Kenton's eyes were unfathomably deep.

It's been over a month since they'd last seen each other. Could Mia really be this... tough?

In the past, She used to cling to him, as if she had separation anxiety.

If he didn't reply to her messages within an hour or two, she would call and send him tons of messages.

There was a time when Kenton found her annoying.

There was a time when he thought that she couldn't live without him, just as a fish couldn't survive without water.

They met in their third year of college. She belonged to the elites, while he was just a poor boy.

He was bullied by his roommates and scoffed at by his classmates for being poor.

Mia appeared in his life, like an angel.

Numerous times to save his ass, each time he was in trouble.

She was the harbinger of good tidings.

She was not only beautiful but a true goddess.

She was the legendary beauty of her school. Whether walking on the street, eating in the cafeteria, or even jogging in the sports stadium, she would attract a flock of onlookers.

But she only loved him.

She would save her limited book money to buy him large platters at the cafeteria.

She denied herself a bicycle to save money but bought him a motorbike, and not only did she never ask for gifts in return, but she also took the initiative to give him presents.

In his senior year, her father passed away.

He can still recall her crumpling into his embrace and weeping a river,

"I only have you now."

He had no choice but to kiss her time and again, holding her even tighter in the drafty room they rented together.

On the day of his engagement to Miss Moneybags, Mia was drenched to the bone.

And there Kent stood, by the window in the hotel, his heart aching as though being torn apart.

Yet, he had no other option.

After graduation, he decided to change cities with some of his juniors, making waves within just a year.

But in reality, his company was robust on the outside and weak on the inside, and teetering on the brink of a cash flow crisis.

That's when Miss Moneybags appeared.

The same old drama reenacted itself, showing him that you don't feel the pain until you get the blow.

He desperately needed the money, but he also needed to provide for his staff.

However, Miss Moneybag's bodyguards were lurking all around the engagement hotel. Any issues would dissipate this alliance of convenience into thin air,

It first started with delivering a charging cable at 11 PM, to miss money bag, which was his biggest investor at the time,

Although Mia was scared he would lose her investment, if he didn't go but she still couldn't bring herself to let him go at that time,

"Dare to go, and I'll eat you alive." That was Mia’s response. Until he decided to take his destiny by the balls.

***

"Are you serious? Are you really seeing Jake"

"At least he reports to me wherever he goes, he doesn't intentionally go missing, or frolicking around with miss moneybags."

But she had no mood to bicker with him.

"I've answered the question you've asked. I can leave now, right?"

Kenton laughed.

"Are you sincere about this? Okay, then tell me where he is now?"

She was confident.she was about answering him when he suddenly said.

"His car is right next to mine."

Kenton smirked, an enigmatic look on his face.

He turned on his mobile phone screen and shoved it under her nose.

"So you didn't feed him? Look at how anxious you've made him."

In the video, the expressions of Jake and the flight attendant were clearly visible.

Jake was looking up,

his eyes filled with dazzling infatuation.

She finished reading silently with her head bowed, then locked the screen and handed the phone back to Kenton.

"I've seen it all. Can you let go of me now?"

"Mia, aren't you angry?"

Kenton was slightly surprised.

He examined her upturned face closely, searching for traces of jealousy, anger, or disappointment.

Strange, there was none.

He had covertly followed his car, trailing behind him, suddenly appearing before her, just to see if this woman would cry, cling to him, scream in surprise.

If she would return to his arms, forgive him for hurting her heart.

But none of this happened. She was calm, looking at him almost like a stranger on the street.

He had even prepared for an argument with her, using Jake as a weapon to provoke her.

So, to prove to her that Jake was not worth it, Kenton deliberately took a video of Jake's illicit affair.

Hoping to see her frustrated, wanting her to understand that all men are the same, hoping she would understand his predicament.

Yet, she remained unmoved.

"What's there to get mad about? The more women he sleeps with, the more guilt he feels, and the more zeros he adds to the cheque he gives me."

Kenton took a deep breath to force himself back to reality, the refreshing scent of the aftershave forcefully entering her nose.

"Mia, listen to me, I know your sister needs money."

"But I am well aware of the Briggs family; Jake is nothing but the heir on paper; all the big money is in his dad's pocket."

"The money he can give you is, at most, a six-figure amount, his promise to take your sister to Hope Hospital is nothing more than a false cheque."

Kenton hesitated for a while but decided to blurt out the words stuck in his chest, though somewhat nonsensical,

"Moreover, you didn't go after money in the past."

She found it amusing inside. What else should she be after at this stage if not money? Love? Please.

Love is so elusive, for her right now, she must hold on tight to whatever can save her sister's life.

"Kenton, I want both love and money."

His expression paused, his tone began to soften,

"I know you're mad at me. But the two things you want, Jake can't provide either. Why bother with him?"

"And besides your sister, do you know how many prominent officials and nobilities are lining up to get into Hope Hospital?"

