The female secretary froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. After hesitating, she finally spoke in a cautious tone. “Well… maybe she’s gossiping? It’s easy to lose track of time when chatting with friends about trivial things.” Gavin’s expression turned icy. “Even if someone forgets the time, gossiping for over two hours is excessive. Doesn’t anyone worry about running out of things to say or exhausting their voices?” Two hours of uninterrupted conversation did seem like a stretch, and the secretary hesitated, her mind racing for another explanation. A sudden thought crossed her mind, and she said tentatively, “President Gavin, are you certain the person is actually on the phone? Sometimes, when this happens repeatedly, it could mean…” She paused, unsure whether to continue, then added carefully, “…that the person has blocked your number.” Her voice trailed off, and she instantly regretted her words. After all, who in their right mind would dare to block Gavin, of all people? Surely, her theory was wrong. But before she could retract her comment, she noticed Gavin’s face had darkened, his expression as stormy as a brewing tempest. The room grew tense, and the secretary’s palms began to sweat. Gavin’s anger bubbled to the surface. Blocked? The thought was infuriating. Liza had the audacity to block him, and to make matters worse, George had confidently claimed she was on the phone with someone else. That idiot had misled him! “Inform George that his bonus for this month has been canceled!” Gavin barked sharply. The secretary’s jaw dropped, though she wisely kept her thoughts to herself. This was a classic case of misplaced frustration, and poor George had unknowingly taken the fall. Meanwhile, at the villa, Liza sat on the sofa, staring at the clock. It was already nine in the evening, and her stomach was loudly protesting its emptiness. Yet, Gavin still hadn’t returned. She let out a frustrated sigh, unable to hide her irritation.Turning to the butler, she asked with faint skepticism, “Are you sure Gavin is coming back tonight?” The butler, sensing her impatience, answered cautiously. “When I spoke to Mr Gavin r earlier, he did mention that he’d return, but… it is quite late now. Madam, you must be hungry. Should I ask the kitchen to prepare something for you? Perhaps we could serve the dishes you brought back earlier?” Liza shook her head. “No need. I’ll wait for him.” She crossed her arms, her expression resigned. If Gavin wasn’t coming home, what was the point of eating the food she had brought? After all, she couldn’t taste it anyway. By the time the clock struck 9:30, her patience had worn thin. Reluctantly, she picked up her phone and dialed Gavin’s number. To her surprise, the call connected. A small wave of relief washed over her—at least he hadn’t blocked her in retaliation. Yet as she stared at her phone, doubts crept in. Had Gavin realized she had blocked him earlier? Knowing his personality, if he had, he would likely block her back just to get even. The call connected, and the faint sound of Gavin’s measured breathing came through the phone. Liza’s voice carried a trace of stiffness. “Gavin?” “Yes,” he replied curtly, his tone cold and distant. “It’s almost ten o’clock,” Liza said, attempting to keep her frustration in check. “You told the butler you’d be back for dinner. Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?” Gavin let out a snort, his voice tinged with irritation. “I haven’t finished my work. I can’t come back yet.” Hearing this, Liza immediately recognized the signs—this man was throwing another one of his silent tantrums. “Mrs. Stone,” Gavin continued, his tone indifferent, “if there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.” “Wait,” Liza interrupted quickly. She took a deep breath, signaling to the butler to step away and give her some privacy. She gritted her teeth and, in a voice dripping with forced sweetness, said, “Brother Gavin!” There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Liza’s eyes brightened at his reaction. Clearly, her strategy was working. Seizing the opportunity, she pressed on. “Brother Gavin, when are you coming home? I’ve been waiting for you, and I’m so hungry!” Gavin’s fingers tightened slightly as he let out a soft exhale, his voice dropping an octave. “Alright. I’ll be back soon.” Liza froze for a moment, taken aback. Didn’t he just say he was too busy with work?! Twenty minutes later, the front door creaked open. Liza leaped off the sofa, rushing to greet Gavin. She practically yanked his jacket off in her enthusiasm. “Let me do it! I’ll take care of it!”Gavin gave her a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable. “Hungry?” Liza nodded furiously, putting on her most pitiful expression. “I’m starving! If you hadn’t come back, I would’ve passed out from hunger!” “Heh.” Gavin smirked faintly, seeing right through her act. This woman must have an ulterior motive—she was never this eager unless she needed something from him. Without another word, he started heading upstairs. “I’m not hungry yet. If you’re starving, go eat. I’m going to take a shower.” It was obvious he was being difficult on purpose. Liza clenched her fists in frustration but quickly calmed herself. It was now clear that Gavin was in a bad mood. Any thought she had of using a kiss to coax him vanished entirely—it wasn’t worth the risk. “Alright, alright,” she said with a forced smile, trying to placate him. “Go ahead and take a shower first. We can talk afterward.” Gavin paused midway up the stairs and turned to look at her, his expression cool and sharp. “Mrs. Stone, do you have a favor to ask me?” His tone was laced with suspicion. Her current demeanor was far too different from her earlier attitude. Liza froze momentarily, caught off guard by his directness. Well, technically, she did have a request, though Gavin would benefit from it too. She quickly masked her hesitation with a composed smile. “Not at all. We’re husband and wife—can’t I just show some concern for you? Be careful in the shower, alright? Don’t slip and fall.” Her words sounded more like a veiled threat than genuine concern. Gavin let out a soft snort, clearly unimpressed. He could already guess what was on her mind. This woman was only acting so considerate because she wanted to recover her ability to taste food temporarily. Moments like these were the only times she would ever soften toward him. With that, he continued up the stairs, leaving Liza to stew in her own awkwardness.