"President Gavin..." George entered the room, carrying a mahogany box in his hands. The moment his eyes landed on Gavin and Liza in a close embrace, he immediately turned around, flustered. "Sorry, President Gavin! I didn’t see anything." At the sound of his voice, Liza quickly pulled away from Gavin, her face slightly flushed. Feeling the sudden emptiness where her warmth had been, Gavin scoffed internally. Annoyed but composed, he turned to George, who was already trying to make a hasty exit. “No need to leave. George, meet Liza, my wife.” George’s eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise and greeted her politely. "Hello, Madam." George had heard vague rumors from Old Wang, the driver, about the young master’s unexpected marriage at the Civil Affairs Bureau. He initially thought it was a strategic move to deal with family issues, but seeing them now, there was clearly more to this relationship than what met the eye. This doesn’t look like a mere arrangement. Something’s definitely going on here. Liza gave a small nod in acknowledgment, her expression calm and composed. “President Gavin, about this…” George began, hesitating as he held out the mahogany box Sensing the private nature of the matter, Liza tactfully offered, “I’ll head upstairs and give you two some space.” “There’s no need,” Gavin interjected firmly, motioning for her to stay. He took the box from George’s hands, opened it, and extended it toward her. “Didn’t you claim to be bold? Go on, open it and take a look.” George froze, alarmed. “President Gavin, I don’t think—” Gavin ignored him, his focus entirely on Liza. Without hesitation, Liza unclasped the lock and opened the box, her movements swift and confident.Inside, nestled in red velvet lining, was a pistol—a sleek, rare silver weapon that gleamed under the light. Liza’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She had heard tales of the Stone family’s immense power, but holding a firearm like this in her hands was proof of just how influential they were. Since returning from overseas, she hadn’t encountered anything like this, especially since firearms were strictly regulated in the country. Gavin studied her intently, his gaze sharp and calculating, noting every flicker of emotion on her face. He wasn’t sure how an average woman might react to seeing a pistol for the first time, but he was certain their reaction wouldn’t look like this. Her expression was far from fear or hesitation—it was one of fascination and eagerness. Liza glanced briefly at Gavin, unsure of his intentions. Had he handed her the pistol to tease her, or was he testing her in some way? Either way, she couldn’t resist.When she noticed his attention waver for a split second, she quickly picked up the pistol, her movements smooth and natural. She flipped her wrist, testing its balance and weight, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips. Click. The sound of the safety being disengaged sent George into a panic. His face turned pale as he stammered, “Madam, please be careful! That’s not a toy—it’s a real pistol!” Liza rolled her eyes, her expression amused. “I know it’s real,” she muttered under her breath. Reluctantly, she ran her fingers over the polished surface of the weapon one last time before placing it back in the box. With genuine admiration, she commented, “It’s an excellent pistol.” Gavin couldn’t help but chuckle as he closed the mahogany box. “So, you’ve handled a pistol before?” he asked, his tone light but his gaze probing. Her actions earlier—flipping the gun and loading it effortlessly—had been too practiced to be a coincidence.Liza shrugged nonchalantly. “A few times,” she replied lazily, her eyes lingering on the box before finally looking away. Gavin’s lips curled into a faint smile as he observed her, his mind racing with curiosity. This woman, who had been cast aside by the Sinclair family and sent to the countryside, had somehow learned how to handle firearms. Just who was she, really? Gavin’s mind wandered as he thought about how the Sinclair family had always dismissed Liza as weak and incapable of taking care of herself. How blind could they be? he wondered. With a casual wave of his hand, he tossed the mahogany box into Liza’s arms. His tone was indifferent but firm as he said, “Since you know how to use it, it’s yours now.” George stood frozen in disbelief, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. Was this really happening? A pistol? A fully functioning, real firearm? And Gavin just handed it over like it was some random trinket? What shocked him even more was Liza’s reaction. She barely batted an eye. Instead, she raised an eyebrow in mild amusement and accepted the gun without hesitation, as if receiving a gift like this was the most natural thing in the world. George’s thoughts spiraled. What is wrong with these two? First President Gavin acts out of character, and now Madam seems equally unpredictable. What kind of couple is this? Liza, cradling the pistol in her arms, made her way upstairs with a satisfied look, leaving George to wrestle with his confusion. Unable to hold back his curiosity, he leaned closer to Gavin and whispered, “President, you and Madam…” He gestured vaguely toward the stairs and asked meaningfully, “What’s the deal here? Didn’t the Sinclair family always claim that Madam was frail and helpless?” Gavin shot him a cold glance, his voice laced with disdain. “You believe everything the Sinclair family says? When did you start using such a useless brain?”George’s lips twitched, unable to form a response. “Should we investigate further? Madam seems…” George hesitated, clearly uneasy. The Liza he had just seen was nothing like the fragile woman described by the Sinclair family. And given Gavin’s status, having someone so unpredictable around him was risky—like sitting next to a ticking time bomb. After a moment of thought, Gavin shook his head. “No need. She has no ill intentions toward me.” His gaze softened as he recalled the brief moment when Liza had been in his arms earlier. There was something about her vulnerability that tugged at him in an unexpected way. Though her words could often be sharp and cutting, those rare moments when she let her guard down revealed a side of her that made his chest tighten. He glanced at his hands as if trying to hold onto the fleeting warmth she had left behind.What could she have gone through to develop such a thorny, guarded personality? he wondered silently. But now, she was his wife. And as her husband, it was his responsibility to shield her, to ensure she never had to face the storms alone again.