Ferris had never been so intimate with a woman before. He never realized just how delicate a woman’s wrist could be.

Under his palm, her skin felt as smooth as the finest jewel, soft, flawless, and warm. It was exquisitely smooth. The gentle touch sent a burning sensation through his hand, making his heart race.

“Athena.” His voice came out rough and husky, barely more than a whisper. Even those usually mesmerizing peach blossom eyes were now clouded with desire, like fireworks exploding in his gaze, dazzling and vibrant.

Athena looked at Ferris, feeling a bit lost and flustered.

As Ferris’s handsome face drew closer, an ill-timed voice suddenly broke the moment for both of them.

“Miss Monson, Mr. McGee, dinner’s ready!” Trina’s loud voice snapped them back to reality. It was as if a clap of thunder had jolted them awake.

Their wide-eyed gazes met for a heartbeat before both dissolved into laughter.

Ferris cleared his throat awkwardly. “Well then, shall we go to dinner?”

“Oh! Yes, of course,” Athena replied, just as flustered.

As the two stepped out of the room together, Trina noticed their rosy cheeks and muttered, “Is it hot today?” It was nearly November, and the weather had been overcast with a chill in the air. Yet both of them were blushing. Trina was quite troubled by it.

Still puzzled, Trina focused on setting the table.

At the table, the atmosphere felt a little awkward. Athena nibbled at her food while Ferris kept glancing her way, clearly wrestling with something unsaid.

“Something on your mind?” Athena finally asked.

Ferris nodded and served her some food. “Mother has approved our marriage,” he said.

Athena’s lips curved into a smile. “Then why the long face?”

Ferris looked at her with gentle affection and sighed, a touch of exasperation in his voice. “Year-end is approaching, but there’s trouble with the business in Nimbial. I’m the only one left to handle everything at home. I’m stretched too thin.”

The McGee family operated a vast business empire, including coffee, leather goods, jewelry, and more, spanning diverse industries. They had shops in every state. These were usually managed by trusted stewards. But Nimbial was far from Pidence City. If anything went wrong, Ferris had no choice but to personally make the trip.

Athena didn’t know much about business, but she understood that the McGee family’s enterprises were vast, and it must be exhausting for Ferris to manage everything alone.

“How about I go with you?” she asked tentatively.

But Ferris shook his head. “The long journey would be exhausting, and you’re a delicate woman, it’s too much for you. Besides, there’s something important I need you to handle for me.”

“Of course, just tell me,” Athena replied quickly, her eyes full of sincerity.

Seeing her earnestness, Ferris let out a soft chuckle. “My mother is in Pidence City, and I worry about her. Every winter, her cough flares up and she suffers a lot. I’d like you to look after her for me.”

“Don’t worry, take care of things here in Pidence City,” Athena promised.

“Then I can rest easy,” Ferris said, giving her a knowing smile.

“But what about you?” Athena asked, her voice full of concern. “You’re still hurt, are you sure you can handle this?”

Ferris just waved it off. “I’ve survived years when I was barely hanging on. Now that I’m mostly better, this is a piece of cake.”

“How did you get through those years?” Athena pressed, not just out of curiosity, but out of real worry for him. Most people that sick wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed. But Ferris had managed to travel across four states while still ill. That kind of grit was beyond what most people could endure.

Ferris didn’t want to dwell on the hardships of the past. Mainly, he didn’t want Athena to worry.

He forced a light smile. “Meds to dull the pain, sheer will to keep going.”

Those few words made Athena’s heart ache. When the pain hit, he’d take medicine. When he collapsed, he’d drag himself back up, no matter how bad it got. Ferris was determined to amass enough wealth during his lifetime so that Gale could live out her remaining years in comfort.

What Athena didn’t know was that all his relentless efforts were also for her sake. He had already divided his assets, half designated for Gale, and the other half quietly transferred to Athena’s name.

There was another important reason for this trip. Nimbial bordered the Westerlands, where merchants traded in rare treasures found nowhere else in the world. Ferris intended to purchase some of these as wedding gifts for Athena.

“When are you leaving?” Athena asked, knowing she couldn’t go with him and already planning ahead. She made a mental note. “I need to pack extra precautionary medicines for Ferris, just in case.”

Ferris looked at her with reluctance, his voice gentle and clear. “In five days.”

“Alright. Wait for me,” Athena replied with determination.

Five days would be enough for Athena to prepare all the life-saving remedies Ferris might need.

Four days flowed by in the blink of an eye. During those days, Athena shut herself in her room, fully immersed in brewing medicines, including hemostatic powders for wounds and vitality pills to restore strength. All sorts of remedies filled up a whole chest. Each bottle was clearly labeled and carefully sorted.

Athena carried the medicines as she walked Ferris to the city gates.

A bitter wind scattered the last snowflakes, glazing the ground with ice. Huddled in her fox-fur cloak, Athena’s nose turned rosy from the cold.

Ferris stood before her, looking down, his eyes brimming with reluctance.

“I’ll return before the end of the year,” he promised softly.

Gently taking her hand, he said, “Wait for me. When I’m back, we’ll celebrate together.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Athena replied with a smile.

A small dimple appeared at the corner of her lips, making Ferris’s heart skip a beat. It was followed by a pang of heartache. Once, he was carefree, roaming the world at will. But ever since his heart had found its anchor, the wanderer in him faded. Now, all he wanted was to stay by Athena’s side.

“Alright, you should head back now.” Ferris forced down his reluctance and gently adjusted Athena’s cloak. He untied an emerald pendant from his waist and placed it in her hand. “Keep this with you. It grants you authority to mobilize the McGee family’s personnel and access funds from any of my businesses.”

Athena looked surprised. “This is too valuable. I don’t think I should take it.”

Ferris pressed her hand back, half-teasing, “Unless you don’t want to marry me.” He firmly placed the emerald pendant in her palm, then leaned in and whispered by her ear, “Mrs. McGee, I’m counting on you.”

Athena’s heart trembled. Ferris gently pinched her cheek before climbing into the carriage.

A snowstorm was brewing; he needed to hurry. Getting caught in the blizzard would be disastrous.

Athena kept watching until Ferris’s carriage vanished from sight, only then turning back. The warmth of his touch still lingered on her cheek, a burning sensation that refused to fade.

“Miss Monson, are you missing Mr. McGee already?” Trina teased with a mischievous grin.

Athena gave her a glare. “Trina, you’ve gotten quite bold lately.”

But Trina just linked arms with Athena, grinning cheekily. “Mr. McGee is so gentle and thoughtful. He comes from a good family, he’s wealthy, and he always indulges your every whim. If I were you, I’d hold on to him for dear life.”

Athena smiled faintly. Just as she was about to return to the city, an ornate carriage slowly approached. The man inside the curtain stared at her from a distance, his face stormy with displeasure. His piercing gaze could kill.