Ever since Mason Lawson took power, The Third Madam had been constantly drilling it into his head, reminding him of how she had raised him.

Mason had heard it enough and was growing impatient. "As long as you don’t go around spreading rumors, no one will know," he said. "I’ll make a public announcement only when the time is right."

"A public announcement?" A flicker of nervousness crossed The Third Madam’s face. "What? You really intend to tell everyone that you’ve taken up with a woman Julian Lawson cast aside? What on earth are you thinking? You’re ignoring a wonderful girl like Joanna to be with this... this kind of trashy woman!"

Mason’s expression darkened. "It’s not like you don’t know how terribly she acted back then," he told her. "Some things, in my eyes, are simply unforgivable."

The Third Madam quickly defended her niece. "But she’s back now! She tells me every single day how much she regrets what happened. You two were so good together before. It was you who personally went to Joanna’s parents and asked for her hand in marriage. Have you forgotten all that?"

Mason’s expression grew even darker. "It’s been over between us for a long time. If you want to marry her so badly, then you marry her. I’m tired. You should leave."

With that, Mason called out to the hallway, "Neil, see the madam out!"

Neil Kane entered at once and gestured. "Madam, if you please."

The Third Madam had learned nothing and had been thoroughly shut down by Mason. Furious, she left with nothing to show for her efforts.

’A child that isn’t your own is just useless,’ she thought, growing more convinced. ’You can’t hit them, you can’t scold them, and you constantly have to worry they’ll turn on you.’

’Now, Mason won’t listen to a single word I say!’

After The Third Madam left, a message came through on Mason’s phone.

He opened it. It was from Eve Vaughn. "Uncle, I want to be there to take care of you, too."

A smile touched Mason’s lips as he typed back: "Silly girl, there’s no one here at my bedside. What you’re worried about isn’t going to happen."

Eve then realized Mason must have thought she was jealous of Joanna Sullivan.

She quickly clarified, "I’m not jealous. I really do want to be by your side."

Mason’s reply came back quickly: "When I get out of the hospital, you’re coming back to The Sovereign Pearl to stay with me every day. And if you try to back out then, I’ll drag you into bed myself."

Eve blushed furiously at his teasing words. "I’m sleepy, I’m going to bed," she typed quickly. "You should get some rest too, Uncle. Good night!"

...

The next day, Mason was already working from his hospital room.

Countless company matters required his decision and attention. Besides, his injuries weren’t serious, and since he had nothing better to do, he’d moved his office into his hospital room.

In the morning, Eve Vaughn got out of class early and called him to ask if he was feeling any better.

Mason was in the middle of whispering sweet nothings to the girl when Neil Kane suddenly knocked. "President Lawson, Old Mr. Lawson is here. He’s just reached the elevators."

Mason said into the phone, "Evie, something’s come up. I’ll call you back later."

Eve paused. "You’re still working even though you’re injured?"

"A little injury like this is nothing," Mason said softly. "Don’t worry about me. I know my own limits."

Just as he said that, Old Mr. Lawson walked in, supported by an attendant.

Mason calmly put his phone away. "Dad, you’re here."

Old Mr. Lawson asked with concern, "Are you feeling any better today?"

"Much better."

Mason’s reply was casual.

Old Mr. Lawson sighed deeply. "When I was attacked, your older brother was there too, but it was you who stepped forward and shielded me. I truly made the right choice, picking you as my successor!"

Mason advised him gravely, "Dad, they haven’t caught those men yet, so you’re still in danger. I think it’s best if you don’t go out, to prevent what happened yesterday from happening again."

Old Mr. Lawson said, "Don’t worry. My bodyguards are no slouches. Besides, after the commotion they caused yesterday, both the police and my own people are hunting for them. They won’t dare risk another attack on me so soon. However, your mother is very worried about you. She’s afraid they’ll retaliate, so she asked me to select some of my personal bodyguards to protect you."

"That... won’t be necessary, will it?"

Mason immediately tried to refuse. After all, if Old Mr. Lawson’s men were guarding him, his every move would be reported back to his father.

