The next day.
"Mmm…" Riley Palmer slowly stretched her body.
She reached back to touch her waist uncomfortably. "Ah—"
"You're awake?"
Adrian Carter's drowsy voice sounded right beside her ear.
Riley's eyes snapped open instantly, her entire body stiffening as she slowly turned to look at the man lying next to her.
Adrian was still asleep, eyes closed, but his arm held her tightly, almost like he was afraid she might run away.
Riley gripped the blanket and looked down at the empty space underneath.
She instantly woke up completely.
"Wha—"
Adrian placed his hand on the blanket in front of Riley.
"Don't look. Sleep a little more."
Riley's face turned red like a tomato and she turned her back to him immediately.
The hand underneath her shifted slightly inward, and she could faintly feel the warmth through her back.
Riley spoke shyly, "Last night… did we…"
Adrian's chin gently brushed against her hair.
"I already saw everything that should be seen and not to be seen."
Riley's face burned even redder.
"Adrian…"
Before she finished, Adrian slowly spoke...
"Riley… marry me."
He opened his eyes slightly and looked at her stiff back.
Riley stared at him in disbelief.
"We…"
"Riley, you're not planning to take responsibility?"
Adrian slowly pulled open the thin shirt he wore, revealing the bright red bite marks underneath.
Riley instantly recalled the scene from last night.
"Adrian… Adrian…"
She tilted her head back, calling his name over and over, and seeing that he had no intention of stopping, she suddenly bit down hard on his collarbone.
Adrian hissed softly in pain, but his hand still moved up to the back of her head.
Riley's expression, which had finally calmed a bit, flushed bright red again.
Adrian looked at her with a curved, satisfied gaze.
"What? Riley, did you remember something?"
His arm wrapped around her waist again, slowly exploring.
Riley's face immediately burned again, and she quickly placed her hand over his to stop him.
"Adrian…"
"What is it, Riley?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, those deep fox-like eyes watching her intensely.
"I… I…" Riley stammered.
"So… you're unwilling?"
"That's not it." Riley shook her head.
"Then you don't like me?"
"No, no." She waved her hands repeatedly.
Adrian's smile deepened. "So you like me."
His hand gently stroked her cheek as he leaned in closer.
"Riley likes me…"
His gaze dropped slowly toward her lips.
Seeing that she didn't back away, Adrian looked victorious and leaned forward to kiss her.
"Mmm…" Riley lightly pounded his chest, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.
Adrian finally released her, but just as he pulled away, he lightly bit her lip, leaving a faint mark behind.
Riley shyly looked away, touching the corner of her lip with her fingertip.
Adrian looked at her with satisfaction and gently patted her head.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you."
He stood up and walked out of the room.
Before leaving, he glanced at Riley, who laid on the bed looking troubled, not knowing what she was thinking.
But Adrian was certain… Riley liked him.
Satisfied, he went to the bathroom outside the master bedroom, taking a suit with him.
By the time Riley came out, Adrian was already in the kitchen.
She looked at the breakfast on the table, completely stunned by how good it looked.
But all Riley could think of right now was only one thing, Escape!!
Escape as long as she could!!
"Riley, where do you think you're going?"
Adrian looked at her standing near the door, holding a pan spoon in his hand.
Riley smiled stiffly. "Nothing… I just wanted to check if your door was locked… haha…"
Her awkward expression amused Adrian.
He put down the pan and slowly walked toward her.
Placing one hand against the door behind her, he looked down into her eyes.
"Riley, why do you want to check if the door is locked?"
His arm wrapped around her waist again.
Riley didn't dare meet his gaze.
Instead, her attention shifted toward a huge plush doll in the living room.
"What's that?"
She bent down slightly, trying to peek past Adrian's arm.
Adrian watched her retreating back helplessly and chuckled.
"Riley, did you forget?"
He tapped lightly on the photo frame placed beneath the TV. "Tap… tap… tap."
Riley stared at the frame suspiciously.
It looked brand new, placed among famous plush toys from Happy Valley.
She instantly remembered, and her face reddened again.
"Remember now?" he tilted his head slightly, looking at her with a pampering gaze.
Riley didn't speak, but the slight movement of her head exposed what she felt.
"Check your phone. It rang the whole night."
Adrian didn't pressure her anymore and went back to the kitchen to organize.
Riley picked up her phone—but the only thing shown on screen was a pitch-black reflection of herself.
"Adrian, can I borrow your charger?"
"It's in the left cabinet beside you."
Riley obediently plugged in her phone, then quietly stood there, absentmindedly touching the plush doll while watching Adrian work in the kitchen.
"You can eat now."
Adrian seemed to sense her gaze and spoke lazily.
Riley sat down at the table and saw the steaming bowl of seafood porridge, and warmth spread into her chest.
