The woman looked at Leona Grant, unsure of what to say. It was obvious he was mistaking her for someone else.

Leona Grant sounded heartbroken. "Can’t you even lie to me?"

He let her go and leaned back on the sofa, dejected. A shadow fell over his eyes. "I know I annoy you. I know you hate how domineering I am. I won’t get in your way anymore. Go find him."

"Just go. Go quickly, before I change my mind. Otherwise, I don’t know if I’ll end up forcing you to do something again."

The woman couldn’t bear to see him like this.

’So even a man this arrogant and imperious could love a woman so deeply.’

Not wanting him to be sad, she shyly wrapped her arms around him. "Of course not. I like you very much."

Leona Grant froze. He whipped around to face the woman, a thrill of excitement and joy in his voice. "Say that again?"

’He knew it. He knew she loved him.’

’He knew he’d always had a place in her heart.’

The woman lowered her gaze and said shyly, "I like you."

A brilliant light sparked in Leona Grant’s eyes. As the full force of the alcohol hit him, his vision blurred. He gazed at the woman’s infatuated expression, and as he watched, her face transformed into the familiar, heart-wrenching one of the person he longed for.

’This is so good.’

’Can you be like this with me, too?’

A wicked smirk curved Leona Grant’s lips. He pinched her chin, his expression a mixture of craving and hope. "I’ll cherish you, spoil you... We’ll be together forever and ever. How about you never, ever divorce me?"

The woman’s eyes lit up. "Okay."

Leona Grant pushed her down onto the sofa, moving as if to kiss her. But as he saw the look of anticipation on her face, a sarcastic smile touched his lips.

Seeing that the two were clearly about to get physical, Xylas Shepherd’s eyes went wide. "Holy shit, this is about to go south! I can’t let this happen, I have to stop him!"

Nathaniel Locke’s eyes were closed, his voice devoid of emotion as he said faintly, "Don’t bother."

He knew exactly what was going on. ’Just let him lie to himself.’

Leona Grant was about to kiss her, but at the last second, his eyes turned cold, and he shoved the woman away.

"Get out!"

The woman was too stunned to react, looking at him pitifully. "Young Master Grant..."

Leona Grant slumped onto the sofa, all warmth extinguished from his demeanor.

’See? As I thought. There’s no room in my heart for anyone else.’ 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’Even if this woman looks just like her. Even if she’s more obedient, more compliant.’

’How could Annabelle Linton ever act like this toward me?’

’The moment she said "I like you," I knew it wasn’t her.’

’The one I love doesn’t love me. Every inch of her heart belongs to another.’

Leona Grant slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was as cold and still as a deep pool, his face expressionless. "You? You dare dream of comparing yourself to her? Get out!"

The woman was still unwilling to give up. "Young Master Grant, I’ll be good to you. I’ll be completely devoted to you."

’Completely devoted...’

’Such a beautiful phrase.’

Leona Grant paused, a bitter smile touching his lips.

’If *she* were the one to say that, I would be ecstatic.’

’See, Annabelle Linton? You said I only liked you out of habit, out of vanity.’

’Do you see now?’

’There are countless women in this world who would come crawling to me with just the crook of my finger.’

’But I only ever fell for you. I’m devoted only to you. I only want to be with you.’

Leona Grant rose to his feet and walked out, his face a blank mask.

He never played around with women.

In the past, any woman who dared get close to him would face a severe punishment.

But not this woman.

He was always a little gentler with people or things that had even the slightest connection to *her*.

"Leona, where are you going?" Xylas Shepherd asked.