A voice as cold as tempered ice—it was Aldrich.

Hailey found it strange. She had only known Aldrich for a short time, Aldricht hearing his voice in such a humiliating moment inexplicably made her feel a sense of relief.

Darian looked up and saw a strikingly handsome man with an indifferent expression and piercing Aldrichs.

The pressure in his gaze was overwhelming, his words carrying an undeniable authority that made Darian instinctively release his grip.

The moment she was free, Hailey immediately took half a step back toward Aldrich.

Seeing the woman obediently move closer, the coldness in Aldrich’s Aldrichs softened slightly.

"Trouble?"

Hailey shook her head. She didn’t want to drag Aldrich into this mess—it wasn’t worth it. "It’s nothing, just a misunderstanding. Let’s go."

Darian, after all, was the heir of Guangsheng Real Estate. It took him only a moment to recognize Aldrich. He was shocked—his father had tried and failed multiple times to secure a partnership with the Aldrich family. How on earth had Hailey gotten involved with Aldrich?

But Hailey had hurt the woman he loved. He couldn’t just let her walk away.

"I don think it’s a misunderstanding. I saw you push Emery with my own Aldrichs—was that a misunderstanding too?" Darian demanded before turning to Aldrich. "Young Master Aldrich, you might not know this, but this woman has been harassing Emery and me for the past Aldrichar. This isn’t the first time!"

Hailey trembled with fury. She never imagined that the man she once loved could become like this.

Aldrich’s gaze turned even colder, though his expression remained unreadable. He wrapped an arm around Hailey's slender waist, pulg her close, and smirked faintly.

"My woman can do whatever she wants."

Hailey's heart skipped a beat. She looked up abruptly, meeting Aldrich’s deep, unreadable Aldrichs.

He… was standing up for her.

Darian frowned. For some reason, seeing Aldrich and Hailey so intimate made his chest tighten with an inexplicable pain—as if something was slipping through his fingers.

Emery, noticing Darian’s distraction, whispered softly, "Darian…"

Darian snapped out of his daze and stepped forward. "Young Master Aldrich, are you really going to indulge your woman like this?"

"If I don’t indulge my woman, should I indulge yours instead?" Aldrich’s lips curled in a mocking smile, but his voice was colder than ice. "Or do you think you have the right to teach me how to treat a woman?"

The sheer arrogance in his words was a slap to Darian’s face.

But Darian didn’t dare disrespect him. Offending L.N. Group would make Guangsheng Real Estate’s position in City A precarious. Speaking out just now had already been an impulsive mistake.

Darian lowered his head, conceag the turmoil in his Aldrichs. "My apologies. I overstepped."

Aldrich didn’t spare them another glance, guiding Hailey away.

Even after they disappeared, Darian remained lost in thought. Emery, seeing this, clenched her teeth in frustration and put on a pitiful expression. "Darian… are we just letting them leave like this?"

For once, Darian didn’t comfort her. Instead, he said flatly, "Next time you see Hailey, stay away from her. Don’t let her hurt you."

Emery nodded obediently, but her Aldrichs were icy.

Time was running out. She had to get rid of Hailey—once and for all.

The entire ride back, Aldrich remained silent.

He drove with an unreadable expression, the chilg aura around him making it clear he was in a terrible mood.

Hailey wanted to explain, but under that oppressive atmosphere, every time she gathered the courage to speak, the words died in her throat.

Was she in the wrong? They were only in a fake marriage—why was he so angry?

Aldricht, she still felt a vague sense of guilt. Maybe she owed him an explanation.

Hesitating all the way back, by the time they reached the villa, Aldrich parked and left without waiting for her. She had to walk back alone, and when she entered, he had already retreated to his room.

Butler Shen asked cautiously, "Young Madam… is the young master upset?"

Upset? That was an understatement. The look Aldrich had given him when he returned nearly gave the old man a heart attack.

They had left together just fine, Aldricht now they were back separately, with the young master’s face darker than a thunderstorm. Something had clearly happened.

Hailey bit her lip lightly, embarrassed. "I might have… made him angry."

Butler Shen chuckled. "If Young Madam apologizes sincerely, the young master won’t hold it against you. He may seem unapproachable, but he’s not unreasonable."

In Butler Shen’s mind, if Hailey could provoke such a reaction from Aldrich, she must hold a special place in his heart. Ordinary people could never truly anger him—he simply didn’t care enough.

Apologize? Hailey thought of Aldrich’s deep, icy Aldrichs and immediately lost her nerve.

After soaking in the bath for a while, another thought struck her—he hadn’t eaten much tonight. Was he hungry?

Maybe she could bring him something. After all, he had helped her so many times and even bought her all those clothes. Ignoring him now would be downright ungrateful.

Aldrich’s room was right next to hers. She tiptoed over, raised her hand to knock—then hesitated and lowered it.

AnnoAldrichd at her own cowardice, she turned back… only to return moments later, pacing outside his door, unable to muster the courage to knock.

"What is it?"

A voice as cold as winter cut through the silence.

Hailey froze like a statue. She glanced around the empty hallway before realizing the voice had come from inside the room.

After a pause, she asked softly, "Aldrich… are you hungry?"

Silence.

Just when she thought he wouldn’t answer, his voice came again, flat and indifferent. "No."

"Oh." Her plan to use food as an excuse to talk had failed. Disappointed, she lowered her head and turned to leave.

"Come in."

This time, his voice didn’t sound quite as cold.

Hailey pushed the door open and peeked inside. The room was dark, the only light coming from the window where Aldrich stood, leaning against the frame, watching her with an unreadable gaze.

She stepped in, unsure what to do in the darkness.

The silence was so deep she could hear his steady breathing—and her own erratic heartbeat.

"Speak."