Yates Donovan didn’t actually know the specifics of what had happened between the two men, what had driven them to come to deadly blows in such a public place.

But he was certain it had everything to do with Mia Grant.

According to the reports from his men watching Mia Grant’s residence, she had been home for the past two days.

Silas Grant and Hayes Hughes, however, had been coming and going frequently.

She herself never made an appearance.

He didn’t know what was going on. He’d texted her yesterday but hadn’t heard back.

He hadn’t thought much of it at first. After all, with both Silas Grant and Hayes Hughes by her side, she didn’t need him right now.

But then, Kian Keller, who was supposed to be abroad for medical treatment, had suddenly rushed back, only for Silas Grant to corner him at the airport and beat him savagely...

Tsk.

He was starting to get annoyed, but he had no choice but to control the situation.

’He didn’t get it. What on earth was there for these people to fight over?’

’All this arguing, all this fighting... for what?’

’If they had any real guts, they’d just end it with a single knife thrust. One and done.’

’Since they couldn’t go that far, how was this any different from throwing a melodramatic tantrum?’

Taking a deep breath, Yates Donovan let his amused expression fall. He glanced around and asked, "What’s wrong with Mia Grant?"

It was obvious who the main culprit was.

Yates Donovan crossed his arms and eyed Kian Keller.

"Did you upset her again?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Kian Keller still had an IV line in the back of his hand. After all the violent movement, it had started to bleed and swell. It didn’t look good.

Yates Donovan didn’t get an answer from Kian Keller. Aaron had already called for the accompanying medical team.

Kian Keller was ushered into a car, with the doctor right behind him.

Silas Grant didn’t try to stop them. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, turned his back to the wind, and lit it.

Seeing him like this, Yates Donovan couldn’t help but sigh. "Seriously? Why start a fight with a cripple? If word of this gets out, you’ll be branded a bully who picks on the disabled."

Silas Grant ignored him, waving his cigarette hand through the air and trailing a plume of grayish-white smoke. On closer inspection, a stark, ugly scar was visible on the back of that same hand.

Silas Grant was extremely meticulous about his appearance. Even in his most rebellious phase, he had never approved of things like tattoos, which he saw as marring one’s image.

In his eyes, an ugly scar like this was no different from a tattoo—an utterly uncouth blemish.

Given his personality, he should have had it removed long ago.

And yet, he’d kept it all this time.

’Who knows if it was a reminder for himself, or for someone else.’

"So, spit it out. What happened? If it’s nothing serious, I can leave in peace."

Yates Donovan straightened his coat. "I have to leave Jynsia for a while."

His second uncle had woken up, but it would be a while before he recovered to his pre-accident condition.

He couldn’t be discharged from the hospital just yet.

The Donovan Family was a massive enterprise; a top position like that couldn’t remain vacant for long.

After parting on bad terms with the old man last time, they had found time for another formal negotiation.

The old man gave him everything he wanted. The only condition was that he had to spare Yael Donovan.

He’d agreed.

But it wasn’t for the sake of the so-called family fortune.

’He had plenty of his own methods.’

It was just that the old man’s health had always been poor. The recent news of Yael Donovan waking up was the only thing that had lifted his spirits lately.

’He was doing it for the old man.’

"You said just now you were going to deal with her anxiety. What do you know?" After smoking half his cigarette, Silas Grant seemed to have calmed down, glancing over at Yates Donovan.

The other man raised an eyebrow. "I wasn’t referring to anything specific. Haven’t you noticed? She gets anxious very easily. It’s even reached the point of somatic symptoms."

With that, Yates Donovan gave an unreadable laugh. "Oh, that’s right. You’ve been busy with your own affairs in Portia this whole time. You’ve barely seen her, so how would you know?"

"..."

"I can’t be the only one who knows. Hayes Hughes is a doctor, after all. Even if it’s not his specialty, he’s bound to be more perceptive than the average person."

"He’s probably noticed, too."

——

A heavy snow had fallen in Jynsia during the Spring Festival. A cold front swept in, freezing the lake—which hadn’t been completely solid before—overnight, turning it into a popular attraction.

The park closed not long after sunset.

It wasn’t a place you could just enter as you pleased.

But Hayes Hughes, holding her hand, had actually gotten them inside.

One by one, the lights around the lake flickered on. Mia Grant stood at the edge, extending a foot to gently test the ice.

A moment later, she stomped down hard a few times.

Once she was sure it was solid, she stepped onto the ice.

Hayes Hughes followed right behind her, ready to steady her whenever she slipped.

Mia Grant took two nervous steps before giving up. "Can we use those?"

She pointed to the various small skating sleds not far away.

There were many kinds, and Hayes Hughes asked her which one she wanted.

Mia Grant didn’t want to choose. "All of them. I want to try all of them."

"Of course." Hayes Hughes picked out one of each type and lined them up, waiting for her to bestow her favor.

"Aren’t you going to ride one?" Mia Grant asked, looking back at him. Hayes Hughes just smiled and shook his head. "I’ll push you."

He gave the back of her seat a gentle push, letting her glide forward effortlessly.

As the night wore on, the temperature continued to drop.

Fortunately, Mia Grant had sensibly worn gloves and a scarf, so she wasn’t too cold.

After playing for a while, completely absorbed, she seemed to remember something. She looked back at the hands resting on her seatback—they were red raw from the cold.

She froze.

"Hay—" Her lips parted, the sound muffled by her scarf.

Mia Grant stopped the sled. "You should go find a staff member and borrow a pair of gloves. It’s getting cold."

"I’m fine."

His reply was just what she’d expected. Mia Grant pressed her lips together. "Then go wait for me in the car. I’ll play by myself for a while."

Hayes Hughes smiled wryly. "Alright, wait for me here. I’ll go borrow a pair of gloves."

"Okay." She nodded without looking at him again, and pushed herself further away across the ice.

Hayes Hughes kept looking back as he walked away. He couldn’t feel at ease leaving her alone, even for a few minutes.

When he hurried back, the first thing he saw was the empty sled. Panic flashed in his eyes, and his heart leaped into his throat.

Thankfully, a moment later, he spotted her figure lying on the ice not far away.

He didn’t even have time to breathe a sigh of relief before he was striding quickly toward her.

"Did you fall?" He crouched down, not daring to pull her up right away, instead checking her arms and legs for injuries.

Mia Grant had been looking at the stars. When her view was suddenly blocked by his head, she frowned.

Realizing who it was, she sat up. "I’m fine."

Hayes Hughes stared at her face for a long moment. His shoulders finally sagged with relief as he exhaled. He raised a hand and gently stroked her cheek over her scarf. "If you want to look at the stars, I’ll take you somewhere nice this weekend. It’s a much better spot."

"You can see the stars from anywhere. Why be picky about the location?" Mia Grant started to get up, but then thought better of it. She patted the ice beside her, inviting him to join.

Hayes Hughes looked like he was about to say something, but Mia Grant didn’t give him the chance. "Yates Donovan wouldn’t hesitate."

"..."

Hayes Hughes suddenly let out a laugh, a sound of both resignation and surrender. "Alright."

He agreed, sitting down beside her.

The moment he lay back, a shadow fell over him. Mia Grant leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I was just stating a fact. Don’t be mad."