As the lights went out, Gavin let out a quiet sigh of relief and settled back onto the sofa. The room was shrouded in silence, a stillness that seemed to stretch endlessly as he waited for Liza to appear. Minutes ticked by, but the sound of her footsteps never came. He lowered his head, his expression unreadable in the darkness, but the faintest hint of disappointment crossed his features. Her earlier words echoed in his mind—how their marriage was nothing more than an agreement, a pretense in front of others, leaving them as little more than strangers when alone. A cold smirk tugged at his lips. “How foolish of me,” he muttered under his breath. He was about to reach for his phone to tell George to restore the power when the sound of hurried footsteps startled him. “Gavin, are you there?” His heart jolted at the sound of her voice. His hand faltered, and the phone slipped from his grasp, falling to the floor. Though his world remained pitch black, he instinctively turned his head toward the source of her voice. There was a slight tremble in her tone, and her steps seemed unsteady as she called out again, “Don’t move around. I’m here.” A faint smile played at the corners of his lips. If she truly didn’t care, she wouldn’t have come. Despite her earlier insistence that their relationship was only a facade, her actions betrayed her words. She had come for him. And now, there was no escaping. Liza switched on her phone’s flashlight as she approached the living room. Relief washed over her when she saw Gavin sitting quietly on the sofa. She hurried over, her heart still racing. “Gavin, are you okay—” Before she could finish, Gavin reached out and pulled her close, his arms wrapping firmly around her waist. Startled, she stumbled slightly, finding herself pressed against him. Though the darkness had rendered him sightless, he had no trouble finding her. “You came,” he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet warmth. Liza stiffened in his embrace, her cheeks flushing a deep red. She tried to push away, but his hold on her tightened. “You can’t escape now,” Gavin said softly, his voice tinged with amusement. Before she could protest, his lips found hers. The kiss was deliberate, gentle yet inescapable, leaving her breathless. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The kisses they had shared in the past had always felt detached, mechanical—a means to an end, devoid of emotion. But this was different. There was an intimacy now that made her forget where they were. She tried to form words, but her voice faltered. “Gavin, we shouldn’t—”Her attempt to speak was cut off as he deepened the kiss, leaving her utterly lost in the moment. “This… this is the living room,” she finally managed, her voice weak. “Let’s… go upstairs.” Gavin let her go, a faint smile curling his lips as he leaned back slightly. His voice was low, almost teasing. “Mrs. Liza, I can’t see. How do you expect me to go upstairs on my own?” Liza’s face turned even redder. She stammered, “I-I’ll help you! You still have me!” Gavin chuckled softly, his laughter resonating in the quiet room. In the dim glow of her flashlight, Liza’s flushed face was impossible to miss, her cheeks and even the tips of her ears tinged pink. Her flustered expression only made his smile deepen. … Liza carefully guided Gavin to the bedroom, ensuring he was comfortable before pulling the blanket over him. Satisfied that he was settled, she quietly turned to leave. Her thoughts weighed heavily on her. Nighttime was the most dangerous for Gavin—his inability to see left him vulnerable, and the poison coursing through his body could worsen at any moment. On top of that, Gavin had no shortage of enemies who would exploit even the slightest sign of weakness. Liza’s mind wandered back to the past. Although her grandfather had failed to save Miss Smith from a similar affliction decades ago, advancements in medicine and techniques over the years gave her hope. Gavin’s condition wasn’t as severe, and if she committed to performing acupuncture on him regularly, there was a chance she could neutralize the toxin before it fully took hold. It was a gamble, but one she was willing to take. As long as the poison hadn’t completely overtaken his body, there was still hope. Determined, she returned to her own room to plan a treatment regimen, her thoughts consumed by finding a cure. Meanwhile, Gavin spent the night awake, lost in his own thoughts. As dawn broke, Liza slowly opened her eyes. After freshening up, she grabbed her tool bag and headed straight to Gavin’s room. The man’s sharp gaze fell on the bag in her hand, curiosity flickering across his face. Without hesitation, Liza got straight to the point. “Gavin, take off your clothes!” George, who had just arrived outside the room, froze in place. His jaw nearly dropped as he processed what he’d just overheard. What?! Did the president and Young Madam progress so quickly overnight? She was already asking him to strip first thing in the morning? Inside, Gavin was seated on the bed, wearing sleek black pajamas. His slightly disheveled hair somehow made him look even more striking, exuding a natural charisma. Despite his casual appearance, his presence radiated quiet authority. Liza set her tool bag down and unzipped it, revealing rows of silver needles and small bottles of medicine. Gavin raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Take off my clothes?” he repeated, his tone carrying a teasing edge. “Yes, for acupuncture,” Liza clarified, her voice steady as she tried to maintain her composure. But the moment her gaze met his, her mind betrayed her. Memories of the previous night flashed vividly before her eyes—his intense, possessive kiss, his refusal to let her go despite her protests. The warmth of his touch and the way he held her replayed in her mind like a scene on loop. “Mrs. Liza,” Gavin said after a moment of silence, his deep voice pulling her back to the present. “Why do you have such a malicious look in your eyes?” Liza blinked, caught off guard. “Malicious? What are you talking about?” His smirk widened slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes as he leaned back, studying her expression.Realization hit Liza like a wave. He was teasing her! Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she glared at him. This shameless man was intentionally leading her thoughts astray! But no matter how much she tried to focus, the images from the night before lingered, replaying in vivid detail. It was impossible to ignore. This man was infuriating, but she refused to back down. “Stay still and let me do the acupuncture,” she snapped, masking her flustered state with feigned annoyance. Gavin chuckled softly, but he complied, making it impossible for her to shake the tension lingering between them.