Laney quickly checked her phone to make sure the call had indeed ended.

Cliff saw through her feeble attempts at masking her thoughts. He had noticed every detail, including her reddened cheeks, and assumed she had been chatting with the questionable guy from before.

Laney asked, “Did you need something?"

"I brought you some milk." Cliff set the cup on the nightstand, his manner detached.

His towering height loomed over her, giving off a feeling of both protection and careful observation.

Laney sensed his gaze was different than usual. Usually distant, today his gaze was sharp and observing.

Laney glanced down at herself and noticed that the collar of her pajamas had shifted, exposing more than she had meant to reveal. She hurriedly adjusted it.

But then, remembering Kailyn's advice, Laney paused, looked at Cliff, and purposely opened her collar a bit more, revealing a slight hint of cleavage.

Cliff was stunned. She had attempted similar maneuvers before, but never quite so obviously. He casually adjusted her clothes, ensuring her neck was fully covered before pulling his hand away.

“When is your competition?” he asked.

At the mention of the ballet competition, Laney's eyes lit up, and she offered a sweet smile. "It's in October. I have the leading role. Will you come? I'll reserve a VIP seat for you."

Cliff responded calmly, “I won't attend. Just a reminder that you have less than two months to prepare. Once your foot is better, concentrate on your rehearsals. Avoid sending unnecessary messages that could distract you."

Laney was confused. “What did I send?"

Cliff chose not to explain. He believed that giving too much detail was invasive, yet not mentioning it at all left him somewhat frustrated.

“Just a reminder." Cliff then shifted the topic. “Kira's foot injury isn't much better than yours. Did you do that?"

Laney couldn't bring herself to lie and responded gloomily, “Yes.”

Cliff asked, “You're barely ninety pounds. Were you wearing weighted ballet shoes to stomp on her like that?"

Laney answered, "I jumped on her." The force and bitterness behind her action were so strong that it was surprising she hadn't completely crushed Kira.

Assuming Cliff was going to lecture her, Laney glared at him and huffed, "Yes, I stepped on Kira intentionally! She deserved it. Even if you scold me, I won't care. If she dares to bother me again, I'1L step on her again!"

To her surprise, Cliff didn't seem upset at all. Instead, he calmly replied, "You did well. You're more important than she is."

Laney was momentarily stunned, and warmth quickly spread through her chest. Her thoughts wandered back to when her mother was alive-she'd been the princess of the house, sheltered from any grievance. Living with the Hopkins family had brought her a similar sense of being cherished, making her feel valued once again. Perhaps this pampering had made her headstrong, always demanding specific outcomes.

Especially when it came to Cliff-despite his distant demeanor, her feelings for him were uncontrollable. She liked him, even knowing it might lead to heartache.

Cliff, having said his piece, turned and left without hesitation.

Laney watched him walk away, her heart sinking. The emptiness he left behind felt unbearable. "Cliff... Are you leaving already?"