In the back seat of the sleek black Maybach, Gavin gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles pale from the pressure. The air inside the car was stifling, filled with a tension that made even the smallest sound seem amplified. Old Wang, the driver, glanced nervously at George in the passenger seat. “You need to talk to Young Master,” he whispered urgently. “If we don’t find Madam soon, we’re going to freeze out here.” George, just finishing a call, removed his earphones and turned to face Gavin. “President, our team has checked every reported car accident in the city from the past hour, but there’s no sign of Madam.” His voice was steady, but there was an underlying concern in his tone. Driving a modified car wasn’t easy, and the risk of an accident was high. The first thing George had done was mobilize people to check all recent accident reports. He continued, “The Transportation Bureau has also provided updates, but they’re still reviewing surveillance footage. Madam’s exact location is yet to be confirmed.” Gavin’s patience had run out. “Give me the laptop,” he ordered sharply. Without wasting a moment, he loosened his tie and opened the device. His slender fingers flew over the keyboard, pulling up surveillance footage from intersections across Li City. The screen quickly filled with grainy videos from traffic cameras, his eyes scanning them with laser focus. His mind, however, was far from calm. The words from Black Tide’s earlier message echoed in his head: What does it mean to like someone? This was what it meant. It was the overwhelming panic of imagining Liza in danger. It was the unbearable thought of never hearing her audacious remarks again, of never having her tease him with that confident, mischievous smile. The idea that there might never be another Liza in his life drove him to the edge of madness. He didn’t care about her lies, her schemes, or the way she used him. None of it mattered.Meanwhile, Liza had just wrapped up her work for the evening. She neatly packed her belongings, feeling a sense of relief after completing several tasks that had piled up. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she started down the dimly lit, creaky old staircase. Her thoughts wandered. Had Gavin’s anger subsided by now? She could only hope he wasn’t still brooding. As she descended the steps, faint but hurried footsteps reached her ears from below. The sound grew louder and closer, each step echoing in the quiet stairwell. She instinctively moved to the side to let the person pass. Before she could react further, a tall figure stormed up the stairs and stopped in front of her. Strong arms pulled her into an unyielding embrace. “Damn it, who told you to drive around recklessly like that?!” Gavin’s voice was hoarse, his breathing heavy as though he had run a marathon. His grip around her waist was firm, almost desperate, as though afraid she would disappear if he let go. The heat from his body radiated through the fabric of her clothes, and the slight tremor in his hands didn’t escape her notice. Caught off guard by the sudden closeness, Liza’s heart raced. She instinctively tried to pull back, wanting to look at his face and understand the emotions behind his words. But as she took even the smallest step back, Gavin closed the gap again, refusing to loosen his hold. His embrace was fierce yet protective, and the trembling in his touch revealed the storm of emotions he was trying to suppress. “G-Gavin…” “Just let me hold you for a moment,” Gavin murmured, his voice raw with emotion. He leaned into her, his head resting heavily on her shoulder, as if the weight of the world had momentarily left him powerless. Downstairs, George exchanged a glance with Old Wang, the driver. Without a word, the two quietly slipped out of the corridor, their presence unnecessary in this private moment.Time seemed to blur. Ten minutes? Twenty? Liza couldn’t tell. By the time Gavin finally released her, her legs had gone numb. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, crouching slightly to massage the pins and needles in her legs. Gavin stood before her, looking far from his usual composed self. His tie was missing, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone. His disheveled hair fell into his eyes, and the crooked way his shirt hung on his broad shoulders gave him an air of vulnerability—a stark contrast to his usual commanding demeanor. Despite herself, Liza’s gaze lingered on the exposed collarbone, the sharp lines and smooth skin drawing her attention. Noticing her stare, a faint warmth crept up Gavin’s neck, spreading like wildfire. He cleared his throat and quickly adjusted his shirt, fumbling to button it all the way up to his Adam’s apple. Only then did he seem to regain some semblance of control. Liza finally broke her gaze, her tone curious but casual. “So, why are you here?” This neighborhood was old, primarily inhabited by retirees. It wasn’t the kind of place Gavin would frequent. Gavin hesitated, his thoughts racing. Should he tell her the truth? Should he admit that he had been worried sick about her? That he had gone as far as hacking into the Traffic Bureau’s system to track her location? No. Even if he’d already acknowledged his feelings for her privately, he wasn’t the type to confess them aloud, especially not to someone as seemingly indifferent as Liza. With a cold snort, Gavin turned away abruptly, his usual aloofness snapping back into place. Without answering her question, he walked downstairs, his footsteps echoing in the quiet stairwell. Liza stood there, confused. “What the…?” Downstairs, George and Old Wang were leaning against the wall in a corner, sharing a cigarette. Occasionally, their eyes flicked toward the dim corridor, waiting. “Old Wang,” George began, exhaling a puff of smoke, “don’t you think the president has finally fallen for someone? I mean, the great Gavin, who’s always been indifferent to women, flustered over a single person? It’s unprecedented.” Old Wang shook his head firmly. “Impossible. Young Master and Madam haven’t known each other that long. And considering how… unconventional their relationship began? No, I don’t see it happening.” George smirked, adjusting his glasses with a knowing look. “You underestimate him.” He wasn’t concerned about the length of time they had known each other or the odd circumstances surrounding their relationship. What mattered was the fact that Gavin—a man who rarely, if ever, lost his composure—was visibly shaken. Recalling the president’s reaction earlier, when he discovered Liza had taken his modified car for a joyride, George let out a low chuckle. “Mark my words, Old Wang. He’s already a goner.”