The following line, Kenton thought about it, but he didn't have the heart to say it:

"Who do you think you are, Mia that everyone has to help you out?"

She smiled,

"Do I remember correctly, your family made a living selling breakfast?"

Kenton’s family ran a small cafe, selling coffee and some pastries.

Upon hearing this, rather than getting angry, he laughed.

"Your sister is my dear friend, Leave this matter to me, I'll surely help you sort it out, even the money, and the hospital - you don't have to worry about all these."

This statement completely shattered Mia's last ounce of patience.

She couldn't stand the way he always assumed responsibility for everything. While people change their minds easily, he was like a chameleon.

"Kenton, let go. I have to leave."

If she didn't leave, the driver from the Briggs family would probably come looking.

But how could he possibly let go so easily,

"My car is outside. Come with me. Mia"

Upon hearing this, She couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

"Mia?"

A man's voice echoed from the door.

She suddenly felt a jolt in her heart.

Jake was back, that was fast.

However, it was still better not to offend him at this moment. Keeping him might be of great use.

With a malevolent laugh, Kenton, seizing the opportunity, leaned in close to her, whispering into her ear,

“Mia, what if I were to expose your dress to him right now? Would Jared still help you, do you think?"

He immediately regretted his words after they left his mouth.

Because he saw her eyes rimmed with red, her nose flushing, looking like a pitiful little bunny.

Trapped in the corner by him, she was unable to escape.

Irritated and anxious, she pressed her back against the cold wall as he showed no intention of letting her go.

Somehow, she was reminded of her sister, whose condition had worsened to the point she could no longer speak.

All of her hands had turned blue from the multiple IV punctures, leaving the nurse with no choice but to insert the needle in her forehead.

Every time she visited, her sister, whose hands trembled so much she could hardly hold a cup, would insist on handing her a glass of milk,

"Sis, you're working too hard. Drink more and replenish your strength."

Each time she reluctantly left the hospital room, her sister’s longing gaze followed her.

She once saw her little sister being rushed by a haughty nurse to sign medical documents, her small face turning all red while she had to force out a pleasing smile.

It seemed that only Jake could help her now, yet Kenton would ruin it all. Her eyes brimmed with tears without reason.

In the next second, tears fell down her cheeks, her shoulders slightly trembling.

Kenton was taken aback when he saw her state, melting with sympathy. He immediately let go of her arms, sighed softly, and encircled her closer into his arms. He held her tighter, "Mia I can help you. I will help you break off things with him."

In raising her eyes to see Kenton's hand about to open the door, her eyes turned frosty. With one swift move, she tore off the shoulder straps of her dress with a teeth-gritted 'rip' sound, following that quickly messed up her tidy hair. She acted coldly towards the stupefied Kenton,

"Kenton, if I called you out for harassment the moment I opened the door, would your fiancée still want to marry you crying and pleading? Would you still secure your investment funds?

There would be more like Jake Briggs, but can your company still prosper and allow you to live your privileged life as the boss?"

Mia's sudden move gave him a sudden fright. Subconsciously he reached out to cover up the exposed part where the strap had ripped off.

To his surprise, Mia extended her arm to create some space and took a step back, whispering,

"Hide behind the door, and stay silent."

At this point, what could Kenton possibly say? He could only sullenly nod in agreement.

She swiftly tied a knot in her strap before stepping out the door.

"Mia, what are you doing here?"

Though a door separated them, Kenton could catch the sound of Jake's surprised delight. He bit his lip to keep him from reacting.

She softly replied,

"Mmm, I still feel a bit nauseous from the flight so I went to the restroom."

The voices faded as the two of them walked away.

Kenton lingered in shock within the room.

He could still smell the floral scent in Mia's hair; he could still feel the softness of her waist in his hands.

For a moment, he was lost in thought.

She wasn't that kitten from his past anymore.

Meanwhile, she was helped by Jake into a hotel suite.

As frail and delicate as ever, she was blissfully carried in Jake's arms while he leaned forward, planting soft kisses on her ears.

"Baby, what would you like to eat later? I'll let the kitchen know so they can prepare it in advance."

"Mmm, I'll just have a salad."

Leaning over, he pinched her arm sympathetically.

"You're too thin. As your husband to be, I need to make sure you eat properly."

This hotel is nestled near the beach, with the sound of the ocean waves echoing, The scenery is lush, and beautiful.

Mia's mood inexplicably improved, momentarily forgetting about Kenton.

Leaning casually on the living room sofa, Jake couldn't help but curve his lips upward as he watched her moving back and forth between the front and backyards.

She was beautiful, gentle, and well-educated.

Despite hearing various unfortunate stories as a psychologist, she still maintained her calm and gentle demeanor.

Jared learned a new term - strong core, from Kayla.

In a nutshell, she was a girl easy to please, beautiful to look at, wise but not worldly.

If it wasn't for the vast difference in their family backgrounds, she would perfectly fit the criteria his parents were looking for in a daughter-in-law.

