Claimed by The Big Shot

October, nightfall.

New York City was unusually drenched in a heavy downpour, as if the sky had cracked open, letting endless rain pour over the entire city.

A dark green sports car, ostentatious even after modifications, slowly pulled up in front of a six-star hotel in the city center.

Mity lifted her gaze and looked through the rain-misted car window, catching the reflection of her own profile on the glass.

She hadn't had time to dress up tonight-her delicate, palm-sized face was almost bare, with no makeup, appearing slightly plain.

Because of her nerves, her soft eyes glistened with moisture. Her two fair and slender hands rested on her lap, her fingertips unconsciously twisting together.

"Mity..."

The man with black hair and pale skin tapped the steering wheel lightly, his long fingers adorned with a few black rings knocking out a rhythmic sound.

Mity snapped out of her tense thoughts.

"Hmm?"

She turned to look at the driver's seat.

Under the silver starry roof lights of the car, the man in the driver's seat raised an eyebrow. Two black eyebrow piercings on his brow bone connected with a row of studs lining his ear, making his already striking features appear even more wild and rebellious.

This was Mity's boyfriend of one year-Alan.

The second son of New York City's prestigious Raven family, a man of distinguished background and status.

Even without considering his family name, just his face alone was enough to be a feast for the eyes. It wasn't uncommon for girls on the street to mistake him for a celebrity, secretly snap pictures, or blushingly stop him to ask for his Facebook.

Yet, he was known to be an indifferent, aloof troublemaker, often carrying a world-weary expression, his long, narrow eyes drooping lazily, unwilling to engage with people.

Except when it came to Mity-he would talk a little more.

"Don't be nervous when you go in..." Alan shifted slightly, his fingers casually playing with a lock of her jet-black hair, his tone relaxed. "It's just a simple meeting."

"Whether they approve or not won't affect the engagement."

Mity's breath hitched. "..."

Would it really not matter?

She looked at Alan with some doubt.

But he didn't glance at her. After speaking, he picked up his phone and started texting someone-probably informing the people upstairs that they had arrived.

The dazzling lights outside the hotel reflected off the windshield, slicing his striking features into different patches of light and shadow.

As he looked down, his light brown eyes were hidden under the dim glow, making him appear indifferent and distant, as if he truly didn't care about what he had just said.

Well...

Rumor had it that the elders of the Raven family treated Alan, their youngest grandson, like a treasure.

As long as he wanted something, he could get it.

She shouldn't have doubted him.

Mity pursed her lips and softly replied, "Okay."

*

As soon as they got out of the car, they were met by the Raven family matriarch's personal secretary, accompanied by two assistants, who walked out from the hotel lobby.

The secretary was a middle-aged man with a square face.

Secretary Colin took a glance at the girl following behind Alan, dressed in a plain white cotton dress, and immediately withdrew his gaze without much interest.

"Second Young Master, the people upstairs have been waiting for you for quite some time. They've already changed the tea twice."

A subtle reminder that Alan was late.

What Secretary Colin didn't know was that Alan had been racing cars with his friends until early morning, only waking up in the afternoon. He then called Mity out at the last minute, and after picking her up, they got caught in the heavy rain and rush-hour traffic.

But since it was this young master, they were lucky-if it had been anyone else, Mrs. Old Raven would have left long ago.

"Traffic."

Alan found Secretary Colin's nagging annoying. When he noticed Mity had been left outside the group, he turned around and saw the assistants unintentionally blocking her from stepping forward.

"Come here. Why are you standing so far away?" He extended a hand, and the girl in the white dress obediently moved closer, holding onto his outstretched hand.

This was the first time Secretary Colin had seen this young master actually care about a woman. His gaze finally landed on Mity.

She was a gentle, quiet-looking girl with delicate, fair skin. A faint beauty mark at the corner of her left eye made her almond-shaped eyes look soft and timid.

Her long, straight black hair cascaded down her back. She wore a simple, ankle-length white dress, and her canvas shoes were spotless.

She looked like the type of girl who was a top student in school-timid, rule-abiding, and well-behaved.

Secretary Colin was a little surprised. He found it hard to imagine that this mischievous second young master would be into such a soft and quiet type.

Like someone who had always excelled in school but was too timid to break the rules.

As if displeased by others prying into his private matters, Alan subtly moved to shield Mity with his body. "Enough, I'll go up myself."

Secretary Colin immediately pressed the elevator button for them.

Just then, the atmosphere in the hotel lobby suddenly shifted-becoming urgent and restless.

A black, limited-edition Rolls-Royce pulled up at the hotel entrance.

