Chapter 2 Mity, Was That Her Name

"What did you call me?" The man's voice was unexpectedly deep and magnetic, as if he had leaned in, lowering his tone to whisper right by her ear. Mity's heart trembled abruptly. An instinctive, inexplicable fear surged from the depths of her soul, completely out of her control. She instinctively lifted her head, looking across at him, only for her gaze to crash directly into the icy, emotionless eyes beneath his raven-black lashes. ...Her breath hitched. All the blood in her body seemed to freeze. That man had only glanced at her indifferently through the curling smoke. His handsome yet cold features were partially blurred by the misty haze. But in Mity's eyes, the distance between them was as clear as an unbridgeable chasm- Lofty, unattainable, sharp, and distant. A stark reminder that the man sitting across from her- Did not like her. The situation seemed to be turning bad... It was evident that Alexander did not appreciate her deliberate attempt to get close by calling him "brother." And judging by his demeanor, he didn't seem to have a favorable impression of her either. Mity was confused. Alan had clearly told her that Alexander was easy to talk to. He had even said that if she ever met his brother, she could just call him "brother" like he did. Alan wouldn't lie to her, so where exactly did the problem lie? Mity bit her cold lips and unconsciously clenched her slender fingers tighter, looking tense and uneasy. Before the atmosphere could get any worse, she tried to explain, "Actually, I just-" "Miss White." Stuart's deep voice suddenly interrupted her. "...Yes." Mity lifted her head, her gaze shimmering as if holding a faint glow. The delicate tear-shaped mole at the corner of her eye made her look as though she was on the verge of tears from fright. She resembled the most obedient student, sitting up straight with a soft but tense posture-clearly nervous, yet serious and cautious, afraid of missing a single word he said. "I don't like people trying to get close to me." He stated flatly. "Nor do I waste time." Mity, "..." She parted her lips slightly, wanting to say something, but her breath seemed to have been frozen by the cold and distant tone of his voice. A few seconds passed before she finally let out a small, barely audible, "Mm." Stuart's eyes remained sharp and detached, as if he didn't even notice the obvious awkwardness and embarrassment on the girl's face. "So, let's get straight to the point," he emphasized again. Mity bit her lip. "...Alright." The air in the private room grew even heavier. He shifted his posture, placing his cigar in the ashtray. Tapping his long fingers lightly against the table, he spoke in a steady voice, "I heard you're skilled in painting." Mity's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected the questioning to start so quickly. But Alan hadn't arrived yet. What should she do...? She forced herself to push aside her panic, pretending to forget the earlier awkwardness, and steadied herself as she recited her well-prepared response, "I wouldn't say I'm skilled, but I did study art while I was in France..." Stuart gave her a cold, scrutinizing look. "Is that so? Then what are your thoughts on children?" Mity blinked in confusion. "Children?" The second question of their first meeting was already about children? He was Alan's elder brother, yet he was asking his future sister-in-law such a direct question at their first encounter. Wasn't this a little too forward? But Mity understood that high society only cared about one thing-family heirs. She held back her discomfort and answered slowly, "When it comes to children, of course, the more, the merrier. A house full of kids makes for a lively home..." Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spoke about such a topic, her face naturally showing a trace of shyness and nervousness. She looked as if she was sincerely answering the question. "I really like children," she added. After finishing her response, she instinctively avoided eye contact with Stuart. Mity was never good at lying. And she still wasn't. Upon hearing her answer, Stuart's lips curled slightly, his smooth jawline lifting into an arrogant curve. Beneath his black tie, the small red mole on his Adam's apple was partially visible- A subtle but dangerous allure. He narrowed his eyes, as if scrutinizing her. Clearly, he didn't believe a single word the little girl in front of him had said. The truth was, Stuart had no intention of personally interviewing his nephew Richard's tutor tonight-it was purely by chance. The tutors his subordinates had carefully selected-more than a dozen of them-had all been rejected upon arrival at the villa. The old man was pressing harder, so he had specifically set aside thirty minutes to handle the matter himself. The woman in front of him, Miss White, was the candidate recommended by the old man. Supposedly from a respectable family, simple in character, fond of children, and particularly skilled at dealing with kids who had psychological issues- Especially in art. A psychologist had suggested that painting could be beneficial for children with mild autism, which was why the old man was very keen on this candidate. But Stuart didn't like