Sir Simon's audit lasted until nine in the evening.
The confirmation of the transfer of the old collection, the price floor list, and the documents signed by Harold were all sealed.
Edward did not appear again.
Lord Grant sent a carefully worded letter through his lawyer, claiming he was willing to cooperate with the trust investigation.
Victoria finished reading it and tossed it directly into the silver tray beside the fireplace.
"He has started to cut ties."
Jiang Lin closed the file.
"Make him spit out the second list tomorrow."
Isabella sat to his left, her fingertips tapping lightly on the tabletop.
"Let's stop here for tonight."
Victoria looked up.
"Is Mrs. Montclair tired?"
"I am not tired."
Isabella looked at Jiang Lin.
"He needs to rest."
Chen Qian sat nearby, still holding the ledger in her hands.
"Mr. Jiang hasn't stopped since this morning."
Victoria smiled slightly.
"Miss Chen is looking after him now, too."
Chen Qian blushed.
"I was just reminding him."
Isabella stood up.
"A fair reminder."
Jiang Lin glanced at the clock on the wall.
"There's still the development plan for Hall Capital..."
Isabella snatched the file right out of his hand.
"No more looking at it."
Victoria held her wine glass, leaning back against her chair.
"Mrs. Montclair is very firm tonight."
"If Mrs. Wendell is reluctant, you can look at it yourself."
"I am not reluctant."
Victoria looked at Jiang Lin.
"Mr. Jiang, good night."
Before Jiang Lin could speak, Isabella had already taken a step toward the door.
"Good night."
Her tone was very flat.
The corridor outside was long.
Wall lamps illuminated the old carpet.
Chen Qian followed behind, clutching the files.
Victoria stood at the study door, not leaving immediately.
Isabella walked to the East Wing and stopped in front of Jiang Lin's door.
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"Did you go the wrong way, Madam?"
"No."
"Your room is next door."
"I know."
Isabella raised her hand and pushed the door open.
"Go in."
Chen Qian stopped a few steps away.
Her face turned red instantly.
"Madam, I, I will take the files to the archives first."
Isabella did not look back.
"Deliver them tomorrow morning."
Chen Qian murmured an acknowledgment and hurried away with the files.
Victoria stood at the other end of the corridor, watching from afar.
Before entering the room, Isabella turned her face.
"Mrs. Wendell, is there anything else?"
Victoria swirled her wine gently.
"No."
"Then good night."
The door closed.
The latch clicked softly.
Victoria stood for a moment before turning to return to her room.
The main lights were not on in the room.
As soon as Jiang Lin closed the door, Isabella turned to look at him.
A white shirt, a black long skirt, her hair tied in a low bun.
At night, she lacked the sharpness she had during the day, but her gaze was more dangerous.
Jiang Lin stepped closer.
"What's wrong tonight?"
Isabella did not answer; she pressed her hand against his chest.
"Don't speak."
Jiang Lin paused.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
When her lips pressed against his, there was a hint of red wine.
Jiang Lin held her waist and pressed her against the door.
Isabella's back pressed against the wooden door, her fingers clutching his shirt.
"Be gentle."
"Are you afraid someone might hear?"
She looked up.
"Next door."
Jiang Lin chuckled softly.
"Then why did you come in?"
Isabella tugged at his collar, pulling him down.
"I said be gentle, I didn't say stop."
As soon as she finished speaking, the kiss pressed down again.
Her breathing quickly became erratic.
Her fingers slid into his shirt collar, then quickly withdrew as if scalded.
Jiang Lin picked her up.
Isabella let out a soft exclamation and immediately covered her mouth.
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"Do you know fear now?"
Her eyes were wet and bright, yet she still refused to yield.
"Try laughing again."
Jiang Lin placed her on the edge of the bed.
The hem of her skirt spread out.
The black fabric lay on the white sheets like a low-hanging night.
He leaned down to kiss her.
Isabella braced herself on the bed with one hand and grabbed his shoulder with the other.
As her body fell backward, she didn't forget to lower her voice.
"The light."
Jiang Lin raised his hand and turned off the bedside lamp.
The room darkened.
It was raining outside the window.
Only the faint glow of the fireplace remained by the bed.
The sound of fabric rubbing became clear in the darkness.
Isabella bit her lip, but still let out a few fragmented sounds.
She immediately turned her face away, pressing her forehead against Jiang Lin's shoulder.
"Don't make me make any sound."
Jiang Lin leaned against her ear.
"Then you'll have to endure it."
She grabbed his wrist, her voice trembling.
"Bastard."
The rain outside grew heavier.
