Michael snapped out of his daze. "Let’s go. The driver is already waiting."

Susan, seeing Elizabeth in her elegant black dress, beamed with approval. "Mrs. Thomas, you should dress up more often. You look absolutely stunning!"

Elizabeth, her mood lifted by the compliment, smiled back. "Does that mean I usually look plain, Susan?"

Susan laughed, waving her hand. "You look good in anything, but tonight, you’re glowing."

Michael gave the driver an address in the heart of Aurora Bay's luxury district. As they stepped out into the bustling high-end shopping center, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice the extravagant price tags. Stellar Enterprises really does go all out for their employees, she thought as they moved from one boutique to another.

Elizabeth tagged along, unaware that Michael was watching her reactions closely. Whenever her eyes lingered on an item with a spark of genuine interest, he would discreetly signal the store clerk to wrap it up. Before long, his bodyguard was struggling to balance twenty designer shopping bags.

As they passed through the lobby on their way out, Elizabeth stopped briefly at a watch counter. A specific timepiece caught her eye—a silver band with a deep blue dial and a diamond-cut case. It was the perfect blend of simplicity and class. However, one look at the price tag made her quickly turn away.

Michael lingered for a split second, tracking the direction of her gaze, before nodding almost imperceptibly to his bodyguard.

The next morning, at breakfast, Michael placed a blue velvet box in front of her. Elizabeth gave him a questioning look.

"This is for putting up with three hours of shopping last night," he said casually, taking a bite of his toast.

Elizabeth opened the box and saw the exact watch she had admired. She immediately tried to push it back. "Michael, this is too much. I can’t accept this."

"It was ninety percent off at a corporate clearance," Michael lied effortlessly. "If I put it in the company raffle, it would probably just sit in a drawer. Take it."

Elizabeth stroked the cool metal of the watch. She had felt a connection to it the moment she saw it—sometimes, objects spoke to people just like a soulmate would. She carefully put it on, her heart warming. He’s cold, but he’s remarkably considerate to the people around him, she mused.

Meanwhile, at Stellar Enterprises, Michael was making his move. He handed a list to his assistant, Daniel.

"Check these names and provide a detailed report on each," Michael ordered.

Daniel scanned the list and realized these were all the past romantic interests of Samuel Taylor. He grinned; Michael was finally fighting back against Samuel’s blatant pursuit of Elizabeth. "On it, Mr. Thomas."

That evening, disaster struck. As Elizabeth waited for a cab outside The Jones Group, a thief dashed by and snatched her handbag. Because she was pregnant and wearing heels, she couldn't risk a chase.

Initially, she thought there was nothing vital inside, but then panic set in. The watch Michael had given her was in that bag, along with a high-resolution ultrasound report from the private clinic—the one piece of evidence that could reveal the true progress of her pregnancy.

Distraught, she returned to the villa. When Michael heard the news from Susan, he didn't hesitate. He headed straight to the police station, utilizing his influence to prioritize the case. Within hours, the thief was apprehended, and the bag was recovered.

Michael took the bag back, opening it briefly to ensure the blue velvet box was still there. He saw the watch, but his eyes also grazed a folder tucked into the side pocket.

Back at the villa, Susan knocked on Elizabeth’s door. "Mrs. Thomas! Mr. Thomas found your bag!"

Elizabeth scrambled out of bed, her heart hammering against her ribs. Did he look inside? Did he find the report?

She opened the door and saw Michael standing there, holding her black leather bag. Elizabeth grabbed it with trembling hands, her eyes searching his face for any sign of the truth.

"Michael," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "did you... did you look inside?"