Chapter 23
The excessively delicate brow bones, as if intricately carved with meticulous strokes, had distinct and sharp contours. His eyes were slightly narrowed, with the corners slightly upturned, and his eyelids were thin. [
His expression was indifferent.
The man heard my words clearly, furrowed his brows slightly, then quickly relaxed
them any
- me.
The fingers he casually rested on the edge of the desk lightly tapped a few times. His long fingers brud across the smooth surface of the desk without making
any sound. He lowered his gaze and called out, “Girlfriend.” []
His voice was clear, low, and magnetic.
I looked up, and my gaze accidentally collided with the man’s eyes.
In just one glance, I involuntarily curled my fingers at my side, my pinky stinging slightly.
How could it be him?
How How could it be Adrian Lancaster?
I fell in love with Adrian Lancaster at first sight, and we had been in a relationship for over a year. Adrian Lancaster had never called me that. Even at the most passionate moments, he only called me Adeline. [
Back then, he didn’t even need to call me. A glance or a gesture, and I would obediently lean into him on my own. [
The strength in my feet faltered, and the sharp heel of my high shoe tapped against the carpet. Quietly, I relaxed my curled pinky, narrowed my eyes slightly, and met Adrian’s gaze before continuing my unfinished words:
“My apologies, Mr. Lancaster. I don’t think I can meet your requirements. I will no longer be taking on this case. Please find someone else.” ||
Adrian crossed his arms and leaned against the floor–to–ceiling window, half his face hidden in shadow. []
I had no idea what he was thinking.
After a long time, his thin lips parted, and he uttered two words: “Adeline.” The slight curve of his lips revealed his mischievous amusement.
I furrowed my slender brows halfway, forcing myself to restrain the emotion. My thumb pressed into the edge of my palm before I released it. In the end, I turned around. [
Pulling open the door, I paused for a moment and said coldly, “I suggest Mr. Lancaster avoid any misunderstandings. If you can’t stop calling everyone ‘girlfriend.‘ perhaps you should visit the psychiatric department and have your brain checked.”
“Adeline Montgomery.” Adrian called out to me. [
I gripped the door but didn’t turn back. [
“Do you think you’re beautiful?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied quickly. [
“Then my eyesight must be pretty good, right?” ||
1 snorted coldly, dosed the door, and left. []
If it weren’t for the fact that the person was Adrian, I might have just thrown the words “crazy person” at him. []
As I exited, I saw Adrian’s assistant standing by the door. [
Seeing me come out, he lowered his head and greeted, “Good day, madam.”
My lips tightened into a straight line as I pressed the elevator button. []
Madam? Yeah, right. I’m far from good–very far. []
After years of not seeing Adrian, it wasn’t just him who seemed mentally unstable; even his assistant had gone mad.
I got in the car and drove out of Washington’s CBD. Once home, I picked up Jasper and headed to the mall. [
Chapter 23
With Jasper in one arm, I pushed a shopping cart through the open–air mall courtyard. []
Jasper, who had buried his head in my embrace, suddenly perched on my shoulder as we passed through the courtyard. His wide, watery eyes locked onto the electronic display screen hanging behind me. 0
I let go of the cart, holding Jasper with one hand and resting the other on the back of his head. “Jasper, what’s wrong?” I asked. []
Jasper shook his head without saying a word. []
Puzzled, I turned my body slightly, and on the massive electronic display screen, I saw Adrian again. []
Dressed impeccably in a suit, the man wore an indifferent expression as he calmly answered reporters‘ questions. []
1 rubbed Jasper’s little head, gently smoothing his back. “How about we go get some ice cream?”
0
Jasper let out a small hum of agreement, quickly forgetting the man on the screen.
“Strawberry or chocolate–you can only pick one,” I said as we stood by the ice cream counter.
Jasper scrunched his tiny brows, his face full of struggle. “Chocolate… no, no, strawberry!” |
The ice cream shop was filled with small families, mostly young parents with children. []
Mothers pushed strollers, children sat inside, and fathers either played with the kids or kept an arm around their wives.
Taking the ice cream cone from the staff, I met Jasper’s innocent eyes, but Adrian’s face popped into my mind again.
The way he had looked at me earlier, his gaze had a hunger, as if he wanted to consume me whole.
It was obvious that she hadn’t done anything, and when she looked at me like that, it reminded me for no apparent reason of the closeness of our skin against each other when we were still together, and the hidden traces we had left on each other’s bodies.]
“Mommy?” Jasper’s small hand touched my shoulder, his face rubbing against mine.
“Yes?”
“Mommy, are you hot?” Jasper tilted his head up. “Your face… it’s red.”
–The Author Speaks—[]
Did Mr. Lancaster give up just like that?
No, no, no!]
He is “slyly plotting how to win Adeline’s heart back.[]
