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Chapter 1
Everyone called her a party girl.

This time, however, Mia Shaw finally met her match. The whole city was waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

There was a dinner party following her breakup with her ex. Unexpectedly, she hooked up with the most esteemed man in Hampshire City at this party.

He was the perfect husband, but he had one fatal flaw.

…

The ballroom was dazzling with lights and elegantly dressed guests. In the southeastern corner, Victor Gray was chatting up a beautiful woman. He had his arms wrapped around her, and he was completely unaware of Mia approaching.

“Victor, I heard you and Mia have set a date for your marriage. Congratulations!”

“I never said I’d marry her. Now that she’s done fooling around, she wants a decent man to settle down with? It’s wishful thinking on her part.”

His friend was surprised. “Haven’t you been pursuing her for years?”

“I was only pretending to be in love with her.” Victor caressed the woman’s waist and replied indifferently. “Everyone else has had their fun with her. I’m not about to marry someone like that.”

Mia was shocked. Victor had always appeared devoted to her. Although she was not particularly fond of him, she had taken their engagement seriously and even announced it herself.

She usually rejected others, but it turned out that she could be rejected too. Right then, someone noticed her and started signaling to Victor.

Victor received the cue and turned around. He panicked for a moment when he saw Mia. But he quickly hid it and pretended to be unbothered.

“Since you’ve heard everything, let’s clear things up. I invited you here to break up with you, not announce our wedding. Ivy’s conceived, and I need to accept responsibility.”

The crowd turned their eyes toward them. There was surprise, but mostly jeers. After all, Mia getting dumped was quite the show.

Despite her tarnished reputation, she had been lucky enough that the Gray family was willing to accept her. Without Victor, who else would want her?

No matter how enchanting she was, everyone still treated her like dirt.

Mia remained composed and showed no reaction. She then scanned the room until her gaze landed on a handsome man in the corner.

She was looking at Nolan Locke, the Locke family’s wealthy and aloof heir. This family had a century-old empire and held a near-royal status in Hampshire City. Even the Gray family had to respect them.

She gracefully walked up to Nolan in her champagne-colored gown. Mia had such refined beauty that it was as if she had been sculpted by a master.

Nolan assessed her with calm eyes as she wrapped her fingers around his tie and gave it a few twists.

He narrowed his eyes but did not stop her.

She leaned in and whispered, “Actually, I had my eye on you first, but I couldn’t resist Victor’s relentless pursuit. Now that we’ve broken up, I’d like to pursue you. Is that okay?”

Victor was the first to react. He nearly jumped up and scoffed loudly. “Mia, are you crazy? Trying to salvage your dignity by going after Nolan? He’s a good friend of mine. What makes you think he’d give you any attention?”

Mia ignored him as if his words were just white noise. Her shimmering eyes stayed fixed on Nolan as she waited quietly for his response.

There was a hint of interest in his dark eyes, and he smirked. “Sure. You can pursue me. Don’t mind him.”

As soon as he spoke, the room erupted into murmurs. Even the boastful Victor was taken aback.

Mia was not confident that Nolan would entertain her advances. The Gray and Locke families were family friends, so Nolan would likely reject her. If he did that, she would also be humiliated.

However, she did not care. Dignity was something she had lost long ago. She suddenly expressed interest in Nolan just to spite Victor.

She released Nolan’s tie and prepared to leave. However, he grabbed her waist and pulled her close with his hand firmly on her back.

His deep voice was full of allure. “Didn’t you say you wanted to pursue me? Leaving already?”

Mia frowned slightly. Nolan was not playing by the rules and being even more proactive than she had expected.

She only mentioned that she would pursue him, not that she would start immediately. But since they were still in public, she had to keep up the act.

Her fingers crawled up his neck as she murmured shyly, “There are too many people here.”

“Alright. Let’s go somewhere less crowded,” Nolan easily agreed and surprised Mia with his compliance. He wrapped his arm around her as everyone watched.

