Soft light fell on Elowen as she focused on her sandwich. The crunch of lettuce between her teeth was oddly satisfying, so she took another bite, her doe-like eyes crinkling with unfiltered joy.

Elowen looked content, completely unaware of the pair of sharp eyes watching her from a distance.

"Mr. Lockwood, that seems to be Madam... Madam is..." Dylan's assistant, Jasper, cleared his throat, lowering his voice, hesitant to finish his sentence.

Dylan's expression darkened, his gaze fixed on the sandwich in her hand, his eyes growing colder.

Jasper waited for further instructions, but then saw his boss suddenly stride off. Jasper hurried to catch up, glancing back at the girl in the hallway.

Conditions were lacking, but she was indeed pretty. No wonder the boss stopped.

Just then, a gust of wind ruffled Elowen's neck-length hair. She looked up, squinting toward the window, catching a glimpse of a black coat tail disappearing around the corner.

She didn't pay it any mind.

She quickly finished her sandwich and returned to the hospital room. Her mother was still quietly sipping her chicken soup, looking frail and silent. The sight made Elowen's nose sting.

"Mom, I'm heading back to work now. I'll pick up the lunchbox after my shift. Just leave it here when you're done," Elowen said, trying to sound cheerful as she sniffled and regained her composure.

"Wait," Margaret Sinclair called, handing over the chicken she had set aside. "Eat the meat."

Elowen waved her hand. "I'm full; I can't eat any more. It's for you, so hurry up and eat." Her gaze lingered on her mother's thin wrist, dotted with needle marks, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out of the room.

Her voice trailed off in the hallway, "You'd better eat! I'll be late!"

Behind her came Margaret's barely audible sigh, "My little girl is so thin..."

...

A cool midday breeze swept down the tree-lined path. Elowen rode her scooter, feeling both chilly and refreshed.

The round trip hadn't taken much time, and she could still make it back to the clinic for a nap.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

It was her friend Ophelia calling. To celebrate Elowen's promotion, Ophelia had booked a lunch at Tainfield Grove Restaurant and even secured an afternoon off for her with the boss.

Ophelia insisted they get drunk together, discouraging Elowen from returning to work.

Elowen couldn't help but laugh. The pampered young lady didn't understand how the world worked and wanted to drag a commoner like her into wasting time.

She had just been promoted, so there was no way she could be reckless, nor could she turn down money-making opportunities.

But since Ophelia was throwing the party for her, she couldn't just not show up. So, she agreed to make a brief appearance before heading back to work.

Grove Restaurant was one of the high-end dining spots in Tainfield. When Elowen arrived, it was during the peak lunch hour.

She entered the restaurant, following the booth number Ophelia had given her, only to find her boss, Ronan, also present.

...

Meanwhile, outside Grove Restaurant, a luxurious Bentley pulled up slowly.

Dylan stepped out of the car, rubbing his forehead. He was followed by Jasper and a group of bodyguards.

He raised his hand slightly, signaling the bodyguards to disperse instead of following him inside.

"Mr. Lockwood, once this lunch is over, your schedule is clear for the afternoon. You can rest at the hilltop villa. There's only one more engagement tonight," Jasper reported from half a step behind Dylan.

"Mm."

Dylan felt uninterested, but the packed schedule forced him to muster some energy. He massaged his sleep-deprived brow and headed to the private room on the second floor of Grove Restaurant.

But as he passed the first-floor booths, a familiar figure unexpectedly caught his eye.

From a distance, he saw the little girl smiling sweetly while a man sitting across from her was serving her food.

"Mr. Lockwood... it's Madam..." Jasper tried again at the right moment.

Dylan snorted coldly, shooting Jasper a glare that silenced him.

Retracting his gaze, he strode up to the second floor.

So, she was eating a sandwich to play the pity card.

Now she was making up for it with a feast?

If he hadn't come to this restaurant by chance, he might never have known the depths of this woman's scheming.

And the way she was acting flirtatious with another man... Pathetic. He had truly underestimated her.

Elowen, completely unaware that she had been severely misunderstood by someone, finished her last bite of food and took a sip of water, politely declining her boss’s offer to serve her more.

"Thank you, Ronan. I’m really full; no need to add more. Ophelia, I’ve got to go!" In truth, she wasn’t hungry at all and had only taken a few bites out of politeness.

But she hadn’t touched any alcohol.

Ophelia, knowing her friend’s nature, didn’t try to convince her to stay. "Alright then, Miss Workaholic!"

Elowen smiled, picked up her handbag, and was about to leave when she paused. She turned back and asked Ophelia quietly, "Ophelia, where’s the restroom?" She probably drank too much water and needed a bathroom break.

"It’s on the second floor!"

...

Feeling lighter after taking care of her urgent need, Elowen left the restroom, eager to head back to the clinic. But as soon as she stepped out, she collided head-on with a solid wall of muscle.

Rubbing her forehead in pain, she looked up, only to meet a pair of deep, irritated black eyes.

Recognizing the man, Elowen’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Dy..." Wait. What was her flash-marriage husband’s name again?

Dylan paused, the cigarette still in his hand.

Inside the smoky private room, the air had been filled with flattery and toasts, all revolving around business dealings.

It was dull and exhausting.

He had stepped out for a smoke to clear his head and had not expected to run into her here.

"Oh, Dylan!" Elowen finally remembered his name. "What a coincidence! What are you doing here?"

Dylan, with a cigarette between his lips, gazed down at her with a mix of amusement and scrutiny. His voice was low, laced with disdain, "Miss Halloway, have you been following me all the way here?"

First, the hospital. Then, downstairs. Now, she even knew he’d step out for a smoke and blocked him here, just to create another "chance encounter."

He had to admit, this girl had some skills, mapping out his schedule so accurately.

Elowen was confused. "What?"

Whether it was the alcohol or something else, Dylan’s eyes were tinged with red, and under the dim bathroom lighting, his sharp features seemed even more pronounced. He reeked of alcohol.

"You’re asking me?" Dylan chuckled softly.

His eyes caught the bright bathroom lights, his gaze both teasing and oddly oppressive. "Aren’t you the one who knows best?"

Elowen was completely lost, thinking he was just drunk and rambling nonsense. In a hurry to get back to work, she said, "Dylan, you’re drunk. Who are you here with? I’ll help you find them."

As she reached out to support him, Dylan jerked away abruptly. His long arm extended, pinning her within a small, confined space.

He leaned down, closing the distance between them, his eyes narrowing as if trying to see right through her.

His warm breath, mixed with the faint smell of alcohol and smoke, brushed against Elowen’s cheek. The tingling sensation made her ears turn bright red.

Even if she was inexperienced, Elowen knew this man was playing dirty!

The power difference was clear, and she couldn’t push him away, but she could outsmart him.

She ducked down, twisting deftly under his arm, clutching her handbag as she darted away.

Dylan remained in place, turning his head to look at her.

The little girl’s soft, rosy cheeks were flushed, and even her anger seemed to lack force. "Dylan! You’re drunk, so I won’t argue with you! I need to get back to work! Goodbye!"