"If you want a divorce, it’ll be over my dead body."

Adrian Preston’s voice was hoarse, each word spoken with deliberate weight.

Mia Kane’s heart skipped a beat. ’Adrian Preston doesn’t want to divorce me?’

"Mia Kane, you came when you wanted to, and now you want to leave just like that? What do you take me for? If I divorce you at a time like this, what kind of person would that make me? Am I supposed to let you fight this battle alone? Let you face that scumbag and that bitch all by yourself?"

"Don’t you realize that if you leave the Preston Family, leave my protection, Chase Lockwood and Vivian Lynch could destroy you in a heartbeat? Do you think you’d even get the chance to hold a press conference?"

Adrian Preston’s voice was hoarse, tinged with anger.

Mia Kane’s heart sank. Without Adrian Preston, she stood no chance of fighting them.

She lowered her gaze, her entire demeanor crestfallen.

"So what now? Just let them destroy me?"

"I won’t let that happen."

"I... I’m not going to die. If I died, wouldn’t that be giving them exactly what they want? I’ll try. If I can’t win, then forget it. I’ll leave Argent, find somewhere no one knows me. Can’t I just hide?"

she said, her voice choked with sobs.

Seeing her reddened eyes, Adrian Preston’s heart clenched.

He remembered when he’d suggested changing nursing homes, but Mia Kane had refused. She felt she hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she hide? If she hid this time, would she have to hide for the rest of her life?

She was always so strong-willed, always ready to face a challenge head-on.

But this time, she had already admitted defeat in her heart.

She didn’t want to drag him down, and she knew she couldn’t win against Chase Lockwood on her own.

She wanted to run... to leave this place...

Adrian Preston held her tightly.

"You don’t have to hide."

His large hand stroked her head again and again, soothing her.

"You still have me, Mia Kane. But you need to think this through. Once you go public, there’s no turning back. You’ll be putting yourself in the eye of the storm. Countless people will talk about you, judge you. Have you—have you really thought this through?"

"Is it really worth it to sacrifice yourself just to make them pay?"

"I..."

Mia Kane hesitated for a moment, then looked at him with renewed determination. "It’s worth it. If I don’t tell my side of the story, who knows how Vivian Lynch will twist it? She wants to lord her supposed morality over me, but she can’t! She’s banking on the fact that I won’t be willing to air my dirty laundry and admit what happened, which would let her keep spreading rumors, humiliating me, and trampling all over me."

"I can’t let her distort the truth so brazenly. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. What I want is justice—the justice I’m owed!"

They could have coexisted peacefully, but Vivian Lynch just had to provoke her. Well, now she was ready to go all out.

If it came down to it, she would tear open her own wounds and let everyone talk.

Besides, enough people already found out tonight. News like this travels fast. Rather than let everyone speculate maliciously without knowing the truth, it was better to tell the story herself and prove her innocence.

She had been innocent from start to finish.

And she refused to believe she was guilty for submitting to a kidnapper just to stay alive.

The guilty ones were Chase Lockwood and Vivian Lynch—morally bankrupt and rotten to the core!

"Mia Kane..." Adrian Preston rested his forehead against hers. His voice was hoarse as he whispered something almost inaudible. "You’re still the same..."

"What did you say?"

"Just move forward. I’ll be right behind you, protecting you."

"But I’ll drag you down with me."

"We’re husband and wife. Don’t say that."

"But..."

"No ’buts.’ If you still want to win, don’t even think about a divorce. Otherwise, you’ll never have a chance."

Hearing this, Mia Kane bit her lip. She wanted to refuse, but in the end, she selfishly remained silent.

Right now, she needed Adrian Preston’s help more than ever.

With him, the press conference could go on.

With him, she could deliver a resounding slap to Vivian Lynch’s face.

Vivian had tried to ruin her reputation, so Mia was going to make her confess in front of everyone that she was a willing homewrecker and had wronged her.