Victor’s shouting followed them while they exited the ballroom, but Nolan ignored him.

Eventually, Victor caught up to them. “Nolan, you’re taking this joke too far.”

Nolan turned back calmly. “Weren’t you just playing with her? You wronged her first, so don’t put the blame on others. I’m taking her away.”

With that, he led Mia downstairs.

Mia felt a bit awkward. “Mr. Locke, thank you for helping me out.”

Nolan had always been Mia’s type, both in terms of appearance and personal qualities.

When she first met the men, she was indeed more interested in Nolan. But Victor announced that he wanted to woo her, so all his friends avoided her to prevent any misunderstandings. Otherwise, she might have actually pursued Nolan herself.

Nolan looked at her. His affectionate and inviting eyes seemed to whisper sweet nothings.

“Do you really want to pursue me?”

“Maybe I’ll give it a shot. There’s no one I can’t win over,” Mia replied.

Nolan smiled faintly. Perhaps he was amused, or he found her amusing. “Pursuing me won’t be easy.”

“I’m not afraid of a challenge.”

“Then, show me your sincerity.”

Mia looked at him in confusion.

Forty minutes later, she understood what he meant by “sincerity.” He had taken her to a hotel.

As they fell onto the large bed, Mia felt a little disoriented. What was this? She had never heard of showing sincerity by starting in bed. This sequence seemed illogical.

By the time she realized what was happening, there was no turning back. The soft and clean sheets beneath them creased and ruffled.

Nolan had a reputation for being chaste and unmotivated by lust. Meanwhile, Mia was a reputed vixen of the city. But at that moment, she felt that Nolan played the game far better than she did.

In reality, Mia was still innocent, and Nolan was her first. Midway through, he seemed to realize this as well, and surprise flashed in his eyes. “You’re...”

Feeling embarrassed, Mia pretended to be impatient. “Are we doing this or not? If we are, hurry up. I don’t like men who talk too much in bed.”

Nolan raised an eyebrow in amusement, and an unreadable smile crossed his face.

After a heated night, Mia woke up late the next morning. But Nolan was nowhere to be seen in the room.

Her clothes were hanging neatly on the couch beside the bed and within easy reach.

Last night, they had been scattered all over the floor. So, Nolan probably tidied the place when he got up.

Chapter 2
After Mia changed her clothes, Nolan returned to the room.

Mia was slightly startled. “I thought you had already left.”

Nolan remained silent, and his gaze fell on the spot where she had slept. The white sheets bore a red stain.

Nolan’s expression was complex. Rumors had painted Mia as a woman who had been with countless men, and everyone thought that her dignity had been tarnished long ago. He never expected her to be the first time.

Mia thought he might be worried that she would use this to cling to him. So, she spoke first, “Don’t worry. I have no hang-ups, and I won’t expect you to take responsibility. This was my choice.”

Sleeping with a handsome man like Nolan did not feel like a loss to her. His skills had matched his looks, and she had enjoyed it.

It seemed fair.

Nolan was about to say something but paused. He chose his words carefully before he finally said, “A single night doesn’t really mean anything.”

Mia nodded in understanding, as this was within her expectations.

Nolan called for room service, and soon, they delivered a lavish breakfast spread. Both of them sat at the table and ate in an oddly silent atmosphere.

Mia accidentally smeared some of the sandwich she was eating on her lips. She was about to wipe it off with a napkin when Nolan reached across and steadied her chin with one hand. Then, he wiped the smudge off with the thumb of his other hand.

It was a moment of closeness in their sober state. Unexpectedly, Mia felt her face warm up.

“Mia, once you start pursuing me, you can’t pursue anyone else,” Nolan said as he looked intently at her.

Mia was taken aback. “Why not?”

Nolan frowned, and he was puzzled by her question.

Mia explained, “If I’m the one pursuing, the initiative is mine. If I can’t win you over, aren’t I allowed to give up and pursue someone else?”

Her logic stumped Nolan for a moment.

