Owen Lancaster was still leaning against the wall, one long leg slightly bent. He stood perfectly still, his peach blossom eyes silently locking onto Serena Harper.

Serena met his gaze for a few seconds, but she couldn't bear the weight of his stare. She pushed through the pain in her stomach and walked over.

"Mr. Lancaster, long time no see."

She spoke politely, without being overly distant. But before she could finish her sentence, Owen Lancaster's hand suddenly reached out, wrapping around her waist.

In an instant, everything spun. Their positions were reversed, and he pressed her against the wall, his strong hand still holding her waist. With a slight furrow in his brow, he murmured, "You’ve lost weight."

Serena snapped back to her senses in shock, instinctively trying to push him away.

Of course, she couldn't move him.

She frowned helplessly. "Let go of me, Owen. What do you want?"

Owen smirked, but there was no smile in his eyes—only the calm, handsome face, which seemed more striking in the dim light, casting sharp, intricate shadows. He was so stunning it took her breath away.

"You’re not calling me Mr. Lancaster this time?" He raised a hand and pinched her chin. "But at least you still remember my name."

Serena froze, brushing his hand away. "What do you mean?"

Owen gazed at her, his smile deepening with unspoken meaning.

Then, he slowly leaned toward her ear. The romantic image, full of warmth, shattered as his lips moved, each word stabbing into her eardrum.

He said, "While I wasn’t around, you really thought you were the master of LancasterCare?"

Serena's heart sank, and she instantly understood.

He still remembered the incident with Emma Hayes, and now that he had caught her, he was ready to interrogate her.

Even so, Serena simply smiled and explained calmly, "Mr. Lancaster, you’re mistaken. Whether dealing with those above or below me at the company, I always remember my place and do my job without overstepping."

Owen showed no reaction, his face expressionless, but he remained silent.

Of course, he didn’t let go.

Serena took a deep breath and added, "As for Emma Hayes, I followed company procedures and acted according to the rules. There was nothing wrong with it."

"You actually believe that?"

He stared at her, his breath close enough to almost touch.

Serena couldn’t escape, couldn’t avoid it. She was wrapped in his familiar scent, and memories flooded her, leaving her both moved and hesitant.

She suddenly became impatient. "So, what do you think? Am I jealous, angry, and trying to misuse my power to push her out?"

After saying that, Serena tried to break free.

But Owen swiftly restrained both of her hands.

He held her face firmly, forcing her to meet his deep gaze. Their eyes locked, but it was no longer the same as before.

"Isn’t that so?" He asked, his voice soft but filled with an underlying challenge.

The question was thrown back at her.

What seemed like a simple confrontation had already caused Serena to crumble inside.

She sighed inwardly, thinking to herself that Owen was unfathomable.

Others saw him as the image he chose to present—a carefree, reckless playboy. In truth, he was deep and calculating, with strategies and methods far superior to others.

He kept his likes, interests, and even his true feelings carefully hidden. Not even the secretary who had worked for him for years truly understood him. And even Serena, who had known him since childhood and had spent so many years with him, still couldn’t fully grasp his true nature.

That’s why Serena sometimes admired Emma Hayes.

She had managed to make Owen so deeply involved that he was willing to defy others and remain steadfast, a feat of pure courage.

True love.

Serena suppressed her thoughts and focused her gaze on him. "If you think that’s what it is, then so be it."

She tapped Owen’s hand, still holding her, "Let go, Owen. I’m tired."

Her stomach burned with pain, and Serena could barely hold on any longer.

Owen Lancaster studied her, his gaze relaxed and leisurely. After a long pause, he finally released his grip.

But Serena didn't get a chance to leave.

In the moment their bodies shifted, he grabbed her wrist again.

Serena glanced back in confusion, her long brow furrowing.

"Serena Harper, there’s something I’ll say only once."

Owen Lancaster spoke softly, his low voice slightly husky from illness, "Remember your place. Don’t target Emma Hayes."

The warning was chilling, and the threat was undeniable.

Serena shuddered slightly, her body immediately feeling cold to the bone.

Owen Lancaster had taken Emma Hayes’ side, standing against her.

But she hadn’t done anything wrong, and yet she had still earned his disdain.

She sighed deeply, her face showing a bitter smile, but she nodded seriously. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Lancaster. I understand."

She would certainly keep it in mind from now on and make sure not to upset his precious Emma Hayes in the slightest.

Owen Lancaster seemed dissatisfied with her reaction. He frowned, then looked away and motioned toward the direction of the private room. "Don’t keep Mr. Grey waiting."

With that, he turned and walked away quickly.

Serena stayed in place for a moment, trying to suppress the overwhelming pain in her chest. She then went to the bathroom to straighten her clothes, making sure there were no unwanted emotions on her face before returning to the private room.

Mr. Grey had clearly grown impatient after waiting for a while.

When he saw Serena Harper enter, he pushed a glass of wine toward her. "Miss Harper, you took quite a while in the bathroom. I hope you're not feeling unwell?"

"No, I ran into Mr. Lancaster. He asked me to make sure you’re well taken care of and to finalize the contract tonight," Serena Harper replied smoothly, picking up the wine glass while also handing over the contract she had prepared earlier.

Mr. Grey smiled and accepted the contract, but without even glancing at it, he casually set it aside. "No rush, let’s drink first..."

He urged her to drink, but his hand, instead, slid under the table and onto Serena’s leg.

Serena Harper glanced down at his hand, but didn’t react too strongly. She merely smiled and said, "Mr. Grey, let’s focus on business first. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure we drink enough tonight."

Mr. Grey laughed heartily, purposely avoiding any response, his hands becoming bolder as he grew increasingly drunk. His touch became more inappropriate.

"Mr. Grey, this doesn’t seem right," Serena Harper said, trying to avoid his advances.

Mr. Grey, however, was relentless. He quickly pulled her into his arms. "Miss Harper, you seem like a smart woman. Why do I have to spell it out for you? Since you and Mr. Lancaster are over, it’s time to move on."

Serena Harper’s gaze flickered. "What do you mean by ‘moving on’?"

"There are plenty of men in the world. A woman as charming and graceful as Miss Harper could have anything she wants, with just a little bit of effort. Not just a contract, but anything you desire," Mr. Grey said as he shifted his position, pushing Serena back into the chair.

At that moment, the door to the private room suddenly burst open with a loud kick.