That night, Mia Kane found it hard to sleep. She stayed up organizing the evidence of Chase Lockwood’s infidelity.

Shayla Quinn had investigated some of it, but her findings weren’t comprehensive. She still needed Adrian Preston to step in.

She worked until her vision blurred and she started to feel hungry.

She hadn’t eaten dinner and had been busy until now, so her stomach was starting to feel uncomfortable.

She went downstairs to find something to eat, not expecting anyone to still be up so late.

It was Adrian Preston and Shannon Preston, talking.

Shannon Preston hadn’t attended the wedding today. A close friend of hers had also gotten married, and she had gone to be a bridesmaid.

Shannon Preston was only just getting back.

"Brother, do you have any idea? Everyone is talking about how Sister-in-law was assaulted. Do you know how humiliating this is? During the second half of the wedding reception, when we were about to go out, my best friend pulled me aside and told me I should go home first, so I wouldn’t get dragged into it."

"Do you know the way those people were looking at me? It seriously made me want to throw up! What was she thinking, insisting on dragging the Preston Family into this pit of fire?"

"Your sister-in-law did nothing wrong. It was Vivian Lynch who was being aggressive."

"What did Vivi do wrong? Was she lying? Isn’t it the truth? This was a time bomb, and it was bound to go off eventually. Did you think no one would find out if they just dug a little? It’s better that it blew up now, so you can realize how serious this is and how much damage it will do to the Preston Family’s reputation."

"Brother, just divorce her. The Preston Family’s name is going to be dragged through the mud."

Shannon Preston pleaded.

"Don’t you ever say things like that in front of her again. If you feel so ashamed, then go abroad where no one will gossip. Right now, I am not getting a divorce. She can’t get through this alone."

"Then what about the Preston Family? People will laugh at you!"

"I still can’t abandon her. She’s my wife now. Anyone who humiliates her is humiliating the Preston Family’s name. If we get a divorce at a time like this, the Preston Family will still be criticized."

"Brother... Fine, forget it. I’m done talking. Just let her drag you down to your ruin."

Furious, Shannon Preston grabbed her bag and stormed upstairs.

Mia Kane didn’t have time to hide and ran right into her.

Shannon Preston shot her an incredibly hostile look and deliberately slammed into her as she passed.

Caught completely off guard, Mia Kane fell to the ground.

Hearing the commotion, Adrian Preston rushed over and helped her up.

"Shannon has such a temper. Are you okay?"

Mia Kane shook her head, her face pale.

"She’s not wrong. I have dragged down the Preston Family, and I’ve dragged you down. Does Grandpa know about this? He’s getting on in years, and his heart isn’t strong. Do you think the old man will..."

"Grandpa already knows."

Mia Kane’s face grew even paler.

’Just as I thought. It can’t be hidden anymore.’

Her body swayed, and Adrian Preston, his heart aching at the sight, wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Grandpa just called me, actually. He told me to protect you and not to let ’a couple of dogs’ bully my wife, or else the Prestons would be completely useless."

"Really?"

Mia Kane looked up in surprise.

She couldn’t help but suspect that Adrian Preston was just saying that to put her mind at ease.

"Do you want to call Grandpa yourself? Everything I said is true, I’m not lying. Grandpa cares about you the most; he cherishes you. I also told him you wanted a divorce, and he gave me a real earful for it."

"Adrian Preston, thank you. I know you’re helping me like this to fulfill your duties as a husband, because of your professional integrity... But regardless, I’m still very grateful."

Hearing this, Adrian Preston pressed his lips together, looking like he wanted to say something.

But in the end, he remained silent.

’This is for the best,’ he thought. ’This way, she won’t feel any psychological burden.’

"When are you planning to hold the press conference?"

"The sooner, the better. The story is already spreading, and everyone who’s going to find out, has found out. It’s better to clear things up quickly."

’Perfect. The hype from the "wedding of the century" hasn’t died down yet. I’ll ride this wave of attention and make Vivian Lynch’s downfall even more spectacular!’