Original subtitles

In this world ruled by women, women inherit the conglomerates, while men are married off

by their families. Yet the only heir of the Hawthorne family happens to be a man.

Miss Hawthorne, now that your mother has passed, will you be taking over the conglomerate?

Is it true the board is challenging your eligibility as heir?

Hawthorne stays Hawthorne. It always has.

The Hawthorne family has no daughter. The moment I die, Martellite will swallow the entire conglomerate.

I am your son. I can protect Hawthorne too.

This world will never hand the right of inheritance to a man.

From this second on, Adrien no longer exists.

I'm doing this for your own good.

If anyone discovers you are a man, you'll become nothing but a sacrificial offering of the family.

Don't end up like me.

Until your real hair grows past your shoulders, you must never take it off.

Whatever your name is, I will watch over you.

Then don't let anyone see through me.

Ada, you'd better not slip up.

The Hawthorne group needs stability.

I've arranged a marriage alliance with Landing Capital for you.

Arranged for me, or paving the way for yourself.

You need a husband. That's what's best for the group.

Aunt, you're so eager to marry me off.

Are you afraid Hawthorne will falter, or afraid I'll secure my seat?

Don't forget how this miss of yours came to be.

You don't care, he's irony in the house.

To leave you this disheveled at our first meeting, that's my failure of duty.

Who are you?

Beautiful lady.

My name is Even Landon.

Your collar is too tight.

You can barely breathe like this.

Mr. Landon, you've crossed the line.

And what if I insist on crossing it?

I see you've already met.

A toast, then, to Hawthorne's future.

No, something's wrong with the wine.

Miss Hawthorne?

Stop forcing yourself.

For now, at least, you can lean on me.

Who changed them?

I did.

And the cameras?

Taken care of.

The wine glass has been sent for lab testing.

Marceline wanted footage of my disgrace.

Disgrace isn't all she was after.

Ten years, and I still fear making a single mistake.

Miss Hawthorne, the new secretary has arrived.

Miss Hawthorne, what a pleasure to see you again.

One of Landon's people?

You may put it that way.

Are all undercover agents this forthcoming?

Your collar is crooked.

And have you always disliked people getting close?

A secretary's hands touch nothing but documents.

And what if the documents happen to be on you?

Stay away from Ada.

Are you his lawyer or his bodyguard?

I'm the one warning you.

Warning me of what?

Hawthorne is not a place Landon may touch.

And he is not someone you get to play with.

Miss Gray, what you feel for Miss Hawkeny seems like more than loyalty.

In what capacity are you warning me?

What are you doing?

Where did he touch you?

Juliet.

The collar?

The throat?

Or did he see something?

Are you interrogating me?

Marceline drugged you last night,

and today Landon's man walks into your office,

and you let him get that close.

I need to know what he wants.

He wants your life.

Many people do.

Juliet.

Enough.

I'm sorry.

Miss Hawthorne's lawyer keeps a remarkably tight leash.

Does it hurt?

You're only a secretary.

Do a secretary's job,

instead of prying into your superior's private affairs.

She cares about you deeply.

That's none of your concern.

If she is your weakness,

then it concerns my work.

Touch her,

and see what happens.

She's no ordinary support in it.

More like a loyal hound guarding his side.

The Landons are coming tonight.

You must look like a young lady willing to marry.

I am not merchandise.

A young lady's marriage has never been hers to decide.

As Adrian, I had no choice.

As Ada, still none.

Your mother is dead.

Marceline will grow more desperate.

If you refuse the alliance,

she'll turn the board against you.

Suspect me of what?

Of not being woman enough.

Miss Hawthorne,

Mr. Celestrian asked me to...

Get out.

Are those injuries?

Or the reason you never let anyone touch you?

I said get out!

Does Marceline know?

No.

No.

What exactly did you see?

I saw someone binding himself far too tight.

Spare me the fake concern.

If I meant to report it,

I'd have taken photos already.

Ada,

the Landons have arrived.

Breathe one word of this,

and you're out of Hawthorne.

After tonight,

House Hawthorne and House Landon will be much closer.

If our two houses unite in marriage,

together we will build a new commercial empire.

Your business dealings do not entitle you

to write Hawthorne's inheritance into a marriage contract.

Your mother is gone.

You do need a husband.

What I need is a silent board,

not a man to prove I'm a woman.

Warm water instead of wine.

You look unwell tonight.

The mole playing secretary now?

I've always been professional.

Get to the point.

You need a fake fiancé.

Marceline wants to control you through marriage,

so pick someone she can't control.

