Dewdrops still clung to the petals, making them damp, but it didn’t detract from the rich floral scent that wafted through the air, subconsciously putting one at ease.

The sound of a cane tapping against the carpet was muffled. The room was so quiet that Mia Grant noticed it immediately and turned to look.

"Did you have someone do this?"

"No," Kian Keller said honestly. "They probably took it upon themselves."

"..." Mia found it disappointing. "Why couldn’t you have just gone along with it and said you did?"

He didn’t know how to placate her at all.

"You would’ve been unhappy if I lied. They all know I’ve upset you now. They’re probably even more eager than I am to see what happens next."

Mia kicked aside a rose at her feet and walked over to the sofa to sit down.

She crossed her arms and stared off to the side, pointedly refusing to look at him.

Even when their fights had been at their worst, she had never acted like this.

For a moment, Kian Keller didn’t know how to handle the situation. When it came to her, he was truly at a complete loss.

’Thinking back on it now, her past tantrums were just petty squabbles compared to this.’

Realizing this, the anxiety already churning in Kian Keller’s heart intensified into panic.

On the way here, Zelo had tried to reassure him. "A woman only acts out and throws tantrums when she’s in love with someone," he’d said.

"So don’t worry, sir. Miss Grant is angry, but it’s not like she’s going to... with you..."

Zelo hadn’t said the words "break up".

It was unclear whether he was afraid of hitting a nerve or if he just felt they had never been together in the first place.

After a long silence, he had asked, "And what if she doesn’t love me anymore?"

Zelo thought for a moment. "Then I guess no matter what you do or say, she wouldn’t react."

That fit the current situation perfectly.

And that was why Kian Keller suddenly felt so flustered and helpless.

He now had the feeling that nothing he did would make a difference.

His mind rewound, and he began to recall the events of the past few days.

No matter how he thought about it, he never expected this would be the outcome.

In his eyes, it was truly a trivial matter.

It was true he had investigated her, but he had no intention of hurting her.

He believed Mia Grant knew this full well. In all their past dealings, when had he not centered his world around her, letting her do as she pleased?

’How could an issue with her identity possibly drive a wedge between them?’

The atmosphere was heavy, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Kian Keller loosened his tie and slowly exhaled.

As he inhaled, the fragrant scent of roses filled his nostrils.

She loved flowers.

The greenhouse in the courtyard had been purely ornamental before, but after she moved in, she would go inside to spend time there every so often.

She knew very few flowers and often mistook Chinese roses for regular roses.

She loved taking pictures. She would crouch by the flower bushes, look at them for a while, then run to the study to point at a flower in a photo and ask him for its name.

In truth, the flower was never the first thing he saw.

It was her face, more delicate than any bloom.

Later, as the variety of flowers in the greenhouse grew, so did the frequency of her visits.

He should have found it irritating. He disliked being disturbed, especially when people entered his study.

Even Aaron and the others had to ask for permission repeatedly before entering, and even then, they only dared to linger by the doorway.

It was like his private territory, where outsiders were forbidden to trespass.

Yet, she always managed to be a special exception.

He even found himself looking forward to seeing her there every day.

In the quiet study, she would be kneeling on the chair opposite his desk, leaning forward with one hand on the tabletop to show him her phone screen.

"Is this a new variety? They have roses in this color? Is it local? Or from another country? What’s it called?"

"It doesn’t have a name," he’d said faintly. Hearing her skeptical tone, he added, "If you like it, you can name it."

"Really?!"

She was both surprised and delighted.

She twirled happily around the study, her skirt fluttering in the air. When it fell, it enveloped her slender body, making her look as pure and pristine as a blooming lily.

He gradually grew to like the way she chattered away by his side.

It was no longer quiet, no longer dull.

But he never found it annoying.

But now, she would kick aside her favorite flowers when passing by, unwilling to even spare them a glance.

Taking a deep breath, Kian Keller set down his cane and slowly moved forward.

Without the support of his cane, his entire body ached when he walked, not just his leg.

When she wasn’t looking, he knelt on one knee beside her.

Mia Grant felt him approaching. The shadow looming over her flickered, then quickly fell.

She glanced over from the corner of her eye, and when she saw what he was doing, she was so shocked she nearly jumped to her feet.

But he held her down by the knee just in time.

His hand didn’t move; it remained on her knee.

No matter how you looked at it, the scene was bizarre.

’It’s as if in the next second, he’s going to pull a velvet box out of his coat pocket, open it, and reveal a diamond ring the size of a pigeon’s egg.’

’Paired with the surrounding lights, gourmet food, and fresh flowers... yup, it’s starting to look a lot like a marriage proposal.’

So, the moment Kian Keller actually reached into the inner pocket of his suit, Mia Grant genuinely shrieked.

"Stop, stop!!!" She grabbed his hand, glaring at him. "What do you think you’re doing?!"

The man looked up, meeting her eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and used it to wipe away some dirt on her clothes.

It was from when she was lying on the ice.

She hadn’t even noticed it herself.

Mia let out a breath of relief. But in the span of just a few seconds, she glanced down and suddenly saw him holding out a velvet box...

THUMP. Her heart gave a violent tremor.

’Is he for real???’

Panic was evident in her eyes. "You..."

’Proposing before even properly apologizing after making someone furious... Kian Keller must be the first person in history to do that.’

’Amidst the absurdity, there was a strangely... romantic air?’

Realizing this, Mia thought she must be going crazy.

As if oblivious to her thoughts, Kian Keller opened the box and placed it in her hand.

"I’m sorry. I was inconsiderate and handled this matter poorly. I offer you my sincere apology."

When Mia heard the first half of his sentence, she thought he was really going through with a proposal.

But when she heard the rest, she looked down and breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside the box was a ruby brooch.

She didn’t know anything about diamonds or gems, but she knew it looked very expensive.

Realizing it was his apology gift, Mia pursed her lips. "Are you trying to buy me off?"

"No."

His injured leg, kneeling on the floor, was quickly starting to give out.

Mia glanced down and noticed that he was kneeling on his injured leg.

Startled, she scrambled to help him up.

"You really are...!"

She wanted to curse him out but couldn’t find the right words.

"Who told you to kneel?!"

"The person on the bus said this is how you’re supposed to placate your wife."

"..." Mia remembered. Her cheeks flushed, and she was too angry to speak for a moment.

Kian Keller looked down at her for a long time, then leaned in tentatively.

Mia froze.

’According to the procedure, after kneeling comes the kiss, right?’

Seeing that she didn’t pull away, Kian Keller lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.