In the study on the first floor of the Quinn family's villa.

Matthew and the old butler, David Chapman, both looked tense, brows tightly knitted.

"Mr. Quinn, are we overthinking this? Maybe we misunderstood Madam Quinn. I really think she meant well with this arrangement between you and Chloe," David said with worry.

Matthew walked to the window, stood there for a moment, and said coolly, "Misunderstood? If she hadn't set it all up behind my back, would I have ended up almost marrying Chloe?"

"Yes, I know Madam Quinn was strict with you before, didn't even let you see your father one last time, but maybe she had her reasons. Ever since you came back to the country after your father passed three years ago, even if she's not your real mom, you two have been getting along okay-"

"David," Matthew cut him off, clearly not in the mood to continue.

David quickly lowered his head. "Right, sorry, I spoke out of turn..."

Seeing how flustered David looked, Matthew's tone softened a bit.

"The only reason she treats me nicely is because it was Dad's dying wish. The only reason I've played the dutiful son is that I still feel guilty toward her in some way. If she can keep the peace moving forward, I'll treat her with respect, make sure she lives well-but she better not cross the line."

David looked pained. "Still, it's unfair to you. The last-minute call-off really offended the Garland family. They won't take that lightly."

Matthew let out a cold laugh, "Let them be."

Just then, a voice came from outside the window-Susan Greene calling out, "Mrs. Quinn, what are you doing here? It's dinner time."

Startled, Serena, who had been eavesdropping under the window, shot up in panic. She looked straight into Matthew's eyes-he was standing right inside by the window.

With a sheepish smile, she nervously called back, "Ah... right! Susan, I got a little lost." Then she bolted away like a frightened bunny.

Susan chuckled as she walked ahead. "Whenever Mr. Quinn and David are having a chat in the study, it's best to stay away. He doesn't like being disturbed."

"Yes, yes," Serena replied quickly, following along, heart still pounding. What did she just overhear?

So Matthew and Madam Quinn aren't actually blood relatives, and the engagement was her doing-that's why he called it off at the last minute. That cold-blooded, unreliable rich guy isn't so clueless after all-he's sharp, and clearly played his cards on purpose to humiliate Madam Quinn in public.

Wow. This man's not just a quiet CEO-he's got layers.

And now, stuck in this web of rich family drama, she-a total outsider who can't even defend herself-was right in the middle of it.

Serena suddenly stopped in her tracks, a new worry hitting her. Wait... I know too much now. What if Matthew decides to silence me?

Her voice was shaky as she turned to Susan, putting on a pitiful look. "Um... Susan, I think I left my bracelet back there. Mind if I run back and grab it?"

Thankfully, Susan didn't suspect anything. "Of course, but be quick. I'll go ahead and tell the kitchen to start dinner."

With a sweet smile, Serena chirped, "Okay!"

After Susan walked off, Serena looked around cautiously. With the sun setting, it was now or never to slip away quietly.

But the Quinn family estate was way too big. Everywhere she turned-big gates, side doors-they were all guarded and brightly lit. She'd have to find a dark path without lights to make her escape.

Back in the study, David and Matthew exchanged uneasy glances-they realized someone had heard them.

David hesitated, then asked, "About Ms. Dawson... what should we do with her?"

Matthew sat down at the desk, lips curling into a faint sneer. "It's not over yet. She's not going anywhere."

David nodded slowly, eyes narrowing in thought.

Serena had been walking down the dim, twisty path for a while now. No lights, just turns and more turns. She passed what seemed like a pond, a basketball court, maybe even a swimming pool and a gazebo...

Good grief, rich folks really live in another dimension of luxury.

She'd been running for at least ten minutes straight, her breath was coming in sharp gasps when she finally stopped.

Looking up, she saw a small, traditional-style house nearby. Only two faint lights glowed by the front door.

"Small" was relative - it only looked small compared to the Quinns' mansion. Compared to her own place? Yeah, this thing was massive.

She figured that after running that long, she must've finally made it out of the Quinns' main estate.

It was super late already, and cabs would probably be impossible to flag down around this private area, so she decided to try her luck and knocked on the door.

No one answered. After knocking for a good while and feeling completely worn out from the whole day, Serena just slumped onto the doorstep and dozed off.

The nights in Westbridge were starting to get chilly. Wearing nothing but a simple dress, the cold made her instinctively curl into herself for warmth.

Meanwhile, back at the Quinn mansion, in the study...

"Any... news about Austin?" Matthew asked with a deep frown.

Talking about Vivian had stirred up memories of his little brother who got lost at an amusement park when they were kids. Austin's disappearance had completely turned their whole family upside down.

Vivian had blamed Matthew for it, accusing him of purposefully losing his three-year-old brother out of spite. She even used her own life to press the fifteen-year-old Matthew into leaving for Veloria, strictly banning him from returning without her permission.

Ever since then, the name "Austin" had become a taboo no one in the Quinn household dared to bring up.

David shuddered slightly, then gave a slow shake of his head. "Just bits and pieces. Heard he was kidnapped and sold off to some remote mountain village. We've never stopped searching all these years."

Matthew leaned forward, rubbing his temples with both hands, his face etched with pain. "Got it. Keep looking."

