Back in her room, she stared at the number for a long moment, then finally typed.
Linda: Good morning. I need to know what's going on.
Thirty minutes later, Adam replied.
Adam: Good morning, MMrsLane. You'll be going to Keystone Group tomorrow.
"Tomorrow?" Linda froze. Her fingers hovered before she typed again.
Linda: Tomorrow…? But you never told me about this. Not even in the contract.
Adam: Oh, right. That was decided this morning. You'll be briefed on arrival. Everything is ready.
Linda leaned back against the bed and sighed. EIs everythingready?
"Fine," she whispered.
She scoffed and put her phone aside. She went downstairs for breakfast, still thinking about how to obey the rules at home and at the company.
The dining room smelled like coffee and something baked. The table was long and empty. She walked slowly, then stopped.
A man stood by the wall, staring at a picture frame. He looked like Ezekiel at first—same strong jaw, same dark hair—but his face was softer. He wasn't cold. He was watching the frame like it was a joke only he understood.
Linda froze. "What is he doing here?" she murmured. She was sure the maid said he was on a business trip. Noticing her presence, he looked up and their eyes met.
He raised one brow. Linda convinced herself she was daydreaming.
Then the old maid came by and curtsied. She smiled at him like he was family.
"Ah, Miss Linda. This is Young Master Aaron."
"Aaron?" She repeated the name in her mind. It sounded very familiar, but she couldn't figure out where she had heard it.
Aaron chuckled playfully. "Ahhh," he started mischievously. "So it's true? There's really a contract wife?"
The words hit the room like cold water. Linda felt heat and cold at the same time.
She wanted to be angry. She wanted to slap him. Instead, she only opened her mouth.
"Excuse me?"
He stepped closer, but not too close. Three meters. He obeyed the rule like it was a game.
"They told me a wife would be moved here. I thought my brother must have hit his head. I had to come and witness it myself," he said. "I didn't expect.. " He chuckled. "Someone worth watching."
Linda noticed a small tattoo peeking at the edge of his collar. A dark tattoo. Definitely mafia vibes. Not as simple as he appeared.
Aaron tilted his head and looked at the frame again. It was a picture of a woman smiling. He grazed the glass with one finger, like he was testing if the smile was real.
"You like the picture?" he asked, not looking at Linda.
Linda only rolled her eyes. She already knew she was just camouflage for Ezekiel's real wife.
He took a small step back and spread his hands.
"Don't be nervous, my dear. Actually, I don't bite much."
Adam suddenly entered hurriedly. "Shit," he murmured, looking uneasy. Aaron noticed and smiled wider. He liked his reaction. He liked pressing buttons.
"Shouldn't you be on a business trip with your boss?"
Adam scratched his head with his car key.
"We forgot something very important. I'm here to pick it up for him."
"Something important? Hmm."
Then he faced Linda.
"You know," he said softly, leaning on the wall, "people talk a lot. They say she climbed into his car. They say she seduced him. They say… so many things." He let the words hang. "But I like rrumours They tell me where the real dirt hides."
Linda clenched her jaw. He was poking at her wound. And he sounded like someone who knew exactly how it had been buried.
"You're from Keystone?" she asked in confusion.
"In a way," he said. "I keep an eye on things. Family business." He smiled like it was an inside joke. "But don't worry, if you want the truth, you only have to ask the right person." He grinned.
The maid coughed politely.
"Don't listen. It's a trap. He's crazy," she whispered.
Aaron suddenly glared at her, startling her.
"You want me to feed you part of your brain, huh?" he smiled.
"I'm sorry, Young Master," she quickly bowed.
"Get..."
The maid disappeared before he could finish.
Adam came out of the study, carrying a small black bag.
"Adam," Aaron said, "make sure our new guest gets settled. And tell your boss I said hello."
"Yes, Young Master," Adam bowed, still waiting. Aaron rolled his eyes, glanced at Linda one last time, then finally left.
Adam frowned and moved closer to Linda.
"What did he ask you? What was your response?" he asked restlessly.
"The contract…"
"Another one?"
Linda shook her head in confusion. Adam nodded and left.
"What's with these people?" Linda mumbled.
...
Abroad, at night…
Ezekiel stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass window of the hotel room, tie loosened, enjoying the beauty of the city below.
Adam knocked once and stepped inside.
"Sir," he said carefully, placing the bag on the couch. "Your twin brother is back."
Ezekiel didn't bother to turn around.
"…Aaron," he murmured.
"Yes."
Ezekiel closed his eyes and sighed, his forehead creasing. He knew his brother too well. Troublesome. Aaron never returned without stirring chaos.
"Why now?" Ezekiel scoffed.
Adam hesitated. "I met him at your second house."
Ezekiel opened his eyes.
"He met her."
"Yes."
Silence filled the room. Ezekiel exhaled slowly.
"He never does anything innocent."
As if on cue, his phone vibrated. Aaron calling. Ezekiel stared at the screen, then answered.
"What do you want?"
A lazy laugh came through the line.
"Brother," Aaron said smoothly. "Is that how you welcome family?"
"You shouldn't be there," Ezekiel replied flatly. "You always show up with bad intentions."
Aaron chuckled. "Relax. I just wanted to see if the rumours were true."
"What rumours?
"That Ezekiel Lane," Aaron drawled, "the man allergic to scandals and emotions, suddenly has a wife. Blah blah blah."
Ezekiel's eyes darkened.
"Mind your business."
"Oh, I intend to," Aaron replied lightly. "Especially when you deliberately avoid mine."
"So full of yourself," Ezekiel muttered.
Aaron laughed.
"You cleared her name overnight. Using Keystone's influence. Assigned her to your company." He paused. "Not even my company."
Ezekiel said nothing.
Aaron continued, amused.
"You know I run the biggest entertainment empire, models, media, acting, scandals."
"Yet you kept her in your modelling department. How is Keystone Models perfect for her? Are they walking on hallways?"
"So?" Ezekiel asked coldly.
"So," Aaron said softly, "you're protecting her."
Ezekiel clenched his jaw.
"I'm controlling the damage. She needs to start from a smaller step, and my models are far richer and more popular than others."
Aaron laughed outright.
"That's cute. But you really think keeping her under your roof will keep her safe?"
"Stay away from her, Aaron," Ezekiel warned.
"Oh, don't worry," Aaron replied casually. "I won't touch what you're clearly guarding."
"…Guarding?" Ezekiel repeated.
"You should've put her in my company, brother. That would've been logical," he teased.
"Logical for you," Ezekiel snapped.
"Exactly," Aaron said. "But you chose emotion over logic. And that's new."
Ezekiel sighed deeply. Aaron was good at testing someone's patience.
"I wonder," Aaron continued, "how long you'll keep pretending this is just a contract."
"That's enough. And don't test me," Ezekiel said.
Aaron hummed. "Too late. I already am." Then, teasingly, "Take care of your wife, Zeke. I'd hate to see you break your own rules."
The call ended. Ezekiel stared at the phone and frowned. "He's up to something… as always."