meeting scheduled with international clients, and everyone was waiting for Bryan.

But it seemed Bryan was still infatuated with that woman. He had informed Grace that he'd be running a bit late.

Click!

The office door swung open. Grace turned her head toward her husband.

"You're waiting for me so calmly? I know-you must be so happy about what my father said yesterday. Jenny doesn't need to be acknowledged as part of the family. But she will still give birth to that child, and I will fight for the child's inheritance rights."

Grace remained composed and offered a faint smile.

"I've known you since we were kids, Bryan. I'm not surprised by your arrogance anymore. You rarely think with logic. But I do respect your decision to take responsibility for that woman. I just don't know if the child really is yours."

"Shut up! You don't even know her. So don't start messing with my mood today!"

"Alright, Mr. Bryan. We have important clients today. I need your signature. We'll also need to hear a presentation from the client's assistant. I have a meeting in two hours. I expect you to make sound decisions because this company is no ordinary business. I need solid performance from you if you're going to be my partner."

"Hah! Are you doubting me? You're acting like you're the one running the company."

"And yes, that's exactly what's happening. I'm the one in control now-of your company and even your family."

Bryan could only let out a frustrated sigh.

The important meeting went smoothly, especially with Grace leading it.

She had been entrusted by the Hilton family to help expand the company's business, and indeed-her commitment to Hilton was unwavering.

Once the meeting ended right at lunchtime, Grace ate the lunch she had brought from home. Meanwhile, Bryan couldn't go anywhere, as his father had asked him to stay in the office for the day.

Perhaps Mr. Hilton was deliberately limiting Bryan's movements to stop him from meeting that woman again.

Inside her private VIP office, Grace quietly enjoyed her meal, while Bryan kept his eyes glued to his phone.

Still, as any normal human would, hunger eventually kicked in-it was already 1:45 PM.

"Don't you want to eat with me? Or will you keep yourself busy with that phone? Do you think messages from that woman will fill your stomach?" Grace said flatly.

Bryan glanced at her and saw the delicious-looking homemade food on her desk.

He instinctively swallowed, then turned his gaze away and pretended to focus on his phone again.

Minutes passed, and Grace began slurping her noodles, clearly enjoying her meal.

The savory aroma spread through the room, making it impossible for Bryan to ignore her any longer.

With a blank expression and a hint of arrogance, he finally spoke, "What did you cook? It smells good."

Grace offered a small smile and handed him a plate of her homemade food.

"I made spicy seafood for you. But you don't seem to care about your own hunger."

Bryan sat down reluctantly, and though hesitant, took a bite.

Almost instantly, he began eating it with eagerness.

Grace asked gently, "So? Do you like my cooking?"

Bryan froze slightly, mumbling a shy response. He couldn't bring himself to act sweet toward her-he felt too awkward.

After all the trouble he'd caused recently, even treating Grace normally felt almost impossible.

They continued eating in silence for a while, neither of them saying a word.

Eventually, Grace asked softly, as if something had just crossed her mind,

"Bryan... you've never been able to share a bed with me since we got married. But with that woman... did you sleep in the same bed?"

Bryan went quiet.

He didn't even understand it himself. Why was it, with Jenny, he broke his own lifelong principle of never sharing his bed with anyone?

Honestly, it was a habit of his. But somehow, with Jenny, he had gone past that boundary.

Maybe that's why I chose Jenny...

Because with her, I felt like someone else. Someone I'd never known before. My heart... it always wants to be near her...

Grace scoffed slightly, nodding as she spoke.

"How strange, isn't it, Bryan? You should've felt more comfortable, more free with me-I'm your wife, after all.

But I guess I'll never really understand how your mind works."

Bryan looked at her in disbelief. He couldn't understand how she could still remain so calm, so composed.

"You could sleep with another woman, even get her pregnant...

Meanwhile, your own wife has been waiting for a child from you.

A child born clean, from a legitimate marriage-recognized both by law and by God."

Hearing that, Bryan exhaled sharply. His chest tightened.

He didn't know why things had escalated so quickly. One moment he was just angry-angry about the forced marriage with Grace.

Then suddenly he was sleeping with Jenny. She was pregnant. Everything felt like a whirlwind.

It was true-his actions were born out of spite, rebellion.

But now... it just felt so unfair to Grace.

Bryan couldn't say a word. He sat there, silent.

"Okay. Forget it. Just finish your lunch. I have other work to do today.

If you want to go home, then go ahead."

"Your father and mother have guards watching you everywhere. Papa's really monitoring your every move."

Bryan sighed.

"They won't be able to stop me."

"I never stopped you from seeing Jenny, Bryan. Do whatever you want.

You know... I used to be your best friend, didn't I?"

"But I'm sorry if this is beyond my control. I'm sorry if I'm the reason you can't see her anymore."

---

That afternoon at home, all the family members were gathered in the living room-except Bryan.

Since that morning, Mr. Hilton had ordered tight security to prevent Bryan from seeing the woman.

But by the afternoon, Bryan was already looking for ways to escape again.

They were discussing the issue when Grace suddenly cut into her in-laws' conversation.

"Papa, Mama... I don't think we should try to stop Bryan from seeing her. It's pointless.

What happened is his mistake-and his responsibility."

"The more we try to restrain him, the more I'm afraid he'll rebel... and the more likely the public will find out."

"I'm okay with competing against that woman. I've grown used to this situation."

The pain in her voice-raw and trembling-caused Rosalina, Bryan's mother, to quietly weep.

"I can't keep doing this, Papa... Grace is deeply hurt. We have to do something.

If Bryan keeps visiting that woman, the media will eventually find out. And it'll destroy our family's reputation."

Bryan's parents looked at each other, uncertain. They fell silent, deep in thought.

"Bring Jenny to this house, Mama," Grace said calmly.

Rosalina's eyes widened in shock. She was stunned by her daughter-in-law's words.

"What do you mean, Grace? You want to bring Jenny here? The woman who's clearly your husband's mistress-and pregnant with his child?"

"What choice do we have, Mama?

Bryan needs to take responsibility, and we can't really stop him.

If we let him keep visiting her outside, where the media could catch them-it'll be even more dangerous."

"It's better to have her here. I'll be the one to watch over her."

"But Grace... are you sure?"

Grace nodded, though her face betrayed unease.

"I've known Bryan since we were kids, Mama. Not just as a husband... but as a childhood friend-even like a brother.

I understand how he feels. I know he's just blinded by his emotions for Jenny-especially now that she's carrying his child."

"We can't deny that blood. No matter what, that child is still an heir..."

"No! That child will never be an heir to this family!

And you know very well, Papa has been waiting for your child-born from this legitimate marriage!"

"But Papa... can we really deny the child's existence?"

Neither of Bryan's parents said a word.

Grace approached Rosalina and gently held her hand.

"I'm okay, Mom. Really. I'll be fine.

For the sake of this family's honor... let Jenny stay here, so we can all feel a little more secure."

"I don't want to see that woman in this house... especially if she hurts my beloved daughter-in-law..."

"We don't have to see her. We just need to give her a space-so she has nowhere else to go."

The two elders exchanged glances.

It seemed they were finally starting to consider Grace's suggestion.

---