Jenna Roland pressed her lips together as she scrubbed the dishes.

The faucet ran loudly. When she finished cleaning the kitchen and returned to the living room, Ethan Roscente was already gone.

Grandma Blanche smiled and waved her over. "Ethan had to meet a client unexpectedly. Come rest for a while, dear."

"Okay." Jenna obediently sat beside the elderly woman.

Grandma Blanche took her hand. "Ethan may seem cold and distant, but he's warm-hearted underneath. Isn't that what you young people call 'cold on the outside, warm on the inside'?"

Jenna wanted to say Ethan avoided her like the plague, and there were still unresolved misunderstandings between them. But seeing the kindness in the old woman's eyes, she swallowed her words.

"I understand, Grandma," she replied softly.

Grandpa Harrison chimed in, "Don't spoil him. Make him pull his weight at home. A marriage takes two people working together."

Jenna nodded eagerly. "You're absolutely right, Grandpa."

The elderly couple exchanged knowing glances. They could tell she agreed readily now but would shoulder everything alone once they left. Too soft-hearted for her own good.

An hour later, after seeing them off, Jenna closed the door and exhaled deeply.

Milo Roland peeked out from his room. "Sis, go take a nap. I'll handle the grocery shopping."

Having stayed up late and woken early to cook, Jenna was exhausted. She didn't argue, transferring money to her brother before retreating to her room.

She slept like the dead, waking at four in the afternoon.

The living room was empty. After washing up and doing her makeup, she found Milo on the sofa.

"Where were you?" she asked, tying up her hair.

"Just got back from shopping." He stood and headed to the kitchen. "Hungry? Want me to make you some noodles?"

"Sure."

Following him into the kitchen, Jenna suddenly remembered something. "Wait, show me that text message."

Milo handed over his phone. When she opened the message from the unknown number, her face turned ashen.

"It's definitely Jason Roland!" she spat through gritted teeth. "That bastard!"

"Him?" Milo frowned, confusion flashing in his eyes.

Jenna's hands trembled with rage. "He called demanding forty grand from me. I never thought he'd send you something like this!"

Her chest heaved. When his extortion failed, Jason had exposed her club job to Milo—utterly despicable!

"I didn't expect it either." Milo's fists clenched audibly, his eyes filled with disgust. "That piece of trash."