What a pity.

Thinking about this made him feel like a melancholic.

In the past, his relationship with his girlfriends never lasted longer than a month; the shortest only lasted a day.

However, he has been with her for three months already.

She took a deep breath of fresh air from the smell of the ocean and felt extremely refreshed.

Suddenly, her phone that was tucked in her pocket rang, displaying an unknown number.

The last three digits were 987.

Upon seeing the numbers, her face changed, but she subtly silenced her phone and returned to her room without drawing any attention.

"Jake, I'm a bit sleepy, I want to take a little rest."

Jared quickly and considerately escorted her to the bedroom. Unexpectedly, he had already prepared a cup of warm milk for her.

"Good girl, take a nap. I will take you for a drive later tonight."

As he closed the door, she snuggled in the blanket and dialed back the unknown number,

"Hello, Mrs. Briggs."

The voice of Mrs. Briggs was cold and emotionless.

"Where is it?"

"It's with me."

She answered softly.

Logically, when Kenton wrapped his arms around her waist just now, he should have felt it, but it seemed he didn't notice.

Mrs Briggs seemed quite satisfied and hummed in agreement,

"In two hours, someone will come to pick up the package."

Mia, knowing the other person couldn't see her, still nodded silently.

A click on the other end of the line signaled the call was hung up.

She was truly tired, but she dared not fall into a deep sleep.

She could only clenched the little box in her fist and placed it under her pillow.

She had just closed her eyes in a daze, and not long after, she felt something was wrong, the wind on her face.

Subconsciously, she gripped the little box even tighter.

The bedroom door creaked open.

Someone sneaked in and even climbed onto the bed.

"Kenton."

It was Jake.

"Are you feeling better now?"

He extended his hand to wrap around her waist.

"How does that feel, are you more comfortable now?"

She could only loosen her grip on the box and place her hand on top of his.

Having expended some energy on the plane, he was rather docile at this moment.

"It's nice," she replied.

"When can my sister move in, Jake?"

She strained to keep her voice steady as she awaited an answer.

"Don't worry, at the most, half a month."

As he said these words, he felt a pang of guilt, causing him to loosen his hold slightly.

She noticed, but she still snuggled against his arm like a kitten, rubbing her face against it.

"Yes, I know you will help me, right? As soon as possible?"

Her final question was tinged with a hint of tremor, crisp and vulnerable.

The innocent girlish charm left him momentarily dazed.

He, the proclaimed Casanova who prided himself on being astute with women, struggled to label her intentional doe-eyed sweetness as a characteristic of a scheming woman.

All he could do was to sigh quietly in his heart, and then tightened his arm which was placed around her waist.

"Don't worry, go back to sleep," she said quietly, her words were barely above a whisper, concealing her uneasy thoughts.

Only when she detected the rhythmic, deep snores coming from behind her did she dare to relax, her tightly clenched fist softly opening.

With the utmost care to not disturb her bedmate, she reached under her pillow and retrieved a small box.

And in a fraction of a second, the snoring from him stopped abruptly.

“Mia, what's that?" His voice was alarmingly alert, completely devoid of any traces of sleepiness.

Her heart sank.

She could feel her breath on the back of her neck, causing her skin to bristle with goosebumps.

"Um... I need to use the restroom," she muttered in a soft voice, quickly stashing the small box in the collar of her dress.

But far too conveniently, he leaned in from behind, his hand wandering upwards.

"How about we wait to... shower together?" He proposed with a teasing undertone.

She knew what was on his mind, but as a therapist who charges by the hour, she was particularly sensitive to time.

And she had less than half an hour before she needed to pick up a package that Jake's

assistant had arranged.

"Please, Jake... not now," She gently coaxed him, hoping he would relent.

She was frowning, increasingly unable to dodge him whose actions were getting more and more unrestrained.

She was extremely anxious.

At this moment, she wished to turn around and apply a little pressure on his pulse points, putting him straight to sleep. Like she had learned in her past.

However, her resistance only made him act more urgently.

"We’re already on the same bed, how can I let you go? Mia, you just give…”

Mia felt his hand almost invade her shirt. She could only grit her teeth, turn around, hug his neck, and coax him with a sweet voice.

"Jake, wait for me a bit longer, it will be quick."

"No way."

Jared imposingly pressed on her without hesitation.

Having no other option, she decided to go through with her plan.

Mia's hand slowly reached out to knock him out, but her hands were instantly seized by him.

"No need to do that"

She took a deep breath.

Just as she was preparing to argue with him, the room door was suddenly banged loudly.

"Boss! The police are here! They said you've kidnapped someone!"

Jake was stunned momentarily, a moment of looseness in his grip.

She took the chance to break free, conveniently slipping a small box from her collar back under the pillow.

She was dumbfounded.

How did all these rescuers suddenly appear?

But the timing of their arrival was indeed ill-fated.