Whether it was because of his explicit words or his audacious actions, Mia Grant felt the air around her grow thin.

What had started as just a meal and a chat gradually shifted. The air grew heavy and moist, and Mia felt as if she were on a speedboat, tossed about by the waves.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, but the man behind her was utterly wicked. His fingers pried her teeth apart, forcing a sound from her.

Not only that, but he viciously bit her ear, and while nuzzling against her, he didn’t forget to attend to other spots.

’He was utterly depraved.’

A short shriek escaped her lips, only to be completely swallowed by his.

Hearing her cry out, he laughed in satisfaction, his chest rumbling. Just then, a phone on the table began to ring.

Mia Grant froze, then snapped to her senses and pounded on his forearm. "My... phone!"

The kitchen island wasn’t very wide. With the phone screen lighting up, Mia, lying sprawled on the marble countertop, could clearly see the flashing caller ID.

"It’s... It’s Felix Sinclair..."

Yates Donovan clicked his tongue, clearly displeased at being interrupted at a time like this.

For whatever reason, he decided to be decent for a change. His long arm reached out, grabbed the phone, and without giving her a chance to speak, he answered and put it on speaker.

Mia gasped. She quickly suppressed her discomfort, steadied her voice, and said, "It’s me."

"Are you in your dorm? I went to the hotel to find you, but they said you’d already left."

"Why didn’t you answer your phone?"

"Ah, right. I wasn’t feeling well, so..."

Suddenly, Mia sucked in a sharp breath, holding it for a long moment without making a sound.

On the other end of the line, Felix Sinclair’s brow twitched. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Taking a deep breath, she asked, "I was resting this afternoon. Did you need me for something?"

"If it’s not urgent, can we talk tomorrow?"

"Have you had dinner yet?"

"I have. My roommate brought some back for me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. After a few seconds, Felix’s voice came through. "Alright. Get some rest."

After the call ended, Felix Sinclair lowered his gaze to the bag in his hand.

He had just run into her roommates on the road and had intended to give the items to them. But to his surprise, they told him Mia wasn’t in the dorm.

「Meanwhile, at the hotel.」

Mia Grant escaped from Yates Donovan’s arms, not forgetting to give him a kick on her way out.

Her cheeks were flushed crimson, whether from embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell.

In any case, she was like a juicy peach. Yates propped his chin on his hand and watched her, unable to resist sighing, "Why is every part of you so pink and tender?"

"..." Mia froze. When she processed what he’d said, she nearly choked.

"Get lost!"

Even a curse sounded so pleasant coming from her lips.

’How had he never realized he had this kind of preference before?’

’It seemed he really did like hearing her curse him.’

She had such an innocent, harmless face, yet she’d pretend to be fierce, spitting the ugliest words in the softest tone.

The contrast felt like being tickled.

Yates’s eyes crinkled with laughter. "Alright, alright, I’ll stop messing with you."

"Let’s talk business."

Mia kept a wide berth.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Seeing this, Yates laughed. "For real. If I really wanted to touch you, I would have made my move long ago."

"Forget this room—this entire hotel is mine. Where could you possibly run?"

Mia shot him a fierce glare. "I just complimented you... Unbelievable."

’She’d already used all the curses she knew; now she was at a loss for words.’

"Alright, come here."

Yates casually cleaned up the mess, picked up his phone, and sent her two photos.

Mia examined them carefully and frowned. "I don’t think I know him."

"What do you mean, you ’don’t think’? Think carefully. His surname is Bai."

Mia still shook her head. "Maybe my memory is just bad, or maybe he just has a generic-looking face."

"So, it’s really this person?"

"Yes."

Mia frowned. "We have no history, no grudge. Why would he come after me? Or was he sent by someone?"

"I don’t think so." Yates looked as if he wanted to say more but held his tongue.

"I’m going to call the police. Send me the surveillance footage..."

"No need."

Yates grabbed her hand, smiling as he said, "He probably won’t be waking up again anytime soon."

"..." Mia was taken aback. "Did you go out today?"

"Not today. Last night."

Yates didn’t elaborate further.

’After all, the scene had been too bloody and violent.’

Meeting his gaze, Mia fell silent for a moment before asking, "Won’t you get into trouble for doing this?"

It was a somewhat redundant question, but she couldn’t help but ask.

"What kind of trouble could I get into?" Yates leaned in close. "Afraid I’ll go to jail? Wouldn’t that be exactly what you want?"

"..."

Mia rolled her eyes and pushed his head away. "Clean yourself up and take me back to school."

"It’s too late. It’s the same if you go back tomorrow morning." Yates yawned; he clearly hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

"If I don’t go back soon, my roommates are going to call the police."

—

As the elevator descended, Mia pulled her overcoat tighter, texting her roommate while speaking to the man beside her. "Are you still going back to Portia? When are you leaving?"

"Why? If you need something, just say it. Given our relationship, if you ask, is there any way I wouldn’t help you?"

Yates leaned against the side of the elevator, practically shaking with laughter.

Mia glanced at him from the corner of her eye, seemingly hesitating about something.

Seeing her hesitation, the man tutted. "Fine. When I see Silas Grant, I’ll send you a message."

"Okay." Mia’s gaze flickered away as she gave a slight nod.

After a pause, she looked at him again. "Um..."

"Try not to mention your engagement."

"...Okay."

She lowered her head again, meek as a mouse.

This scene couldn’t help but make Yates laugh out loud. "It’s really strange. Are you really that scared of him?"

’Like a child who’s done something wrong.’

’How is she so obedient in front of Silas Grant?’

Mia’s eyes were filled with confusion, as if she didn’t understand why he would even ask. She answered naturally, "Because he’s my brother."

Yates’s lips twitched, but he didn’t ask anything else.

"Hey." The elevator fell silent. Mia made a small sound, trying to get his attention.

Yates lifted his gaze.

"Did I ever tell you that I had a dream?"

"You mean the one about Silas Grant getting hurt?"

"Uh, I guess so. Actually, there was a part of it I didn’t tell you at the time."

"I dreamed about... my real family situation."

"Oh?" Yates’s interest was piqued. "What, did you turn out to be a little princess?"

Mia shook her head, hesitated, then said, "In the dream, my father passed away from a work-related incident not long after I was born. After my grandmother got the compensation money, she decided my mother’s womb was a disappointment because I was a girl, so she kicked both of us out."

"Then, my mother took me and remarried a repairman."