Two rows of well-trained, burly men in black suits swiftly got out of the accompanying vehicles, forming a tight perimeter to block any onlookers from approaching.

Each of them stood straight and alert, as if awaiting the arrival of an important figure.

Even the hotel executives hurriedly rushed to the entrance, lining up respectfully.

Alan glanced over with mild disinterest. "Who is it? Such a big scene."

"Looks like... The Adam family's car." Secretary Colin turned his head and carefully examined the vehicle before hesitating. "It should be him... Should we wait?"

Everyone knew that the Raven family and the Adam family were closely tied.

More specifically, Alan's elder brother, Alexander, and the head of the Adam family, Stuart, had a close relationship.

After all, Stuart's late mother and Alexander's mother were cousins, and the two men had been close since childhood.

Hearing this, Mity instinctively looked toward the entrance as well.

But all she saw was a fortress of towering bodyguards, blocking every possible angle-there was no way to catch a glimpse of the man inside.

"Wait for what? Am I close with him?" Alan raised an eyebrow, clearly impatient.

Secretary Colin, "..."

He wanted to say-maybe you aren't, but your older brother definitely is.

Mrs. Old Raven had originally planned for the eldest young master to meet Miss White as well.

Unfortunately, Alexander was currently out of the country.

Now that they had run into Mr. Adam, the matriarch would probably be more than happy to have him take a look at Miss White on behalf of the family.

But Secretary Colin wouldn't dare say this outright to Alan. Just as he was about to subtly remind him, Alan cut him off.

"Did my girlfriend say anything? You sure talk a lot."

Secretary Colin shut up.

Alan ruffled Mity's hair, as if rewarding her. "See? You're the obedient one."

Mity, "..."

In truth, she had no idea who this Mr. Adam they were talking about even was.

Having only returned to the country a year ago, she wasn't familiar with New York City's elite families-let alone the dynamics between them.

Besides, with her awkward background, she had never been part of this world in the first place.

She no longer paid attention to their conversation. Her mind was preoccupied with the meeting ahead.

Alan had only told her about it at the last minute, and after picking her up, he had been on the phone the entire time. He hadn't explained anything about tonight.

She didn't know who she would be meeting or what the Raven family elders thought of her.

This was her first time meeting his family-she hadn't had any time to prepare.

Taking a deep breath, her heart clenched with anxious anticipation.

She could only hope that the elder she was about to meet would be easy to talk to.



The elevator reached the fifth floor, and Alan led Mity out.

The attendant, who had been waiting for them, stepped forward to guide them, but Alan impatiently dismissed him.

He took Mity through a long, dimly lit corridor, heading deeper inside.

Mity noticed that the walls on both sides were covered with amber-colored luxurious stone, with a few wall lamps casting a soft glow, creating an intimate and private atmosphere.

Just then, a work call came in.

Alan didn't avoid Mity and led her back toward the terrace area to take the call.

Mity stood quietly beside him, as usual.

As if she didn't mind at all that Alan had pulled her-wearing only a thin white dress-into the cold night breeze.

By the time the chill had seeped through her skin and her teeth were faintly chattering, the call finally ended.

She pressed her cold lips together, thinking they could finally leave, but then another call came in.

Alan glanced at the number on the screen but didn't immediately answer. Instead, he muted the call, turned to her, and said, "The private room at the end-go in first."

He wanted her to go in alone.

Mity suddenly felt uneasy, forgetting about the cold wind. She instinctively grabbed his hand. "I'd rather wait for you here. I'm not in a hurry..."

"I am." He interrupted, lowering his gaze. His light tea-colored eyes stared at her seriously. "I said I don't care about their opinions, but I still want my family to accept you. Be good. Don't keep the elders waiting-go in first."

Mity, "..."

She wanted to back out, but she knew she couldn't. Lowering her eyes slightly, she hesitated before speaking again.

Alan cut her off, "Mity, don't you want to be engaged to me?"

She instinctively lifted her head, staring at him in a daze, then shook her head.

Of course not...

She wanted it very much.

Alan's light-colored pupils warmed slightly as he lowered his voice. "I want to make it official soon too."

Mity gently bit her lip.

"Alright..." She gathered her courage. "Take your call first, I'll go in by myself."

Alan patted her head before stepping onto the terrace to answer his phone.

Mity turned to face the long corridor behind her, took a deep breath, and walked toward the private room at the far end.

She curled her fingers and knocked lightly before pushing the door open-

The room inside was lavishly bright, creating a stark contrast with the dimly lit hallway.

A magnificent crystal chandelier cascaded from the high ceiling, and the floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered a stunning view of the city lights twinkling beyond the open-air terrace.

