Chapter 164 - 162: Strawberry Mark
She had to wake up early on the day of the engagement party.
Even though it was an evening banquet, there was a lot to prepare.
Mrs. Sinclair had arranged for Mia Grant to check into the hotel the night before.
Mia Grant was a little worried about security.
But after some inquiries, she learned that the hotel seemed to be owned by the Donovan Family.
She secretly called Yates Donovan to confirm.
"Why else do you think they cleared the venue so easily? You really think it was just about the money?"
Mia Grant was surprised. "Don’t tell me Mrs. Sinclair choosing this hotel has something to do with you too?"
"It does."
On the other end of the line, the man was unabashedly frank.
"There aren’t many hotels in Jynsia that can handle a booking as large as the Sinclair Family’s. Only three, in total. I paid off the other two in advance, so as far as anyone else was concerned, all their ballrooms had been booked three months ago."
Even though he’d been in Portia for the past few days, he hadn’t been idle. He was still getting updates from Jynsia.
"Just relax and stay there. I’ll see you tomorrow."
"You... you’re coming?"
Yates Donovan laughed. "Didn’t we already agree on this?"
"What’s the matter, feeling guilty?"
"What do I have to feel guilty about? I haven’t done anything wrong," Mia Grant scoffed.
"Oh?"
"Are you in Jynsia already?"
"I’ve been back for two days, and you’re only just now thinking to ask? That’s so hurtful." From his tone, he was one step away from pointing a finger at her and calling her a heartbreaker.
"Well, you didn’t tell me you were back."
"I even posted three times on my feed. You didn’t see them?"
"Sorry, I don’t really have the habit of scrolling through my feed."
"Is that so?" Yates Donovan chuckled. Then, Mia Grant heard him say in a low, haunting voice:
"Yesterday, at 3:24 PM, Hayes Hughes shared a public article from his hospital, and you liked it. Instantly, in fact."
"..."
Mia Grant scratched her head. "When did you add my second brother on WeChat?"
"In Portia," he said, mimicking her tone with a cute, sing-song lilt, his voice trailing off melodically.
"Oh, was it when you went to see him at the Hughes Corp?"
"Yep. I just added him while I was downstairs."
"I see. Did you add Kian Keller’s?"
"No. Having him in my contacts would defile my eyes."
"So if you need something, you can only call each other? Isn’t that a hassle? I hate making calls, typing is so much more convenient..."
"No... wait a second." Yates Donovan suddenly realized something. He narrowed his eyes. "What were we just talking about?"
’He fell for that trick again.’
"You’re really something else, Mia Grant."
On the other end of the line, the young woman giggled. Getting caught didn’t make her feel the least bit awkward; instead, her voice became cheerful.
"That trick usually only works on you."
"Oh? So I’m an exception in your book? How rare. So, why do you think that is?"
"Because you’re dumb. Why else would you fall for it every time?"
Hearing this, Yates Donovan’s chest rumbled with laughter. Lying on his bed and holding his phone, his gaze softened, and his tone became indulgent. "Alright, you’re right."
After hanging up with Yates Donovan, Mia Grant felt refreshed and invigorated.
Her room, the presidential suite, was on the top floor, right by the ballroom.
Not long after she checked in, a message came from Yates Donovan. [How’s the room?]
’The staff probably reported to him as soon as I was settled.’
[It’s great. The room is huge, and the bed is huge too.]
Ariel: [Then aren’t you lonely sleeping all by yourself, little sis? Need someone to keep you company?]
Kitty: [You want to come over? Sure. I’ll give you a chance. Teleport here in one minute.]
After sending the message, Mia Grant put her phone down, not planning to continue the idle chat.
The bath was drawn, and she was about to go for a soak.
The moment she stood up, the doorbell rang.
DING-DONG—
Mia Grant froze, thinking it was a staff member who had come back.
"Who is it?"
"Good evening, Miss Grant. It’s the bed-warming service you ordered. I’m Yates Donovan, here to warm your bed tonight. You can just call me Ariel."
"..."
Through the door, the familiar male voice outside sounded almost surreal.
After checking the figure at the door three times through the peephole, Mia Grant opened it and stared at Yates Donovan in disbelief. "Where did you just pop out from?"
He ignored her question, raised his phone, and pointed the screen at her. "Twenty-seven seconds."
"Huh?" She didn’t understand.
The next instant, the man outside squeezed in.
The door slammed shut with a BANG.
Mia Grant’s expression went from confused to shocked as she belatedly remembered the bluff she’d just made.
"Wait, you’re staying next door?"
"The old man’s keeping a close eye on me, so I came back without telling him. Where else would I stay but a hotel?"
He leaned in close, whispering in her ear, "How about I live in your heart instead?"
There it was again—that familiar, flippant, and rakish demeanor. Mia Grant’s ears turned red as she pushed him away.
"It’s the middle of the night, stop being a perv. Get ahold of yourself."
Yates Donovan was about to tease her some more when his gaze shifted and landed on the little black dress hanging in the living room.
It had a cinched waist, with lace on either side that created a hazy, see-through effect.
The thin shoulder straps were tied into two bows, hanging loosely as if tempting someone to come forward and pull them undone...
Drawn in by the dress, Yates Donovan stepped forward to inspect it closely.
Only then did he discover that the back of the dress held a surprise.
He held up the fabric and turned to Mia Grant with a grin. "Can the Sinclair Family not afford a proper dress? Why is it missing two pieces in the back?"
From the front, it seemed like a perfectly respectable dress.
The small design detail at the waist was a beautiful touch.
But the back...
Mia Grant rolled her eyes. "Do you know anything about design? The cutouts are what make it look good. Otherwise, what’s the difference between wearing this and an apron?"
"Is that so?" Yates Donovan tried to accept this, and failed.
"It really looks good?"
He couldn’t seem to picture it. Mia Grant stepped forward, gesturing as she explained.
"I don’t get it." Yates Donovan shook his head. "Too many words, it’s giving me a headache. What is all this gibberish?"
"..."
Before she could blow up, he pulled the dress down and tossed it into her arms. "Put it on. Let me see."
"?"
Mia Grant stood frozen, clutching the dress.
"Why aren’t you moving? Want me to help you change?"
Yates Donovan didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with his suggestion. He spoke casually as he reached out and touched the buttons on her top.
Mia Grant quickly dodged him. "Why should I show you?"
"Because I have no imagination. I can’t picture it in my head."
"Then wait until tomorrow."
Yates Donovan leaned against the window with his arms crossed, the smile never leaving his face. "Nope. If I can’t see the image you described, I won’t be able to sleep. And when I can’t sleep, I get into a bad mood. And when I’m in a bad mood, I feel like taking it out on the world. Where should I start... How about your engagement party?"
Mia Grant shot him a glare. "Just wait!"
A few minutes later, Mia Grant came out of the bedroom hesitantly.
The young woman adjusted her hair as she walked, her shoulder blades peeking out from beneath her long locks.
"Have you seen enough? I’m going to take a bath."
After their eyes met for two seconds, the corner of Yates Donovan’s lip curled up. "Come here. I have something to tell you."
"What is it? Can’t you say it here?" Though she voiced her confusion, Mia Grant still walked over.
She was barefoot as she came to a stop in front of him.
"What did you want to say—"
Suddenly, an arm tightened around her waist. In her daze, the man bent down and pressed his lips to her back, sucking hard.
He left a conspicuous hickey.