"If there’s nothing else to discuss, we can end things here for today."
Mia Grant stood up.
Miss White stared at her for a few seconds, then called out to stop her.
"You’re really so much like him."
"Actually, it wasn’t just your face that I found familiar. It was more your overall deanor—it felt uncannily familiar."
"Especially the way you’re acting now, pushing away. He was the exact sa way."
"What I said earlier... I was half-testing you, half-serious."
"I’m one of the few won in my family. I’ve known since birth that an arranged marriage was my destiny."
"So, I started pursuing Silas Grant back in college."
"At first, it was genuine affection. He’s truly captivating. I doubt you’ve ever seen him give a speech at the university."
"With those mixed-heritage looks, and being so gentlemanly and polite, it was hard not to fall for him."
"But after he turned down so many tis, the passion just... fizzled out."
"So, it started with affection, but later, it beca about destiny."
"I have to get married for an alliance anyway, so I might as well aim for the absolute best. At least if I have to look at his face for the rest of my life, I’ll be a bit happier. I have no desire to spend the next several decades waking up to a pig face every morning."
"..." Mia Grant was at a loss for words. "What’s your point?"
Miss White stared at her. "I co from a distinguished family. My upbringing makes it impossible for to accept your existence."
"So, that’s what I was getting at with the ’testing you’ part."
"If he and I marry, let be perfectly clear: I will absolutely not tolerate your presence."
"I don’t care what your role is—I won’t allow you to be anywhere near him."
"You’re a good kid—young, beautiful, and a great student. You’re too exceptional to be reduced to soone’s plaything."
"A young woman’s best years are for her to use, even to squander. But they shouldn’t be wasted on a man like that."
"I’d actually prefer it if he had so integrity—either marry and cut ties with you, or reject the alliance and marry you."
"If he tries to have it both ways, then I’ll truly lose all respect for him."
"Any remaining idealized image I have of him would be utterly shattered."
"And that’s a scene I hope I never have to witness."
"It’s not a matter of being petty that I can’t tolerate you. If he and I were to enter into that kind of union and he continued to keep in touch with you, it would be the ultimate insult to and my family."
"I will not accept that."
The private room grew quiet. After a long mont, the tension in Mia Grant’s shoulders eased. This ti, her smile was far more genuine.
"Thank you for your advice."
"I’m glad we’re on the sa page."
"Whether he ends up with you or another woman—anyone at all—I will absolutely not get in the way."
"He doesn’t know I ca today. We haven’t been in contact for a long ti."
"My coming here today was the old master’s idea."
"It seems the old master is aware of your situation."
Mia Grant shrugged.
"How cruel," Miss White said, shaking her head with a smile. "This whole matchmaking charade is completely pointless. In the end, doesn’t the old master have the final say regardless?"
"He’s making you attend these etings in Silas Grant’s place, first, to make you give up all hope, and second, to humiliate you. Don’t you see that?"
"I do," Mia Grant said. She leaned against the wall and stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, her posture languid. It was strikingly similar to Yates Donovan.
"But you still agreed. For him?"
"You could say that."
"Why bother? He’s just one man. Why debase yourself like this for him?"
"It’s not about debasing myself... Never mind, you wouldn’t understand. My hands are tied. In any case, once your marriage is settled, I can make my exit."
Mia Grant said, "You’d better make him fall in love with you quickly."
Miss White studied her expression, realizing she wasn’t joking.
"How strange. Do you love him or not?"
’To do all this for him, yet so casually push him toward another woman.’
"That’s a secret," Mia Grant said with a smile.
Miss White frowned, then hesitated before asking, "Well, do you have any tips?"
"Tips for what?"
Mia Grant didn’t understand.
"The secret to making him fall in love with you."
"I chased him for years, and he barely gave the ti of day. So what’s your secret? How did you get him to drop the ’big brother’ act and fall for you so fast?"
’She’d certainly asked the right person.’
Mia Grant stroked her chin, carefully thinking back on how she’d reeled Silas Grant in.
"Playing cute?"
"He likes to be in complete control. Just cater to that."
Miss White looked at her, impressed. "And here I thought you were just so innocent little sister type."
Mia Grant forced a sarcastic smile. "If I were really that innocent, I wouldn’t be standing here today."
’I would’ve died long ago.’
Recalling so of the information she’d dug up, Miss White’s expression softened with pity. "It seems life in the Grant family hasn’t been easy for you."
Mia Grant smiled but said nothing.
On her way out, seeing as they had hit it off, Mia Grant decided to tell her everything she knew. "I’m not sure who the old master has his eye on, but so far he’s had et three won. I’ve already t Iris Caron, and today was you. Iris isn’t much of a threat. She’s young, loves to have fun, and isn’t the least bit interested in Silas Grant."
’She actually liked Iris Caron. The girl was very open and honest, but she was completely incapable of handling Silas Grant.’
’It would never work between them.’
"And the other one?" Miss White asked.
"Miss Carla Sinclair."
"I haven’t t her yet. She’s on a business trip abroad right now, returning tomorrow. I’ll arrange a eting with her then."
"Anyway, based on the files I’ve seen and the people I’ve t, you have a strong advantage right now."
"Carla Sinclair, huh." Miss White’s tone was unreadable. "All right, I understand. Thanks."
"About today..." Mia Grant looked at her.
Miss White smiled. "I won’t tell him."
"Mm."
Mia Grant nodded, said no more, and pushed the door open to leave.
The door to the private room closed. A mont later, soone ca in.
"Quinn, who was that just now?"
The man sat down on the sofa.
"No one important."
"Cousin, is Carla Sinclair really coming back tomorrow?"
"I think so. Why don’t you just send her a text and ask?"
"She’s always swamped. If I text her, it’ll take forever for her to reply. Honestly..." Abruptly, Quinn White stopped talking.
"What’s wrong?"
The man glanced over. Quinn White was leaning back on the sofa, phone in hand. He wasn’t sure what she saw, but she suddenly shot upright.
A few seconds later, she looked up and asked, "Did you get a good look at that girl’s face just now?"
"I caught a glimpse."
’Mia Grant had pulled on a mask the mont she stepped out of the room, but he’d co in quickly enough to catch a glimpse. She was a very pretty girl.’
’As delicate as a porcelain doll.’
’That’s why he’d been wondering who she was.’
’Quinn was supposed to be eting Silas Grant. Why was she with another girl instead?’
Quinn White turned her phone around to show him the screen. "This is what Carla Sinclair posted on social dia this morning."
"What’s wrong with it?"
Quinn White zood in on one of the photos. "Don’t you... think they look incredibly similar?"
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