Mity was momentarily dazzled by the luxurious scene.

She instinctively lowered her gaze, but when she looked up again, she was caught off guard by the tall, commanding figure seated at the round table.

It was a completely unfamiliar man.

He was dressed in a tailored black suit, the fabric fitting his broad shoulders and lean waist perfectly-exuding nobility and elegance.

He was on the phone, facing the window as he spoke.

His short black hair framed strikingly defined features. The chandelier light cast shadows over his deep-set eyes and sharp jawline. Even in profile, his bone structure was impeccable-perhaps even more refined than Alan's.

Mity's heart clenched.

She hadn't expected to see such a scene when she walked in.

Her gaze drifted toward the items on the table, an open cigar box, an almost untouched glass of whiskey...

Then, her eyes fell on a casually discarded pair of gold-rimmed glasses, some documents, and the glimpse of a wrist beneath the cuff of his black shirt.

His wrist was elegantly structured, veins faintly visible beneath his pale skin. His fingers were long and slender, idly holding a lit cigar between them as it burned quietly.

She instinctively held her breath, afraid to disturb him.

At that moment, the man seated at the head of the table seemed to notice her presence.

He set down his phone and lifted his gaze-dark eyes locking onto her.

"You're late."

His voice was deep and magnetic, yet cold and emotionless.

As his long, dark lashes lowered slightly, a fleeting chill passed through his eyes.

Mity startled.

Her heart pounded heavily.

She hadn't done anything, yet she felt as if those dark eyes had already seen through her.

She had never seen eyes like his before-black as the abyss, unfathomably deep.

Like a vast ocean at night, calm on the surface but hiding the most dangerous, untamed undercurrents.

"..."

Mity's breath hitched, an inexplicable fear creeping over her, making her instinctively take a step back.

"Sorry, there was traffic..."

As soon as she spoke, she realized something was off.

This man seemed too young-The Raven family shouldn't have such a young elder.

Had she entered the wrong room?

Mity's thoughts were momentarily jumbled. She hesitated, then murmured, "Sorry, I think I-"

Was in the wrong place.

Before she could finish the words, something struck her, and she quickly looked up.

No, she wasn't in the wrong place.

This man's age, the aura he carried...

A sudden realization hit Mity-

He was Alexander.

Alan's older brother.

Her heart felt as if a giant hand had clenched around it, squeezing tightly.

She was completely caught off guard.

She hadn't expected that the family member Alan wanted her to meet tonight would be the Alexander of The Raven family-the esteemed, unattainable eldest son.

But then again, it made sense.

Alexander held absolute authority in the family business, and his words carried weight at home. If Alan wanted The Raven family to approve of their engagement, winning over this older brother was the best approach.

However, Alexander seemed different from the rumors.

He didn't look like a refined, noble gentleman.

He looked cold and unapproachable-dangerously so.

Mity's heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, her nerves tingling with fear.

But she couldn't back out now.

Forcing herself to ignore his overwhelming presence, she stiffly found a chair and sat down.

Alexander raised an eyebrow.

The red ember at his fingertips flickered through a haze of smoke, his gaze deep and unreadable as he observed the girl before him, who looked as if she had something to say.

Mity, meanwhile, had finally composed herself.

She knew she couldn't make a bad impression in front of Alan's brother.

Suppressing the panic in her heart, she lowered her head slightly, took a deep breath, and softened her voice.

"...Hello, brother."

Her voice was soft and delicate, gentle to the extreme, as if trying to win the favor of an elder.

For a moment, the air in the private room felt eerily still.

A few seconds of silence passed.

Then, Mity heard a deep, magnetic voice respond-

"What did you just call me?"

"What did you call me?"

The man's voice was unexpectedly deep and magnetic, as if he had leaned in, lowering his tone to whisper right by her ear.

Mity's heart trembled abruptly.

An instinctive, inexplicable fear surged from the depths of her soul, completely out of her control.

She instinctively lifted her head, looking across at him, only for her gaze to crash directly into the icy, emotionless eyes beneath his raven-black lashes.

...Her breath hitched.

All the blood in her body seemed to freeze.

That man had only glanced at her indifferently through the curling smoke. His handsome yet cold features were partially blurred by the misty haze.

But in Mity's eyes, the distance between them was as clear as an unbridgeable chasm-

Lofty, unattainable, sharp, and distant.

A stark reminder that the man sitting across from her-

Did not like her.

The situation seemed to be turning bad...

It was evident that Alexander did not appreciate her deliberate attempt to get close by calling him "brother."

And judging by his demeanor, he didn't seem to have a favorable impression of her either.

