Obsessive Devotion Ice-Cold Tycoon's Calculated Proposal

Vivian's heart was heavy with sorrow, and she didn't even notice the subtle change in Daniel's tone.

Sniffling, she heard his question, and her eyes filled with tears again. Her voice was choked with sobs, "Daniel, am I really useless? I can't do anything right."

She was so angry, and the only thing she had accomplished by going to the Smith family was flipping a table, almost throwing herself into disaster.

She had wanted to be strong, but all she had managed to do was act out of helpless rage.

The injustice she had suffered surged back into her chest, and she cried harder, "I couldn't even keep the last memory I had with my father…"

Tears mixed with the rainwater, falling endlessly as she cried loudly in the downpour.

This was the first time she had called his name since their reunion, unlike the cold, distant "Mr. Smith" from before.

She sat curled up on the steps, while Daniel squatted beside her, looking up at her.

"You're amazing. Your father would definitely know that," he said earnestly, pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to her.

It was something he had always believed, no matter what.

The rain intensified, and since his clothes were already drenched, Daniel simply sat beside her. He didn't try to stop her tears; he just let her vent and stayed by her side.

Perhaps it was from crying for so long, or maybe it was just a hallucination from her grief, but when she accepted the handkerchief from him, she thought she saw a rare softness in his usually cold eyes.

She didn't care anymore.

Crying felt like a release.

She sniffed a couple of times, wiping her nose roughly with the handkerchief, her voice muffled and nasal. "I owe you again today."

She had cried for most of the day, and after releasing her pent-up anger, she felt somewhat better.

Thinking back, she realized how impulsive she had been, rushing to the Smith family by herself. If Daniel hadn't shown up in time, the consequences could have been disastrous.

The rain fell harder, but her emotions had calmed down. Daniel shifted the umbrella, directing it more toward her. "Are you hungry?"

The rain was so heavy that the umbrella couldn't protect both of them. Daniel's side was now soaked as he focused on keeping Vivian dry.

She hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, and after crying, her body was exhausted and hungry.

She didn't respond, but her stomach loudly protested with a rumble.

"Just a bit," she murmured, embarrassed as the noise echoed. She quickly turned her head to wipe her nose, mortified—why was she always so clumsy in front of Daniel?

Without hesitation, Daniel took the handkerchief she had used and placed it into his pants pocket, not showing any sign of disgust.

He then extended his hand. "Then let's go. Let's get you some dry clothes, and then you can treat me to a meal."

He spoke with a certain boldness, and Vivian thought she had misheard.

"What?" she asked, confused.

Seeing her hesitation, Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say you owed me a favor? What, now you want to back out after a quick thank you?"

Vivian felt a bit embarrassed.

The day before at the hotel, she had eaten and run without a word, and now she had been caught again.

Her face turned slightly red, and she wanted to say something, but the words seemed too weak, so she fell silent.

As she stood up, she felt a slight dizziness. Daniel quickly reached out, gently wrapping his arm around her waist. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

She shook her head. The cold wind hit her, making her feel chilled.

His warm hand pressed against her waist, easing the coldness from her skin. When she steadied herself, he quickly released her.

"Thank you," she whispered, the wind and rain still howling around them. She hadn't caught her breath yet, and the world seemed to shift in front of her eyes, her vision clouding with swirls of light.

Before she could speak, her body went limp, and she collapsed.

Sophia wasn't sure if her luck was good or bad.

In less than two days, she had already seen this girl twice, both times when Vivian was unconscious.

Yesterday, she had been called in to administer an injection after Vivian had been drugged. Today, she was here again to treat her after a fever caused by the rain.

As Daniel's private doctor, Sophia usually only saw him once a month, but since returning to the country, she had seen him nearly every day. Her high salary was finally being put to good use.

"Mr. Smith, Miss Pruitt's physical response is due to emotional exhaustion. I've given her an injection to reduce the fever. A good sleep should help her recover," Sophia said, looking at Daniel with a serious expression, worry evident in her eyes.

After thinking for a moment, she added, "It's also because she's on her period, which weakens her resistance. Her emotional turmoil has taken a toll on her body."

After prescribing some more fever-reducing medication and giving instructions, Sophia left.

Daniel sat by the bed, gently adjusting the blankets around Vivian.

Her brow was furrowed in restless sleep, her face pale. The dark circles under her eyes and the redness around them were evident from her previous crying.

She must have been feeling so much sorrow, he thought.

His gaze softened as he looked at her, a rare tenderness in his eyes. "The people who made you cry, I won't let any of them go. I promise."

All these years, Vincent had been living comfortably, forgetting all about the people who had helped him rise. But now, his time was running out.

His finger traced Vivian's delicate cheek as he softly spoke, "Vivi, I promise, this is the last time you'll cry."

It was almost as if he were speaking to himself, yet also to her.

Vivian woke up from her sleep, feeling the hunger and thirst in her body. She was lying on a large bed, at least three meters wide. Her clothes had been changed, and there were cooling pads on her forehead.

When she opened her eyes, she saw a spacious glass corridor, and not far ahead was a large floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, the twin towers of Lumina City stood proudly, bathed in the bright lights of the city. The skyline was dazzling, and the view of the coastline was magnificent. Ships lazily drifted by, while the giant LED screen on the towers read "I love Lumina," illuminating the sea below with a vibrant glow.

To her right, a staircase led down.

She walked down the spiral staircase and saw someone in the open kitchen, their back to her.

Without needing to see his face, she recognized Daniel from the way he moved. His long fingers gripped the ladle, expertly stirring the soup. The luxury watch on his wrist was damp from the steam, but he didn't seem to mind.

The movement was fluid and practiced, as though he had done this a thousand times before.

His shirt was tucked neatly into his suit pants, highlighting his trim waist. His broad shoulders and muscular arms were clearly defined, and when he lifted his hand, his back muscles flexed, making him even more attractive.

For a moment, she couldn't help but remember the sight of him in the towel the day before, half-naked.

Seeing him fully clothed now was a perfect embodiment of the phrase: "slim in clothes, but muscular without."

Vivian slapped her own face, feeling embarrassed. How had she developed such thoughts about Daniel?