Kylie lay on the bed, fast asleep. Owen exhaled in relief at the sight. His steps softened as he approached the bedside, his gaze lingering on her tranquil face. Golden sunlight streamed through the sheer white curtains, casting a warm, amber glow over the room. She rested her head on her arm, her long, dark hair cascading over the silver-gray pillow. Her lashes were long and delicately curled, her nose elegantly defined, and her lips held a natural, dewy sheen. Though she appeared peaceful in sleep, faint traces of exhaustion lingered on her face. Seeing her asleep, Owen chose not to wake her. Instead, he thoughtfully tucked the blanket around her and slipped out of the guest room with quiet, measured steps. Samuel sat at the head of the table in Prestige Group’s conference room, his long, powerful fingers idly twirling a pen. Though his expression seemed distracted, his undeniable air of authority was enough to keep the entire room on edge. Noting his grim expression, the executives grew especially cautious, wary of making even the slightest mistake. According to the original schedule, Samuel was supposed to be in Oakheart today, negotiating a new project. Yet, for some reason, the trip had been canceled. His gaze flicked to the presentation on the large screen. Furrowing his brows, he asked coldly, “Did any of you even bother bringing your brains to work today?” The room plunged into silence. No one dared to breathe too loudly. Samuel rose to his feet, his commanding presence pressing down on them like an invisible weight. “Nova Group is drowning in a 2.5-billion-dollar debt, with a market value of barely 100 million. The industry itself is in decline, and its market is steadily shrinking. Companies within it can’t even sustain normal profits, and the entire sector will soon collapse. “And yet, you want to acquire a company that is a financial black hole? Tell me, did you leave your brains at home, or have they stopped functioning entirely? “You have the audacity to present me with this kind of investment plan today? Then don’t be surprised if I start slashing your salaries tomorrow. Prestige is a multinational corporation, not a charity. If you’re looking for charity, I suggest you get out now.” The two-hour meeting was cut short to just ten minutes. Samuel was in an especially foul mood today. The executives, thoroughly berated to the point of questioning their own competence, filed out of the conference room with their heads hanging low. “Has she gone back to Hythe Villa?” Samuel asked abruptly. Logan froze momentarily before quickly responding, “Ms. Clark hasn’t returned. If you’re concerned, Mr. Vance, I can send someone to…” “No need,” Samuel cut him off. “I’d like to see exactly when she plans to return. And who said anything about being concerned? I’m just making sure she doesn’t embarrass the Vance family.” His lips curled into a cold, mocking smirk, and his expression grew even darker. The black Bentley glided through the night, rolling smoothly into the villa’s driveway. As soon as the car came to a stop, the butler stepped forward and respectfully opened the rear door. “Mr. Vance.” Samuel’s gaze swept over the surroundings, sharp yet impassive. Kylie was nowhere to be seen. Sensing his reaction, the butler quickly added, “Mr. Vance, Ms. Clark hasn’t returned yet.” “You talk too much.” Samuel’s voice was cold as he reprimanded him. “My apologies, Mr. Vance.” After dining alone, Samuel headed straight to his study. Seizing a free moment, the butler swiftly pulled out his phone and dialed Kylie’s number. “Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable…” A sweet yet mechanical voice echoed through the receiver. He quickly redialed the number—only to be met with the same automated response. His gaze flicked toward the tightly shut study door, unease settling in his chest. Kylie never seemed like the type to stay out all night or act recklessly. Had he misjudged her? The night deepened, dark as ink. The villa’s courtyard remained brightly lit, the occasional chirp of insects punctuating the silence. It was already past 11:00 pm, yet Kylie was still nowhere to be seen. Samuel, having finished his work, stepped out of the study. The butler hesitated before cautiously approaching him. “Mr. Vance, Ms. Clark still hasn’t returned. It’s quite late, and she’s unfamiliar with the city. Could she be in danger? Should I send someone to…” “No need.” Samuel cut him off without hesitation, his deep-set eyes as dark as a brewing storm. The butler dared not push further. Once Samuel disappeared upstairs, he pulled out his phone and redialed Kylie’s number. The result was the same—still unreachable. Meanwhile, at Blue Lagoon Bay, Kylie slowly opened her eyes. She took in her unfamiliar surroundings under the dim glow of the floor lamp before abruptly sitting up. Damn it! She had only meant to rest briefly after applying the medication, yet somehow, she had slept through the night. Pulling back the curtains, she was met with a night as deep as ink, the city lights flickering like distant embers. She hadn’t realized it had gotten this late. Hurriedly, she got up to search for her phone, but after rummaging around for a while, it was nowhere to be found. On the clothing rack beside the bed hung a brand-new Ghezad suit. After a quick wash, she changed and headed to the living room. Flipping on the lights, she spotted Owen stretched out on the couch, fast asleep in his clothes. Being a light sleeper, he woke at the slightest sound of footsteps. He sat up on the sofa, focusing on Kylie, who stood not far away. “Are you hungry? There’s porridge in the kitchen—I can heat some up,” he offered. “No need. Why didn’t you sleep in the bedroom?” Kylie asked. “You wouldn’t tell me where you live, so I figured you might try to sneak off the moment you woke up,” Owen teased, casting her a knowing glance as he slipped on his slippers and headed toward the kitchen. Kylie quickly interjected, “There’s no time. I have to go.” She swiftly hailed a taxi back to Hythe Villa. She carefully slipped on her indoor slippers, hoping to sneak into her room unnoticed. But before she could take another step, the butler approached. “Ms. Clark! You’re finally back! I was so worried I couldn’t sleep all night. What happened? Why are you only returning now?” Kylie’s expression was a mix of guilt and embarrassment, her eyes betraying unmistakable traces of anxiety and fear. Just thinking about Samuel made her uneasy. Lowering her voice, she murmured, “I’m sorry, Jim. I ran into some trouble and lost my phone, so I couldn’t contact you. Is he… very angry?” The butler nodded. “Ms. Clark, since you’ve chosen to marry Mr. Vance, you should avoid provoking him too often. You both need time to build your relationship; constant conflict will only make things harder. “If he’s in a bad mood, the one who suffers in the end will be you. He’s not in the best spirits right now, so be mindful of what you say.” “I understand. Thank you, Jim. I’ll be careful.” Kylie’s voice was soft, but the weight in her chest only grew heavier.