Mity was confused.

Alan had clearly told her that Alexander was easy to talk to.

He had even said that if she ever met his brother, she could just call him "brother" like he did.

Alan wouldn't lie to her, so where exactly did the problem lie?

Mity bit her cold lips and unconsciously clenched her slender fingers tighter, looking tense and uneasy.

Before the atmosphere could get any worse, she tried to explain, "Actually, I just-"

"Miss White."

Stuart's deep voice suddenly interrupted her.

"...Yes." Mity lifted her head, her gaze shimmering as if holding a faint glow. The delicate tear-shaped mole at the corner of her eye made her look as though she was on the verge of tears from fright.

She resembled the most obedient student, sitting up straight with a soft but tense posture-clearly nervous, yet serious and cautious, afraid of missing a single word he said.

"I don't like people trying to get close to me."

He stated flatly.

"Nor do I waste time."

Mity, "..."

She parted her lips slightly, wanting to say something, but her breath seemed to have been frozen by the cold and distant tone of his voice.

A few seconds passed before she finally let out a small, barely audible, "Mm."

Stuart's eyes remained sharp and detached, as if he didn't even notice the obvious awkwardness and embarrassment on the girl's face.

"So, let's get straight to the point," he emphasized again.

Mity bit her lip. "...Alright."

The air in the private room grew even heavier.

He shifted his posture, placing his cigar in the ashtray. Tapping his long fingers lightly against the table, he spoke in a steady voice, "I heard you're skilled in painting."

Mity's heart skipped a beat.

She hadn't expected the questioning to start so quickly.

But Alan hadn't arrived yet. What should she do...?

She forced herself to push aside her panic, pretending to forget the earlier awkwardness, and steadied herself as she recited her well-prepared response, "I wouldn't say I'm skilled, but I did study art while I was in France..."

Stuart gave her a cold, scrutinizing look. "Is that so? Then what are your thoughts on children?"

Mity blinked in confusion. "Children?"

The second question of their first meeting was already about children?

He was Alan's elder brother, yet he was asking his future sister-in-law such a direct question at their first encounter.

Wasn't this a little too forward?

But Mity understood that high society only cared about one thing-family heirs.

She held back her discomfort and answered slowly, "When it comes to children, of course, the more, the merrier. A house full of kids makes for a lively home..."

Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spoke about such a topic, her face naturally showing a trace of shyness and nervousness.

She looked as if she was sincerely answering the question.

"I really like children," she added.

After finishing her response, she instinctively avoided eye contact with Stuart.

Mity was never good at lying.

And she still wasn't.

Upon hearing her answer, Stuart's lips curled slightly, his smooth jawline lifting into an arrogant curve.

Beneath his black tie, the small red mole on his Adam's apple was partially visible-

A subtle but dangerous allure.

He narrowed his eyes, as if scrutinizing her.

Clearly, he didn't believe a single word the little girl in front of him had said.

The truth was, Stuart had no intention of personally interviewing his nephew Richard's tutor tonight-it was purely by chance.

The tutors his subordinates had carefully selected-more than a dozen of them-had all been rejected upon arrival at the villa.

The old man was pressing harder, so he had specifically set aside thirty minutes to handle the matter himself.

The woman in front of him, Miss White, was the candidate recommended by the old man.

Supposedly from a respectable family, simple in character, fond of children, and particularly skilled at dealing with kids who had psychological issues-

Especially in art.

A psychologist had suggested that painting could be beneficial for children with mild autism, which was why the old man was very keen on this candidate.

But Stuart didn't like her.

She seemed too timid and overly compliant, with an instinct to please others-

Not the kind of teacher who could serve as a strong role model for a child.

Moreover, this woman appeared delicate and innocent, yet every word she spoke sounded pre-rehearsed.

Stuart had long been known as the most ruthless strategist in the circle-

A capitalist who swallowed people whole without leaving their bones.

He could tell at a glance when someone was lying.

He wouldn't waste money on a woman who was dishonest and unfit for the role.

"You can leave."

His patience had run dry. Lowering his gaze coldly, he extinguished his cigar in the metal ashtray, signaling the end of the interview.

"Leave...?" Mity lifted her eyes in panic.

She didn't understand-her response should have been flawless.

Why was Alexander dissatisfied?

What had she said wrong?

She watched as the man put out his cigar and picked up the document on the table, his expression turning even colder.

Clearly, he had no intention of continuing this conversation.

Mity began to feel anxious. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong? At least, please tell me-"

"Get out."

He didn't even look up, his voice laced with frost.

Mity bit her lip hard, her eyes gradually turning red.