Right then, a flurry of noise erupted outside the study.

He swiftly opened the door and stepped out. "What happened?"

Susan rushed over, panic written all over her face. "Mr. Quinn, your wife is missing."

Matthew blinked. "Missing? Wasn't she just with you by the study window?"

He tried calling Serena's phone - straight to voicemail.

"She was. Then she said her bracelet fell off and went back to look for it. I came to the dining room to prep dinner, waited and waited, but she never showed. I checked outside the study too and... nothing."

Susan's eyes were tearing up in anxiety.

Matthew's expression instantly darkened, a storm brewing behind his eyes. But noticing Vivian nearby, he quickly forced a neutral face. "She probably got lost. Turn on all the lights and start searching."

The Quinn mansion was instantly thrown into chaos.

Matthew turned to Vivian with a nod. "Dinner's ready. You go ahead."

Vivian gracefully took a seat at the dining table, smiling. "It's her first night here, right? It'd be awkward to eat without her. You all go look, I'll wait. No rush."

He just gave a cool "Sure" in return, but inside, he was burning up with worry.

He pulled aside one of the staff rushing around and asked quietly, "You checked the side villa?"

The maid hesitated, "N-Not yet... I'll go now."

Matthew gave a sharp smile and held her back. "No need. I'll take care of it. Tell Susan to go ahead with dinner."

They had already searched the entire mansion thoroughly. Given that the place sat halfway up a mountain with security at every exit and no reports of Serena leaving, that only left one possibility-she must be at the side villa.

This villa was tucked at the base of the mountain, kind of isolated but peaceful. The old man had used it as a recovery spot back in the day.

Matthew hopped on his motorbike and headed straight there.

Hearing the low rumble of the engine, Serena, still curled on the steps, perked up fast. Finally! Someone from the house was back. She might just be saved after all.

After the car rolled to a stop and the headlights went out, Serena dashed over excitedly. "Hi there! Sorry to bother you, I'm kinda lost. Could you maybe drop me off somewhere I can catch a ride?"

Matthew smirked, the curve of his lips carrying a hint of mischief. "It'd be my pleasure, Ms. Dawson."

She instantly froze-the voice wasn't right. Under the dim porch light, she glanced sideways...and yep, it was Matthew.

Her first instinct was to bolt, but a hand caught her just in time. "Running away?"

"W-Who's running? I was just... just... walking the wrong way."

Matthew gave a low, teasing chuckle, stepping closer with a slow, easy confidence until she was backed against the wall, no exit in sight. He leaned down, eyes locked onto hers as she kept nervously avoiding his gaze. "The wrong way? You mean from the study window all the way to the side villa-like that's an accidental detour?"

Speechless, Serena stiffened like a board, shut her eyes, furrowed her brows and nodded firmly. "Yep. Totally got turned around."

"This whole area-ten miles in every direction-is Quinn property. As the lady of the house, you've got total freedom to get 'lost' anywhere you like."

Matthew straightened, leaned against his motorcycle, and casually lit a cigarette as he spoke.

Serena had barely caught her breath when that bomb dropped. "Wait... Wait, all of this... is your family's?"

He exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "Don't believe me?"

"No, no! I believe you! Totally believe you!"

Considering Quinn Corp's massive worth, and how the Quinn family had ruled Westbridge's wealth rankings for decades, Serena never doubted it for a second.

Internally though? She was berating herself for being so dense. 'Ten minutes of running and I thought I'd escaped the estate? Girl, wake up.'

The life of the rich really was another planet.

From the main villa to this side villa-she'd hobbled all the way on a bad foot, and she was still within the Quinn compound. Absolutely ridiculous.

Matthew put out his cigarette with a flick and let out a low chuckle. He reached out and tilted her chin up with one finger, his voice soft but unsettling. "Still planning on getting 'lost,' Ms. Dawson?"

"Nope. I... I've got the path memorized now."

He looked pleased.

"Good. Can't wait to see your upcoming performance, Mrs. Quinn. Or, I could always have the driver take you to your fifty-year-old fiancé."

Serena's face went pale the moment that number left his lips.

Clearly, he was already onto everything that had gone down today. He even knew about her and that old man.

Made sense, though. With the kind of security surrounding the Quinn mansion, there's no way Matthew would bring home just anyone to play pretend wife. He must've made sure she was someone with zero connections, who he could keep in check.

Had to be when she was changing at the hotel. He must've dug into her background then.

But all that in just a few minutes?

That thought gave her chills. Still, she forced out a bright, cheerful smile and turned on the charm. "Promise to deliver a stellar performance."

Matthew turned coolly, hopped on his bike, and looked back. "You getting on or not?"

She quickly slid sideways onto the seat behind him, tentatively tugged on the corner of his jacket-then immediately pulled back like she got burned. Now what? Where was she even supposed to hold on?

The bike suddenly jerked forward, and she lurched, smacking straight into his back with her chin and letting out a pained hiss.

"Hold on tight."

"Oh-okay, got it..."

Her hands trembled as she nervously wrapped them around his waist.

Being this close, she could catch a faint whiff of his cologne.

And with the way they were sitting... her cheeks started to burn.