her. She seemed too timid and overly compliant, with an instinct to please others- Not the kind of teacher who could serve as a strong role model for a child. Moreover, this woman appeared delicate and innocent, yet every word she spoke sounded pre-rehearsed. Stuart had long been known as the most ruthless strategist in the circle- A capitalist who swallowed people whole without leaving their bones. He could tell at a glance when someone was lying. He wouldn't waste money on a woman who was dishonest and unfit for the role. "You can leave." His patience had run dry. Lowering his gaze coldly, he extinguished his cigar in the metal ashtray, signaling the end of the interview. "Leave...?" Mity lifted her eyes in panic. She didn't understand-her response should have been flawless. Why was Alexander dissatisfied? What had she said wrong? She watched as the man put out his cigar and picked up the document on the table, his expression turning even colder. Clearly, he had no intention of continuing this conversation. Mity began to feel anxious. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong? At least, please tell me-" "Get out." He didn't even look up, his voice laced with frost. Mity bit her lip hard, her eyes gradually turning red. But she knew there was no point in staying any longer. If she offended him too much, she wouldn't even have a chance to make amends later. She swallowed the sourness rising in her heart and stood up. Even though she felt dejected, she straightened her back. "Then, I'll take my leave, Mr. Raven." Mity politely bid him farewell before turning to leave. "Wait a moment." Behind her, the deep, magnetic voice rang out again. "What did you call me?" Mity turned back. She froze for a second, realizing he had asked this question once before. A strange question. Why was he asking again? "I called you, Mr.-" "Sir." At that moment, a knock came at the door. Stuart's secretary, Bill, entered with a neatly dressed young woman. "Miss White was delayed due to a car accident on her way here..." Bill frowned upon seeing Mity inside. "And this is...?" He didn't recall scheduling another candidate for Mr. Adam. Mity blinked in confusion, ??? Miss White? Wasn't that supposed to be her? Her gaze shifted between the formally dressed woman and Stuart's unreadable expression- Suddenly, a realization struck her- She... might have entered the wrong room?! When Mity stepped out of the private room, her heart was nearly numb. Her cheeks burned bright red, as if they were about to drip blood. How could she have entered the wrong room? Thinking about how she had just been inside, answering the wrong questions and talking past each other with that man, Mity felt as if her heart could stop at any moment. Luckily, the man didn't recognize her at all, and they probably wouldn't meet again in the future. She consoled herself, covering her face as she turned back to look at the two tightly closed doors behind her. The dim light at the end of the corridor revealed that there was a private room on both the left and right sides. However, the door handles were made of dark-colored metal. She had been too nervous earlier and hadn't noticed she had entered the wrong room. "Why are you still here? Haven't gone in yet?" A voice suddenly came from behind. Alan had just finished his call when he returned to find his little tail hesitating outside the private room, looking uneasy. It seemed that she was too timid to go in alone. Mity turned around, her eyes brightening at the sight of her boyfriend. "I just..." "You're such a scaredy-cat, afraid to go in alone?" Alan raised an eyebrow, as if teasing her, but naturally took her other hand in his. Her slightly cold fingertips finally felt a trace of warmth. Mity's nose tingled with emotion. She let out a soft "Mm" and leaned closer to Alan, too embarrassed to admit she had entered the wrong room earlier. Alan rubbed her head and said nothing more, leading her to the private room on the other side of the hallway. This private room had a completely different décor from the one next door-elegant and classical yet exuding an undeniable luxury. Behind a silk screen embroidered with golden birds, a tea master was pouring freshly brewed red tea into white porcelain cups. The translucent porcelain made the deep color of the tea stand out, its fragrance rich and full-bodied. Sitting at the head seat was the Raven family's matriarch. Despite her silver hair, she looked spirited and alert. With slender fingers, she traced the rim of her cup before raising her eyes to see the young girl her grandson had brought in. The girl was well-behaved and delicate, her oval-shaped face free of heavy makeup. Instead, her skin was clear and radiant, her small nose perfectly sculpted. Even her hair was sleek and black, cascading over her shoulders without any of the trendy, flashy dyes and perms. At first glance, her face was refined and gentle, but upon closer look, she seemed quiet and timid. Especially the faint mole at the corner of her left eye-it sat there like a tear, making her appear even more delicate. Mrs. Raven withdrew her gaze without much expression. "You brat, how long did you keep me waiting? You finally showed up." The old lady dismissed the attendants