But she knew there was no point in staying any longer.

If she offended him too much, she wouldn't even have a chance to make amends later.

She swallowed the sourness rising in her heart and stood up.

Even though she felt dejected, she straightened her back.

"Then, I'll take my leave, Mr. Raven."

Mity politely bid him farewell before turning to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Behind her, the deep, magnetic voice rang out again.

"What did you call me?"

Mity turned back.

She froze for a second, realizing he had asked this question once before.

A strange question.

Why was he asking again?

"I called you, Mr.-"

"Sir."

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

Stuart's secretary, Bill, entered with a neatly dressed young woman.

"Miss White was delayed due to a car accident on her way here..." Bill frowned upon seeing Mity inside. "And this is...?"

He didn't recall scheduling another candidate for Mr. Adam.

Mity blinked in confusion, ???

Miss White?

Wasn't that supposed to be her?

Her gaze shifted between the formally dressed woman and Stuart's unreadable expression-

Suddenly, a realization struck her-

She... might have entered the wrong room?!

When Mity stepped out of the private room, her heart was nearly numb.

Her cheeks burned bright red, as if they were about to drip blood.

How could she have entered the wrong room?

Thinking about how she had just been inside, answering the wrong questions and talking past each other with that man, Mity felt as if her heart could stop at any moment.

Luckily, the man didn't recognize her at all, and they probably wouldn't meet again in the future.

She consoled herself, covering her face as she turned back to look at the two tightly closed doors behind her.

The dim light at the end of the corridor revealed that there was a private room on both the left and right sides. However, the door handles were made of dark-colored metal. She had been too nervous earlier and hadn't noticed she had entered the wrong room.

"Why are you still here? Haven't gone in yet?" A voice suddenly came from behind.

Alan had just finished his call when he returned to find his little tail hesitating outside the private room, looking uneasy.

It seemed that she was too timid to go in alone.

Mity turned around, her eyes brightening at the sight of her boyfriend. "I just..."

"You're such a scaredy-cat, afraid to go in alone?" Alan raised an eyebrow, as if teasing her, but naturally took her other hand in his.

Her slightly cold fingertips finally felt a trace of warmth.

Mity's nose tingled with emotion. She let out a soft "Mm" and leaned closer to Alan, too embarrassed to admit she had entered the wrong room earlier.

Alan rubbed her head and said nothing more, leading her to the private room on the other side of the hallway.

This private room had a completely different décor from the one next door-elegant and classical yet exuding an undeniable luxury.

Behind a silk screen embroidered with golden birds, a tea master was pouring freshly brewed red tea into white porcelain cups.

The translucent porcelain made the deep color of the tea stand out, its fragrance rich and full-bodied.

Sitting at the head seat was the Raven family's matriarch. Despite her silver hair, she looked spirited and alert. With slender fingers, she traced the rim of her cup before raising her eyes to see the young girl her grandson had brought in.

The girl was well-behaved and delicate, her oval-shaped face free of heavy makeup. Instead, her skin was clear and radiant, her small nose perfectly sculpted. Even her hair was sleek and black, cascading over her shoulders without any of the trendy, flashy dyes and perms.

At first glance, her face was refined and gentle, but upon closer look, she seemed quiet and timid. Especially the faint mole at the corner of her left eye-it sat there like a tear, making her appear even more delicate.

Mrs. Raven withdrew her gaze without much expression.

"You brat, how long did you keep me waiting? You finally showed up."

The old lady dismissed the attendants and opened with a reprimand, though her eyes carried an unmistakable fondness.

"It was traffic," Alan replied nonchalantly, clearly accustomed to his grandmother's nagging. He led Mity to a seat.

"This is my grandmother," he introduced.

"Hello, Grandma," Mity greeted obediently.

Only then did Mrs. Raven seem to truly acknowledge Mity, shifting her gaze back to the girl.

This time, her face softened into a kind smile.

"Not bad. A good child... I heard your father is Charles, the director?"

Mity's scalp tightened instantly.

She had expected this. Meeting the Raven family's elders meant she couldn't avoid the awkward topic of her background.

Her voice was tense, almost choking, as she answered, "Yes."

Mrs. Raven nodded, but to Mity's surprise, she didn't press further about her family. Instead, she asked, "Your name is Mity-how is it written?"

Mity was taken aback but quickly responded, "Mity."

The old lady chuckled. "So, you were born on a foggy day?"

"Yes." Mity tried to keep her tone relaxed. "It was foggy the day I was born, so my parents gave me this name."

