."

Adrian Preston released his collar, and Chase stumbled back, collapsing heavily onto the sofa.

Adrian knew Mia Kane was right.

The first person to leave would lose half their momentum.

But Mia needed someone with her right now.

Adrian flew out the door, moving extremely fast. He called Mia Kane repeatedly, but she never picked up.

He was burning with anxiety, afraid she had already driven off. Just as he was looking around frantically, he suddenly spotted a slender figure.

She was squatting in a corner, feeding a sausage she had bought to a stray cat.

It was as if the incident just now hadn’t affected her at all.

He strode over quickly. Hearing the commotion, the cats scattered in a flash, disappearing into the greenbelt.

"You scared them off."

Mia Kane said irritably, but as she stood up, she was pulled into a tight, warm embrace.

"My clothes are dirty..."

She tried to struggle, but he only held her tighter.

"Why did you come? Didn’t I tell you to hold back? The more worried and anxious you act, the more smug he gets. I can’t believe I never realized what a terrible person he is, such a sore loser..."

"Can we not talk about him?"

Adrian Preston cut her off, sounding as if he couldn’t stand to hear Chase Lockwood’s name.

Mia Kane didn’t know what was wrong with him, so she could only nod obediently.

He just held her like that, chasing away the chill of the night dew that clung to her.

Not far away, Chase Lockwood saw this scene, and it felt like a dagger to his eyes.

The woman who had fawned over him for three years, who had been so clingy and dependent on him—how long had it been? And now she’d found a new love, casting him completely from her mind.

He even started to suspect that her affection during those three years had been fake, that she had only been going through the motions with him.

Now that she had climbed her way up to someone more powerful and noble, she had forgotten him in an instant.

A swelling pressure grew in Chase Lockwood’s chest; he felt utterly miserable.

All he knew was that he had to destroy Mia Kane and destroy Adrian Preston.

’One must not covet a friend’s wife.’ How could Adrian Preston be so shameless and immoral!

Chase Lockwood forced himself to look away and strode off.

Meanwhile, Adrian Preston let her go and draped his jacket over her shoulders.

"Let’s go home."

Mia Kane got in the car. It was a long drive, more than forty minutes, and she fell asleep on the way.

When they arrived, he couldn’t bear to wake her, so he simply lifted her into his arms, princess-style, and carried her to the bedroom.

"Mmm, are we home?"

"Did I wake you?"

"No, it’s about time I woke up anyway. I need to take a shower. My clothes are filthy."

Mia Kane still had liquor stains on her and needed to wash up quickly.

Adrian went to the study to handle some work. A servant brought over a late-night snack, a nourishing supplement meant to aid sleep, and Adrian had a little of it.

Not long after eating, Adrian began to feel a little hot, but he didn’t think much of it.

When he finished his work and returned, he saw Mia Kane, fresh from the shower and dressed in a robe, her hair half-dry.

She was lying on the bed reading a magazine, idly swinging her slender, pale legs and her creamy-white feet.

Her long, ink-black hair was splayed out across her back and the bed, like a beautiful scroll painting.

There was nothing overtly sensual or provocative about the sight, yet he felt a wicked heat surge in his lower abdomen, making him want to take her right then and there.

He often felt such desires, but Adrian never paid them much mind. After all, his self-control was extraordinary; he could endure it.

"You’re back? Go take a shower and get ready for bed. I’m getting sleepy and want to turn off the lights."

She couldn’t sleep with the lights on, so she had to wait for Adrian to finish washing up before she could turn them off and go to bed.

"Okay, I’ll go take a shower."

Even though the sweltering summer weather hadn’t arrived yet, he started taking a cold shower to cool himself down.

He was a normal man. He exercised a lot, had a strong constitution, and was full of vigor. His desires in that department were naturally strong.

But he had always intentionally suppressed them, priding himself on his discipline and asceticism, so he never felt uncomfortable.

The cold shower made him feel a little better, and he went to sleep directly on the sofa.

He wasn’t picky about where he slept; he could even fall asleep on a hard floor.

But tonight, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

It was as if the wicked fire inside him simply wouldn’t be extinguished.

Mia Kane, sleeping soundly, suddenly heard footsteps and subconsciously opened her eyes.

She thought she saw a dark figure go out onto the balcony.

’Is that Adrian?’

’What’s he doing so late at night instead of sleeping?’

She rubbed her eyes and asked in a drowsy, sleepy voice.

"Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

Hearing her soft, sweet voice, Adrian’s heart skipped a beat. It was like a kitten’s paw batting at his heart, an unbearable, ticklish itch.

Tonight, Mia Kane was utterly bewitching. Even though she was no different than usual, he just felt that her every word and every action was pulling at his very soul!