A few minutes later, Miranda composed herself, adjusting her clothing and gently wiping away her tears. She then carefully seated herself on Frederick's lap, adopting a flirtatious and vulnerable demeanor. Her eyes remained cast downward, concealing her disgust. When Miranda overheard Frederick and Yelena discussing the possibility of a temporary living arrangement for her after discovering she wasn't biologically related to the Grants, she felt an overwhelming sense of unease. The plan was for her to move out when their biological daughter returned, and they even considered taking legal action against Miranda's biological mother. At that moment, she couldn't help but dread the possibility of becoming increasingly distant from the Grant family and eventually being expelled from their lives. In a desperate attempt to secure her place within the family, she tirelessly worked to please them. Unfortunately, Frederick had already started finding her an alternative place to live. Reluctant to leave, she made the painful choice to offer her own body, sacrificing her integrity and dignity. Her desire was to stay in the Grant family, maintaining the wealth, luxury, and attention she had enjoyed. She even harbored aspirations of inheriting their wealth. That was why she did what she did. It seemed to be her only option. She felt she couldn't measure up to their biological daughter without resorting to such drastic measures. With Frederick, the patriarch of the Grant family, providing unwavering support and protection, Miranda managed to establish a stable position within the family. Frederick's emotional connection with Elaine remained distant due to the mix-up at birth. When faced with a daughter to whom he had no biological ties and a young companion who fulfilled his desires, he ultimately chose the latter. Many men, particularly middle-aged men, had perverted minds. Miranda's youthful body, combined with their secretive and forbidden relationship, was irresistible to Frederick. Seeking greater excitement, he would sometimes bring Miranda into their bedroom after Yelena had fallen asleep, having taken sleeping pills. “Miranda, don't worry. I won't allow anyone to harm you or force you to leave,” Frederick reassured her sincerely. In a soft voice, Miranda responded, “But what if Mom, Gavin, and the others refuse to forgive me and pressure you to kick me out?” Frederick sneered and stated, “I'm the one who has the say in this household. If they don't listen to me and still refuse to accept you, I will kick them out!” Miranda felt a wave of relief wash over her.She leaned her head against Frederick's shoulder, her voice pitiful as she spoke. “Dad, it's all because of Elaine that I'm in this situation. I'm too afraid to face the world now. You have to help me seek justice...” A glint of malice flared in Frederick's eyes as he gritted his teeth and responded, “Even if she hadn't harmed you, I won't let her off the hook! She sold thirty percent of the company's shares to Theodore, plunging the company into chaos. As if that wasn't bad enough, she swindled me out of a lot of money and even resorted to physical violence against me. The grudge between us has been festering for far too long!” Meanwhile, Elaine had returned to the mansion at Shallow Bay, a property lent to her by Theodore. After seven intense and tiring days, she could finally relax. She made her way to her room, took a quick shower, and eagerly settled into the embrace of the soft, inviting bed. The mattress was just right, with a perfect balance between firmness and softness, and the silky sheets felt like a dream come true. It was almost as if she was in paradise. During the past week spent in the forest, she had managed to sleep each night, but it had been on the unforgiving, cold ground, far from comfortable. Every morning, she'd awaken feeling sore and achy. Now, nestled in the cozy covers, she felt as though she were being pampered with a gentle massage, her body gradually succumbing to a state of relaxation and comfort.Just as she was on the brink of drifting into sleep, her phone abruptly rang. In the dimly lit room, Elaine reached for her phone and answered it without switching on the light. “Who is it?” Her voice sounded slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of drowsiness. A deep, magnetic male voice came through the phone. “Elaine, it's me, Theodore.” “Oh, is something up?” Elaine asked, her tone carrying a hint of disinterest. Theodore asked, “Can we talk about how we're going to deal with the Grant family?” Elaine responded, “Can we do this tomorrow? I'm feeling rather tired today.” Theodore's deep voice carried a hint of satisfaction as he replied, “Very well, I'll come to see you tomorrow.” Elaine mumbled in acknowledgment, powered off her phone, and closed her eyes. Soon, she drifted off to sleep. The next day, when she finally awoke, she realized it was nearly noon. Glancing at the clock, she realized she had slept for thirteen hours. Her empty stomach, voicing its discontent, began to rumble as soon as she awakened. She stretched lazily and freshened up before slipping into some comfortable, loose-fitting loungewear. Then, she made her way out of her room and descended the stairs. Despite enjoying a full thirteen hours of sleep, her body still retained hints of weariness, especially in her back and shoulders, which felt slightly sore. The next second, she dropped to the floor and moved on all fours, crawling her way to the living room. However, as she reached the living room, a strange sensation suddenly washed over her—an overwhelming feeling of being watched. Elaine was startled, and she raised her head, locking eyes with a pair of deep, mysterious eyes. “Elaine, are you... all right?” The man gazed at her with confusion, his resonant voice carrying an inexplicable depth. He was clad in black casual pants and a black T-shirt, subtly highlighting his well-toned, muscular physique. His meticulously