Riley Palmer sat obediently in front of him, casually looking at her phone.
"Adrian, have you been very busy these few days? You haven't come home for a long time."Dad sat with a smile on his face, looking at Adrian sitting in front of him.
Adrian glanced at his father and slowly put down his phone.
"Say it. What do you want me to do."
A trace of awkwardness flashed across Dad's face, his expression looking a little guilty.
"Do you still remember your Grandpa Sterling's little granddaughter? The one who used to follow behind you calling 'Brother Adrian' when she was little."
"Stop." Adrian raised his hand and looked impatiently at Dad.
"She's not my type."
Dad looked at him, obviously unbelieving.
"Yeah right, keep lying."
"Adrian, stop being so picky. Go take a look. You're already twenty-eight this year. You're old. What are you still waiting for?"
Adrian looked at his father and let out a helpless sigh.
"Dad, I already have someone I like."
Adrian slowly took off his coat, murmuring, "Yulius Linn, is the air conditioner not turned on in the office today?"
He deliberately tugged at the collar of his shirt, intentionally showing last night's bite marks to Dad.
Dad looked at Adrian's shoulder and a satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Adrian, when are you bringing her home? When are you getting engaged?"
Adrian almost choked on the water he just drank.
"Cough— cough—!"
"Dad! What are you talking about! Not so fast!"
"You'll scare her like this."
Dad rubbed his chin and looked at the table, considering Adrian's words.
"That's true… but Chris also needs to get engaged soon. I was thinking of letting you settle yours first. Then everything will be easier."
"Chris is way too impulsive…"
A slow smile appeared on Adrian's face.
"Chris has a girlfriend?"
Dad slowly shook his head. "Not exactly."
"It's your sister-in-law. She thinks the little girl around Chris is quite nice, so she's planning to ask Chris to go propose."
"Little girl?" Adrian's voice was tinged with sarcasm.
"You know Riley?"
Adrian shook his head. He looked at the small hair tie around his wrist and slowly smiled.
"Riley is indeed not bad, but…"
"Sigh, forget it."
Dad brushed his pants, stood up, and looked at Adrian.
"You bring my daughter-in-law home as soon as possible."
"Chris's matter… let's put it on hold first." Dad glanced toward the assistant behind him.
The assistant nodded.
Adrian watched his father leave, the laughter in his heart finally unable to be held back anymore.
He thought of what Chloe Frost said this morning, and a trace of hate burned in his heart.
He looked again at the photos Yulius Linn had sent him earlier. The smile on his face slowly stiffened.
Yulius Linn caught the change instantly. "Mr Carter, do you need me to contact the media?"
Adrian shook his head with a smile. "Not yet. We'll wait and see…"
Yulius nodded, and suddenly remembered something.
"Mr Carter, Miss Riley Palmer replied."
When Adrian heard Riley Palmer's name, the coldness in his heart slowly dissipated. He raised his eyes and looked at Yulius.
"Miss Riley Palmer agreed."
Adrian subconsciously exhaled gently. "When does she start?"
"Tomorrow." Yulius replied respectfully.
Riley Palmer's apartment.
Riley Palmer looked at the email in her inbox.
"Riley, what are you looking at?"May Miller walked over with her laptop and sat across from Riley.
May leaned closer to Riley and saw her screen, then spoke in shock, "You start work tomorrow."
"Congratulations, Riley."
Riley smiled brightly at her. "Thank you, May."
Riley wrapped her arms around May's waist.
"Tap tap tap—"
May stared at the dense wall of text on her computer screen.The whole afternoon, she wrote then deleted, deleted then wrote.After a full afternoon, her progress was only five hundred words.
"Aaaahhhh! This is so annoying!"
"Tap tap tap—!!!"
May angrily slammed the keyboard.
"Ding dong—"
Riley walked out of the room and opened the door.
A familiar figure stood right in front of her.
Adrian took a step back and leaned down slightly, looking at Riley. "Riley."
Riley was startled and checked the time on her phone.
5:30 PM.It really was the time she usually got off work.
"So, what do you think?" Adrian looked into Riley's round eyes gently.
Riley glanced nervously toward May who was still working.
She walked out and carefully closed the door behind her.
Seeing how cautious she was, Adrian walked to the opposite side and opened his own apartment door.
Their eyes met.
"Come inside first."
Adrian stepped aside and made room for her to walk in.