Mason understood in an instant. ’What a clever move from the madam,’ he thought. ’She can’t control me herself, so she found a way to have Dad unknowingly restrain me for her.’

But his refusal didn’t change the old man’s mind.

Old Mr. Lawson just said, "You’re the son I have the highest hopes for. I must ensure your safety. Don’t refuse. I have plenty of bodyguards; I can spare one or two."

Mason had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept his father’s "kindness."

The old man then discussed some company matters with him, planning to grant him more authority once he was discharged, as well as transfer more of his own shares over to him.

After they had talked for nearly an hour, the old man finally left the hospital, escorted by his bodyguards.

Mason called Neil Kane in. "How many bodyguards did my father post here?"

"Five," Neil Kane said with a sigh. "I just tried to make small talk with them to find out. The old man ordered them to stick to you like glue to ensure your safety. President Lawson, you should probably just stay in your room for the time being. Don’t go out to see Miss Vaughn. Otherwise, it will be trouble for you, and for her."

Mason said, "Then go find the doctor. Ask when I can be discharged."

Neil, knowing what Mason was thinking, could only reply cautiously, "The doctor said that while the injury isn’t life-threatening, it’s on your shoulder, near a lot of nerves. You’ll need to rest for at least half a month before you can be discharged. Otherwise, if it doesn’t heal properly, it could affect your mobility."

Mason’s brow furrowed deeply. He waved his hand, dismissing him.

Before long, The Third Madam walked into the room, bringing Joanna Sullivan with her, a triumphant smile on her face.

"Oh, Mason, look how much your father values you! He was so afraid those assassins might come back that he sent all these bodyguards for you."

When The Third Madam finished, Mason’s face was expressionless, his eyes holding a frosty glint.

Seeing this, Joanna Sullivan quickly placed the container of pork bone soup she’d made on the table. "Mason, my aunt said you don’t like fish soup, so I made you some pork bone soup. It’s almost lunchtime. Here, have a taste."

Mason glanced at the thick broth, his expression unyielding. He turned to The Third Madam, his tone accusatory. "Madam, it’s just the three of us in this room. There’s no need to put on an act. Why did you have my father send those bodyguards?"

The Third Madam pulled Joanna to her side. "Mason, whatever I do, it’s for your own good. Use this time while you’re recovering to break things off with that girl. Let Joanna take care of you. Then I can rest easy."

’Of course,’ Mason thought. ’For The Third Madam to have become Old Mr. Lawson’s third wife, she’s bound to be shrewd.’

’With his father’s bodyguards following him, he couldn’t go anywhere, let alone see Eve Vaughn.’

’And right on cue, The Third Madam brings Joanna here to show the bodyguards Joanna’s ’devotion’ to him, so they can report it all back to his father.’

’His father’s bodyguards were right outside the door, acting as his father’s spies.’

’Even if he was furious with her arrangement, The Third Madam was betting he wouldn’t make a scene and throw them out right in front of his father’s spies.’

’After all, Old Mr. Lawson valued reputation and family harmony above all else and detested those who caused arguments and made trouble.’

’Years ago, Autumn Woods from the first branch of the family had been too aggressive, constantly arguing with her husband and bringing the chaos before the old man, until he grew to despise them.’

’In the end, the first branch had all their power revoked and was nearly marginalized from the Lawson Group entirely.’

’The Third Madam had witnessed all of this, and Mason couldn’t possibly be unaware of it.’

So, instead of lashing out at The Third Madam and Joanna, he simply took the soup and walked into the bathroom.

The entire thermos of pork bone soup was poured down the toilet by Mason.

Joanna followed him, and seeing the soup she had painstakingly made being wasted like that, she finally broke down, crying, "Mason, that’s too cruel! How could you do that?"

The Third Madam’s eyes flew wide. "Are you insane?" she snapped. "Joanna was up since five this morning making that soup for you! Do you have any idea how much effort that took? How can you treat her like this?"

Mason placed the empty thermos back on the table. "Madam," he said to them, "I think you know my temperament by now. I don’t like being threatened. Whether you use a soft touch or a hard hand, it’s all useless on me."