Mia added, “Besides, I’ve decided not to pursue you anymore.”

Nolan furrowed his brows even further, and his demeanor became cold. “What did you say?”

“We’ve already slept together before I’ve had the chance to pursue you properly. Do I really need to continue?” Mia spread her hands.

Nolan could not help but laugh, albeit bitterly.

He remembered the rumors painting Mia as a party girl.

She truly lived up to her reputation.

“So, you pursue someone just to sleep with them?”

The usually aloof Nolan Locke was almost driven to say something as undignified as “Even if you have my body, you won’t have my heart.”

“Not really,” Mia admitted and felt a bit guilty. “But it’s not like you’d actually marry me.”

“Who says it’s impossible?” Nolan replied slowly.

Mia was stunned. Although the Shaw family was part of the elite, it did not compare to the century-old, prestigious families like the Gray and Locke families.

The Locke family was influential in real estate, tourism, energy, finance, and more. Mentioning the Locke family in Hampshire City alone could shake the ground.

Families clamored to align themselves with the Locke family through marriage. The Shaw family did not come close.

Would the Locke family really consider her?

Was Nolan just playing with her?

Mia put down her cutlery. “I’m full. Could you please take me home, Mr. Locke?”

Nolan was frustrated, and he felt that she was not taking him seriously.

After a drag, he nonchalantly said, “And here I thought I had met someone interesting. Miss Shaw, you might as well go back on your own. I’m not headed that way.”

Mia picked up her bag and stood up gracefully. “Mr. Locke, don’t bother trying to provoke me. I may not have the best reputation, but I have my principles. I won’t be anyone’s mistress.”

Mia’s aunt, Ellen Shaw, had pressured her to marry a man over seventy to escape her circumstances, but she was not about to jump from one cage into another.

She sought an equal relationship.

Only then would she have the freedom to pursue what she wanted.

Mia turned to leave, but as she opened the door, Nolan’s voice rang out. “I can’t promise I’ll marry you, but becoming an official couple isn’t out of the question.”

Mia stopped in her tracks.

She really needed to improve her status, especially if she wanted to be with someone as influential as Nolan.

Only then would she not be treated like a commodity or be handed out to anyone who showed interest.

Ellen had tolerated her past relationship with Victor because of the Gray family’s status. Since Victor had broken off their engagement, Mia was worried about facing Ellen at home.

Her suggestion for Nolan to drive her home had also been strategic.

If Ellen saw that Mia had gotten with Nolan, she would likely be less critical.

“Really? I’ll hold you to it, then.” Mia turned around with gleaming eyes. “I don’t have many virtues, but the one I do have is loyalty!”

Mia knew that it would be tough. However, with Nolan’s heart softening, she was no longer afraid about not winning him over.

She may not have much experience in pursuing others, but she was well-versed in being pursued. With sincere intentions, she was sure that she could turn this small opening into a real opportunity.

Nolan began to walk away. After a few steps, he noticed that Mia had not followed, so he turned back with a frown. “Aren’t you coming?”

Mia feigned ignorance. “So, we’re headed the same way now?”

Nolan did not reply this time and just continued walking.

Bouncing after him, she caught up and entered the elevator with him. Her exquisite face carried a hint of playfulness.

Nolan’s expression remained impassive, and his tall figure exuded a silent coldness. However, he seemed less unapproachable next to the woman with a bright, blooming smile.

Eventually, Nolan dropped Mia off at her home. The car glided smoothly up to the front of the villa without any attempt to hide.

“Thank you for the ride, Mr. Locke,” Mia said as she got out of the car before bowing slightly in gratitude.

“It was on my way,” Nolan replied.

The car window rolled up and obscured his face behind the privacy glass. Then, the car pulled away.

Mia stood there and remained polite as she watched him drive off.

She took her time to enter the house. While she bent down to change her shoes, a fierce female voice bombarded her with questions, “Where were you last night? You didn’t come home! And who dropped you off?!”

