Chapter 27
“I agreed?” Adrian asked back, looking at me.[]
I froze.
This didn’t sound like something Adrian would say, and I didn’t know how to respond.[]
Adrian lowered his gaze and said, “Starting a relationship requires agreement from both sides. So shouldn’t breaking up also need mutual consent, Adeline?“]
w.“I
“Four years ago, I didn’t agree to your request to break up, and I certainly won’t accept it now.”
“Adrian, don’t go too far!” I said angrily.[]
“Don’t you think bringing this up after four years is a joke? It’s been four whole years of silence. Do you think it was just three days or three weeks?” []
I didn’t want to reason with him anymore; I just wanted to shut him down.[]
Adrian’s long lashes lowered again as he continued, “We were just separated for work for four years. That’s all… Adeline, stop acting like a child.”
“I’m not joking,” I shook my head.[]
“Since you’ve come looking for me, I assume you’ve already investigated my past four years. I’ve been married, and I’ve been divorced. Our one year of dating doesn’t mean anything anymore.“]]
Adrian’s fingers tapped lightly on his knee, calm and unhurried, as he said, “That man is irrelevant. He’s been sentenced to life in prison, and he won’t appear in our lives again.“]
He continued Talking about him is unlucky. Let’s just focus on us. Adeline, the child also carries my blood. As his biological father, I have the right to fight for custody in court. Are you sure you want it to come to that?“]
My fingers clenched tightly as I said nothing.
When it came to Jasper’s custody, I lost my nerve.[]
I couldn’t win against Adrian in a custody battle.
Time passed slowly, and the air in the car seemed frozen.
I released my hand and found my voice, taking a gamble as I asked, “What’s your reason?”
I looked up at Adrian and saw his thin lips move. He said a few words.
I didn’t hear them. My ears were buzzing, and I could only see his lips opening and closing
I didn’t react, and Adrian wasn’t in a hurry either. His patience far exceeded mine.[]
After a long moment, I calmed down completely, let out a cold laugh, and decided to dismiss whatever Adrian had said as nonsense.
I pushed the car door open and slammed it shut with a loud “bang,” not caring that the driver nearby heard.[]
At this moment, I thought Adrian wasn’t just crazy; he was delusional.[]
I stomped back to my front door, opened it, kicked off my heels, and went straight to the living room bar to pour myself some water.
“Shh-“Indra pointed to the small bedroom door, signaling for me to be quiet.[]
“Jasper’s asleep?” I whispered.
Tell asleep a while ago, Indra replied, packing up her tablet and lesson materials. “I’m heading out now.”
“Do you need me to drive you home?” I asked, reaching for my car keys.[]
“No, no, you stay with Jasper. I’ll call a cab. I gave him some soda crackers earlier, so he might get thirsty during the night. Leave some water by his bed,” Indra said before leaving.
I turned off the living room lights and stood in the dark for a while before heading to remove my makeup and shower. Afterward, I brought Jasper to my room.] Looking at Jasper’s face–a smaller version of Adrian’s–I sighed. “Jasper, your dad’s brain hasn’t been working right lately.”
Chapter 27
The next morning, I got a call from my landlord and went to view a new apartment with Indra and Jasper.]
The place we were living in was a temporary rental close to my office. But Jasper, now four, couldn’t stay at home all the time. He needed to go to preschool.[]
I had my eye on an international preschool, but it was far from our current place, so I decided to move.]]
As I parked the car in the upscale district, Indra glanced around and said, “Opal Heights? Really?” She fell silent for a moment. []
“Did you win the lottery or something? Or did your dad finally forgive you and let you inherit the family business?” she joked.[]
“That must’ve been in my dreams,” I replied.]
Standing outside the Opal Heights building, the landlord, dressed in a sharp black suit under the blazing sun, approached me as I got out of the car. “Ms. Montgomery, sorry to trouble you.”]
“No trouble at all,” I said.]
Indra gave me a look but said nothing. I probably looked more like someone renting out an apartment than someone looking to rent.
Once we exited the elevator, the landlord enthusiastically introduced the place.
“Ms. Montgomery, this entire floor is yours. It’s spacious enough for you and your child. When your son grows up, you could even turn one room into a study for yourself and another into a study for him.“[]
Opal Heights is a well–known real estate company specializing in luxury properties. Each floor only has one unit, offering a quiet and elegant environment.[]
The apartment’s décor leaned toward French–inspired styles, cozy and romantic–perfect for me and Jasper.[]
I said nothing, but the landlord seemed more nervous. He hesitated before saying,
“Ms. Montgomery, if the rent isn’t suitable, we can negotiate. If you don’t like the décor, feel free to change it, or let me know, and I’ll handle it. How about that? I’ll cover the renovation costs.”
The landlord seemed worried I might back out.]
Turning to him, I asked, “Can you tell me why?“]]
“Why what?” he asked, a bit flustered.[]
“Opal Heights apartments are expensive. Even if you’re renting it out, the rent shouldn’t be cheap. Why are you offering it at such a low price?“]
I stared directly at him, asking slowly, “Did something happen here?”
“No, no! Not at all, Ms. Montgomery,” he stammered. Then, with a sigh, he admitted, []
“Actually, I’ve been really busy with work. I finally got a girlfriend and bought two units here–this one and the one below–so we could live close to our families. But not long after the renovations, she broke up with me because of my work schedule.
“I had planned to marry her, and I bought these two apartments so our parents could stay over too. But now the lower unit is empty, so I decided to rent it out.
Nothing bad has happened here, I promise. I even bought this unit when the building first opened, so there’s no time for anything like that.”
The landlord removed his gold rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes.]
I see,” I said, unsure how to respond. I felt like I’d accidentally touched a sore spot. “Sorry about that,” I added after a pause. “I’m sure you’ll meet someone even better.”
The landlord said nothing, but his expression was complicated.[]
“When can we sign the contract?” I asked.]
“Now! Right now!” he said, his voice rising in excitement. He quickly pulled a contract from his briefcase and handed it to me. “Feel free to review it first.”
Ill take it home to read and get back to you within two days,” I replied.]
“Of course, Ms. Montgomery. If you have questions, call me anytime,” he said as he walked me out. He glanced at Jasper, cradled in Indra’s arms, and asked, “Are you raising him on your own?”
“Yes,” I answered.[]
“What about his father?
Chapter 27
I paused and then said, “Oh, he… unfortunately passed away.
