"Who is it?" Riley Palmer's voice carried a trace of tears as she looked worriedly at Adrian Carter's darkened expression.
Adrian forced a smile and walked toward her. "It's nothing."
"What's this?" Riley looked doubtfully at the medicine vial in Adrian's hand.
Adrian didn't answer. He quietly handed it to Pinnoc.
Pinnoc picked up the vial, opened it and smelled it, then lifted his eyes to Adrian.Adrian, holding Riley in his arms, gave a faint nod.
Pinnoc hurriedly picked up a syringe and slowly injected the medicine into Yudy Palmer's body.
Yudy's feverish warmth visibly began to fade.
The bulging veins on his neck gradually calmed, and his breathing slowly steadied.
Adrian watched Riley run to Yudy's side, then slowly looked toward Pinnoc, who was writing down the medical observations.
"Take that vial and have it tested." Adrian instructed coldly.
"Yes, Young Master Carter," Pinnoc lowered his head slightly.
Adrian gently walked to Riley's side. "Riley, let's rest for now. We'll visit your brother again tomorrow, okay?"
Riley looked at him, her eyes still filled with worry as she glanced at Yudy lying on the bed.
"Miss Palmer, please rest assured," Pinnoc said. "Mr. Palmer is still asleep because I injected a sedative earlier, to keep him from suffering too much while the drug ran its course."
Hearing this, Riley finally loosened her grip on Yudy's hand and followed Adrian out.
"Where are you staying tonight?" Adrian held her hand, bending down slightly to ask.
Riley stayed quiet for a moment, looking at Adrian without answering.
"All right then, we'll stay here tonight." Adrian decided on his own and gently pulled Riley toward the master bedroom.
Master Bedroom.
"Adrian…" Riley spoke softly as she watched him busying himself in the bathroom, taking out a new toothbrush.
"Hm? What is it?" Adrian responded without stopping his movements.
Riley tightened her fingers around her clothes. "Who drugged my brother?"
Adrian paused for a moment, dusted off his hands, and walked to Riley. He guided her to sit by the window, holding her hand.
"It was the Polly family. Nydia Polly." Adrian didn't intend to hide it from her, and said it directly while holding her palm.
Riley quietly listened to his explanation.
The room fell into silence, leaving only Adrian's soft, comforting voice.
"Riley… do you want revenge on Nydia?"
Riley froze slightly, then looked at him and nodded.
"Good. Nydia recently has a cooperative project with our company. We'll cancel it and publicly state that we refuse to work with people whose values are questionable. How does that sound?" Adrian watched her expression carefully.
But Riley shook her head. "That would be bad for Aurelius…"
Adrian shook his head. "Actually, it's fine."
He sat beside her. "Recently, Chris Carter is being pushed to find a partner."
"They want to align with the Polly family, for taking their side."
"Nydia Polly is their best option."
Riley looked at him quietly, unsure whether she should voice her doubts.
"Say it if you want to. I'll listen."
Riley leaned against Adrian's thigh, staring up at him.
"Adrian… what do you think will happen to Anna Young?"
Adrian chuckled and brushed her hair. "Still thinking about her?"
Riley laughed lightly. "She and Chris are kind of a match, a green-tea supporting actress and a phoenix man."
Adrian tapped her lips and smiled. "You… what goes on in that little head of yours?"
"So… you'll let me handle Nydia's matter?"
Adrian watched her stand, then tapped her round forehead with a smile.
The Next Day
[BREAKING][Entertainment newcomer Nydia Polly and Jason Reed's collaboration canceled!!][BREAKING][New rising actress exposed twisted values!][HOT][Polly family's arranged match with the Carters canceled!!]
Riley looked at the trending topics on her phone and smiled, feeling her heart finally ease.
"Stop looking." Adrian took her phone and handed her a bowl of porridge.
Riley puffed her cheeks slightly and stirred the porridge with her spoon.
"Hm—"
Both Adrian and Riley looked toward the source of the sound.
"Bro! You're awake!" Riley immediately stood and supported Yudy.
Yudy's eyes were still hazy. He looked at Riley, then glanced at Adrian.
"Last night…" he began cautiously.
"You were drugged," Adrian said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Oh."Yudy lowered his head slightly, then looked at his sister. "I'm fine now." He gently patted Riley's hand.
Seeing the time on the clock, Yudy lifted his head. "Aren't you going to work?" He tilted his head playfully.
Riley looked at the time and panicked. "Oh no—!"
Her figure vanished from Adrian's apartment.
Yudy leaned against the wall, smiling faintly at her disappearing silhouette, then slowly turned to Adrian.
"Adrian, let's talk?"
Adrian smirked. "Sure."
"You and my sister…" Yudy held her cup, looking a little weak.
