Mr. Hughes leaned back in his chair, his eyes crinkling with a smile as he looked at her. His voice was calm and measured, but for a fleeting moment, Mia Grant thought she detected a hint of sarcasm, so subtle it might have been her imagination.

He was like any other elder, patiently advising a younger family member in whom he had placed great hopes.

But Mia Grant didn’t get lost in his seemingly endless stream of compliments.

She knew exactly what message he was trying to send her.

Clearly, even though she was already engaged, Mr. Hughes hadn’t let down his guard.

"What are your plans for the future?"

The question brought Mia Grant back to the present. She hesitated for a moment before answering, "I plan to continue my studies in a combined master’s and doctoral program. As for my career path after that, I don’t have any definite plans yet."

"Hm, continuing your education is a good choice. I’ve seen your grades. For a young woman to have accomplished so much is quite impressive."

Mia Grant’s eyes flickered. She listened attentively.

Mr. Hughes let out a long sigh before asking, "Do you have any plans to come live in Portia in the future?"

Mia Grant froze.

Her mind started racing as she tried to decipher his intentions.

"Don’t overthink it. This is just a casual chat." He saw right through her and interrupted her train of thought with a smile.

Mia Grant let out a vague "ah," her lips parting hesitantly.

"Tell me what you’re really thinking. I’m quite curious."

"..." Mia Grant chose her words carefully. "No."

"Really?"

"I did at first, but not anymore."

"Why is that?"

Her long lashes fluttered, not from nervousness, but from deep in thought.

Her hands, resting on her lap, clenched and then relaxed. Mia Grant’s voice was almost serene as she said, "Initially, I did want to come live in Portia, because it would mean being closer to my brother. I truly hoped I could be under his protection and live a peaceful life."

"Then why not now? Is it because of this old man?"

"No, that’s not it."

Mia Grant shook her head. "Because I’ve realized that I shouldn’t depend on anyone."

"Why must I be a delicate flower?"

"Why can’t I be the thorns?"

"My life is mine to control."

"Everyone else should simply be an accessory to it."

The young woman’s voice was crisp and clear, her words spoken with resolute force.

The butler flinched, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. He instinctively glanced at Mr. Hughes.

Unexpectedly, the smile on Mr. Hughes’s lips widened. There was no sign of anger.

"One last question. Silas and Hayes—what do you think of them?"

This was a trick question, the kind that could get you killed. It was like a nosy relative forcing you to choose between your mom and dad.

Mia Grant’s brow furrowed slightly. "My older brother and second brother are both wonderful. Grandfather, you’ve raised them well, and they are both very good to me. But, if this must be a multiple-choice question, then I choose myself."

’Forced to choose between the two, she couldn’t pick either one.’

’This was Mr. Hughes’s test.’

’No matter who she picked, she’d be the one in trouble in the end.’

An eerie silence fell over the dining room. Mia Grant immediately bowed her head. "I apologize, Grandfather."

Mr. Hughes chuckled. "Why are you apologizing? I’ve said from the very beginning that you’re the cleverest one of all."

"So clever, in fact, that I’m starting to waver."

Mia Grant looked up at him.

Mr. Hughes said no more. He pushed himself up using the armrests, and the butler was instantly at his side to support him.

Mia Grant rose to her feet as well, watching him go.

As soon as Mr. Hughes was gone, more than half of the servants in the dining room withdrew, leaving the space so quiet she could hear nothing but her own breathing.

His last words still echoed in her ears.

After a moment’s pause, she picked up her chopsticks and resumed her meal.

’Can’t let myself go hungry.’

[Does what he said mean he’s accepted you, Host?] the system asked, confused.

"Who knows."

Mia Grant’s attention was focused on her food.

[Host, are you not afraid anymore?] the system asked.

The system could clearly sense that Mia Grant had relaxed completely, a stark contrast to her state earlier in the day.

"Of course I’m scared. But I think I’m safe, at least for the time being."

For some reason, after their conversation, Mia Grant just had a feeling that Mr. Hughes no longer seemed so intent on killing her.

He certainly hadn’t reached the point of accepting her, but the absolute need to kill her seemed to have vanished.

Upstairs, Mr. Hughes slowly ascended the staircase, supported by his butler. He rarely used the elevator.

"The second young miss certainly seems sharp," the butler commented.

"Mm." Mr. Hughes stared ahead, his face impassive. "No wonder Silas is so fixated on her."

"You mentioned that you were wavering... Does that mean you’re actually planning to..."

"How could I?" Mr. Hughes let out a dry laugh. "No one can change the matter of Silas’s marriage."

"I can concede and spare the girl’s life, but there’s no future for the two of them together."

"I see. I thought for a moment you genuinely wanted the second young miss to come live in Portia."

"I do," Mr. Hughes said, turning to him with a smile. "They can’t be together publicly, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be together privately."

"It’s just a business alliance, after all. As long as they keep up appearances and don’t embarrass either family, it’s fine."

"If he really can’t let her go, he can just keep her by his side as a little sister."

"That way, I’ll have leverage over him. Once a man has a weakness, he can no longer hold his head high."

"But judging by that girl, her ambitions lie elsewhere."

The butler could tell that Mr. Hughes was merely thinking aloud.

If Mia Grant had actually agreed to live by Silas’s side...

Mr. Hughes would have never let her live.

"Have you called him?"

"Yes. The Young Master said he has a social engagement tomorrow evening and won’t be able to return for now. The Second Young Master will be landing tomorrow at dusk."

"And the second young miss...?"

"Let her do as she pleases."

"Understood."

***

After dinner, Mia Grant wanted to take a stroll in the courtyard, but she was afraid. It was a dark and windy night... ’What if they try to silence me?’

After hesitating on the first floor for a while, she called for Lee, and they went outside.

The lamps along the path were already lit. Mia Grant stood by the fountain, gazing down the mountainside and letting out a faint sigh.

After she had been wandering the grounds for five minutes, Lee urged her to head back inside.

"The boss isn’t here, so I’m really worried something might happen to you."

Lee leaned in and whispered, "If someone really did come after you... I’m not sure I could take them."

"A lot of the Hughes family’s bodyguards here have killed people before."

"Why don’t you come back out in half an hour?"

"Why? Are these bodyguards going off duty in half an hour?"

"No, in half an hour, my boss gets off work."

Mia Grant was confused. "?"

"When my boss gets back, he can protect you."

"Your boss doesn’t seem as capable as you are. Doesn’t he rely on you for protection?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"That may be true, but if he’s here, the Hughes family won’t dare to touch you."

"I’m not so sure about that. If something happens, he’ll probably run faster than I would."

"Oh, no way." Lee wrung his hands. "He likes you so much, he would never abandon you."