Ellen was standing at the center of the living room, and her stern gaze was fixed on Mia.

Mia’s mother had passed away early on, while her father never provided for her. He was mostly reliant on his brother and sister-in-law’s charity throughout his life.

As they did not have children of their own, Mia’s father had shamelessly exchanged her for a substantial sum of money.

Ellen had been meticulous in Mia’s upbringing by making her attend classes for piano, cello, dance, horse riding, and golf.

Everything a lady of a wealthy household should know, Mia had to learn.

Everyone praised Ellen for her generosity toward a child who was not her own. But only Mia knew that Ellen saw her as a valuable asset. She was to be groomed for an advantageous marriage.

As such, Ellen was particularly strict with Mia; she allowed her almost no personal freedom.

“It was Nolan Locke, the Locke family’s eldest son.”

At the mention of Nolan’s name, Ellen’s face immediately lit up. “The heir to the Locke Group, Nolan Locke?”

Mia nodded quietly.

Ellen quickly dropped the subject.

Mia scoffed inwardly. Ellen did not truly care whether she was fooling around with men. All that mattered to Ellen was the status of the man involved and whether he could be of benefit to her career.

Chapter 3
“Tell me. What’s going on with you and Victor?”

“We broke up. He initiated it.”

“The engagement announcement was already made public. Do you think this is some child’s play?”

“He cheated, and that woman is carrying his child. It’s better this way. I don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore.”

“Useless!” Ellen cursed. However, it was unclear if she was scolding Victor for his lack of morals or Mia for failing to secure her man.

Ellen grew increasingly angry. She strode over to Mia and poked her temple. “Do you really think you can level up to the Locke family? What makes you think someone like Nolan Locke would care for your background? I’ll lay it out for you now. Either you make up with Victor and continue with the wedding or start accompanying me to social events again and prepare for an arranged marriage.”

The mention of an arranged marriage made Mia shiver.

Previously, Ellen had mentioned a property tycoon in his seventies.

The man had outlived two wives and had numerous children, some old enough to be Mia’s parents. The first thing he did was demand that Mia devote herself to serving his entire family after marriage.

This was not a marriage proposal; it was a job offer for a maid.

Mia had also heard that despite his age, the tycoon was notoriously promiscuous. He had ruined many of his young lovers, which included celebrities.

Ellen only stopped pushing her for more matchmaking after she started dating Victor. The reason was his family background was comparable to the tycoon’s.

…

Ellen sent Mia back to her room.

Shutting the door, Mia threw herself onto the bed and rolled into the covers. Tears silently streamed down her face.

She just needed to hold on a little longer. Once she received her appointment notice from the Hampshire City Art School, she could move out and escape Ellen’s control.

Mia then took out her phone. Victor had been bombarding her with calls and messages. He was questioning why she was hooking up with his friend.

Annoyed, Mia immediately blocked him.

Nolan’s number, which she had recently added, lay quietly in her address book.

It seemed like they had reached some kind of agreement, but she still felt that he might have been impulsive. He could very well forget about their arrangement.

So, in the following days, Mia did not reach out to him or see him.

She was busy with her new job.

Ellen did not allow Mia to rest for long. She was eager to bring her along to high-society parties and business gatherings.

At the events, Ellen and Mia moved through the crowds as they exchanged toasts and pleasantries.

Mia was a stunning beauty, and naturally, she became the center of attention.

Many wealthy businessmen and political figures gave her favorable attention.

So, who said beauty was not valuable?

In such environments, beauty could indeed translate into a certain amount of worth.

In one evening, Ellen had secured several significant business deals. Meanwhile, Mia had exchanged contact information with many influential people.

At the end of the party, Ellen suddenly pushed Mia toward a construction magnate. “Mr. Tate, I’m entrusting Mia in your care tonight. If she does anything unsatisfactory, please be patient.”

“Mrs. Shaw, please don’t mind us. Don’t worry. Once Mia has had her fun, I’ll escort her back.”

