Downstairs, lunch had already been served courtesy of Steven's earlier instructions, and it was a feast.

Brian led Joanne into the dining area. "Here," Brian said, pulling a chair out for her as if it was the most natural thing to do.

Huh? Is Brian serving her now? Joanne thought.

In an instant, Joanne felt as if she had been granted a gratuitous service and decided to go along with it. Turning to Brian she plastered on a sweet smile, "Thank you, honey," she said, sitting down.

Joanne took in the dishes that were laid out on the table. Deftly, she picked up a bowl and began filling it with mushroom soup. Once the bowl was filled, she placed it right in front of Brian. She smiled in a way that made her look like a subservient maidservant. "Drink the soup first," she said, "Mushroom soup is very palatable. Try it."

The truth was that there was nothing Brian hated more than mushroom soup. He forced a smile and then reached out to ruffle Joanne's hair. "Thank you," he said. On the outside, his ministrations seemed every bit affectionate. But in truth, there were quite some force behind those hands.

"Oh, you're welcome," Joanne said. "I'm good as long as you like it."

Joanne knew this was Brian's idea of a revenge. In fact, she figured that her hair was messier than a bird's nest at this point courtesy of Brian's 'affectionate' gesture. Still, she beamed as if she was the happiest woman in the entire world even with bird's nest hair.

Brian found himself highly satisfied with the obedience of Joanne. Although he had no idea how long this little monster would stay this compliant, he decided to give face and finished the bowl of soup she had served him.

Upon seeing Brian's now empty bowl, Mia picked up the bowl in a show of attentiveness and courtesy. "Mr. Brian, let me fill up another bowl for you," she said, "our chef makes the best soups. You should have more."

"No, thank you," Brian said, "I don't actually enjoy mushroom soup."

Mia's movement stilled. An uncomfortable look crossed her face. "But when sis gave you that bowl just now..." she trailed off. She thought Brian really enjoyed mushroom soup.

Brian glanced at Joanne, his eyes filled with nothing but love and affection. "Since my wife had served it to me, I must drink it." Brian said. But if it's served by others....then thanks, but nope, Brian thought.

Joanne beamed sweetly seeming as though she would to lean in to kiss Brian any minute.

Mia felt even more awkward than before. But at the same time, she also felt a little offended. Sullenly, she placed the bowl before of Brian.

Having decided that she might as well go the whole way with things, she pointed at a crawfish, "Honey, I wanna eat that one."

Brian was highly dubious about Joanne's fondness for crawfish, though he put on a pair of gloves and grabbed one from the platter. He even went as far as meticulously removing the edible meat from the shell before placing them neatly onto her plate. "Eat slowly," he reminded in a 'gentle' tone.

It turned out that Joanne's fondness for crawfish was real. Just by looking at the tender and succulent crawfish meat in her plate, she could already imagine the meat's texture in her mouth. It would be soft, tender, and with just the right amount of tautness. She nodded distractedly and picked up a piece of meat. Then, she dipped the meat into the sauce and started digging in.

Brian,""

Joanne finished an entire crawfish, though its aftertaste had her craving for more. At the same time, she did not feel like removing the shells on her own. So she glanced at Brian smilingly, "Honey, I want another one."

Without batting an eye, Brian gave her a look. One that read: don't push it.

Meanwhile, Joanne could not care less whether she was going overboard. She continued looking at Brian with an enchanting smile on her face.

Reading the situation, Mia, out of 'good intentions', suggested, "Sis, maybe you should ask Linda. I mean, Mr. Brian... he doesn't seem too keen on it. It's better not to force people, you know."

The way Mia saw it, Joanne was deliberately flaunting the ownership and claim she now had over Brian. And she did it because she knew about Mia's own feelings towards Brian.

But now, it was time for her to send Joanne a message - a man like Brian was not somebody Joanne could rule over!

Joanne completely ignored Mia. She looked at Brian with a slightly hurt look on her face, "Huh? Honey, are you not willing to?"

Brian felt a twitch at the corner of his lips.

He grabbed a napkin and began wiping off the sauce stains at the corners of Joanne's lips. Then, nimbly, he peeled another crawfish. This time, he even dipped the meat in the sauce before placing it down on Joanne's plate. "Why won't I be willing to? I'll peel them all for you," he said, "no matter how many you want."

The affection and love contained between his brows was palpable. Joanne knew that that was just his acting skills going on full steam, but still, she felt as if someone had brushed her insides with a sheen of honey.

But such feelings of sweetness were addicting and hence should not be further indulged in.

Mia, who was on the side watching the entire scene, lowered her head. There was an audible splash as her tear fell.

She had met Brian ages ago. But then he was also famous, with tens of thousands of eyes watching him. So it was natural for him to not notice her at all. But for her, it was love at first sight. And when she found out that he was marrying Joanne, she had cried and thrown a fuss. But nobody had done anything to help her.

Afterwards, Steven had told her that the marriage between Brian and Joanne could all just be an act, one that was meant for the Scott Family.

But now it seemed to her that Brian's affections for Joanne was so deep that he was willing to go as far as putting on a pair of gloves to peel crawfish. And Joanne, the little monster who was normally all sharp teeth and dancing claws back at home, had now turned so obedient and pretty. It was so obvious that there was chemistry and attraction between them!

"Mia, what's wrong?" Patricia asked. Seeing her daughter in tears had turned her insides into a crumpled mess. "Are you not feeling well?"

It took a long while before Mia answered. "Leg...my leg hurts," she mumbled incoherently.

"Your leg isn't healed yet?" Steven asked, his brows pulled into a frown, "Don't cry. We'll take you to the hospital after lunch."

"But the driver has taken a day off today. And you've been drinking, so you can't drive," Patricia said, seemingly at her wits' end. Then, her glanced at Brian, "Brian, can you take Mia to the hospital after lunch? This child is very fond of you."

Joanne rolled her eyes internally. Just how many veiled meanings are there in Patricia's words? she thought. Sure, she could put aside the fact that Patricia had just completely slighted her by suggesting that Brian take Mia to the hospital. But to flat out tell Brian that Mia liked him?

Bah, is she secretly throwing hints at Brian?

"Don't trouble yourselves by going to the hospital," Joanne said smilingly, "have you guys forgotten? I'm practically half a doctor. I've handled even more surgeries than a typical general surgeon! After lunch, I'll tend to Mia."

"Sis, you..."

It was as if the pain had been shocked out of Mia's leg! Joanne was a medical examiner, so weren't these so called 'surgeries' of hers just autopsies?!

Patricia's fear seemed to surpass even that of Mia's. "Joanne Scott, what are you planning? You're a in forensics, and now you're trying to doctor my daughter?"

Huh, is she trying to belittle my professional career? Or is she trying to get Mia and Brian alone? Joanne thought.

Joanne felt as if her tiny world was on fire. But right in that moment, Brian placed another freshly-peeled crawfish on her plate, the look of his eyes imploring her to keep her cool. For a while, Joanne weighed her options before she decided that the crawfish would taste a lot nicer than anger. 'Well, I'll indulge my palate first, and see how it goes', Joanne thought.

"Joanne has a medical license," Brian said, the glove came off his hand in an elegant motion. Then he looked at Mia, "Miss Scott, do you not trust Joanne?"

With someone as elegant and posh looking at you like that, it was virtually impossible for you to shake your head.

Mia's mind seemed to have lost its faculty for thought. Dazed, she nodded, "I'll listen to Mr. Brian," she said softly.