Ultimately, Chase Lockwood simply couldn’t accept that she had withdrawn her heart so quickly, that she was now treating him as if he didn’t exist.

Mia Kane was certain that in his heart, she could never compare to Vivian Lynch. But what one possesses and what one cannot are two entirely different matters.

Chase Lockwood was acting this way purely because of his bruised ego; he was resentful and couldn’t accept the new reality.

Mia Kane had a clear-eyed view of their dynamic. If she ever went back to him, Chase Lockwood would just see her as cheap and easy again, and quickly grow bored.

She calmly met Chase Lockwood’s crimson, almond-shaped eyes and pried his fingers away, one by one. Inside, she felt an immense satisfaction.

But she couldn’t say that out loud.

In Chase Lockwood’s eyes, hate was just like love—it meant the person held weight in your heart. You only hated someone who mattered.

Indifference—neither loving nor hating him—would cause him the most pain.

So even if she did hate and resent him, she had to appear perfectly calm right now.

"Mr. Lockwood, you’ve misunderstood. I don’t love you anymore. I hope you and Vivian Lynch will live a good life together. Don’t throw away the peaceful life you have to go looking for trouble. It won’t do you any good."

"If you don’t love me, then you must hate me."

"No, I don’t hate you, either."

She looked at him with indifference.

Hearing this, Chase Lockwood’s fists clenched tightly.

Mia Kane had no idea what he was thinking at that moment.

Suddenly, he scoffed and gave her a flippant look. "How are things between you and Adrian Preston? Are you about to be kicked out of the Preston Family?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but even if Adrian misunderstood, he has no intention of divorcing me. I am still Mrs. Preston!"

"How is that possible?"

Chase Lockwood finally lost his composure, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"I slept with you, and Adrian Preston doesn’t care?"

"That’s impossible! No man would accept his wife cheating on him! That’s impossible..."

Chase Lockwood roared in a low voice.

Outside the door, Vivian Lynch had returned. She had left her bag in the hospital room.

As she stood at the entrance, she suddenly overheard their exchange and froze, utterly stunned.

Through the crack in the door, she saw Mia Kane standing inside.

In that instant, her breath hitched.

Inside the room—

"You’ve simply underestimated the bond between me and Adrian Preston!"

"What trick did you use? Did you cast a spell on him? Did you give him some kind of love potion? How is this possible..."

Chase Lockwood couldn’t believe anyone’s love could be so magnanimous.

"Don’t you also not mind that Vivian Lynch was married before?"

"That’s different! Cheating during a marriage is not the same thing!"

Chase Lockwood was agitated.

"Chase Lockwood, your tactics are pathetic. I don’t want to discuss this with you right now. If you have no feedback on the design sketches, I’ll proceed with making the sample. Please send me Vivian Lynch’s measurements as soon as possible. If your wedding gets delayed, it’s not my problem!"

These words dealt a second crushing blow to Vivian Lynch, who was still at the door.

’Her wedding dress was being designed by Mia Kane? What on earth is Chase Lockwood thinking?’

She trembled all over, unsure if it was with anger at Mia Kane or at Chase Lockwood.

She only knew that she couldn’t confront Chase Lockwood directly. ’But that bitch Mia Kane...’

Seeing that Chase Lockwood was in no state to give any constructive feedback, Mia Kane simply turned and left.

’All that matters is that I finish the design and he pays me.’

She was about to head downstairs and leave when Vivian Lynch stepped out from around the corner.

The other woman’s face was grim, her eyes full of venom. Mia Kane immediately guessed what had happened.

"We need to talk."

"All right."

Mia Kane had a clear conscience; she had nothing to fear.

Vivian Lynch had laughed at her for three years. Now it was her turn to laugh at Vivian Lynch.

The two went to the coffee shop downstairs in the hospital.

"Stay away from Chase Lockwood."

Vivian Lynch’s tone was threatening.

Mia Kane smiled and took a leisurely sip of her coffee.

"Let’s get something straight. I’m not the one clinging to Chase Lockwood. He’s the one clinging to me like a mad dog."

Hearing this, Vivian Lynch felt a small sense of relief. She was secretly clutching a recording pen.

"Mia Kane, don’t be so harsh! You and Chase were together for three years, after all!"

Vivian Lynch chided her with false sincerity.

"For those three years, he went around telling everyone I was his devoted lapdog. Was he being so kind with his words then?"

"It’s my fault that Chase toyed with your feelings. I sincerely apologize. Please, forgive him. As for the custom wedding dress, I don’t need it anymore, but I’ll still pay you for it."

"You’re the one who said it. Couldn’t be happier. Transfer the final payment, draw up an agreement, and have it notarized by a lawyer."

"Mia Kane... tell me the truth. Are you doing all this to get back at me? To get Chase Lockwood’s attention? Are you trying to steal him away from me?"

"Even if you gift-wrapped him and handed him to me, I wouldn’t want him! And you... you’re quite the actress, so full of it. I can’t believe you can stomach a man like that."

"You... Mia Kane, your words are too foul!"

"My words are foul? Fine, I’ll stop talking."

Mia Kane smiled, shut her mouth, then picked up the coffee in front of her and splashed it directly in Vivian Lynch’s face.

Vivian Lynch cried out in shock. Thankfully, the coffee wasn’t scalding hot, or her face would have been ruined.

"Mia Kane, what are you doing...?"

Vivian Lynch desperately wanted to slap her, but to maintain her image, she held back.

"I can do much worse. Want to test me?"

Tired of wasting her breath on her, Mia Kane stood up and left.

"Leash your dog. Don’t let him run wild in front of me again."

"You..."

Mia Kane swept out. The look of grievance on Vivian Lynch’s face vanished, replaced by a smug smile.

’Once Chase Lockwood hears this recording,’ she thought, ’he’ll hate her to the bone.’

’This time, he’ll see Mia Kane for who she really is.’

Vivian Lynch didn’t go straight back to complain and hand the recording pen over to Chase Lockwood.

Instead, she returned to the mansion in tears, making sure all the servants saw her coffee-stained clothes and red-rimmed eyes.

Someone immediately reported this to Chase Lockwood.

Chase Lockwood still doted on Vivian Lynch; he hadn’t forgotten who the woman he loved most truly was.

When Vivian Lynch came to see him, she had composed herself, with no trace of tears.

The more she tried to hide it, the more curious Chase Lockwood became. He started to probe indirectly, but Vivian Lynch remained tight-lipped.

But it wasn’t hard to investigate. Chase Lockwood soon learned from his secretary that Vivian Lynch had just met with Mia Kane and had a full cup of coffee thrown on her.

Chase Lockwood also knew she had been busy with business lately and had a habit of carrying a recording pen to conveniently record verbal agreements. As a newcomer in her field, she always had to learn and observe, and the recorder was a useful tool for remembering things.

So, Chase Lockwood had a servant find her recording pen, and he soon learned the content of their conversation.

When Vivian Lynch discovered the recording pen was missing, she was secretly pleased. Everything was going according to her plan.

After listening to the recording, Chase Lockwood’s expression turned incredibly dark.

Mia Kane didn’t know about the recording pen.

Therefore, those words weren’t carefully considered; they were what she truly thought at that moment.

She had called him a mad dog.

Called him a piece of trash!

She really didn’t love him anymore!