Even Mia, who often played the fool, understood the implication.

Despite her notorious reputation, some people were still eager to court her. However, Mia would turn many down and offend them by using her relationship with Victor as an excuse.

Unfortunately, Victor had just dumped her before their engagement.

She had lost any bargaining power in marriage negotiations. Rather than waste her youth and beauty, Ellen decided it would be more profitable to send her to interested executives as a form of benefit exchange.

The realization sent a chill through Mia’s body. She also felt heartbroken because she could not believe that Ellen could be so cruel.

“Are you tired, Mia? Why don’t you sit down over there?” George Tate came closer with a smile that revealed his ulterior motives.

He did not give Mia a chance to reject. Instead, he put his arm around her shoulder and guided her toward a secluded corner. His motives were glaringly obvious.

His urgency had been apparent even during the party.

Mia endured his advances with disgust while she quickly thought of ways to get rid of the old lecher.

Once seated, George did not hesitate to place his rough hand on her behinds.

Mia stood up abruptly. Her face was pale, but she held back her anger for the Shaw family’s sake. “I need to use the restroom. I drank too much.”

“Alright, go ahead. But come back quickly.”

George’s smile lingered as he watched her. To him, she looked like a lamb that could not escape his grasp.

Mia quickly walked in the opposite direction. She did not really know where the restroom was; she just wanted to get away.

However, George followed her.

Alarm bells rang in Mia’s head. She started to run even though her mermaid-style evening gown made it difficult.

Worried about being caught by George, Mia pushed a random door open and found herself face to face with Victor.

Victor was sitting right in front of the door on a couch. He was playing cards with a few acquaintances whom Mia recognized.

What made the situation more awkward was that Victor’s new girlfriend, Ivy Brent, was also present.

His body tensed when he saw Mia.

Sensing Victor’s discomfort, Chris Hughes followed his gaze and spotted Mia too. He was seated next to Sam Andrews, so he gave him a nudge with his elbow.

“What’s the matter? Is it too cramped, or are you trying to flirt with me?” As Sam looked up, his words got caught in his throat as if he’d seen a ghost.

“You guys were right. She really couldn’t stand being away from Victor. Look, she’s already back,” he said.

“Victor, she must be here to confront you!”

Seeing Mia, Ivy’s innocent face instantly turned pale. She clung tightly to Victor’s arm, and her look of distress made it seem as if Mia was the aggressor.

Victor glanced back at Mia but ignored her presence. “Are we playing or not? Let’s continue.”

“Victor, I’m not feeling well... I think I want to go home...” Ivy whispered.

“What’s wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?” Victor asked gently. His concern was evident.

Sam could not bear to watch Ivy’s act and directly addressed Mia, “Mia, Victor and Ivy are happy together. What are you doing here? Ask yourself. Weren’t you also at fault for what happened between you two? Ivy’s a thousand times better for him than you ever were. Be sensible and stop bothering him.”

Mia had no intention of entering upon seeing them.

“You’re all mistaken, I was just looking for someone and walked into the wrong place,” she replied coolly and stepped out without missing a beat.

Right then, her primary concern was George.

Distracted, she turned and bumped into someone’s arms.

Chapter 4
Mia’s reaction was almost reflexive as she pushed the person away in a panic and nearly stumbled from retreating.

Nolan’s expression darkened slightly as he steadied her. “What happened?”

He had been with the group in the private room too. Initially, he and Victor had a falling out, but it did not take long for Victor to seek him out.

Victor felt that a woman like Mia was not worth losing years of brotherhood over. So when Victor came out for fun, he called Nolan to join him.

To Nolan’s surprise, he ran into Mia.

His gaze drifted downward, and he noted the curve of her waist. There was no question that she had an appealing figure. Her waist was slender enough for him to hold with one hand, and her skin looked like porcelain under the warm light. Her entire being seemed soft and delicate.

Anyone who saw her would yearn to get a closer look.