groomed hair framed a face that could easily be described as a masterpiece. It was Theodore. He appeared outwardly composed, yet his gaze was layered with inexplicable emotions. Standing beside him was a young man in a well-tailored suit and gold-rimmed glasses who was equally handsome. The man appeared utterly taken aback as he gazed at Elaine, as if his worldview had been profoundly shaken. For a moment, Elaine was momentarily at a loss for words. Then, she gracefully rose from the floor and dusted her hands. To her astonishment, the house was immaculately clean, and even after crawling down from upstairs, her hands remained clean, free of any dirt or dust. She took a seat across from them, maintaining a composed and distant demeanor, her unwavering gaze fixed on Theodore. "Mr. Frost, why are you in my house?" Theodore's lips twitched, and he gently reminded her, "I called you last night, and we agreed to meet today." Elaine suddenly remembered her phone conversation with Theodore the previous night and their scheduled meeting. However, she had not expected his unexpected arrival at the mansion. Her voice remained cool as her eyes remained cold as she cautioned Theodore, "Mr. Frost, I hope you understand one thing. This mansion has been lent to me, and as long as it's in my possession, I have authority here. Despite being the property owner, you still need my consent to enter. I will let it slide this time, given our business partnership, but please don't make this a habit." Theodore lowered his gaze, showing remorse. "I apologize, I didn't think it through. I promise to ask for your permission before visiting in the future." Elaine responded, "Let's put this matter behind us for now and discuss business." Theodore replied, "There's no rush. You've just woken up after a full night's rest, and you must be hungry. How about I prepare some food for you?" Elaine nodded and accepted his offer without hesitation. She was genuinely hungry. Theodore got up and headed to the kitchen. Felix stood there, looking absolutely astonished as he stared at Theodore in disbelief. Is this the same Theodore I know, the one famous for his ruthlessness, coldness, and lack of emotion? Here he is being scolded by a woman for trespassing, and instead of getting angry, he actually apologized? Oh my goodness. I must be dreaming! At that moment, Elaine slowly raised her gaze and looked at Felix dispassionately. "Don't just stand there. Cut up a plate of fruits for me. I'm craving some nicely chilled watermelon. Since you're here with Theodore, consider yourself a guest as well. Guests should act like guests and serve the host." Felix narrowed his eyes and was speechless. That doesn't sound right. The host should be the one taking care of their guests, not the other way around. Why is she ordering her guests around so naturally, as if that's how things should be? Despite his confusion, he inexplicably found himself obediently following her command, probably influenced by her authoritative tone. By the time he realized what he was doing, he had already entered the kitchen.Speechless, he entered the kitchen, closed the door behind him, and approached Theodore, whispering, "What's going on? She's practically taking over your house, and you're still cooking for her? Have you lost your mind? I think you need some therapy, too!" Felix wasn't just Theodore's friend; he was a highly respected international psychologist. After Theodore had watched Elaine's livestream and become concerned about her mental state, he contacted Felix to have him evaluate Elaine's psychological well-being once the shooting ended. This was the reason Felix had accompanied Theodore. The discussion about how to handle the Grants was just an excuse, as Theodore's real intention was to have Felix evaluate Elaine's mental state. Theodore calmly admitted, "I was indeed wrong. I lent her the house, so she's the one in charge here. Bringing you in without her permission was my mistake, and I need to accept that criticism. She's not at fault." Felix's expression became even more perplexed as he asked, "You're actually admitting your mistake? Are you still the same Theodore I know?" Theodore gave him a sidelong glance and asked coldly, "So in your eyes, I was an unreasonable person who wouldn't admit my mistakes?" Felix fell silent. Theodore continued, "Stop talking about me. Let's talk about her instead. What's your impression of her? You saw how she came downstairs. Did you notice any concerning behaviors?" After a moment of contemplation, Felix stated seriously, "She does show some signs of regressive behavior, and she seems self-centered in how she disregards the feelings of others. There may be some psychological abnormalities, but her thought process appears clear, and her communication skills seem normal. It's not a severe issue, and her condition would greatly improve with professional treatment. However, this is just my initial evaluation, and a more comprehensive assessment is needed. You'll have to persuade her to cooperate with further testing." "Alright." Theodore nodded. "Go ahead and cut the watermelon. She's waiting for it." Felix nearly went crazy. "I'm one of the world's top psychologists and hypnotists. Do you have any idea how valuable my time is? Do you know how much I charge for just half an hour of consultation? And you want me to cut watermelon? You seriously want me to cut a watermelon for a woman?" Theodore picked up a knife and warned sternly, "If you keep complaining, I'll cut your hand instead." Felix gulped, immediately falling silent, and reluctantly approached the fridge to get the watermelon. Then, he suddenly stopped, turned to Theodore, and asked in surprise, "Don't tell me you have feelings for that girl. I've never seen you so patient and friendly towards any woman. She scolded you, and you obediently complied like a well-behaved dog. You didn't show the slightest anger and even offered to cook for her!"