Of all the male leads, Yates Donovan was undoubtedly the most unreliable one.
But when he said, "I’ll protect you," Mia Grant’s restless anxiety was miraculously soothed, gradually settling into a calm.
’I really shouldn’t trust him.’
For so reason, it was as if her brain had lost the ability to think, unable to muster even a single doubt.
Her mind subconsciously believed he would do as he said.
In her mory, he wasn’t this kind of person.
One’s destiny should be in one’s own hands, not entrusted to others.
When you place your fate in soone else’s hands, the outco is rarely what you hope for.
Mia Grant knew this all too well.
That’s why she found it so unbelievable that she hadn’t refuted him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I’m thinking about you..."
Yates Donovan’s steps faltered slightly. He turned to et her eyes, and Mia Grant blinked, finishing her sentence:
"...and what crazy idea you’ve gotten into your head."
"..."
Yates Donovan had seen right through her long ago. "Besides trusting , do you have any other options right now?"
"I do."
"Such as?"
"Well, no matter when or where, a person always has the right to choose whether their life goes up or down.
Up: one, two, three, hang yourself. Down: three, two, one, jump."
She joked with him with a completely straight face.
Yates Donovan was stunned for a mont, then burst out laughing.
His chest shook with laughter, and the hand holding hers involuntarily loosened its grip.
"Much funnier than your last joke, wasn’t it?"
He nodded repeatedly, wiping away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes.
After a long while, he finally had his fill of laughter. His gaze, as he looked at her, was like the distant twinkling stars, shimring with a soft light.
"Mia Grant, I’ve changed my mind."
’What is he up to now?’
Yates Donovan didn’t say anything more, a faint, serene smile playing on his lips.
Light from the side of the covered walkway stread in, casting flickering shadows on the man’s face. Mia Grant followed him closely, her eyes tracing the smile on his face.
She vaguely sensed that this smile was different from his usual ones.
It held none of his usual carelessness or mockery. Instead, it was as if he had made so sort of resolution, or had finally solved a problem that had plagued him for years—free-spirited, yet resolute.
In a daze, she had the distinct impression that before this mont, he had always treated life as a ga. Winning or losing didn’t matter, as long as he had fun.
But now, it was as if he had suddenly gotten serious.
He was going to beco the one moving the pieces.
「Late night. Midcrest, Portia.」
Inside the manor, every light was on.
Silas Grant had returned to his company after having dinner with the old master.
In the study, the old master was listening to the butler’s report.
"What do you an, the n we sent have disappeared?"
The old master closed the book in his hands and looked up.
The butler lowered his head, not daring to et his gaze.
"Their phones are off, and we’ve... lost contact. Their last known phone and vehicle locations were in the suburbs of Jynsia."
"Our n went to the location and only found the car and phones. They couldn’t find them anywhere nearby."
"Did Silas make a move?"
"I don’t believe it was the Young Master."
"The other party moved very quickly, erasing all traces right away. We also ran into so obstacles during our investigation. It’s clear they’re a major player in Jynsia."
The old master didn’t get angry. Instead, he remarked with a sigh, "This girl is more endearing than I thought."
The butler didn’t respond. He knew that was no complint.
"Since you couldn’t persuade her to co, let’s have soone else try."
"Send her photo to Yuna Hughes. It’s about ti for a mother-daughter reunion."
On the way back to his company, Silas Grant received a call from Jynsia.
Silas Grant was exhausted, body and soul, but the mont he saw that number flash on his screen, he answered imdiately.
This number rarely called him, unless...
"Sir, sothing’s happened to Miss Grant."
The hand resting on his knee tightened silently, but his tone betrayed no change, as steady as ever. "How is she?"
The subordinate hadn’t expected him to ask that first. He paused for a second before answering, "She should be fine."
"Should be?" A muffled, humorless laugh ca through the receiver, and the subordinate’s heart tightened as he hurried to explain.
"When we saw her, Miss Grant wasn’t injured, just unconscious. But later... our investigation shows she was taken by Yael Donovan’s n. She’s at the Donovan Family’s ancestral ho now. Her specific situation is unknown."
"However, Mr. Yates Donovan has also been at the ancestral ho for the past few days and hasn’t left."
"Yael Donovan?"
"Yes. Do you think you should call them to ask about the situation? Then we can..."
After all, it was the Donovan Family’s ancestral ho. It wouldn’t look good for them to show up in the middle of the night.
Calling ahead would prevent any bad blood.
"Go over there imdiately. If you can’t get in, call the police and force your way in. Do whatever it takes. I don’t care about the process, only the result."
"Before midnight tonight, bring her out, no matter the consequences."
The man gave his orders in a low voice over the phone.
"Wait."
"If you find a single injury on her, don’t hesitate. Make an example of Yael Donovan. Let him bleed a little, too."
His tone was casual, as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather that evening.
"As for Yates Donovan..." His voice paused briefly. "Don’t let him off the hook either. Teach him a lesson."
"Understood!"
Silas Grant didn’t know why Yael Donovan was after Mia Grant, but in his view, it was highly likely that Yates Donovan was involved.
In the front hall of the Donovan residence.
Mia Grant sat down, separated from the outside by a single door.
Yates Donovan was standing guard just outside. Looking out, she could still see his figure leaning against the doorfra, filling her with a sense of security.
Across from her, Yael Donovan got straight to the point.
"Twenty million, plus I’ll send you abroad to study. The condition is, you can never return to this country for the rest of your life."
’What a joke. Never mind that she had a system mission and couldn’t leave. Even if she could, Yael Donovan would never let her be once she was abroad.’
’It’s not as safe overseas as it is here. For the Donovan Family, killing soone quietly would be as easy as crushing an ant.’
"I’m sorry, I can’t accept that."
Yael Donovan pointed toward the door. "Or do you think he can protect you?"
"Yes, but that’s not all of it." Mia Grant smiled. "I also have my brother."
’Right now, Yates Donovan alone isn’t enough to keep him in check.’
"Silas Grant?"
Yael Donovan shook his head. "Have you forgotten your place? You’re just an insignificant adopted daughter of the Grant Family."
"You’re a parasite living off the Grant Family. In Silas Grant’s eyes, you’re no different from a stray dog on the street."
"Who would care if a stray dog lived or died?"
The smile in her eyes froze for a second.
’As expected of soone in power, he found her weak spot in an instant.’
’It’s fine.’ Mia Grant shook her head. "If you insist on thinking that, why don’t we make a bet?"
"You can tell my brother I’m here, and we can see what he does next."
Yael Donovan looked at her and suddenly fell silent.
On the chessboard, the black and white pieces faced off in a silent match.
The silence was broken only when the butler’s voice ca from outside, "Second Master! There are people outside who claim to be from Mr. Silas Grant! They’re here to take Miss Grant ho!"
Mia Grant’s eyelashes trembled violently. The next second, her body relaxed back into the chair. With an innocent look, she spread her hands helplessly. "Well, it seems we don’t need to bet after all."
"In this ga, you never had a chance of winning."
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