First.

Someone like you?

I'm handsome.

My name is Landon.

Enough to convince the world you're smitten with me.

And what do you want in exchange?

Greater power.

To rise above everyone.

The rats in the dark are rather entertaining.

Did you arrange this?

If I had, I'd be standing far more intimate.

Only in the water can I briefly stop being Ada.

Ada.

Miss Hawthorne, you're...

Get out.

You do this to yourself every day?

Is the pool now part of a secretary's duties?

Not a secretary's, but it is mine.

You're binding yourself half to death.

What are you trying to prove?

I want to know why you'd rather hurt than let anyone touch you.

Let go of him.

Miss Hawthorne grabbed me first.

Both of you, out.

How much did he see?

Only the marks.

Are you sure?

He doesn't know yet.

What I fear isn't him seeing your scars.

It's you starting to let him close.

I'm merely using him.

You'd better be.

Why would a woman hide herself this thoroughly?

Where did you find it?

The pool.

You left in a hurry last night.

Forget what you saw last night.

All I saw was a Miss Hawthorne who doesn't take very good care of herself.

Three months.

You fend off the marriage alliance for me.

I let you stay at Hawthorne.

Is there a problem?

If I can't touch you in public, how will anyone believe we're intimate?

Acting does not entitle you to cross lines.

Then I request an exception for public appearances.

You cannot keep him by your side.

I've already decided.

His name is Landon.

If Miss Gray is uneasy, she's welcome to watch me around the clock.

I will.

This is only a transaction.

I hope Mr. Ivan won't take it too seriously.

Miss Hawthorne, are you and Mr. Ivan in a relationship?

If you want a show, then look closely.

Miss Hawthorne, please relax.

I'll take it from here.

I know my fiancé's measurements better than any outsider.

You don't actually know them, which is why I'm learning.

Does the gown fit?

Perfectly.

Good.

The board is concerned about Ada's health.

A family physician will examine her tomorrow.

Just a routine checkup.

You won't refuse, will you?

Last month's health report was already submitted.

A repeat investigation is unnecessary.

It's a routine physical.

Ada, surely you're not on guard against a doctor too?

I can't let her touch me.

The moment this collar loosens, every secret comes out.

My apologies.

The press conference has been moved up.

The reporters have arrived.

What press conference?

Miss Hawthorne is announcing our engagement tonight.

Keep the media waiting too long, and tomorrow's headline becomes

The Hawthorne Air Has Health Problems.

Come with me.

Who gave you permission to announce an engagement?

If I hadn't, that doctor's hand would already be on your collar.

Get into her dressing room tonight.

To do what?

I want one photo that proves there's something wrong with her identity.

Seen enough?

No.

Marceline sent you?

Didn't you know all along?

Why didn't you shoot?

What I want is your secret, not you at your most wretched.

To you, is there a difference?

Yes.

Nothing at all?

He caught me.

There was no opportunity.

No opportunity?

Or you couldn't bear to shoot?

I simply didn't want to spook the snake in the grass.

Why did he cover for me?

You have three seconds to explain.

Marceline ordered me to take the photos.

I know.

You knew and still left the door open on purpose?

I wanted to see what you choose.

And are you satisfied?

Not shooting doesn't mean you're on my side.

I was never your man to begin with.

You want power?

You want power?

Marceline wants Hawthorne.

There's no difference between you.

At least I never traded your wounds for power.

You didn't shoot because you haven't found a better price yet.

Then why haven't you thrown me out?

Why admit you're a mole?

Because you knew all along.

Keeping up the act would only make me look a fool.

How honest of you.

Don't trust me just because I covered for you once.

Rest assured, I've never trusted you.

You're running a fever.

Get out.

You can barely stand.

And you still have the strength to order me around?

Don't call the doctor.

What exactly are you afraid a doctor will see?

Don't touch me.

If I don't, you'll burn out cold.

I look only at the wounds, not the secrets.

He's clearly Marceline's man.

Yet he seems to care for me more than anyone in House Hawthorne.

This time, I may truly have to betray you.

What did you take last night?

What did you hope I'd take?

Where is the seal of inheritance?

I had no choice.

So you handed her the seal?

Don't dress betrayal up as grievance.

Well done.

Juliet's charges?

Withdrawn?

Of course.

You lied to me.

Lesson one.

A pawn has no right to negotiate terms.

You promised to spare her.

I promised to keep her out of prison.

I never said she couldn't perish outside Hawthorne.

From today on, let's see who can still protect Ada.