However, the fear in her eyes was evident; she was clearly scared of something.

When Mia realized that it was Nolan, she stopped, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips.

Just then, Victor’s voice echoed from the room. “Nolan, what’s taking you so long? We’re all waiting!”

Nolan hummed in response and released Mia before he entered the room.

Mia stood frozen for a second. Nolan and Victor had been at each other’s throats not long ago, but it seemed that all animosity had disappeared.

That figured. Why would she be worth sacrificing their brotherhood, which began in their cribs?

She did not deserve it.

Although she had not actively pursued Nolan or tried to contact him recently, his detached demeanor suggested that he did not care. His pcraziness in bed that night contrasted sharply with his current indifference.

Men like Nolan were at the pinnacle of the social pyramid. To them, brief flings were nothing more than trivial distractions and not worth any emotional investment. He had likely forgotten the promises he had made that night.

Mia smiled bitterly to herself and headed toward the outdoor area of the lounge. Many guests were getting some air there.

All of a sudden, someone with a strong hand pulled her into a security passageway.

A man pinned her against the door while he restrained her hands. His manly, overpowering scent flooded her senses, and she was terrified.

Mia tried to kick the figure before her, but he stopped her with his leg.

“So rough,” the man teased.

The motion sensor light came on, and Mia saw Nolan’s face.

“Why are you here? What are you doing...?”

“I stepped out for fresh air. What are you sneaking around for?” Nolan asked without changing their compromising position in the secluded space. His tone was devoid of emotion yet somehow laced with underlying desire.

Mia was contemplating asking him for help when George’s voice echoed down the corridor. It struck her like thunder.

“Mia, stop hiding. The restroom is in the other direction. Come out. Let me take you there.”

George’s tone made her stomach turn.

She stopped pushing Nolan away and gave him a pleading look instead. She was hoping that he would not hand her over.

Initially resisting physical contact, she suddenly seemed to find solace in Nolan’s arms.

Seeing Mia cling to him like a frightened kitten, Nolan raised his brows in curiosity and watched the unfolding drama.

He was familiar with George Tate, a material supplier who had risen to wealth in recent years. George was known for his predatory behavior toward female college students.

Considering Mia’s situation at the Shaw residence, it was not hard to guess what was happening.

However, unless Mia spoke up, Nolan was not inclined to intervene on his own.

“So, aren’t you going out? He’s looking for you,” he whispered close to her forehead, and his breath tickled her.

Mia clenched her fists and found the humiliation unbearable. “Can you help me?”

Her voice was low and desperate.

Nolan replied, “You only seek me out when you need something. I’m not some saint or one of your on-call lackeys.”

Mia took in his words for a moment.

Was he calling her out for not keeping in touch?

She glanced at his face with bright eyes and playfully scratched his waist with her slender hand.

As Nolan looked down, his gaze intensified. His lean muscles tensed under her gentle touch as well.

She then stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the lips.

His lips were dry and cool. They also had a lingering scent of tobacco and mint.

Mia had no plans to deceive Nolan. She knew too well that tricking him would be like walking into a trap. So, she gave him what he wanted instead.

She could tell by his gaze that his intentions were not pure. With that, she kissed him carefully and grazed the surface of his lips without much skill. She sensed that Nolan was not particularly impressed as he looked at her indifferently and observed her attempt to please him.

Feeling challenged, Mia wondered if she was not attractive enough for him. She intentionally leaned closer, and their lips met.

When she gently bit his upper lip, she sensed his breath faltering slightly.

His dark and intense eyes were filled with desire.

Just then, Mia deliberately stopped and pulled away.

No sooner did she step back that she felt his arms wrap around her waist.

He pulled her back toward him and kissed her. This time, he took the lead with precision and skill. It did not take long for Mia to feel overwhelmed and breathless under his assertive embrace.

Soon, she was leaning weakly against his chest.

Nolan’s breathing was uneven as he shifted her against the door for support. His advances became fierce and relentless.