Riley looked at his face, and obediently walked inside.
Adrian's apartment.
Riley noticed the bouquet inside, camellias.
Adrian walked to her side and slowly knelt down.
He took a ring box out from his pocket and opened it slowly.
He looked up at Riley with sincerity.
"Riley… even though our steps have been a little out of order, I will not skip any step that leads to marriage."
"Riley, be my girlfriend."
Riley looked down at Adrian kneeling on the ground, her eyes turning slightly red.
She had already guessed Adrian might confess to her today…but she never expected him to give her camellias.
Camellias were her mother's favorite flower. Even though camellias bloomed only for a short time, the image of an entire yard full of complete, perfect camellias remained deeply in Riley's memory.
"Okay, Adrian… I'll accept."
Riley pulled Adrian up from the floor, then turned around so he could put the necklace around her neck.
"Riley, do you like it?" Adrian wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Riley slowly nodded, looking at the little pendant resting against her collarbone.
"It's beautiful."
Adrian turned Riley around to face him. He kissed her gently on the lips, only letting go when the girl's cheeks turned fully red.
"Riley… my dad wants to meet you." Adrian looked at her while catching his breath.
Riley stared at him in surprise. "It's too fast…"
Adrian lowered his head as he saw the struggle on her face. "It's fine… we can take it slow."
Riley shook her head. "No… let's go."
Riley's eyes suddenly looked sad as she stared at Adrian.
Adrian was caught off guard by her expression. "Riley… what's wrong?"
He carefully pulled Riley to the sofa and sat her down, kneeling in front of her.
He gently cupped her face with both hands."What is it? Can you tell me? You'll feel better if you say it."
Riley slowly lifted her eyes to look into Adrian's.Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Adrian… I don't have parents anymore…"
"Waaa—"
Riley suddenly burst into tears, crying uncontrollably, her body shaking with sobs.
Adrian quietly held her, letting her cry and gently patting her back.
Only when Riley's body slowly calmed down did Adrian finally speak.
"Riley… let me be your family from now on, alright?"
"From now on, my family will be your family."
"My dad really wants a daughter. He will love you a lot."
Riley looked at him through teary eyes. The grievance that filled her gaze slowly shifted into warmth as she received his comfort.
"Adrian… thank you."
Adrian wiped away her tears gently and pinched her cheeks lightly.
"Riley… you don't need to thank me anymore. This is what I should do."
"Knock knock—"
Adrian looked toward the door with confusion. He slowly stood up and walked toward it.
"Who is it?" Adrian asked as he opened the door.
"I'll f*cking kill you!"
A heavy punch suddenly landed straight on his face.
Adrian was instantly stunned awake by the sudden blow.
"Hss—"
"Adrian!" Riley panicked as she heard the noise at the door.
"Riley!"A familiar voice reached Riley's ears.
"Brother?" Riley asked in confusion.
"Riley, are you okay?"Yudy Palmer placed both hands on Riley's shoulders, his face full of worry.
Riley looked at Yudy once before quickly shifting her gaze to Adrian who was still on the floor.
She completely ignored her suddenly appearing brother and rushed toward Adrian.
"Adrian! Are you alright?"
Adrian looked at the worried little girl, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he tried to comfort her, "I'm fine."
"What part of this is fine! You're bleeding!" Riley's eyes widened, seeing the bruising and the blood at the corner of his lips.
She turned sharply toward her brother, her expression fierce.
"Yudy Palmer!"
"How could you just punch someone out of nowhere! Apologize!"
Riley's voice was soft and cute, but right now she sounded adorably fierce.
Yudy stood with his hands on his waist. "Riley, don't just look at his face."
"May already told me. He bullied you."Yudy pointed directly at Adrian who was still on the floor."Riley?"
Chloe Frost's voice came from the entry.
At the doorway, Chloe stood there with confusion on her face, staring at Adrian on the ground.
"Mr Carter… your look today is quite… unique."
Chloe forced out a tiny awkward smile.
"Sorry for the embarrassment, Miss Frost." Adrian slowly stood up, holding Riley's hand tightly.
Preventing Riley from immediately rushing to beat her brother instead.
"Let's sit down and talk properly first."
Adrian gently shook Riley's hand, his voice soft.
Riley glanced at the blood on Adrian's lips again, still nervous.
Only then did she finally follow him to sit down.