"A good name." Mrs. Raven glanced at Alan and teased, "Fog contains water, and fortune-tellers say you lack water in your destiny. How fitting that you found yourself a girl whose name and birth both carry water-your compatibility must be perfect."

Alan smirked but said nothing.

Mity, on the other hand, was stunned.

Before coming, she had prepared herself to be scrutinized and even challenged by the Raven family elders.

Especially after her encounter in the wrong room earlier, where she had met a "fake brother" with an intimidating aura that left her shaken.

She had expected Mrs. Raven to be just as difficult.

But surprisingly, she wasn't.

The old lady continued to ask Mity a few questions, all of which Mity answered flawlessly, leaving a good impression.

Only when she mentioned that she had graduated from an art academy abroad and was now working in a gallery did Mrs. Raven subtly furrow her brows.

"Alan first met you when he saw you painting in a gallery? And he asked for your contact information?"

Mity hadn't expected the old lady to ask about her and Alan's love story in detail. Her ears turned slightly red, and she pressed her lips together before softly responding, "Yes."

Mrs. Raven nodded, as if recalling something. Her gaze lingered on Mity again, now holding more kindness and affection than before.

"Alright, I'll make the decision for you two. Find a time for both families to meet and finalize the engagement details."

Mity was momentarily in disbelief and turned to Alan.

She hadn't expected Mrs. Raven to agree to their engagement so easily.

She thought a family like the Ravens would be much more selective.

"What are you looking at me for?" Alan smirked lazily, tilting his chin toward his grandmother. "Hurry up and thank Grandma."

Mity snapped out of her daze and quickly expressed her gratitude.

The atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious. The dinner went far more smoothly than Mity had anticipated.

After the gathering, Mity and Alan escorted Mrs. Raven downstairs.

At the hotel entrance, Alan went to fetch the car while Mrs. Raven held Mity's hand and instructed, "Good child, I'll call you Mity from now on. It's rare for Alan to settle down-credit to you. That's settled then. Talk to your parents and find a time for our families to meet properly."

Mity's heart clenched.

Her parents...

Just as she was about to say something, a dark green sports car pulled up in front of them.

Alan rested an arm on the window frame and called out, "Get in. Let's go."

Mity had no time to dwell on her thoughts. She politely bid Mrs. Raven goodbye and moved to open the car door.

"You brat, what kind of car is this?" Mrs. Raven's attention shifted entirely to Alan's vehicle.

Seeing the garish green color, she shook her head. "You're about to get engaged-who drives a car like this? Such a bright green-it's bad luck!"

Mity sneaked a glance at Alan.

She also felt that green wasn't the best color, especially right before an engagement. It didn't seem like a good omen.

But Alan completely ignored Mrs. Raven. He casually leaned over to fasten Mity's seatbelt and waved lazily. "Grandma, I've got things to do. I'm leaving."

"You brat, get back here-"

The only response was the roar of an engine as the car sped away.

Furious, Mrs. Raven turned to her assistant. "Secretary Colin, go to his place tomorrow and tow that car away! If he refuses, take a team and repaint it!"

No way was she letting Alan drive that eyesore around town.

Not far away, a limited edition black Rolls-Royce slowly rolled into the rain.

Stuart had just finished a business call. As he lowered his phone, his dark eyes happened to catch sight of the scene outside the hotel.

His assistant, Bill, spoke in a hushed tone. "Sir, that appears to be Mrs. Raven. She sent a gift earlier, knowing you were here. Would you like to meet her?"

"No need."

Stuart's tone was indifferent.

He was only close to Alexander. The rest of the Raven family weren't worth his attention.

Just as he was about to instruct his driver to leave, a timid yet delicate face flashed through his mind.

"Wait."

His gaze lifted, deep and unfathomable.

"That girl tonight... Mity, was that her name?"

Bill was stunned for half a second before he realized that Mr. Adam was asking about the girl who had accidentally entered the private room tonight.

"Yes, it's her."

"I heard she's the girlfriend of the second son of The Raven family. The two are discussing marriage. The old lady of The Raven family has sent someone to invite you over, hoping you could take a look. It seems the wedding is approaching."

Marriage...

In Stuart's mind, the delicate and fragile figure became even clearer.

The girl sat there with her head lowered, her silky black hair cascading down like satin. She was so small, clearly anxious and shy, as if she would shatter with just a touch.

Yet, she still sat with her back straight.

His deep black pupils darkened even more.

"Sir, is there a problem?" Bill's voice came from the front.

"No."

Stuart indifferently withdrew his gaze, erasing that figure from his mind.

"Back to the company."

"Yes, sir."

Alan didn't take Mity home directly.

As soon as they left the hotel, his phone wouldn't stop ringing.

