In that instant, it was as if the very word "security" had taken physical form—and that form was Adrian Preston.

Mia Kane’s heart clenched, and she forgot to breathe.

She had assumed Adrian Preston had gone to the Preston Group’s offices. Even if he hadn’t left, she never thought he’d be waiting idly at the door.

But she’d never imagined he would be right here, waiting for her decision this whole time.

Unable to stop herself, she rushed forward and threw her arms around him.

Adrian Preston’s hand, which had been hanging at his side, hesitated for a long moment before it stiffly came to rest on her back, gently patting it.

"What’s wrong?"

he asked in a soft voice.

"I’ve decided..."

She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"I’m not going public... I’ll let that scumbag and his bitch off the hook!"

Before, she had been adamant, determined to see it all burn down in mutual destruction.

She wasn’t afraid of going down a dark path, consequences be damned. She was more willing to risk it all than anyone.

But now, in the moment she saw Adrian Preston, she suddenly felt she couldn’t be so selfish. She had to consider him.

She didn’t want everyone pointing fingers at him, and she didn’t want the Preston Family to suffer a stock market crash because of her.

If she dragged Vivian Lynch and Chase Lockwood down with her, Adrian Preston would suffer the consequences too.

’How could I be so selfish?’

’Right now, Adrian Preston is more important than the justice I’ve been fighting for!’

Adrian Preston furrowed his brow. Clearly, Mia Kane’s decision had taken him by surprise.

He knew she was the type of person who couldn’t tolerate even the slightest injustice.

Yet here she was, compromising.

But no matter what she decided, he would support her unconditionally.

"Are you sure? I’m afraid you’ll regret it later."

"No, I won’t regret it. I never regret any decision I make,"

she said, enunciating every word.

She had always been decisive, able to commit and to let go. Once she made a decision, she never looked back with regret, even if it ended in total disaster.

Just as she had never regretted falling in love with Chase Lockwood.

’It was my poor judgment of character, mistaking a fish eye for a pearl. It was Chase Lockwood who was unworthy of my love!’

"In that case, I’ll handle things with Chase Lockwood."

"Okay, you handle it."

Adrian Preston informed Chase Lockwood of Mia Kane’s decision, but it was too complicated to discuss over the phone. The four of them needed to meet face-to-face.

Vivian Lynch, still in the hospital, was forced to come along.

She couldn’t speak, so Chase Lockwood made all the decisions for her.

When Mia Kane and Adrian Preston arrived at the restaurant, the other two were already there.

In just two days, Mia Kane had grown visibly thinner. She looked drained, and her complexion was poor.

Adrian Preston held her hand, afraid she would fall.

She didn’t really need to be there; she could have just let Adrian Preston handle everything. But she wanted to come and see for herself how the negotiations would play out.

"Are... you okay?"

Seeing her, Chase Lockwood couldn’t help but ask.

"My wife is fine,"

Adrian Preston answered for her.

Chase Lockwood frowned. ’Who asked him to answer?’

The four of them sat down. Mia Kane’s cold gaze fell on Vivian Lynch.

Vivian Lynch, wearing a neck brace, looked even more pathetic than Mia did.

"I won’t expose your scandals. In return, Vivian Lynch will hold a press conference, publicly admit that she lost the bet, and give me a formal apology."

"Fine. I’ll arrange it once her voice recovers."

"I also want her to get on her knees and apologize at the press conference!"

Mia Kane argued forcefully, refusing to back down.

At this, the couple’s expressions instantly soured.

Chase Lockwood frowned. "Don’t take it too far. She’s my wife now. For my sake, stop making things difficult for Vivian."

"Your sake? What sway could you possibly have with me?"

Mia Kane shot back scornfully, and Chase Lockwood’s expression grew even darker.

Unable to speak, Vivian Lynch could only tug anxiously at Chase Lockwood’s sleeve, making him even more agitated.

’If Vivian hadn’t been so stupid, she never would have fallen for the trap.’