The bed curtains swayed gently in the wind.
In the next room.
Victoria had just put down her wine glass.
A faint thud came from the other side of the wall.
Her fingers froze.
Then, there was a hushed female voice.
The words were unclear.
One could only tell the voice was being forcibly suppressed.
Victoria stood where she was.
A moment later, she walked to the wall.
Then she stopped.
On the other side of the wall, the bed frame seemed to bump against the floor.
Very lightly.
But in the night at the castle, it was clear enough.
Victoria picked up the book on the table and opened a page.
She couldn't focus on it.
Isabella's low voice came from over there again.
This time it was more distinct.
Victoria closed the book and smiled slightly.
"Mrs. Montclair..."
At the other end of the corridor.
Chen Qian came up the stairs, clutching the files.
She had originally intended to leave the supplementary accounts at Jiang Lin's door so it would be convenient for him to see in the morning.
Walking halfway, her steps suddenly stopped.
There was a sound in Jiang Lin's room.
Very low.
Intermittent.
Then, it was Isabella's muffled voice.
"Jiang Lin... slow down..."
Chen Qian froze completely.
Her face turned red from her ears to her neck.
The files in her hands almost slipped.
She hurriedly clutched them tighter.
The next moment, the faint sound of the bed frame came from the room again.
Chen Qian, as if scalded, turned and walked away.
She had only taken two steps when the door opposite opened.
Victoria stood at the door.
The two met eyes.
Chen Qian was so red she was about to cry.
"Mrs., Mrs. Wendell."
Victoria glanced at the files in her arms.
"Here to deliver files?"
"I'll leave now."
"Did you hear it?"
Chen Qian lowered her head.
"No."
Victoria leaned against the doorframe, her voice very soft.
"Miss Chen, you are not good at lying."
Chen Qian's face turned even redder.
"I really didn't mean to."
"I know."
Victoria looked toward Jiang Lin's door.
The sounds over there had already quieted down, leaving only the sound of rain and some vague movements.
She walked over and took the files from Chen Qian's arms.
"Give them to me."
Chen Qian asked in a low voice: "Should I give them to Mr. Jiang?"
"No rush."
Victoria looked at her.
"He won't need them tonight."
Chen Qian lowered her head, her fingertips twisting together.
Victoria suddenly smiled.
"Your face is so red, and you still say you didn't hear?"
Chen Qian almost buried her head in her chest.
"Madam, please, stop."
Victoria held the folder in her arms.
"Go back to sleep."
"Yes."
Chen Qian hurried back to her room.
After the door closed, she pressed her back against the door panel.
Her heart was beating very fast.
Her ears were filled with that intermittent "Jiang Lin" from just moments ago.
She covered her face.
"It's over..."
In the master bedroom.
Isabella had completely lost her usual composure.
Her hair was scattered on the pillow.
Her fingers dug into Jiang Lin's back, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"Did you do this on purpose..."
"What?"
"Let them hear."
"You told me not to stop just now."
She bit her lip and raised her hand to hit him.
The force was very light.
Jiang Lin caught her hand and pressed it against the pillow.
Isabella looked at him, the corners of her eyes slightly wet.
When she spoke again, her voice was low and hoarse.
"Then don't stop."
The sound of the rain drowned out all subsequent sounds.
A long time later.
The room quieted down.
Isabella lay on her side, draped in the quilt, her back to Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin hugged her from behind.
She did not pull away.
After a moment, she spoke softly:
"They heard."
"Mm."
"What are you 'mm-ing' about?"
"They already heard."
Isabella turned over and raised her hand to pinch his chin.
"Explain it yourself tomorrow morning."
"Explain what?"
"Explain why you made Mrs. Montclair like this."
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"Like what?"
Isabella's face flushed, and she pulled the quilt over to cover him.
"Shut up."
Jiang Lin chuckled softly.
She kicked him through the quilt.
"If you laugh again, you can go sleep in the corridor."
Outside the door.
Victoria placed the folder on her own table.
She sat for a while, then got up and walked to the window.
The rain was still falling.
It was quiet in Jiang Lin's room.
She picked up her cold wine and took a sip.
"It's only the first night."
On the other side, Chen Qian spread the ledger open on the table.
She wrote two lines, then her pen tip stopped.
After a long time, she wrote a sentence in the corner:
【Do not look at Madam's face tomorrow morning.】
She thought for a moment, then crossed it out.
She rewrote:
【Do not look at Mr. Jiang tomorrow morning.】
She crossed it out again.
Finally, she closed the notebook, threw herself onto the bed, and buried her face in the pillow.