"Tristan Grayson, what good does it do you to offend and anger me for that woman?" Most men who approached her would try to curry favor and flatter her; even the detestable Jason Lockwood was no exception.

Tristan Grayson straightened up and looked down at Aria Joyce, his voice sharp. "You’re right, there’s no benefit for me. But I know one thing: she’s my woman, and I’m the only one allowed to say anything about her. No one else has the right." With that, Tristan Grayson turned and left.

Aria Joyce only snapped back to her senses after Tristan Grayson’s figure disappeared down the hall. She stomped her foot angrily and yelled, "Your woman? Tristan Grayson, you get back here and make yourself clear! Who exactly is your woman?!"

Outside the hotel, Mika Summers turned down Archie Lockwood’s request.

"Archie, I can’t go with you."

"Why not?" Archie Lockwood frowned, confused.

"Archie, I have a job and a life of my own now. I really can’t go back to living with you all."

"Mika, are you still holding a grudge against Eleanor Bishop? Mika, don’t worry. I promise you won’t see her if you come back."

Mika frowned, a little surprised by Archie Lockwood’s words. "Archie, what are you talking about?" ’Why would I hold a grudge against Eleanor Bishop? What she did was disappointing, yes, but it wasn’t enough to make me hate her.’

"Mika, I kicked Eleanor out after you left. She’ll never be able to hurt us again."

"Archie, how could you do that? What about Rory?"

"Don’t bring them up again. That mother and daughter have nothing to do with us," Archie Lockwood snapped, waving his hand dismissively, clearly furious.

Mika didn’t say another word, but she looked at Archie Lockwood as if he were a complete stranger.

Archie Lockwood immediately regretted his outburst. ’How could I lose my temper in front of Mika? What if I scared her off again?’ At that thought, he quickly grabbed Mika Summers’s arm and said in a low voice, "Mika, please come home with me. I’ll protect you from now on. I absolutely will not let Tristan Grayson hurt you ever again."

Mika frowned and brushed Archie Lockwood’s hand away. "Archie," she said coolly, "I’ll come back, of course. But only to see Mom and Dad."

At her words, Archie Lockwood stiffened, his gaze darkening. "Mika, are you angry with me? Angry that it took me so long to find you, or that I was powerless to protect you?"

"Archie, you’re overthinking things. It’s getting late. As for the partnership proposal, I don’t think there’s time to discuss it today. I’ll schedule a meeting with you another time." Mika didn’t want to bring up the past. ’That was a wound it had taken her two hard years to finally let scar over.’

As he watched Mika Summers walk toward the parking lot, Archie Lockwood waved Louise Jordan over and gave a sharp order, "Contact Howard Rhodes immediately. Tell him to bring Mom and Dad back to the villa tomorrow."

"Understood."

When Mika Summers opened her car door, she found a man sitting in the passenger seat.

Her expression darkened. She got into the car and asked coldly, "Silas Kent, do you think this is funny?"

"Not really," Silas Kent replied with a shrug.

"Then what are you doing here?"

He turned his head to stare intently at Mika Summers. "I was worried about you."

"And now?"

After looking her over for a long moment, Silas Kent nodded. "You seem okay," he said, his voice low. "You haven’t even lost a single hair."

"You’re ridiculous." At his words, Mika couldn’t help but laugh.