"I don't know if you like eating what porridge, but I saw you had a lot of seafood stored last time… so I figured you'd probably like it."
Adrian caught the look in her eyes and didn't ask the question he originally wanted.
He served the porridge and handed the bowl to her.
"Sit and eat."
Riley pulled out the chair and sat across from him.
Adrian watched her eat up the porridge he cooked himself, looking very satisfied.
Looks like the effort wasn't wasted.
"Adrian… I'll go home later."
"Once I finish work… let's talk about us."
Riley finished her bowl and glanced carefully at his expression.
Adrian froze for a moment.
Then he felt surprise and joy.
Was Riley asking for his opinion?Was Riley accepting him?
A bright smile slowly appeared on his face as he looked at her.
"Alright."
Riley's apartment.
Beep beep beep—
May Miller and Chloe Frost looked anxiously at Riley as she returned home.
May rushed forward instantly, checking Riley from head to toe repeatedly.
Until Riley really couldn't take it anymore, "May… it's enough."
May looked hurt, tears dropping like pearls. "Riley… where were you last night… Chloe and I looked for you the whole night…"
Behind her, Chloe stood with a tired expression, clearly exhausted.
She stepped around May, walked straight to Riley.
"Riley… last night…"
Riley never planned to hide anything from them. She was just startled by May's sudden reaction.
"I was in Adrian apartement."
Her voice sounded unusually calm. Like a river that was always roaring loudly, suddenly becoming completely still.
"You slept?" Chloe asked, calm as usual.
Riley's face instantly flushed again.
Chloe didn't ask further. She simply turned and walked toward her room to prepare for work.
That left only May, still frozen there, overloaded with too much information to process.
"Don't sit on the floor. It's cold." Chloe reminded calmly as she walked out in her professional outfit, picking up the breakfast she ordered.
Riley came out and sat with them obediently, eating quietly.
"I really… tried to find you guys last night… but I got distracted by a food stall…"
The more Riley tried to explain, the more guilty she sounded… her voice got smaller and smaller, her eyes drifting down.
"So you drank… got drunk… and slept." Chloe swallowed a dumpling and spoke lightly. "Right?"
Riley didn't answer. She just sat there like a kid who got caught doing something wrong.
"Then you and him…" May slowly connected the dots, staring at Riley.
"He wants to take responsibility for me…" Riley said in a tiny voice.
"Say yes." Chloe stated calmly.
"I still need to think." Riley replied softly.
"He seems to come from a pretty good family."
Riley looked at Chloe curiously, wondering how she knew anything about Adrian.
"Don't look at me. I guessed." Chloe took her last dumpling. "His watch. It's a limited private custom series. Not normal luxury."
Chloe stood, grabbed her bag, and headed out.
Before leaving, she said "And don't listen to May's brain circuits."
"Think carefully. If you really do feel something for Adrian… maybe accept a new life. A new person."
"And besides… isn't his appearance exactly your type? It's a win."
Chloe left.
The apartment suddenly became quiet.
Two beautiful girls sat there, staring at each other, each lost in her own thoughts.
Downstairs.
Adrian bumped into Chloe as she was heading to work.
"Miss Frost." Adrian greeted politely.
Chloe was no longer as casual as when they first met, she seemed full of pressure and doubt.
Adrian didn't need to think to know, she was suspicious of his intentions.
He smiled. "Miss Frost, I'm serious to Riley. You don't need to worry about that. I'll protect her. I won't let anything hurt her."
Chloe gave a small laugh and looked back at him.
"Well then, I'll look forward to seeing how you will protects Riley."
She took a few steps forward but then stopped again.
"Adrian, let me remind you. Riley just let go of a very important relationship to her. The person she gave up… is from the Carter Family."
"The Carter from the Carter Conglomerate. The richest family in H City."
Chloe didn't bother to look at Adrian's reaction and walked away without turning back again.
Adrian watched her leave.
Inside, he felt grateful.
Grateful that Riley had a friend who protected her.Grateful that someone else cared.
"Mr. Carter, the Chairman wants to see you."
A man in a professional suit stood slightly bowed before Adrian.
Adrian smiled lightly. "I know."
He stepped into an ordinary-looking car.
Except the inside was the complete opposite, everything inside was top-tier custom.
A hidden modified private car.
Aurelius Group.
CEO Office.
Adrian walked in casually, his steps unhurried, entering the office with the already-open door.
Inside, an elderly man sat waiting.
Adrian paused for half a second when he saw him, a rare trace of surprise flickering across his face.
But only for a moment.Adrian quickly returned to his usual lazy, almost careless expression.
He walked closer and spoke, "Dad."
The old man, Mr. Carter looked at his youngest son, eyes curved in a gentle smile.
"Adrian, sit."