The moment Suzy stepped through the front door, bodyguards surrounded her.
Like hounds closing in on prey.
Her brows lifted.
"What is the meaning of this?"
No one answered.
A heavy silence settled over the hall.
Then she looked up.
Standing on the second-floor balcony was Mr. Jain.
He looked down at her like an enraged king delivering judgment.
Suzy tilted her head.
"Am I in serious trouble?"
"You little troublemaker!"
His roar thundered through the mansion.
The servants nearby immediately lowered their heads.
"Come to my study. Right now."
Suzy glanced around at the bodyguards.
"I can walk on my own," she said lightly. "Why bother with the escort?"
No reply.
Interesting.
For the first time, her father was behaving strangely.
As if he feared she might disappear.
Suzy hid her amusement and calmly walked upstairs.
Like an obedient kitten.
The moment she entered the study, the atmosphere changed.
Mr. Jain sat behind his luxurious desk, authority radiating from him.
Not merely as her father.
But as someone accustomed to command.
Suzy dropped onto the couch with casual elegance.
Her gaze swept across the room before landing on him.
Then she noticed the newspapers.
Gossip magazines.
Already waiting.
Ah.
So this was planned.
Mr. Jain spoke first.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
Suzy reached for the glass of water on the table.
"What exactly did I do wrong?"
"How dare you!"
His palm slammed against the desk.
"You are becoming more unrestrained every day!"
He threw the newspapers toward her.
Scandalous headlines covered the pages.
Suzy barely glanced at them before taking a sip of water.
"Isn't this normal?" she asked calmly. "There's gossip about me every week."
A faint smile curved her lips.
"I'm rather popular, you know."
"This is no joke."
His voice turned dangerously serious.
"You are leaving."
The glass paused halfway to her lips.
But only for a second.
Then she lowered it.
Too calm.
Her fingers traced the rim.
"You prepared bodyguards," she said softly.
Her eyes drifted toward the newspapers.
"And these were already waiting."
She looked at him.
"So this conversation was decided before I arrived."
Mr. Jain narrowed his eyes.
"Do you think this is a game?"
"No."
Her smile remained.
"I think you're rushing me out."
Silence.
Interesting.
His silence alone answered enough.
Suzy leaned back.
"Scandals never bothered you before," she continued. "You've cleaned up worse."
Her gaze sharpened.
"So why now?"
Mr. Jain folded his hands.
"You will leave for G Country tomorrow."
Her smile thinned.
"Tomorrow?"
"You will learn discipline."
"And?"
"You will learn business."
Suzy tilted her head.
"From whom?"
"Someone I trust."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Someone?"
"That is all you need to know."
She studied him quietly.
Since when did her father hide things from her?
And since when did he avoid answering directly?
That alone unsettled her more than the punishment.
"You've never sent me to strangers before."
"He is not a stranger."
The answer came too quickly.
Interesting.
"So this isn't punishment."
Mr. Jain's expression hardened.
"Call it what you want."
"Protection, perhaps?"
The room turned silent.
His gaze sharpened.
Suzy smiled.
There it was.
The smallest reaction.
Her father was afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
And that frightened her far more.
"Impossible," she said lightly. "Mother would never agree to this."
"Your mother already agreed."
The smile nearly disappeared.
Nearly.
"You convinced her?"
"No."
His tone remained firm.
"She agreed."
For once, Suzy did not speak immediately.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Still, she refused to show it.
"More importantly," she said sweetly, "I'm a girl."
Her voice softened into practiced innocence.
"You can't simply send me away to some unknown place."
Mr. Jain rubbed his forehead.
"You only remember you're a girl now?"
His voice sharpened.
"When you place yourself in danger and create scandals, where is that concern then?"
Suzy folded her arms.
"My appearance is valuable, Father."
"You worry too much about appearances."
He leaned back, studying her.
"If your beauty is such a burden…"
A strange look crossed his eyes.
"Then go there as a man."
Silence.
Suzy stared.
"What?"
The answer came too quickly.
Too naturally.
As though he had considered it long before this conversation.
Her smile faded.
Slowly.
"…Dad."
Suspicion entered her voice.
"You already planned this."
Mr. Jain looked away.
"I have already made arrangements."
"You're serious."
"You leave tomorrow."
Suzy rose from her seat.
For the first time, irritation slipped through her composure.
"You expect me to leave for a country I've never seen, stay with someone you refuse to name, and obediently disappear overnight?"
"You have no choice."
His voice was absolute.
Her jaw tightened.
"Are you even my real dad?"
"You're hiding something."
"And you ask too many questions."
She stared at him.
Then laughed softly.
A spoiled laugh.
But her eyes had gone cold.
"I won't agree."
"You will."
She turned toward the door.
"Then perhaps," she said lightly, "you should send the bodyguards with me too."
The door slammed shut.
Silence filled the study.
Mr. Jain let out a long breath and leaned back in his chair.
"…I spoiled you too much."
His gaze lingered on the closed door.
Then his expression darkened.
"…And now I may already be too late."