Lauren had talked so much that her mouth had gone dry. She grabbed her glass of water and downed it in large gulps.

Andrew watched her, his lips twitching harder with every passing second. He was almost certain now—Lauren's wild assumptions resulted from reading too many trashy romance novels or binge-watching overly dramatic soap operas.

Everyone knew how deeply these kinds of shows could corrupt their audiences, especially when it came to women with overactive imaginations.

After finishing their meal, they cleaned the kitchen together, washing the dishes until everything sparkled.

It was not even seven yet, so Andrew thought briefly before suggesting, "Ms. Rhodes, since it's your first time visiting, how about I show you around?"

Lauren hesitated, looking conflicted. "Maybe another time, Dr. Lloyd. I really need to head back."

Noticing how her fingers were fidgeting as if torn between staying and leaving, Andrew raised a brow in surprise. "It's still early, Ms. Rhodes. Y