In the end, Molly couldn't bring herself to call him "brother."

Because she really did love him.

Loved him so much that when he looked at her with indifference, she pretended not to notice. As long as she could be near him, she was happy.

But he simply didn't love her back.

The woman in his heart meant too much to him. He wouldn't even give Molly a chance—wouldn't try to get to know her.

Still, she had to admire him. In this fast-paced world, staying devoted to one person was rare.

Well, at least I have good taste in men!

So she was willing to step aside and let him have his happiness.

Miles said she could come get the brooch whenever she wanted, or he'd have it delivered.

The moment Molly agreed, she felt lighter than she had in years.

I'm a good person, she told herself. Someday, someone will treasure me too.

When Mrs. Vance heard that Sibyl had once again pulled her son away at a critical moment, she slammed her hand on the table.

"That woman isn't worth half of what Molly is! What's gotten into Miles? I need to find a way to get those two together properly. A beauty like Molly, with that sweet temperament—she's exactly his type!"

"Mom, save your energy. I already talked to Molly." Miles walked in, half-dragging an exhausted Felix behind him. He raised an eyebrow at his parents, still awake at three in the morning.

"Talked about what?"

"Once I've recovered from the jet lag, we're getting divorced." He loosened his collar and sank onto the sofa.

"Molly agreed to this?" Mrs. Vance sounded skeptical.

"She did. I just dropped her off at home. She even wished me well." He paused. "Just as you wanted—from now on, we're siblings."

Mrs. Vance hadn't expected them to have already settled it between themselves.

"That girl was in the bloom of her youth when she married into this family. You treated her like a decoration for three years, and now you're just... done? Miles, are you sure you won't regret this?"

"I won't."

Mrs. Vance was too choked up to argue further. She grabbed her husband's arm and pulled him toward the stairs, muttering as she went: "He doesn't want someone as wonderful as Molly, but he's obsessed with that woman. His eyes might be fixed, but there's clearly something wrong with his head. Absolutely hopeless."

Molly had pulled two all-nighters in a row. When she finally woke, it was already afternoon.

The smell of cooking drifted into her room. She wandered out of the bedroom and found her best friend Kirsten in the kitchen, stirring a pot of congee.

Molly leaned against the doorframe, smiling. "Well, hello there, little fairy godmother."

"Your Highness." Kirsten curtsied dramatically. "Ready to wash up and eat?"

Molly was starving. She freshened up quickly and sat down at the table, eating while she talked. "Weren't you supposed to be in South District for that shoot?"

"Your mother-in-law was worried about you. Asked me to come keep an eye on you." Kirsten set a bowl of congee in front of her. "So... you and Miles. It's really happening?"

"Yeah."

"Six years of waiting, and this is how it ends?" Kirsten's voice rose with indignation. "If it weren't for you back then, Miles would be dead."

Molly watched her friend work herself up again. "I'm tired. Honestly, seeing how committed he is to Sibyl... I found it kind of moving."

"Moving? What about you? You were so young when you—can you really just walk away?"

Molly's lashes trembled. "The only one I can't walk away from is his mother."

That made Kirsten laugh despite herself. "Maybe the divorce is for the best. Harbor City's full of men better than Miles. Come out with me tonight—I'll find you a few."

"Deal." Molly didn't hesitate. "But they have to be good-looking."

She'd barely finished speaking when her phone rang. Mrs. Vance, asking her to come to the old estate for dinner and discuss how to divide the assets.

Molly picked up some pastries Mrs. Vance liked on the way over.

In the living room, both of Miles's parents were waiting, along with a lawyer.

"Molly dear, go drag that idiot son of mine down here," Mrs. Vance said.

Molly climbed the stairs and knocked on Miles's door. She waited. No answer.

She stepped inside. The room was empty. She was heading toward the study when a sound behind her made her turn.

Miles had just walked out of the bathroom—

Water still dripping from his body, his usually immaculate hair falling damp across his forehead. Droplets traced a path down from his hairline, sliding over his shoulders, trailing along the defined lines of his chest and abdomen before disappearing beneath the towel wrapped low around his hips...

Molly had always known he had a good body—the kind that looked lean in clothes but revealed solid muscle underneath.

Especially that waist. So narrow.

When her eyes met Miles's, his brows and lashes still damp with steam, her heart began to pound involuntarily.

That face, that body... never having slept with him really was a waste.

Molly averted her gaze, embarrassed, not wanting to come across like some kind of pervert.

"Your mom's calling for you."

She turned to leave, but a cool, low voice came from behind her. "Wait."

Footsteps drew closer. Remembering he wasn't wearing anything, her back went rigid.

Miles walked up behind her. He noticed her ears gradually flushing red, the color spreading down to her nape. Her skin, smooth as jade, was tinged with a faint blush—quite enticing.

"Never seen a man without clothes before?" Miles said, circling around to face her.

Molly's face was burning now. She glared at him, her eyes full of wariness. "What are you... trying to do?"

Miles said nothing, just stood there watching her with lowered lids.

Molly was confused. She touched her face—nothing stuck to it, right?

"Never mind. I'll head down."

Molly: "..."

She couldn't understand what that had been about. Was he showing off his physique?

Still, she noticed that ever since they'd decided to act as siblings, the atmosphere between them had become much more relaxed.

Downstairs, Mrs. Vance took her hand. "Molly, our mother-daughter-in-law bond really was too brief. But don't worry—I won't let you leave empty-handed. Half of everything under Miles's name—the properties, investments, shares—it's yours."

Molly was stunned. "Mom, no, I couldn't—"

Seeing her refuse, Mrs. Vance began persuading her. "When a woman asks for nothing in a divorce, the man won't be grateful. He'll just think you're stupid. Don't be one of those lovesick fools!"

