M felt like her world was crashing down.


    She understood every single word Miranda had said, but put together, the meaning just didn''tpute. What did she mean, she''d identally slept with Rnd?


    In the little garden, even the breeze seemed to hold its breath.


    After a long moment, M finally managed to sputter, "How did you even dare?"


    Who was Rnd, anyway?


    He was the kind of man who carried a gun everywhere-dangerous, ruthless, thest person anyone in their right mind would willingly get involved with. If it weren''t for some very unusual circumstances, M would''ve kept her distance entirely.


    And now, her best friend had slept with him?


    She always knew Miranda loved a thrill—taking up shooting lessons, trying out every extreme sport she could find-but she''d never shown the slightest interest in any man before. Wasn''t she the one always swearing off marriage?


    M paced in a tight circle, took a steadying breath, and demanded, "What exactly happened?"


    Miranda hesitated for a second, then blurted out, "Well... you know how I''ve been working with Rndtely, because of all that Lockwood family mess? It''s put both of us in some tricky situations, and there were things I needed him to handle. So, he posed as my personal bodyguard, stuck by my side to keep me safe... Anyway, a couple nights ago, when it all finally wrapped up, we went out to celebrate. One drink led to another, and, well, he''s just got these incredible abs...


    I lost control, okay?"


    M inhaled sharply and fell silent, at aplete loss for words.


    Before she could say anything, Miranda''s voice shot up indignantly, "But whatever, right? We''re adults. So we slept together-big deal! I''m young, he''s young, we''re both attractive, nobody got hurt. I even wired him three thousand pounds the next day. That should''ve been the end of it, right? But now he''s telling me I need to take responsibility? What is that supposed to mean?!”


    Three thousand pounds? Responsibility?


    M blinked, stunned, then cut in, exasperated, "Wait, hold up-you paid him? Are you treating him like a... a gigolo?"


    And seriously-the head of the Lockwood Group, and that''s his going rate for a night?


    Realizing the conversation was veering off track, M quickly pulled herself together, just as Miranda fell silent on the other end. After a brief pause, Miranda admitted, sounding uncertain, "I mean, I was the one who made the first move, and I don''t want anything serious, so I figured I ought to give him something. You know?"


    What kind of logic is that?!


    M took another deep breath and decided not to dig for details. Instead, she cut to the chase: "So what do you actually want?"


    "I''m still not interested in marriage-what do you think I want?" Miranda sounded flustered.


    "I just don''t get it. We''re both adults; why''s he making such a big deal out of it? He''s been calling me nonstop, and I''m too scared to pick up. By the way, when are you finally getting your passport sorted? At this point, I just want to hop a ne and disappear!"


    Originally, Miranda just wanted to leave the country with M toy low-after all the Lockwood Group drama, she''d made plenty of enemies and didn''t want revengeing her way.


    Now, she had a new reason: escaping a man.


    Miranda groaned. "If I''d known this would happen, I''d have kept my hands to myself! But it''s not all my fault-Rnd wasn''t even drunk! Why didn''t he stop me?"


    The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.


    “See? He and I are just destined to butt heads. Nothing good ever happens when we''re in the same room!"


    M pinched the bridge of her nose.


    She had nothing to say to that. Still, Miranda seemed to know exactly what she wanted, so M dropped the interrogation and updated her on the passport situation.


    "The local office has already put up a notice, but Lysander''s still refusing to hand over my documents. So I have to wait the full fifteen days. If he still refuses, they''ll just dere my paperwork lost and issue me new ones."


    Once that happened, she''d finally be able to get her new ID, passport, and visa sorted.


    Miranda muttered through gritted teeth, "Lysander is such a jerk!" Then, more urgently, she asked, "How much longer will it take?"