Lia Aiken gritted her teeth with hatred. If looks could kill, she would have already turned this man wearing her father’s label into a beehive!

"And you, when you get to T City, you’d better behave, or don’t blame me for being rude." Her father remembered that Lia had a good friend in T City. Three years ago, she had left River City to seek refuge with that friend in T City.

Lia’s response to her father was to slam the door on her way out.

Her father’s face turned dark.

As Lia came out of the study room, she encountered her stepmother again.

"Oh, the young lady has returned."

Mrs. Aiken’s voice was jarring. Lia disliked her so much she didn’t even bother to respond, maintaining a cold face as she walked past her stepmother and headed straight downstairs.

Her father emerged at that moment, seeing Lia heading downstairs, he immediately shouted, "You brat, where are you going? Go back to your room and rest. We’re going to T City tomorrow."

"Do I still have a room?" Lia retorted with sarcasm, not even bothering to turn her head.

Her original room had long been occupied by her half-sister Violet, turned into Lia’s dressing room.

Mrs. Aiken realized that wasn’t good, quickly holding back her husband, saying, "Darling, she doesn’t like staying home. Let her go, better than you losing sleep over her tonight."

Lia’s lips curled in a sarcastic smile.

Stepmother was probably afraid her father might reprimand her at this moment, right?

Ultimately, Lia pushed her motorcycle out of the house.

The night was deep, and the villa area was quiet.

Aunt Luo kept nagging her as she saw her off: "Miss, it’s so late. You might as well stay. If... if you’re not too bothered, you could stay with me for the night. It’s too dangerous for a young lady like you to ride to the gallery this late, especially since you’re young and pretty."

But Lia didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

She hopped on her motorcycle, telling Aunt Luo, "Aunt Luo, you should go back, I’m leaving."

Aunt Luo wanted to say more, but Lia was already riding away.

In one of the second-floor rooms of the Main House, her father stood on the balcony, smoking a cigarette. The balcony faced the villa gate, so standing there, he could see Lia leaving.

That stubborn girl, even when asked to stay the night, insisted on leaving.

Even though her old room was taken by Violet, weren’t there other guest rooms in the house? She could have easily cleaned up one to stay in. In the middle of the night, she insisted on riding her motorcycle back to the gallery.

If something happens, he can’t be blamed.

Her father took a deep drag of his cigarette.

"Darling, did you tell Lia you’ll take her to T City tomorrow? Wasn’t it decided to take Violet?" Mrs. Aiken, Celine, walked over, habitually resting her arm on her husband’s shoulder, speaking in a dissatisfied yet sweet voice.

She knew her husband was going to T City to discuss business with Valence Group. Valence’s current CEO is the Eldest Young Master of the Horne Family, Ivan Horne. Compared to his father, Glades Horne, Ivan Horne is even more successful, and importantly, he’s still single, without even a girlfriend.

If her biological daughter could gain Ivan Horne’s favor, then Violet would truly trample Lia underfoot.

"I’ve changed my mind."

Her husband turned around, removing Celine’s hand from his shoulder, then walked into the room, "The call I received was from CEO Horne. He mentioned Lia. Who knows how that stubborn girl offended CEO Horne, so I have to take her to apologize."

Whether Ivan Horne had fallen for Lia, her husband hadn’t mentioned to Celine.

Her husband harbored a deep-seated resentment toward Lia, a resentment transferred from his hatred for her mother. Yet, Lia was still his daughter, legally speaking. Whether it was Lia or Violet who won Ivan Horne’s favor, it would still benefit the Aiken Family.

If he shared his suspicions with Celine, she would undoubtedly try to prevent Lia from going to T City with him. That might further displease CEO Horne, especially since he personally called to inquire about Lia.

Upon hearing that Lia was going to T City to apologize to Ivan Horne, Celine’s eyes darted about.

She thought that the stubborn girl offending someone like that would only make her husband hate her more.

"Lia is truly out of line. How could she offend someone like CEO Horne? It’s clearly a disaster for the Aiken Family." Celine intentionally said, "Darling, you really need to discipline her well. Who knows what trouble she might bring to the Aiken Family otherwise?"

Her husband said nothing.

Celine, observing her husband’s expression, knew he was displeased and chose to say no more.

After all, her husband not liking Lia was good news for her. She even suspected Lia might not be an Aiken by blood. And how did Lia’s mother die? Her husband, who once deeply loved his first wife, suddenly harbored intense hatred. Even after her death, he still transferred his anger to Lia.

However, Lia’s features resembled most of the Aiken Family, except for her mother’s face.

The thought that Lia might have Aiken blood and be entitled to inheritance made Celine grind her teeth in resentment.

Regardless of what her father and stepmother said after she left, Lia rode her motorcycle down the quiet street, accelerating as much as she could, desperate to reach the gallery soon. The deepening night posed too great a danger for a young lady alone on a motorcycle.

Sometimes, what you fear most actually happens.

Just a few minutes before reaching the gallery, two cars caught up with Lia and blocked her path. She would have crashed into them if she hadn’t braked in time.

Once her motorcycle stopped, she recognized one of the cars. Scowling, she coldly watched Ethan Aibileen step out from one of the vehicles.

"So it really is my fiancée. Out alone so late, riding a motorcycle—how dangerous. What if you ran into bad people?" Ethan said as he approached Lia.

Lia maintained her icy composure, sharply correcting him, "Ethan Aibileen, I’m not your fiancée!"

Ethan walked up to her, placing both hands on her motorcycle’s handlebars, looking at her with a smile, "Your father said he’d marry you to me. Even if we haven’t had the wedding yet, you’re still my fiancée."

Saying this, he reached out to caress Lia’s face.

Lia slapped Ethan’s hand away with force, glaring at him, "Ethan Aibileen, I’ll never marry you. If you want an Aiken girl, go for Violet. She’s younger and prettier. Move, or I’ll run into you, and I won’t be paying for any medical bills."

Ethan, having his hand slapped away, wasn’t angry. Instead, he seemed even more intrigued, "So my fiancée has such a fiery temper. I like it. Violet? Hmm, she’s nice. I’ll marry you first, then keep her as a mistress. With both sisters by my side, I guarantee you’ll live luxurious lives. Go ahead, hit me. Injure me, and if you can’t afford the medical bills, just offer yourself as compensation. Kill me, and you can be buried with me."

Ethan was so arrogant that he truly didn’t fear Lia would hit him. His words made Lia want to run him over with her bike.