In that instant, a million thoughts raced through Mia Grant’s mind.
The Keller family was powerful and influential. Kian Keller, however, didn’t understand social intricacies. He was rigid and inflexible, not nearly as smooth or shrewd as Silas Grant and Yates Donovan. A personality like his was bound to make enemies in the worlds of politics and business.
’Kian Keller is in trouble!’
’Sigh. We’re in the sa boat. I can’t just abandon him.’
’Run!’
Mia Grant gripped the handles of the wheelchair and, without a second’s hesitation, started pushing Kian Keller at a dead run.
He was slamd back into his seat by the sudden acceleration.
Kian Keller, who had been sitting in his wheelchair feeling sentintal while gazing at the withered yellow leaves on the treetops, was nearly thrown from his seat. "..."
The wind howled past his ears. ’If this keeps up, I’m definitely going to catch a cold.’
When Mia Grant finally tired and slowed down, he managed to choke out, "I don’t have a habit of exercising in the morning."
’I feel like I’m about to hurl up my breakfast.’
Mia Grant thought Kian Keller actually had a bit of a knack for cody.
It was especially effective when he said sothing so ridiculous with that deadpan face of his.
’He should be a stand-up codian.’
’Not here, about to be arrested, yet still calmly complaining that she was pushing him too fast and that he wasn’t used to morning runs.’
"The police are here to arrest you! If you want a leisurely stroll, you’ll have all the ti in the world for that once you’re in jail!"
"The guards can even push you out for yard ti on a daily schedule!"
"..."
—
Mia Grant pushed Kian Keller along the periter wall, pacing back and forth.
"Okay, I’ll help you up. You stand on your good leg and grab the top of the wall with both hands. Then, I’ll vault over first. Once I’m on the other side, I’ll pull, and you jump the mont I do."
"We just need to ti it perfectly!"
"..." Kian Keller was filled with a complex mix of emotions.
’The good news is, she’s not treating like a cripple.’
’The bad news is, I really am one.’
’Barring so dical miracle, there’s no way I can jump two ters on one leg to grab her hand.’
Mia Grant was still busy calculating distances, trying to make her case with numbers.
"That won’t be necessary," Kian Keller cut her off. "If you want to leave, you can just use the main gate."
"And you?"
" getting arrested would be a good thing for you, too."
Sitting in his wheelchair, he tilted his head up to look at her and let out a small laugh. "If I’m freed from this, then you’ll be free, too."
"..."
He rarely smiled, and certainly not like this—without a trace of mockery.
Mia Grant realized he wasn’t being passive-aggressive.
She rembered what the butler had said.
’Why Kian Keller hadn’t wanted to see her...’
’It wasn’t that he wasn’t seeing visitors in general; he just didn’t want to see *her*.’
’He didn’t want her to see him confined to a bed, stuck in a wheelchair.’
’She rembered reading in the original novel how Kian Keller had despaired over his leg injury, only recovering after the female lead comforted him. Back then, she’d thought it was complete bullshit...’
’Soone with his temperant should have been ntally tough. How could a simple leg injury make him give up on himself?’
’It’s not like he was crippled for life.’
’He shouldn’t be treating himself this way.’
’He should be focused on recovering, on getting back to his old self. That’s the real him.’
But now she suddenly realized he was fragile, too.
’Even saints can shed tears.’
Just like her, a re mortal—even knowing the entire plot, when she was actually locked in a basent, slandered, mocked, and given the cold shoulder, she still felt panic and sorrow.
"And what exactly does ’freed’ an?" Mia Grant let go of his hand and looked down at him.
The man’s thin lips parted, but before he could speak, she cut in with a smile, "Only death."
Kian Keller froze.
"Kian."
She leaned down, the sunlight pouring in from behind, seeming to kiss every strand of her hair.
She moved closer, stopping when her face was only a fist’s-width from his.
"The only true freedom is death."
"Why else do you think I jumped into the sea?"
"No," Kian Keller retorted instinctively, afraid she might do sothing foolish again. "That isn’t freedom."
"It’s running away."
Mia Grant paused, then her smile widened. "Fair enough. Then what about you?"
"..." Kian Keller’s jaw tightened.
’That’s right. I am running away.’
"Kian, you’re only temporarily injured. You just need so help getting around for now."
"You won’t be in this wheelchair forever."
"You don’t have to care what other people think."
’Kian Keller wanted to say that he didn’t care. He only cared... if *she* would look at him with pity.’
Mia Grant held out her pinky. "Look, if you’re really that worried about what I think, then you can stop worrying."
"Let’s make a pinky promise. I swear, even if you could never stand up again—which you will—I would never abandon you."
"What’s more, I’ll protect you. If anyone tries to hurt you, with words or with fists, I’ll teach them a lesson they won’t forget!"
"And if I fail, may I... die alone!"
’Even if I’m not surrounded by n, I’ll still have my one billion in prize money, hehehe.’
’Of course, she was just running her mouth.’
’She could barely protect herself, let alone find the ti to act as Kian Keller’s personal bodyguard.’
’He’d be better off relying on that clunky wheelchair of his.’
’At least he could swing it at an enemy and deal a fatal blow in a pinch.’
Just as the butler arrived with the police officers, Mia Grant was still trying to encourage Kian Keller to stand up.
"Really, you can do it! Trust ! Just gather all your strength for one big jump, and we’ll be out of here!"
"I might lie, but do numbers lie?!"
The butler: "..."
’Miss Grant’s calculations were on par with an elentary school student’s math howork—the kind where the answer claims an old lady walks at three hundred ters per second, powered by diesel.’
Mia Grant instinctively moved to block Kian Keller.
"Are you Mia Grant?"
The police officer held up a photo, looking back and forth between it and her face.
"I am."
"Is there a problem?"
’Are they here for ?’
She silently took half a step to the side. ’In that case, they can just arrest Kian Keller.’
"We received a report that you’ve been kidnapped by Mr. Kian Keller."
"Huh?" Mia Grant stared at Kian Keller.
His eyes remained calm, a stark contrast to her stunned expression.
Kian Keller took her hand, giving her a reassuring look as if to tell her not to be afraid and to co to his side.
Mia Grant retreated as the butler pushed Kian Keller forward to face the officer.
"Hello, Officer. I’m Kian Keller."
The officer, of course, recognized him.
"We received a report, Mr. Keller, accusing you of unlawful imprisonnt. I just need to confirm the details with Ms. Grant here."
Mia Grant snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head. "No, not at all! This is a lawful society. What kind of person would do sothing so inhuman as to restrict soone’s personal freedom?!"
Kian Keller glanced up.
’Was that a veiled jab at ?’
After confirming it again, the officer was still puzzled. "But the caller claid to be your fiancé."
"Who?"
Mia Grant blinked.
"The caller was Mr. Donovan. He filed the report half an hour ago, claiming that his fiancée..."
Kian Keller understood imdiately. "It’s all right. What were his exact words?"
The officer cleared his throat. "He said his fiancée was suspected of being kidnapped by ’that morally bankrupt, partner-poaching, stinky monk.’"
"He was also in the station lobby, clinging to the chief and wailing, ’Give back my fiancée, you stinky monk!’"
The "stinky monk": "..."
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