'Thank goodness, it was just a false alarm.'
'Thankfully, my precious first time is still intact.'
'I swear, I'm never drinking again. That was terrifying!'
"Is it that hard for you two to just admit it?"
Marian Miller didn't believe a word they said, convinced that this girl, who was perfect in every way, was her daughter-in-law.
"Ma'am, you've really misunderstood. I think I live right across the hall. I only bothered him because I was drunk."
She'd said "I think" because she had a vague memory of Peach dropping her off downstairs last night, but she had no idea if she'd actually made it up to her apartment.
"This girl can't even lie with any conviction. What do you mean, 'I think'?"
"Um..." Laura Lowell said as she stood up from her chair. "I'm just going to go see if the apartment across the hall is mine, heh."
Carrying her high heels, Laura Lowell practically fled.
"Ma'am, the apartment across the hall is mine! So, I won't disturb your breakfast any longer."
Laura Lowell had poked her head out from the doorway. The moment she finished speaking, she was gone.
Marian Miller watched her future daughter-in-law's adorkable display and was absolutely charmed. "I don't care what happened between you two last night. In any case, I've decided on this daughter-in-law."
"Heh, then go get her. I'm not stopping you."
Aiden Shaw's voice was casual, tinged with a hint of languor.
In truth, he had only just moved in yesterday. His dear mother had been nagging him incessantly about marriage every day, as if she'd gone mad.
He truly had no other choice but to move out of the Shaw Family estate.
"You rotten kid, what kind of way is that to talk? What do you mean, 'go get her'? She's your wife, not mine."
"I already told you, there's nothing between us. She was just drunk last night and stayed here."
Aiden Shaw offered a cursory explanation.
"Hmph." Marian Miller shot her son a look, then sat down at the dining table. "You've never let a woman get near you before. I was starting to think you were into men."
"And now you're letting a girl spend the night? Aiden Shaw, do you take me for a fool?"
Aiden Shaw, however, acted completely unfazed. He showed no sign of panic at being called out, instead remaining perfectly composed as he leisurely ate his breakfast.
"You've just developed feelings for that young lady."
Marian Miller deliberately emphasized the last three words.
'Either way, this daughter-in-law isn't getting away.'
Aiden Shaw had to admit it—he did feel a little something for this girl.
When he saw her eyes last night, he'd felt a vague sense of familiarity.
"Mom, don't worry about my business. You'll give yourself wrinkles and get old before your time."
Marian Miller rolled her eyes at her son. 'Talking to him could infuriate a saint in minutes.'
.......
Laura Lowell came out of Aiden Shaw's apartment and turned around, only to find her assistant, Peach, standing right behind her.
Peach was holding a paper bag containing a freshly bought breakfast.
"Geez, you scared me to death! How do you walk without making a sound?"
Laura Lowell's heart was already pounding, and Peach's sudden appearance nearly made it stop for good.
"LoriaLaura, don't tell me you... spent the night... across the hall?"
Peach's face was ashen as she looked at Laura Lowell's disheveled state—she wasn't even wearing shoes, and her hair was a mess.
'How did she get into trouble the moment I took my eyes off her?'
'I know full well that my boss does all sorts of crazy, unreliable things when she's drunk. I should have made sure Laura Lowell got inside safely yesterday before I left.'