When he finally released her, Mia’s lips were numb and probably swollen.

For some reason, it felt like he was punishing her.

Although she was breathing heavily and covered in the scent of tobacco and mint, she did not find it unpleasant.

However, she did not realize how enticing she looked. The pleading gaze in her moist eyes made her appear innocent but provocative.

Passion was still in the air when the doorknob suddenly turned.

Nolan calmly caressed Mia’s hair and hid her by the door before he opened it.

“Mr. Locke?”

“What’s with all this racket?” Nolan responded with displeasure.

With an embarrassed smile, George said, “I was looking for someone. I must’ve made a mistake.”

Nolan did not have to say another word for George to scurry away.

He then closed the door behind him.

“Thank you,” Mia said.

Nolan responded, “I’ll take you home in a bit. Now that George has seen you with me, he probably won’t bother you anymore.”

Mia nodded obediently.

As Nolan stared at her, he saw a seemingly innocent girl who was actually heartless and crafty. He felt that she could manipulate a man’s emotions effortlessly while appearing clueless and innocent.

Victor’s companion, Ivy, kind of reminded him of Mia.

The motion-sensor light dimmed, and an eerie silence settled in the darkness.

Nolan’s sharp and possessive gaze was fixed on Mia. He seemed predatory and ready to pounce at any moment.

During these tense seconds, Mia could feel him staring at her.

Her heart pounded, as though it was about to leap out of her chest.

Nolan took a step closer, and his tall figure loomed over her.

Chapter 5
Just as Mia thought Nolan was about to do something, his phone started to vibrate in his pocket.

Nolan answered the call, “What’s up?”

“Where are you? You vanished again after you sat down. You didn’t go chasing after girls, did you?”

Victor’s voice was particularly clear in the quiet environment.

Nolan glanced at Mia and asked meaningfully, “What are you worried about?”

“What am I worried about? Don’t flatter yourself. Who is worried about you?”

“You’re worried about who I’m with?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Suit yourself. I had to beg you to come out anyway,” Victor grumbled as he hung up.

Mia and Nolan knew him well enough to understand that he was feeling guilty.

She could not help but laugh. “Others would think that you two were the ones in a relationship.”

Nolan shot her a look as the motion sensor light came back on, and the previously ambiguous atmosphere disappeared.

He then headed for the door. “Let’s go.”

He was back to his distant and refined self.

Mia followed him and admired his tall figure from behind.

Nolan dropped Mia off at the villa where she lived with Ellen and her husband.

However, Mia never told Nolan that if she did not leave with George Tate tonight, Ellen would not let it slide.

Ultimately, it was a family issue. Forget Nolan, even a saint would get annoyed if he had to help more than once or twice.

Anyway, Mia had guessed correctly.

As soon as she arrived home, Ellen ordered Mia to kneel in the study.

The study was unheated, and it was freezing in the deep winter.

Mia was wearing an evening dress. Plus, she had just handed over her fur shawl to the housekeeper because the indoor heating was sufficient.

Unfortunately, she was shivering in the study.

Feeling resigned, Mia knelt on the floor.

Her body turned stiff within minutes. Although there was a carpet, her knees ached from the hard floor.

The door to the study opened, and Ellen entered with a thin whip.

“Take off your clothes. It’s not worth ruining such an expensive dress to punish you.”

Mia complied and removed her gown. A huge area of her skin was then exposed.

She felt cold and humiliated.

Ellen whipped and scolded her for over forty minutes.

When Ellen was finally tired, she left Mia in the study and went off to rest in her room.

She had been drinking quite a bit, so her blows were harsher than usual.

Mia’s legs had gone numb by then. With trembling hands, she picked up the gown next to her and draped it over her body. She sat in the study for a long while before her legs regained some sensation.

She tried to stand but fell back down.

The pain from the fresh wounds on her back was excruciating.

Just then, the housekeeper, Sally, entered. She was shocked. “Good heavens! How could the madam be so harsh?!”

