In just a few strides, Mitchel Johnson arrived at the door of the room, which was slightly ajar and emitted a faint aroma of body wash. Until now, he had never found the stairs in his house to be so bothersome.

He pushed the door gently, and the scent grew stronger.

He stepped inside, the room dimly lit. As he reached to turn on the light, a pair of small hands wrapped around his own.

"Don't turn on the light."

Raegan's soft voice trembled slightly.

She was nervous too.

With the door closed, the room was pitch black.

Mitchel Johnson’s eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, revealing a sight that made his body tense.

The girl holding his hand was clad in nothing but a sheer layer of white chiffon, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. She was even more alluring than he had imagined.

She looked like a mystical creature from the mountains, or perhaps an innocent yet enticing succubus.

Mitchel Johnson's throat tightened.

He abruptly pulled his hand away, turning his gaze aside. His voice was low and restrained as he asked:

"Raegan, what game are you playing on earth?"

Raegan felt a sense of emptiness in her hands, followed by disappointment. His trust in her was pitifully low. How was she supposed to build it up little by little?

"Hon, I'm sorry. I was wrong before. I've realized that I love you. Please believe me this time, okay?"

Mitchel Johnson was caught off guard by her soft and gentle words, words he had never heard from her before.

Should he believe her or not?

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Mr. Ford's voice came through:

"Madam, are you there? The items you asked me to sell fetched forty thousand."

Raegan hadn’t expected Mr. Ford to return at this moment. The romantic atmosphere she had painstakingly created vanished instantly.

Moreover, the air conditioner seemed to be set too low. Raegan felt as though she wasn’t wearing anything at all, shivering involuntarily.

Mitchel Johnson, astute as always, immediately understood that it was the items Olivia had mentioned—the ones he had gifted Raegan.

They had indeed been sold.

"Madam?"

Raegan could only reply, "I see. Please hold onto the money for me. I'll get it from you tomorrow. You can leave now. I'm going to bed."

As soon as she finished speaking, the man in front of her had already left the room in large strides.

Why is he leaving again?!

Dressed as she was, she could not chase after him and demand an explanation.

Why? Even after all she had done, why couldn’t he understand her intentions?

Did she really not deserve his trust?

Feeling somewhat dejected, Raegan lay down on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Suddenly, she remembered that tomorrow was her father's birthday, and she would definitely see Emily. With that thought, she calmed down, pushing aside her worries.

Emily, I'm looking forward to meeting you.

---

In her previous life, Raegan had disliked Mitchel Johnson so much that she didn’t even hold a wedding ceremony, leaving many of the Taylor Group’s relatives unaware that she was married.

So today, on her father’s fiftieth birthday, Raegan hoped that Mitchel Johnson would accompany her home.

Raegan dialed his number and asked,

"Hello, hon, do you have time for lunch today?"

There was a brief pause before the man's rich voice came through:

"I have a meeting at noon."

Raegan persisted, "What about in the evening?"

"I have a dinner with a client from Country D."

"Today is my dad's birthday. Can’t you reschedule your client?"

It wouldn’t be right for a son-in-law not to attend his father-in-law’s birthday, right?

Raegan couldn’t help but let some of her frustration show in her voice.

She really wanted him to come home with her. In her previous life, she had resented her father for forcing her to marry Mitchel Johnson, and Emily’s instigation had worsened their relationship. After getting married, she rarely visited her father, and when she did, it always ended in a big argument. Now, she not only wanted to lead a good life with Mitchel Johnson but also to reconcile with her father.

If her father saw that she and Mitchel Johnson were getting along well, he would be happy too, right?

"...Sorry."

In the HX president’s office, the man set down his phone, deep in thought.

His special assistant, Ken, knocked and entered, giving his routine report:

"Boss, we’ve received bids from seven groups for the tender at noon. Please have a look.

There’s the quarterly meeting in the afternoon, and dinner with the president of the BIA company from Country D..."

"Cancel the dinner."

Mitchel Johnson instructed calmly.

Ken immediately drew a line through the dinner on the schedule.

Mitchel Johnson added, "Cancel all evening activities as well."

Ken paused for a second, then responded professionally:

"And the announcement for the Bay Resort project bidding—should it be canceled or postponed?"

"Have the PR department and Alex attend."

"Understood, boss."

After Ken left the office, Mitchel Johnson relaxed slightly, leaning back. He propped his chin on his hand, his gaze lingering on the darkened phone screen for a long time.

'Raegan, for your sake, don’t provoke me again. The consequences would be more than you can handle.'

---

Pacific Community, Taylor Group.

Although the Taylor Group was a prominent family in Han City, Samuel Taylor led a low-key life, so his fiftieth birthday celebration was held at home.

After stepping out of the car, Mr. Ford reminded her,

"Madam, the Master only permits you to move around the Taylor Group."

Raegan nodded, lifting the hem of her dress as she got out of the car. "I know."

Mr. Ford looked at Raegan, who was elegantly dressed today, with some concern.

In the past, the Master had also issued house arrest orders, and whenever Mr. Ford relayed them, the Madam would always react strongly, often causing a big scene.

But since yesterday, the Madam seemed to have changed a lot, easily accepting the Master's orders.

Recalling the Master’s instructions, Mr. Ford had the driver take the car to the back garden of the Taylor Group. From there, even without getting out, they could observe the the full view of the villa.

The butler at the door, Mr. Caine, was surprised to see Raegan and rubbed his eyes, blinking hard as he tried to make sure he wasn’t mistaken.

"Mr. Caine, what is it? Don’t you recognize me?"

Raegan knew that over the past year or so, every time she visited, she either dressed like a beggar or wore makeup that made it look like Mitchel Johnson had abused her.

She hadn’t shown up looking this normal in a long time, so no wonder Mr. Caine doubted his eyes.

"Young Miss, is that really you?" The butler finally confirmed.

"Yes, it's me, Mr. Caine. Is my father in the living room?"

"He is, he is", Mr. Caine replied, still in disbelief. He hadn’t seen Raegan so gentle and easy-going in a long time, and for a moment, it felt surreal.

Raegan nodded with a smile. As she walked through the front door, she could already hear laughter and chatter inside, especially Emily’s voice:

"Uncle, Mommy, move closer. Let me take a photo of you two."