"Where's your medicine box?" Riley Palmer looked around the room's decorations.
"In that cabinet," Adrian Carter pointed to the cabinet under the TV.
Chloe Frost quietly watched them, glanced at the cabinet, and got up to help retrieve it.She handed the box to Riley.
Riley carefully picked up some cotton, dabbed it in iodine, and gently wiped Adrian's slightly swollen cheek.
While doing so, she shot a disdainful glance at the stunned Yudy Palmer.
Yudy looked at Chloe standing there, his eyes full of confusion.
Didn't they say his sister and the neighbor didn't get along? Didn't they say he bullied her?
But this scene didn't look like what May Miller had described at all...
Knock, knock—
May walked in, holding a box of gifts, glancing at the people in the room."So lively…"
She looked at Yudy's angry face, her voice trembling, "Yudy… what's wrong…"
Yudy's face darkened as he stared silently at May.
Chloe patted her lightly. "I told you not to talk nonsense, but you just wouldn't listen."
She pointed at Adrian's cheek bruised and purple which made May gasp and nearly lose her balance, clutching Chloe's hand."I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…"
Adrian didn't look at May. Instead, his eyes were full of amusement as he gazed at Riley."Riley, it hurts." His tone carried a hint of playfulness.
Riley continued to apply the iodine gently, her lips blowing softly as she worked.
The others stood by, silently watching the intimacy between the two.
Yudy felt so suffocated that he rolled his eyes at Adrian's act of fragility."When she's done, leave."
After saying that, Yudy walked out of Adrian's apartment and went straight next door.
Chloe quickly followed, taking May with her.
Only Riley and Adrian were left in the apartment.
Adrian looked at Riley with a pitiful expression."Riley… does your brother not like me?"
Riley glanced at the door, cupped his face gently."No, he just needs a bit of time to calm down."
A tear slipped from the corner of Adrian's eye and landed on Riley's fingers. He nodded slightly.
Later that evening, Riley finally returned to her apartment.
Beep, beep, beep—
She opened the door to a dimly lit room.In the living room sat a man, barely visible in the shadows.
Riley took a deep breath, turned on the light, and walked toward Yudy.She didn't say a word, just sat beside him stubbornly, for a long, long time.
Eventually, Yudy gave in.
He tried to hold her hand, but she swiftly pulled it away.
Riley turned her back on him, refusing to look at him, not even once."Riley…"
She gave a small "hmph," her hair swaying slightly.
Yudy chuckled, stood up, and sat across from her."Riley, don't be mad, okay?"
He spoke softly, as if coaxing her like he did when they were children, gently shaking her small hand.
Riley reluctantly nodded, gazing at her brother who hadn't been home for nearly half a year because of filming."You got darker."
Her cold tone pierced right into Yudy's heart.
He imagined his beloved sister stabbing a knife straight into his chest.
He pretended to fall dramatically, holding onto the tissue box in her hand.
Lying there, he looked up at her smiling face."Not mad anymore, right?"
Leaning against the sofa, Yudy looked at her.
Riley gazed back and softly leaned her head on his shoulder.
"How could I really be mad at you? I just thought you were too reckless. Adrian is my boyfriend. Brother, please get along with him from now on, okay?"
Yudy looked at her and slowly voiced his doubt."Alright, as long as you're happy.""Riley… what about Chris? You liked him for five years… have you really let go?"
Riley sighed softly. "Brother, you might not believe it, but I really have let go of the past with Chris.""Love is a strange thing. Once upon a time, I loved him to death. Now, in a blink, it's gone...just gone."
She touched the necklace Adrian had just given her, her face glowing with joy.
Yudy said nothing more, just handed her his phone."Take a look."
Riley looked at it, puzzled."Chris?"
Yudy nodded."He told me you two were getting engaged. That's why I came back.""But… as soon as I got back, I heard that story from May…"
"Nonsense! Chris is a scumbag bastard!"Riley blurted out everything he had done to her.
Yudy was furious. His sister was the only one he had in this world.
That bastard Chris used to come looking for her all the time.
After Riley agreed to start a company with him, he got all flirty with his secretary.
Scumbag! Bastard!
As Yudy cursed, he gently stroked his sister's head, heart aching."Riley, I'm sorry.""I haven't been a good brother, have I? Every time you needed me, I wasn't there…"
Riley, seeing her brother about to cry, panicked and scooted closer."Brother, why are you crying?""I'm fine. I've been doing well these years, haven't I?""Besides, if it weren't for you, I might not have even graduated college…"
Riley forced a smile, hiding her sorrow deep inside.
Yudy smiled back. "Alright, go to bed now. Or you'll turn into a panda."
Riley obediently nodded. As she watched her brother go to his room, her tears finally broke free.She buried her face in the blanket, her body trembling softly."Mom, Dad… I miss you so much…"
The next morning.
Ring—
Riley hugged the big plush toy she got from Happy Valley and turned off the alarm with one hand.
Just as she turned over, she suddenly remembered something.
She sat up quickly and looked at her phone.6:00 a.m.
In a hurry, Riley threw off her blanket and rushed to the bathroom to get ready.
Clack—
She opened her door and saw several bags of pancakes on the dining table, smiling brightly.
She picked up a cup of freshly made coffee and looked at the small note on the table.
Smiling, she drew a tiny heart and wrote [Thank you, brother] before taking a pancake and leaving the apartment.
Outside Aurelius Group.
Riley looked up at the tall building, then at the message Adrian had sent her that morning:[You got this!]Her heart felt warm.
She stepped into the company lobby and politely asked the receptionist,"Hello, I'm looking for Assistant Yulius Linn."
The young receptionist looked a bit startled.
The name tag on her chest read "Rite (Intern)."
Riley smiled gently as the flustered girl hurried to contact Yulius.
Beep, beep—"Hello?"
A deep voice came from the other end.Rite exhaled in relief. "Assistant Linn, someone is here to see you."
Yulius raised an eyebrow and glanced at the clock.Nine o'clock sharp.
The image of his CEO's long-awaited muse flashed through his mind."I see."
He quickly walked toward the elevator.
Ding—
Riley looked at the gentleman approaching her and smiled softly.
She extended her hand politely."Nice to meet you, Assistant Linn. I'm Riley Palmer. Please take care of me."
Yulius froze for a moment, finally understanding why his boss cared for this woman so deeply.
Though she lacked a privileged background, Riley's gentle elegance and sense of propriety outshone any heiress.
"Hello, Secretary Palmer."
He led Riley into the president's private elevator. Of course, by Adrian's orders.
As the elevator ascended, Yulius explained,"Each floor of the company corresponds to a different department. The 28th floor houses the secretarial office and the president's office."
Riley nodded slightly, her eyes filled with both anticipation and curiosity. Twenty-eight…
Ding—
The elevator reached the top floor of Aurelius Group.
Riley stared once more at the grand number, stepping forward into her new journey.