Sally approached Mia, and her eyes welled up when she saw the wounds on Mia’s back.

In this household, Sally cared for her more than her own aunt, Ellen.

Soon after, Sally helped Mia back to her room.

Unable to hold herself up any longer, Mia collapsed onto the bed as soon as she touched it. Her body suddenly felt heavy and extremely tired, but she forced herself to stay awake a little longer. In the end, she managed to grab her phone to call Nolan.

After five or six rings, he answered the call, “Hello.”

His deep, magnetic voice sounded in her ear.

Mia gathered her strength and tried to sound normal. “Nolan, it’s me, Mia. Did you get home safely?”

“Yes. I just got home.”

“Thanks for tonight... I owe you one. Let’s have dinner sometime when you’re free.”

“We’ll see.” Nolan paused, then asked, “Tired?”

Despite Mia’s efforts to conceal it, she sounded weak and breathless. To the uninformed, it would sound like she was on the verge of falling asleep.

“Yeah… I probably drank too much tonight.”

“Rest early.”

Nolan was always aloof and concise.

Mia said goodbye and placed her phone down before she lay on her pillow. Immediately after, Sally came in with iodine and medicine.

Seeing Mia’s flushed skin and cracked, bluish lips, Sally touched her forehead. “Oh! Why are you so hot? I need to tell the madam that we have to visit the hospital!”

“No… Ah!”

Mia cried out in a panic and accidentally agitated her back wound.

Even though she was a prideful person, she was still frail. The pain brought tears to her eyes, and caused her to sob softly.

Sally was both distressed and anxious as she hurried back. “Okay. We won’t go. I’ll apply some medicine for you, and you can take some anti-inflammatory pills later. Have a good rest after that.”

Unbeknownst to them, Mia’s phone call was still active.

Confused by her fever, she never hung up, and her phone had slipped next to the pillow.

Nolan had waited for her to hang up first out of politeness. However, he ended up hearing Sally checking her temperature.

She was sick? No wonder she sounded so low on energy.

Nolan was not one to meddle, and her fever was none of his business. Yet, for some reason, he did not end the call and continued to listen.

He then discovered that Mia had been beaten upon getting home.

He further learned that Ellen had sent her own niece to a lecherous man and beaten her when she failed to meet their expectations. Nolan found the Shaw family quite interesting.

His assistant, Ethan Lewis, was sitting in the passenger seat. At this moment, he handed Nolan a report. “Mr. Locke, please look at this report—”

Nolan raised his hand to stop him, and Ethan immediately fell silent.

On the phone, Mia’s faint sobs continued. Her high fever left her weak and her voice soft. “Sally... it hurts so much...”

“Oh, dear… I’m here. I’ll stay with you… I feel like crying too when I see you like this. You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman. How could the madam do this?”

Soon, the murmuring subsided, probably because Mia had fallen asleep. However, Nolan could still hear some faint sobbing.

He finally hung up.

Ethan then handed Nolan the report, and he started reviewing it attentively. “What do you think about the Jewel Bay tourism development project?” he casually asked.

Ethan was taken aback. He did not know why Nolan would suddenly bring it up.

Thinking it over, he realized that the Shaw family had secured the Jewel Bay spa project. Nolan had been quite close to Mia recently, so maybe he was considering helping her?

“Policies have been leaning toward developing new areas lately. I think it’s worthwhile for our travel investment team to assess it. But if you’re thinking of helping the Shaw family’s company, that might be an overuse of resources.”

Nolan looked up with a glint in his obsidian-like eyes. “Who says I’m helping the Shaw family? Are they even worthy?”

Ethan immediately apologized, “Sorry. I was wrong to assume.”

He was quite frightened.

In his eight years working under Nolan, he had never seen him pull strings or make compromises for a romantic interest.

Ethan knew that Nolan always prioritized business. He was famously impartial and unemotional.

The only person who could get him to break this rule was the Lowe family’s heiress. Apparently, she was about to return to the country.

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