Especially his childhood friends, who had grown up with him. The moment they heard he had taken Mity to meet his family tonight, they were all eager to know the outcome.

Upon learning that the old lady had approved the engagement, they clamored to meet Mity in person.

After all, Alan and Mity had been dating for nearly a year, yet none of them had ever seen a proper photo of her.

The only time was half a year ago when Alan posted a landscape photo on his social media. A small portion of Mity's back was accidentally captured in the bottom right corner, and that was how their relationship was made public.

"Alan, no excuses tonight! You have to bring Sister Mity over so we can finally meet her!"

"Exactly! Ever since that tiny glimpse of her six months ago, I've been dying to know-what kind of stunning beauty could make you want to settle down?"

"Don't be unfair, bro! You only let Zack meet Sister Mity, but the rest of us haven't even seen her yet! We're waiting at JW Bar-come on, you have to bring her!"

"Not going."

Alan rested one hand on the steering wheel, his expression lazy as he listened to the voices babbling from the phone.

"I don't have time tonight."

"How do you not have time? Aren't we always out at this hour?"

On the other end of the phone, the rowdiness of the bar grew louder.

Alan frowned impatiently, his gaze turning cold. "Stop bothering me. I said no, and that's final."

"She's not like you guys. She needs to go home and sleep at this hour."

The moment those words left his mouth, the other end of the call erupted-

"Wait, Alan, since when did you become this considerate and gentle?"

"Sister Mity must be so well-behaved! Sleeping at ten-thirty? Bro, be honest, are you just using this as an excuse to go home with Sister Mity yourself?"

The group kept teasing, laughing, and even throwing in some inappropriate jokes.

Then, a voice thick with alcohol suddenly interjected,

"Alan... they all say you're getting engaged, but I don't believe it... I don't believe you've really moved on..."

Beep-beep-beep-

Alan coldly hung up, the temperature inside the car instantly plummeting.

The dark green sports car sped through the rain-drenched city, the gas pedal pressed all the way down, showing no signs of slowing.

Mity instinctively grabbed her seatbelt, looking at Alan in confusion.

Who had upset him during that call?

Why was he suddenly so angry?

Alan hadn't turned on the speaker, so Mity couldn't hear the conversation clearly. But she could guess.

"Actually, I don't sleep that early," she said softly, seeing how Alan kept stepping on the gas. "If you want, I can go with you for a little while?"

Mity meant well.

She instinctively assumed Alan was annoyed because he was turning down his friends for her sake.

Screech-

The sports car suddenly braked at a red light, skidding across the wet road and leaving a long trail.

Mity was nearly thrown forward by the momentum, only restrained by her seatbelt.

Heart still pounding, she looked up at Alan, about to ask what was wrong-when his voice, utterly devoid of warmth, cut through the silence.

"Get out."

"What?"

Mity's eyes widened little by little in disbelief.

"I said, get out."

Alan's jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on the windshield, watching the wipers move back and forth. He never once looked at her.

Mity's breathing grew shallow.

Despite the warm air blowing inside the car, she felt frozen stiff.

It took her a long moment to react.

"...Okay."

Her movements were stiff as she unfastened her seatbelt, fingers reaching for the door handle.

The moment the door cracked open, Alan's cold voice rang out again.

"I'm not in a good mood tonight. Go home by yourself... be careful on the way."

"...It's okay. I understand."

Even though she said that, the bitterness in her chest only intensified.

She swallowed the discomfort squeezing her heart, grabbed her bag, and stepped out of the car.

The cold, damp night air immediately poured in.

Mity hesitated only for a second before firmly placing her clean canvas shoes into the puddle outside.

The dark green sports car roared away the moment the red light turned green, never once looking back.

The rain poured down in torrents-

And just like that, Alan left Mity standing alone on the roadside.

After a while, Mity found a temporary shelter under a high-rise building.

Alan had thrown her out near the CBD commercial district, surrounded by towering skyscrapers that resembled a cold, unfeeling steel jungle. On this damp and chilly rainy night, there was no warmth to be found.

She was drenched like a drowned rat.

The white dress she had carefully chosen to please Alan was now soaked through, clinging to her skin in a pitiful mess, as if mocking her in silent ridicule.

It was the weekend, and the rain had brought a drop in temperature.

Mity held her phone and tried to call a ride. No matter how much extra she was willing to pay, no driver responded.

Cold raindrops slanted from the eaves above, drenching her once more.

She hugged herself, lifted her head to the dark sky, and for a fleeting moment, she wanted to call her father.

If her father knew she was stranded in the rain like this, would he come pick her up?

