I Faked My Death—Now I Have to Tame the Crazy Men I Left Behind

Chapter 311 - 309: He Knows Everything

"..."

Mia Grant pouted. "But it’s so embarrassing."

"How could it be?"

"I doze off at work sometimes too, and my mood swings from lack of sleep can affect my performance. It’s only human. Everyone understands."

Hayes Hughes acted as if he didn’t know what she was really talking about.

Mia tilted her head, glancing toward the balcony again.

"Go on."

From behind her came Hayes’s gentle, encouraging voice.

Hesitantly, Mia walked out of the kitchen, carrying the box of egg tarts.

Hayes Hughes watched her until she reached the balcony, then he looked away.

The man lowered his head, his shoulders slumping as he slowly let out a breath.

He quickly composed himself, picked up the ingredients on the counter, and continued washing them.

The kitchen door closed, leaving only the sound of a spatula lightly scraping against a pan.

There had been a multi-car pile-up in East City that afternoon. He didn’t get out of surgery until the evening, which was followed by a nearly two-hour meeting with other professors and deans. He’d only had time to grab a single piece of bread. He had just gotten home, ready to finally rest, when he got the call from Silas Grant. He was still processing the surprise of Silas being in Jynsia when he heard the news about Mia. He had demanded to know what was wrong with her.

"Her mood is off," Silas had replied. "If you have time, come over and make her something to eat."

"Okay, I’m on my way," he’d said, already heading downstairs. "Are you with her? Try not to let her out of your sight."

"I’ll be there soon."

In truth, he had no idea what had actually happened.

But he hadn’t asked.

The moment he walked through the door, he knew Silas had been telling the truth.

She was still smiling at him, but she didn’t look well at all.

Her eyes were numb, her smile was stiff, and her complexion was pale.

She was like a little sparrow drenched by a summer downpour, taking shelter under drafty eaves. The moment it’s noticed, it frantically beats its wings, putting on a defensive posture.

Unaware that to an onlooker, she looked fragile enough to shatter at a single touch.

—

Out on the balcony, Mia Grant pushed hard against the door in front of her, but it didn’t budge.

Hearing the noise, the figure outside turned around. Through the glass, he lowered his head and stared at her for a long time before finally stubbing out the cigarette in his hand and sliding the door open with his free one.

Mia was surprised. "Oh, so it slides. I thought it opened outwards."

She stepped out and gently slid the door back.

Turning around, her gaze met Silas Grant’s. She paused, then lowered her head. "I just fell asleep earlier."

It was a clumsy excuse, but Silas seemed to believe it.

Hearing his response, Mia looked up, surprised.

"What is it?" he asked, meeting the doubt in her eyes.

"..."

Mia blinked.

’Whether he believed it in his heart or not, he said he did, giving me an out so I wouldn’t be too embarrassed.’

Mia seemed to understand this. Logically, she should have just gone along with it and moved on.

But the more she thought about it, some things were just too strange.

"Brother, why... are you in Jynsia right now, of all times?"

"I was originally planning to come back to spend Valentine’s Day with you. I just got off the plane an hour ago."

’So, it was just a coincidence.’

Mia looked at him, her expression unreadable.

Silas also looked down at her, his eyes calm and placid. He didn’t seem to be lying.

’Even if he was, a man as meticulous and flawless as him would never let anyone notice.’

After a long moment, Mia gave a slight nod.

He must have smoked several cigarettes out here. They were standing so close that the smell of smoke clinging to his suit jacket wafted past her nose with the wind.

Fortunately, it wasn’t an unpleasant smell.

She took a deep breath, choked on the smoke, and couldn’t help but start coughing.

A large, warm hand rested on her back, patting it gently.

Coughing, she asked intermittently, "Brother, do you remember? Back at the Grant Family’s house, Serena Grant said I stole something from her."

"I remember."

Mia coughed a couple more times, so hard that her shoulders shook. "You said we could check the security footage, but the recording was missing."

"You said it could be recovered, and then I started crying..."

"I did it on purpose."

"I was the one who took her things."

"And I was the one who tampered with the security footage."

"I know."

"What you know isn’t enough." Mia shook her head. "I’ve done many, many other bad things you don’t know about."

"You always say I’m a good girl, but the truth is, I’ve never been one."

"From the moment I set foot in the Grant Family home, I was filled with malice toward everyone."

"Including you."

"You’ve always been so hot and cold with me."

"I could never figure out what you were thinking."

"..."

Mia sucked in a sharp breath, choked on the wind, and coughed twice more.

Once she calmed down, she slowly exhaled. "What I’m trying to say is, maybe I’ve never been the person you wanted me to be."

"I mean that in every sense of the word."

"I don’t know what connection you have with Kian Keller, or what kind of deal you’ve made."

"I don’t want to know what outcome you two are looking for, and I have no intention of cooperating."

"But, if you want to know something... you can just ask me." She looked at him, her eyes flashing. "I don’t like being manipulated."

"Especially by people I’m close to. Two of them, at that."

"Even if it’s in the name of love."

The man before her listened quietly to her accusations, showing no reaction whatsoever the entire time.

It made Mia feel like she was putting on a one-woman show.

After a long while, she sighed, her body slumping with exhaustion. She leaned over the railing, her head down, and stared at a distant streetlight.

"Why is it always like this?"

The shadows on the ground swayed slightly, making it impossible to tell if they were drawing closer or moving away.

A soft click broke the windy silence. The man was lighting a cigarette.

Mia turned her head to look, staring at the cigarette between his fingers for a few seconds before reaching out.

Imperiously, she snatched the cigarette from his hand.

Silas’s eyes followed her.

She was like a curious child, examining the cigarette from all angles.

Then, when she thought he wasn’t looking, she brought it to her red lips.

Almost instantly, his long fingers shot out, crushing the cigarette against her lips before yanking it away.

Mia still choked a little, tears welling in her eyes.

Before she could even open them, her jaw was gripped painfully. A searing kiss came crashing down, biting hard onto her lips and sweeping away the lingering taste of tobacco in her mouth.

He gripped the nape of her neck, his voice thick with suppressed rage. "Don’t you dare compare me to them."

"I know you better than any of them."

Her lips ached from his kiss. Mia struggled, but she couldn’t push away the wall of muscle in front of her.

His breath was scorching, making her face flush red.

His voice spilled out from between their grinding lips. "Did you really think that the first time I met you, I believed you were her?"

"..."

Mia’s pupils trembled.