bLester’s /bface was dark with toryb. /b

    He said in a low voice ton, b“/bCome with me to the sturdy.”

    Without sparing him another nce, Lester turned and headed up airs.

    Tan ced both hands on Mia’s shoulders and said gently, “Wait for me.”

    Sharon stood off to the side, arms crossed and eyes full of scor.

    Before leaving,n turned to her with a cold, serious gaze. “Aunt Sharon, this started because of me. Don’t take it out on Mia. I’ll take full responsibility.”

    Sharon’s face was tight with restrained rage, but she said nothing

    Ian turned back to Mia, his eyes filled with concern as he studied the swelling on her cheek.

    “It’s starting to bruise.”

    Tears welled in Mia’s eyes. Seeing her like this maden’s heart clench.

    He quickly called for a housekeeper and asked for ointment. When it arrived, he pressed it gently into Mia’s hand.

    *Put some on, okay?”

    She gave a small nod.

    Still worried,n called over Mrs. Collins, the longtime housekeeper who had helped raise him and always treated him kindly. He quietly instructed her to stay with Mia and take good care of her

    Of course, what he really meant was to keep watch–just in case Sharon tried toy a hand on her again.

    Only then did Ian head to the study.

    Meanwhile, Mia returned to her room with the ointment. Sharon followed her inside and so did Mrs. Collins.

    As Mia began applying the cream to her cheek, Sharon stood nearby, her voice dripping with venom.

    “Mia Carter, have all the men in the world died? You really had to seduce your own brother? Are you that desperate?”

    Mia’s tears spilled over again, her heart aching with injustice.

    It had been Ian who confessed his feelings and insisted on being with her. But her own mother hadn’t even bothered to ask what happened.

    She just jumped to the worst possible conclusion.

    “I seduced my brother?” Mia let out a bitterugh. “Is that really who you think I am?”

    Sharon didn’t respond. Instead, she pulled out a thick envelope from her purse and mmed it onto the table.

    “Take a good look at what these are!”

    Mia looked down. Her brows furrowed bas /bshe saw a pile of photos.

    They were clearly taken in secret–photos of her andn at the movies, the amusement park, art museums, restaurants. All the ces they had gone together.

    She picked up the stack and flipped through them. The earliest timestamp went back over a month ago. It was around the time Yvette had asked her bto /bhelp pursue Ian, and she had turned her down.

    Mia’s expression darkened. The first person who came to mind was Yvette,

    b“/bWho gave byou /bthese?” she asked.

    b“/bDon’t worry about who gave them to me!” Sharon snapped. “Isi lonk at these disgraceful things you’ve been doing! Still want to pretend you didn’t seduce him?”

    There were photos of them hugging, holding hands even kissin

    Mia wiped away her tears, calmly gathered the photos, and gave Staron a long, cold stare

    “If what Ian and I have is seduction, then what would you call your rtionship with Mr. Zinimer from ST Corporation? Did you seduce him too? At least I’m single. What about you? You’re a mathed woman.

    Sharon exploded.

    She raised her hand to p Mia again, but Mrs. Collins rushed over and caught her wrist just in time

    “I’m your mother!” Sharon shouted, her voice trembling with rage “How dare you speak to me like that? Do you even respect me as your elder?”

    A bitter smile crept across Mia’s lips. Her eyes were full of cold light.

    “Now you remember you’re my mother? You didn’t seem to remember that earlier when you pped me and hurled insults without even bothering to learn the truth. Some ‘mother‘ you are.

    Meanwhile, Ian spent thirty minutes in the study with Lester.

    Their argument was loud and heated.

    Several loud crashes rang out from behind the door. Lester had smashed more than one object in anger.

    When Ian finally emerged, there was a bleeding cut on his forehead where a porcin teacup had hit him.

    Still, he didn’t stop. He went straight to Mia’s room.

    Sharon was already gone. Mrs. Collins was still there, keeping watch.

    When she saw Ian enter, she gave him a quiet nod and slipped out, closing the door behind her.

    Mia’s eyes widened in rm. “What happened to your head?”

    She hurried over, reaching out to touch the wound.

    Ian gently ced his hand over the cheek Sharon had pped. His touch was softb, /bhis eyes filled with pain.

    “It’s nothing. Just a scratch. Does your cheek still hurt?”

    “No,” Mia murmured, lowering her gaze. “Not anymore.”

    “Did you use the ointment?”

    She nodded again. “Yeah, I did.”

    on’t want to stay at my ce, I’ll buy you a

    Ian brushed a strand of hair from her faceb. /b“Mia, let’s move you out of here. If you don’t separate vi. Wherever you’ll feel safe.”

    Mia’s eyshes trembled. “What did your dad say?”

    “He told me to break up with you. I refused. He was so furious he said he’d cut me off.”

    Mia was stunned. She hadn’t expected things to escte that far.

    For his father to threaten to disown him, it must have been a brutal fight. She could only imagine the things Ian had said to push

    274

    BONUS

    bhim /bbthat /bfai

    After a pause, she said dathy. “I’ll me at tong

    Im pave a soft had

    Then is added, 131 etay with won

    tan froze for a second, then smiled “Alright. I’ll get everyong rang

    Mia’s eyes darkened slightly. “Do you think they really get dette? They’ve been married for long, and the finess ana so tangled. Even if they want a divorce, it won’t happen

    Tan gently patted her head. “My dad already agreed”

    Mia looked up in shock. “Seriously?”

    icky”

    “Yeah.”n nodded. “I’m his only son. He doesn’t have much choiceb. /bBut he did make some conditions.

    “What conditions?”

    “First, he wants me to repay the portion of the assets that would go to Aunt Sharon in the divorce

    “Second, I can’t expose either of their affairs.

    Third, you and I can’t go public for at least a year after the divorceb” /b

    Mia thought it over. “The second and third are easy enough. Did you agree?”

    “I did.”

    Her brows furrowed in concern. “But how are you going to handle the first one? Half of your dad’s assets going to my mom is a huge amount. Are you sure you can manage it?”

    Ian wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

    “I can handle it,” he said softly. “Trust me, Mia. I’ll take care of everything.”