Flower petals fluttered about as Mia Grant lay in the man’s arms. It took her a moment to come to her senses before she lifted her head from his chest.

"H-Hayes, are you okay?"

"I’m fine." Hayes Hughes’s eyes held a look of resignation.

Luckily, he had been sitting on a low stool, so it wasn’t a long fall to the ground.

He looked at the girl lying on top of him, carefully checking her over. He breathed a sigh of relief only after confirming that she was unharmed too.

"Get up now. Be careful not to get scratched by the branches." He released his hold on her, placing his hands lightly on her waist to help her stand.

Mia Grant hesitated, not moving.

He watched her.

She was watching him, too.

A few crimson petals had fallen onto the man’s chest.

He had worn a white shirt and a trench coat when he left the house.

Now, those bewitching splashes of red on him made Mia Grant’s eyes grow hot.

Her hands were still resting on his midsection—a dangerous position.

He was more aware of this than she was, which was why he urged her to get up.

"Mia, get up first—"

"Hayes Hughes."

She said his full name, cutting him off.

The man fell silent, the rise and fall of his chest nearly stopping altogether.

He was terrified of being too forward with her.

Because some reactions were not within his control.

But she, acting as if she didn’t know a thing, leaned down with a mischievous smile. Placing a hand over his heart, she felt it thrumming. "Hayes, you’re really beautiful."

"Your eyes are beautiful, your nose is beautiful, and your mouth is beautiful too."

"I bet your abs are beautiful, too, because they feel so hard."

Hayes Hughes pressed his lips together, his eyes filled with utter resignation.

He didn’t seem to appreciate such compliments at a time like this.

His expression showed no signs of pleasure, but he wasn’t angry either.

It was more a mixture of inner conflict and helplessness.

He was about to say something, but she beat him to it.

"Hayes, I love flowers."

"I’ve always wanted to kiss the person I like in a place like this."

Just as she expected, he hesitated.

Mia Grant smiled in triumph.

Hearing her laugh, Hayes Hughes frowned. "Mia..."

His tone was clearly meant to be rejecting, yet it lacked conviction and was even tinged with affection and indulgence.

"Someone might see us."

"Didn’t you say there were no security cameras?"

"But people might walk by."

The conservatory was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which were cleaned on a schedule by the staff. The glass was as crystal clear as the first layer of ice forming on a lake in early winter.

Hearing this, Mia Grant glanced around furtively. "Then just give me a quick kiss, and we’ll get out of here."

"..." Hayes Hughes laughed. He raised a hand to cover his eyes in exasperation, his chest shaking with laughter.

It was as if he’d been amused by the innocent words of a mischievous child. His laugh, like his voice, was soft and gentle, without a trace of any ulterior motive.

There was none of the mockery, teasing, or disdain she was so used to hearing.

None of it was there.

Mia Grant stared at him in a daze for a moment before snapping out of it.

’Of course. I could fall for Hayes Hughes in countless little moments like this.’

Just as she leaned down, Hayes Hughes seemed to sense her intention and raised his hand again, stopping her from getting any closer.

"..."

Mia Grant pouted, a sudden sense of grievance welling up inside her.

’Just yesterday, he said he liked me and would always be by my side.’

’Is even a simple kiss so difficult now?’

’Why is he resisting so much?’

’Does he regret it?’

’It’s only been one night.’

’Could it be that after we hung up last night, he and Silas talked about something else that made him have second thoughts?’

’If that’s the case...’

’Then I should just forget it.’

’He never makes things difficult for me.’

’And I don’t want to make things difficult for him, either.’

Just as she was about to sit up, the man beneath her spoke softly. "There’s a remote on the small coffee table beside you. See it?"

Mia Grant turned her head, grabbing the remote with a bewildered look in her eyes.

’What’s this for?’

Then, she heard him say, "Press and hold the top button, then press the one in the middle. Go ahead."

Mia Grant didn’t hesitate and did as she was told.

A soft CLICK sounded, so quick she couldn’t even pinpoint the source.

"There."

Then Hayes Hughes spoke. "Now, no one can see in."

Meeting his gaze, Mia Grant quickly turned her head to look at the surrounding glass walls.

Their color seemed to have changed. They weren’t as transparent as before, but she could still see outside.

When her gaze returned to him, the man read the confusion in her eyes and explained patiently, "Now, we can see outside, but no one can see inside."

Mia Grant blinked, her eyes wide with surprise.

She was about to ask how he knew that.

But the words died on her lips as she suddenly remembered—this was his home.

Even though Silas Grant had lived here longer and was more favored by the family patriarch...

...Hayes Hughes was the one and only true grandson of the Hughes Family.

And the only one at that.

While she was lost in thought, a hand tightened around her waist. The sensation pulled Mia Grant’s thoughts back to the present, and she looked down.

A long moment of silence passed as they looked at each other, neither one speaking.

Everything was understood without a word.

Mia Grant leaned down and kissed him.

Hayes Hughes was stunned for a moment, but he quickly began to respond, no longer as stiff as before.

Still, she could feel the inexperience in his kiss; he was tentative and careful.

The only things that betrayed his emotions were his hands, which wrapped around her back, holding her tight.

One arm was wrapped around her waist, while the other hand slowly moved up to press against her shoulder blade.

Mia Grant closed her eyes.

A small fountain had been built inside the conservatory, and the sound of its flowing water was clear.

The distant sound of the fountain mingled with the wet sounds up close, an incessant rhythm against her eardrums that made her face flush and her ears burn.

—

Back in her room, Mia Grant stood before the mirror and splashed cold water on her cheeks to cool them down.

She pressed a towel to her face, pulling down a corner after a moment to reveal a pair of moist eyes staring back at her from the mirror.

She was wearing a white sweater today.

Now, her sweater, just like her cheeks, was adorned with a few faint red stains.

It was juice from the petals that had been crushed between them during their embrace.

Forcing herself to calm down, Mia Grant checked the time and quickly pulled out her phone to call Simon Adler.

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

Mia Grant frowned, deciding to hang up and just wait for him to call her back.

Before her finger touched the button, the screen suddenly changed.

The call had connected.

Mia Grant blinked. She started to speak, then seemed to think better of it and closed her mouth.

She decided to wait for the other person to speak first.

After a few seconds, just as her patience was wearing thin, the person on the other end finally spoke. "Hello, is this Simon Adler’s girlfriend?"

"..."

Mia Grant’s hand trembled, and the phone slipped from her grasp.

Fortunately, she was sitting on her bed, so it didn’t hit the floor.

It was as if she’d been struck mute. After a long moment, a strange, choked "Mhm" escaped her throat.

It was a very soft sound, one that could easily be missed.

But the person on the other end heard it.

"He’s not here right now. Is it something urgent?"

"..."

She didn’t speak.

A low, magnetic chuckle came from the other end of the line. "Are you sure there’s nothing you want to say?"