and opened with a reprimand, though her eyes carried an unmistakable fondness. "It was traffic," Alan replied nonchalantly, clearly accustomed to his grandmother's nagging. He led Mity to a seat. "This is my grandmother," he introduced. "Hello, Grandma," Mity greeted obediently. Only then did Mrs. Raven seem to truly acknowledge Mity, shifting her gaze back to the girl. This time, her face softened into a kind smile. "Not bad. A good child... I heard your father is Charles, the director?" Mity's scalp tightened instantly. She had expected this. Meeting the Raven family's elders meant she couldn't avoid the awkward topic of her background. Her voice was tense, almost choking, as she answered, "Yes." Mrs. Raven nodded, but to Mity's surprise, she didn't press further about her family. Instead, she asked, "Your name is Mity-how is it written?" Mity was taken aback but quickly responded, "Mity." The old lady chuckled. "So, you were born on a foggy day?" "Yes." Mity tried to keep her tone relaxed. "It was foggy the day I was born, so my parents gave me this name." "A good name." Mrs. Raven glanced at Alan and teased, "Fog contains water, and fortune-tellers say you lack water in your destiny. How fitting that you found yourself a girl whose name and birth both carry water-your compatibility must be perfect." Alan smirked but said nothing. Mity, on the other hand, was stunned. Before coming, she had prepared herself to be scrutinized and even challenged by the Raven family elders. Especially after her encounter in the wrong room earlier, where she had met a "fake brother" with an intimidating aura that left her shaken. She had expected Mrs. Raven to be just as difficult. But surprisingly, she wasn't. The old lady continued to ask Mity a few questions, all of which Mity answered flawlessly, leaving a good impression. Only when she mentioned that she had graduated from an art academy abroad and was now working in a gallery did Mrs. Raven subtly furrow her brows. "Alan first met you when he saw you painting in a gallery? And he asked for your contact information?" Mity hadn't expected the old lady to ask about her and Alan's love story in detail. Her ears turned slightly red, and she pressed her lips together before softly responding, "Yes." Mrs. Raven nodded, as if recalling something. Her gaze lingered on Mity again, now holding more kindness and affection than before. "Alright, I'll make the decision for you two. Find a time for both families to meet and finalize the engagement details." Mity was momentarily in disbelief and turned to Alan. She hadn't expected Mrs. Raven to agree to their engagement so easily. She thought a family like the Ravens would be much more selective. "What are you looking at me for?" Alan smirked lazily, tilting his chin toward his grandmother. "Hurry up and thank Grandma." Mity snapped out of her daze and quickly expressed her gratitude. The atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious. The dinner went far more smoothly than Mity had anticipated.

After the gathering, Mity and Alan escorted Mrs. Raven downstairs. At the hotel entrance, Alan went to fetch the car while Mrs. Raven held Mity's hand and instructed, "Good child, I'll call you Mity from now on. It's rare for Alan to settle down-credit to you. That's settled then. Talk to your parents and find a time for our families to meet properly." Mity's heart clenched. Her parents... Just as she was about to say something, a dark green sports car pulled up in front of them. Alan rested an arm on the window frame and called out, "Get in. Let's go." Mity had no time to dwell on her thoughts. She politely bid Mrs. Raven goodbye and moved to open the car door. "You brat, what kind of car is this?" Mrs. Raven's attention shifted entirely to Alan's vehicle. Seeing the garish green color, she shook her head. "You're about to get engaged-who drives a car like this? Such a bright green-it's bad luck!" Mity sneaked a glance at Alan. She also felt that green wasn't the best color, especially right before an engagement. It didn't seem like a good omen. But Alan completely ignored Mrs. Raven. He casually leaned over to fasten Mity's seatbelt and waved lazily. "Grandma, I've got things to do. I'm leaving." "You brat, get back here-" The only response was the roar of an engine as the car sped away. Furious, Mrs. Raven turned to her assistant. "Secretary Colin, go to his place tomorrow and tow that car away! If he refuses, take a team and repaint it!" No way was she letting Alan drive that eyesore around town. Not far away, a limited edition black Rolls-Royce slowly rolled into the rain. Stuart had just finished a business call. As he lowered his phone, his dark eyes happened to catch sight of the scene outside the hotel. His assistant, Bill, spoke in a hushed tone. "Sir, that appears to be Mrs. Raven. She sent a gift earlier, knowing you were here. Would you like to meet her?" "No need." Stuart's tone was indifferent. He was only close to Alexander. The rest of the Raven family weren't worth his attention. Just as he was about to instruct his driver to leave, a timid yet delicate face flashed through his mind. "Wait." His gaze lifted, deep and unfathomable. "That girl tonight... Mity, was that her name?"