Probably not. He had an important social engagement tonight... or maybe, just maybe, he would. Her father loved her dearly. He would come.

Without realizing it, Mity had already dialed Charles's number.

"Hello? Mity, is that you? Why aren't you speaking?"

The familiar voice made her almost break down in tears.

"Dad, I'm-"

"Mity, your aunt said you haven't been home all night. Where did you go? It's pouring outside, don't stay out playing. I have an important engagement right now, go home first. We'll talk later."

Beep-beep-beep-

At some point, the call had been disconnected.

Mity lowered her gaze, staring at the screen displaying the ended call. Her heart clenched, even tighter than when Alan had told her to get out of the car.

When Alan had abandoned her, she hadn't felt the urge to cry.

Because she knew it was just Alan's temper flaring up-his patience had suddenly run out.

He was always like that, temperamental and unpredictable, prone to irritation over a single word.

But Mity never minded, because when he was in a good mood, his eyes were only on her.

Unlike her father.

After he remarried, his love had been divided into too many parts.

It was no longer hers alone.

Mity felt all her strength drain away. She hugged her arms around herself and slowly crouched down.

Her eyes turned red, her nose tinged with the same color-whether from the cold rain or the urge to cry, she wasn't sure.

Just then, a black limited-edition Rolls-Royce slowly emerged from the rain.

"Sir, the girl by the company entrance... isn't that The Raven family's second son's girlfriend?"

Bill, the driver, was surprised when he noticed the figure by the roadside and instinctively reported it.

The Raven family's second son's girlfriend-the girl who had mistakenly entered the private room tonight. Her name was Mity.

But the man in the backseat didn't react at all.

Stuart continued handling business on his phone, his cold, dark eyes lowered, uninterested in the scene outside.

"She's crouched by the roadside... looks like she's crying. Could something have happened? Should we check on her?" Bill felt a twinge of sympathy. After all, the two families knew each other.

Finally, Stuart paused, lifting his deep, abyss-like eyes toward the car window.

A small figure huddled on the ground.

Drenched from head to toe, fragile and delicate in the rain, like a tendril of dodder vine that had lost its support-weak, trembling, on the verge of snapping.

No wonder even his secretary had spoken up with concern.

...

As Mity's vision blurred through the rain, she vaguely noticed a black Rolls-Royce in the distance.

At first, she didn't pay attention, assuming it was just another passing vehicle.

But instead of driving away, the black Rolls-Royce slowed down and came to a stop.

It was parked not far from her, right by the sidewalk.

Mity instinctively looked up.

A strange feeling crept up from the depths of her heart.

The car door never opened. No one stepped out.

It seemed like it was just waiting for someone or had to stop due to unforeseen circumstances.

Yet, an inexplicable sense of danger prickled at Mity's nerves, as if an icy gaze was watching her from within.

She couldn't help but study the car.

When she saw the string of eights on the license plate, she gasped.

That number alone was worth a fortune.

The expensive, cold-toned luxury car reminded her of the man she had encountered in the private room tonight.

Minutes ticked by.

She remained crouched where she was, and the car remained unmoving.

A silent standoff between a girl and a vehicle.

What Mity didn't know-

Beyond the blacked-out windows, a pair of eyes were watching her in complete silence.

She couldn't see the man inside.

But Stuart, from his seat, could clearly see the traces of tears on her face.

Her swollen eyes were repeatedly drenched by the rain, tinged with a deeper shade of red.

Her lips, pale from the cold-or perhaps from suppressing something within.

After a moment, Stuart withdrew his gaze indifferently.

"Drive."

He had no intention of getting out to help her.

He didn't care why a fragile girl had been abandoned on the roadside in a storm, nor whether she would be ruined by the downpour.

Stuart had never been a good man.

The black Rolls-Royce started up again, disappearing silently into the underground parking lot of the building, just as quietly as it had arrived.

Mity, instead, let out a breath of relief.

The suffocating feeling of being watched vanished instantly.

She slowly stood up, realizing that her legs had gone numb from squatting for too long.

Just then, her ride-hailing app finally displayed a notification-her driver had accepted the request.

Mity exhaled, wiping at the corner of her eyes, only to realize that her tears had already been washed away by the rain.

Fear had pushed her tears back before they could even fall.

She let out a soft, self-mocking chuckle.

Just in time-her car had arrived. She pulled open the door and got in.

High above, in the top-floor office of the skyscraper, Stuart stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the rain-soaked city.

From his vantage point, the fragile figure in white crouching below was long out of sight.

He had no idea if she was still standing in the rain.

But it didn't matter.

He didn't care.