’A public apology would have been enough, but no, she just had to blurt out that Mia had been violated, making the whole situation impossible to resolve.’

’Having Vivian apologize publicly is already a huge humiliation for her. He knew he was in the wrong, and he was willing to swallow his pride.’

’But kneeling was going too far.’

’Vivian is now the one and only Mrs. Lockwood. If she knelt in public, it would be a direct slap in his face.’

"That’s impossible,"

Chase Lockwood refused flatly.

Mia Kane wasn’t surprised. A husband and wife rise and fall together, after all.

"Then there’s nothing left to discuss. Get ready for mutually assured destruction."

"Mia Kane, are you really not thinking about yourself? Aren’t you afraid of ruining your own reputation?"

"You should be more worried about your own reputation. Abandoning your girlfriend to be assaulted just so you could celebrate your mistress’s birthday... What a grand gesture, President Lockwood. Truly bold of you,"

she said sarcastically. Her words left Chase Lockwood speechless.

"Anyway, kneeling in public is not happening. Name another demand... Adrian Preston, can’t you control her?"

Chase Lockwood looked helplessly at Adrian Preston.

Adrian Preston, however, gave her a long, deep look.

"I respect her decision. She’s the victim here, and she has every right to pass judgment on garbage like you."

Chase Lockwood was left speechless.

’Great, I’m being insulted again.’

’I just can’t win.’

Chase Lockwood was starting to question his entire existence. Ever since he’d insisted on being with Vivian Lynch, he’d had a bitter falling-out with his grandmother, disrespected the memory of his deceased parents, betrayed Mia Kane, and pushed her into another man’s arms...

...and now, this scandal had erupted, costing him all his dignity.

"Fine, I’ll compromise. Vivian Lynch can kneel and apologize to me right here."

Mia Kane pointed to the empty space at her feet.

Vivian Lynch immediately shook her head frantically, nervously grabbing Chase Lockwood’s hand.

Chase Lockwood frowned deeply, weighing the pros and cons.

An unknown amount of time passed. It might have been a few minutes, or it might have been an eternity.

Finally, Chase Lockwood slowly spoke.

"Fine. But everyone else has to leave. No one can see this."

As always, Chase Lockwood’s biggest concern was his own reputation.

Mia Kane readily agreed with a nod.

Only Vivian Lynch was left dumbfounded, unable to process what was happening.

After a long moment, a hoarse, ugly whimper escaped her throat.

"You made this mess, you’ll take responsibility for it. I’ve already done more than enough to help you."

Chase Lockwood’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Vivian Lynch bit her lip in humiliation, shaking her head nonstop.

She typed on her phone.

"You want me to kneel to Mia Kane? I’d rather die!"

"If you don’t kneel and apologize to end this, do you want the Lockwood Group to lose billions? Do you want my reputation to be dragged through the mud?"

Chase Lockwood’s expression was grim.

’He was already being blamed by everyone, so what was she being so precious about? Wasn’t this whole mess her fault for being so incredibly stupid?’

This time, Chase Lockwood couldn’t protect her at all.

Because he wasn’t up against some small, insignificant family that the Lockwoods could crush at will; he was facing the Preston Group.

’Doesn’t she ever think before she acts?!’

’And to make matters worse, Mia is extreme. She means what she says, and she follows through.’

’What could he do?’

’He wished he could go back in time and shut Vivian’s mouth himself.’

She typed for Chase Lockwood to see:

"Chase... I’m your wife. How can you stand by and watch me be humiliated? Especially by *her*?"

At this point, Chase Lockwood’s patience had run out.

"Either kneel and apologize, or we get a divorce. You choose."

Hearing his words, Mia couldn’t help but marvel at Chase Lockwood’s coldness. ’The man who seemed so devoted is, in fact, the most heartless of all.’

Chase Lockwood was also looking at her, and their gazes met.

Chase Lockwood thought...

’Now that she’s heard me mention divorce, will she start getting ideas?’