Miles, coming down the stairs: "..."

"Besides... all that money still couldn't repay what your family did for us," Mrs. Vance added.

Years ago, Mr. Vance and Miles had been in an accident. Molly's father happened upon them and saved both their lives.

That act of heroism brought disaster upon him. He died in a fire.

It was clearly her father who had saved them, yet her foolish son insisted his rescuer had been a woman.

The thought made Mrs. Vance angry all over again. "Miles cheated during the marriage. He should leave with nothing."

"Miles is your son," Molly reminded her quietly.

"If I'd known he'd turn out this stupid, I'd rather have given birth to a roast pork bun!"

Molly's fingers brushed her nose as she stole a glance at Miles.

His cold gaze was locked on her, a half-smile playing on his lips—dangerous and unsettling.

She hadn't asked for his money. His mother was the one insisting!

"My father saved those people because he wanted to. If it had been anyone else in danger, he would have done the same. As for the debt—I think it's already been repaid."

Her father had been a talented jewelry designer who ran a successful fashion company.

After his death, the company fell into chaos and was gradually carved up by others.

It was Mr. Vance who bought the worthless shell and folded it into the Vance Group, holding it in trust until she was old enough to take over.

Two months ago, the company had been placed in her hands.

Mrs. Vance wouldn't accept that as her only settlement. She also gave Molly the trading company at The Industrial Park, plus an entire block of storefronts in Harbor City's prime district. Mr. Vance hadn't been stingy either—he'd given her three percent of the Vance Group shares.

In short, this one divorce had made her a very wealthy woman.

Mrs. Vance told the lawyer to handle everything immediately. Then she turned and saw her son still staring at Molly. She kicked him. "Do you agree or not?"

Miles lounged with his arms draped casually over the sofa, looking effortlessly relaxed. "It's your money. Not my business."

Satisfied with his attitude, Mrs. Vance sent Molly upstairs to fetch a jewelry box from her room.

Once she was gone, Mrs. Vance turned to her son. "Beautiful, isn't she? Absolutely gorgeous. It's not too late to regret this, you know."

"What would I regret? I just noticed she has a mole on the tip of her nose."

"Oh? One little mole and you can't look away?" She snorted. "Keep pretending. You think I don't know you? I pushed you out of my own body."

Molly was undeniably beautiful. Her hair, which had been pinned up earlier, now cascaded over her shoulders like dark seaweed.

Her skin was porcelain-pale, her features exquisitely delicate. Sitting in the passenger seat, she dabbed concealer over the tiny mole on the tip of her nose, then applied a bold red lipstick. The effect was striking—elegant yet commanding.

Miles glanced over. "Why cover it up?"

It took Molly a moment to realize he meant the mole.

"It's too cutesy."

Miles understood. A twenty-six-year-old female executive couldn't afford to look endearing. That little mole on her nose gave her an innocent, almost provocative charm—not exactly the image that commanded respect in a boardroom.

He said nothing more, focusing on the road.

Molly didn't attempt small talk either, her gaze drifting to the window. The silence between them felt natural enough.

Still, knowing Miles was driving her to a matchmaking session left a bitter taste she couldn't quite name.

The whole thing had started before dinner. She'd been in the Vance family kitchen preparing a dish when Kirsten called. Her mother-in-law had answered on speakerphone.

"Princess, I've lined up a batch of young studs at July Club for you—tall, gorgeous, perfect for a young heiress like yourself to take her pick..."

Molly had frozen.

The kitchen staff stared at her, horrified disbelief written across their faces.

It was her mother-in-law who spoke first. "Wonderful, Kirsten. After dinner, we'll have Miles drive Molly over."

Her car was still parked at the Industrial Park. At the dinner table, Mrs. Vance had asked Miles to take her to the matchmaking event, and he'd agreed without hesitation.

Even though she'd already decided on divorce, uprooting someone who'd taken residence in your heart still took time.

Miles's complete indifference sent an involuntary pang through her chest.

When they arrived at July Club, Molly thanked him politely.

He gave a brief nod, then drove off.

Miles was satisfied with how they'd handled things. Molly's lack of clinginess had even earned her a few points in his estimation.

Fifteen minutes later, stopped at a red light, he opened a photo Felix had sent him.

Molly stood in the corridor outside a private room, phone pressed to her ear, wearing a backless sweater.

From the front, the dark gray knit looked unremarkable—a basic cut. But the back was open from the shoulder blades down, the fabric only resuming where a large bow cinched at her waist. Her black hair spilled over her jade-pale skin, the stark contrast neither jarring nor obvious, but creating something subtly sensual—an atmosphere of intimate allure.

No wonder she'd kept her jacket on throughout dinner, never once complaining about the heat.

She'd been afraid that taking it off would shatter her good-daughter-in-law image in front of his mother.

...

Molly sat on the private room's sofa, surveying the row of handsome men standing before her. She frowned slightly.

"Not a single one?" Kirsten asked.

"They're all pretty enough, but 'pretty' isn't really a compliment for a man."

Kirsten flopped sideways on the sofa, shooting her a look. "Compared to that devastatingly handsome face of his, these guys do fall short."

Miles's appeal came from the inside out—that presence, that bearing. His looks were almost secondary.

Molly had sharp taste. Having snagged someone like Miles, of course everyone else seemed bland by comparison.

Molly flipped through the stack of résumés, pulled out four, and handed them over. "Your studio's talent auditions have turned into some kind of imperial consort selection."

"This selection is just for you. He never satisfied you anyway—let these four make up for your three wasted years."

Felix had been standing at the door for a while. Only after Miles stalked off with a thunderous expression did he push it open. "Molly, my brother wants to see you about something."

Molly blinked, confused. "Didn't he go home?"