Jane Sampton drove away from the Sampton Family home and then drove alone on the streets.

She wanted to return home, but she was afraid that James Black would see her looking so angry, jealous, and irrational – an ugly sight.

After circling around the city district for half an hour, Jane Sampton finally bought a box of beer at a small grocery store by the roadside and then drove to a deserted place by the riverside. Alone, she sat on the car top, drinking beer and gazing at the river scenery, unsure whether it was good or bad.

All the tears that had not been shed in front of Grandpa Sampton and Granny Sampton, when alone, could no longer withstand the waves of grievance in her heart, and fell.

What she feared most was not having nothing at all.

But having had something and then losing it bit by bit.

What she feared most was the person who was once kind to her, later, for someone else, used her.

Yet she just couldn’t get angry, and even, didn’t dare let them see how aggrieved she felt inside.

She could understand her grandpa’s actions, really, if she put herself in his shoes, Jane Sampton truly understood why her grandpa brought up the Black Family in front of the Smith Family.

Because, no matter what, Julie Sampton was still their granddaughter.

Just like Uncle Carter said, no matter how much Jillian Carter disappointed him, in the end, she was his daughter.

Hence, Grandpa wanted to use James Black and the Black Family to secure Julie Sampton a position in her future husband’s family, making the Smith Family value her more, and Jane truly understood this.

But understanding didn’t stop her from hiding in the dark, nursing her grief and resentment all by herself, like a little villain.

In this world, only James Black belonged to her alone.

In this world, she only had James Black, really, only had James Black.

Thus, at this moment, even though she missed him dearly, she still carefully concealed the twisted ugliness in her heart, fearful of being seen by him. In the winter of Capital Province, the cold wind is merciless.

Knowing that Jane Sampton had something to attend to in the evening, James Black had dinner with the guard team and handled some matters before leaving, so it was past nine o’clock by the time he got home.

After entering, switching on the light, and taking off his coat, the first thing James Black did was to look for the leaf card that Jane Sampton had secretly brought back.

James Black went straight to the bedroom and opened the bedhead cabinet to search, but instead of finding the leaf card, he found a note written by Jane Sampton.

——Are you looking for your little treasure? How naive! For something so important to you, how could I possibly just throw it here? At the end of the text, there was a very smug smiley face hand-drawn by Jane Sampton.

Unable to restrain a chuckle, James Black laughed softly, pocketed the note, and went straight to the cloakroom. With clear intent, he opened Jane Sampton’s suitcase and found the box.

When he opened it, there was one more thing inside than the last time he saw it.

It wasn’t the leaf card he was looking for, but another small note.

——I knew you’d discovered my secret hideout! Are you so sure that I would have hidden your stuff here?

Oh, what to do?

To disappoint you, there’s actually nothing here.

Initially still suppressing his laughter, at this point, James Black openly curled the corners of his mouth in an evident smile.

If she didn’t act cheeky, she really wouldn’t be Jane Sampton.

At the end of the text, there was another sneaky smiling expression hand-drawn by her.

Without hesitation, James Black also pocketed this small note, restored everything as it was, and then thought for a moment before heading to the study.