Mia Grant wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.

The Simon Adler before her now gave off the vibe of someone who had completely given up and decided to just let things crash and burn.

Mia Grant laughed in exasperation. "Please, is liking me such a shameful thing?"

’Why does he look so reluctant about it???’

Simon Adler’s lips curved faintly. He asked resignedly, "Then what kind of expression do you think I should put on to be polite?"

"Tsk." Mia Grant was genuinely annoyed. If Lee hadn’t given her a heads-up, she’d really be suspecting that Simon Adler was just playing a prank on her.

"You look at me with less affection than I show my dog."

"Then why don’t you teach me? Show me how you look at your dog, and I’ll do my best to replicate it for you."

"..." Realizing what he had implied, Mia Grant snatched the throw pillow from her lap and hurled it at him. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Simon Adler caught it easily and tossed it aside.

He seemed to be in a decent mood. His whole body relaxed as he settled comfortably into the sofa.

For a moment, Mia Grant didn’t know what to say.

Noticing her worried expression, Simon Adler spoke slowly. "Don’t worry. I’m not like Yates Donovan, who enjoys poaching other people’s partners. I have no designs on you."

Mia Grant let out a dry laugh. "Oh, then I should thank your entire family."

The disdain they had for each other didn’t seem feigned at all.

"Look at you. Other than your top-tier face, what other qualities do you have that are worth me falling out with Silas Grant over?"

Mia Grant froze, as if she hadn’t heard him clearly. "What did you say?"

"Isn’t it true? Don’t you think—"

"The sentence before that."

"Other than your pretty face—"

"Stop right there." Mia Grant’s lips uncontrollably curled upward. "That’s enough. That sentence is more than enough."

Simon Adler: "..."

Mia Grant cupped her face and sighed in satisfaction. "See? No matter how much you despise me, you still can’t help but be moved by this face, can you?"

Hearing this, Simon Adler laughed.

"I wouldn’t say ’moved.’ I just think you have a nice face, that’s all."

"Oh?" Mia Grant smiled and leaned forward. "Do you dare to hold my gaze for one minute?"

"No, not even a minute. Fifteen seconds. Do you dare?"

Simon Adler didn’t reply, simply sitting up straight in silence. Then, as if trying to prove something, he mirrored her posture, propping his hands on his legs and leaning his upper body forward.

The distance between them suddenly closed, so much so that they could clearly feel the rhythm of each other’s breathing.

Mia Grant was dazed for a second, but she hesitated and didn’t back away.

Simon Adler started a timer, placed his phone on the table, and lifted his eyes to meet hers with a look of perfect composure.

Five seconds passed. Mia Grant maintained her smile, her eyes and her heart completely unflustered.

As was Simon Adler.

Time continued to slip quietly by.

For some reason, after those first five seconds, Simon Adler felt the remaining time stretch on for an eternity.

At first, he just stared at her faintly trembling eyelashes, but then his gaze slowly drifted downward...

It was only after truly looking into her eyes that he discovered they weren’t black, but a brownish hue—clear and bright, like a piece of amber.

And in that moment, his own reflection appeared in her pupils.

Like a tiny insect trapped in amber, he wanted to look away but found he had nowhere to run.

His gaze, along with his heartbeat, was strangely captivated by her eyes, rising and falling with the smile that rippled in their depths.

"BEEP—"

The countdown stopped.

Still lost in a daze, Simon Adler snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream and shot his eyes upward.

Mia Grant laughed and leaned back. "Mr. Adler, your heart is beating so fast. Should I call an ambulance for you?"

"..."

Her smug teasing hammered against his eardrums, mocking his flustered state, as if to say, ’See? Acting tough never ends well.’

Taking a deep breath, Simon Adler cleared his throat. "Is there anything else?"

"Hmm? Nope, that’s all." Mia Grant blinked, a mischievous glint in her smile.

"Then what about that leverage you mentioned earlier...?"

"It’s not important anymore."

"?"

"Because I’ve found new leverage." ’I wasn’t sure about what Lee said before, but now it’s confirmed.’

"..."

Simon Adler found it absurd. People really do laugh when they’re at a loss for words.

"You think you can control me with this?"

"You think I’m like those other idiots, that I’ll let you wrap me around your little finger?"

"In your dreams."

Mia Grant pouted and let out a soft "Ah." "That’s what they all thought at first, too. But now... you should know how it turned out."

"..."

Simon Adler choked.

Grabbing his phone, Simon Adler stood up in a huff and prepared to leave.

Mia Grant didn’t stop him. She just draped herself over the back of the sofa, watching his retreating figure as she said softly, "My second brother is coming over around tomorrow afternoon. But he doesn’t know I’m here. So, I’ll have to trouble you for dinner."

Simon Adler didn’t break his stride. "I’m not your servant."

"Then what if I starve to death?"

Simon Adler spun around to meet her innocent gaze and said coldly, "You won’t die from skipping one meal."

"Oh, but I can’t do that. I’m already malnourished. If I don’t eat, my blood sugar will drop. What if I faint in my room...?"

"I’ll have someone bring food up to you."

"Nope." She seemed to be deliberately making trouble for him, contradicting him at every turn.

"Now what?"

"The old gentleman’s meals are too bland. I don’t like them."

"Then what do you want? Should I call in a team of chefs to cook for you live in your room?"

"That’s not out of the question."

"..."

Deep breath.

Simon Adler gave in. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, his tone flat. "What do you want to eat."

Mia Grant counted on her fingers, thinking seriously. "Basque-style seafood soup, pan-seared salmon, French puff pastry meat pie, cheese soufflé, roasted chicken with sweet orange, and a ham and lettuce salad."

"Oh, and ice cream."

"You eat ice cream for dinner?"

"Nope." Mia Grant looked at him, blinking her eyes. "I want it now."

"..." Simon Adler glanced down at the time. "Now?"

"Can’t I?"

"I want the vanilla and rum flavors from G brand. Don’t mix them, okay? They have to be in separate containers. Can you do it in ten minutes?"

Simon Adler’s eyelid twitched violently. "Let me repeat, I am not your slave."

Mia Grant nodded and asked agreeably, "And? Can you go buy it now?"

"..."

Simon Adler’s chest heaved once, and then he slammed the door on his way out.

Seeing this, Mia Grant sneered, then turned and went back to the walk-in closet to change into her pajamas.

She had barely finished applying body lotion when there was a knock at the door.

When she went to open it, no one was outside.

The hallway was dimly lit. Paired with the antique chandelier overhead, the oil paintings on the walls, and the richly colored carpet on the floor, it felt like stepping into the last century—a little eerie.

Mia Grant shivered and moved to lock the door.

Before the door was fully closed, her gaze drifted downward, and she froze.

Hanging on the handle of the other half of the double doors to her bedroom was an exquisite insulated bag.

Mia Grant took it down and found the two containers of ice cream she had specifically requested inside.