Adrian sat upright and looked him in the eye. "Yudy, I love her. Even earlier than when she loved Chris."
He took a deep breath. "Were you very sad back then?"
Flashback
Little Riley held a candy and leaned toward little Adrian. "Are you very sad?"
Little Adrian stared down, sitting quietly by the edge of an abandoned school building.
The school had an old, ruined teaching building, broken after a devastating earthquake, with dozens of teachers and students trapped inside.
At the same time, H City had suffered major upheaval, and the Polly family fell overnight with the disaster.Once a prestigious clan, now reduced to a wealthy family with no branches.
Little Riley sat cross-legged beside little Adrian, watching the sunset with him.
"It's dangerous here. Get back." Adrian stared at the candy shoved into his palm, his tone cold.
Riley shook her head. "I'm not afraid. My parents are waiting for me below…"
Adrian froze and looked at the girl barely reaching his shoulder.
"Don't you have a brother?"
Riley let out a mocking laugh. "Brother… my brother…"
Then—
"Waaah!!"
She began crying uncontrollably.
Adrian had never seen such a scene, and panicked. "H-Hey! Don't cry! The teachers will hear it!"
Riley continued crying but kept her volume down.
Adrian quickly tore open the candy wrapper and stuffed the candy into her mouth.
The crying stopped instantly.Silence returned.
The two sat together quietly as the sun set and the moon rose.
Soon after, distant voices echoed, "They're here!"
A teacher with a flashlight ran toward them.
Flashback ends.
Adrian returned to the present. "That was our first meeting."
Yudy stared at him, his gaze shifting slightly.He never knew his sister once wanted to die....at such a young age…
"And you?" Yudy clenched his hands slowly.
Adrian lowered his eyes. "My mother had just passed that time. When I was little, she loved taking me and my brother to the seaside to watch the sunset."
"But the school forbade students from leaving campus. The only place to see the sunset… was that abandoned building."
Yudy fell silent.
"Beep—beep—beep—"
"Adrian, I'm ready!" Riley came out wearing a long coat, noticing the look on her brother's face.
"Bro, you're really okay now?" She checked his forehead.
Yudy forced a smile and held her wrist. "I'm fine. Are you going to work?"
"Let's go," Adrian said from behind her.
"Go ahead. I'll be joining the production team soon anyway," Yudy said, lifting his chin a little to ease her worries. "Besides, Caleb will be looking after me."
Riley frowned slightly, reluctant, but Adrian gently led her away.
"Bang—"
Yudy stared at the closed door, letting all the suffocating feelings spill out.
"Riley… I'm sorry…"He pounded the table weakly, tears dripping onto the wood.
"Your brother is useless…"
Aurelius Group.
Meeting Room.
Adrian sat at the center of the conference room, his gaze sharp as he looked toward Riley. "Begin."
Riley nodded. "Yes, Mr. Carter. Regarding the Liharbor Project, progress is smooth. Our focus remains on the landmark 'Light Tower,' the high-end residential complex 'Cloud Isle,' the commercial center Glass Harbor, and the eco-park 'Qinxx.'"
Leonard Sterling watched her quietly, his deep gaze lacking the usual brilliance.
"The foundational structures of Liharbor are now 70% complete."
"Next—"
Before she could finish, Leonard interrupted her coldly.
Adrian lifted his eyes, giving Leonard a side glance.
"Secretary Palmer," Leonard said, calm and slow, "the current planning seems different from the original proposal."
Riley bowed slightly. "Yes, Mr. Sterling. The current plan does differ, but as you know, this updated version better suits both Aurelius Group and Sterling Court. The new residential buildings and park blend seamlessly with Liharbor's core concept, enhancing its distinctiveness."
Silence filled the room.
Shareholders watched the two giants carefully.
Leonard chuckled lightly and glanced at Adrian, giving a silent nod.
Clap, clap, clap—
Applause erupted. The shareholders smiled with satisfaction.
"Meeting adjourned," Adrian said, smiling at Riley.
Leonard didn't move. He sat there without any intention of leaving.
Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Are you very free these days?"
Leonard casually scrolled through his messages, then finally lifted his head. "Very free."
Adrian rolled his eyes and walked to Riley. "Riley, look at him."
Riley laughed and turned her head away, stroking Adrian's head where he'd nestled into her neck. "Okay, okay. He's bad. He's bad, alright?"
"Mm."
Leonard ignored them, eyes back on his phone.The messages stopped coming, whoever he was talking to was now busy.
Adrian glanced at him. "You're… not looking for Caleb recently?"
Leonard didn't raise his head. "He's busy…"
Adrian recalled the entertainment headline from that morning:
[Young Master Montgomery spotted in late-night meet-up with actress!!]
Caleb smiled warmly in the photos, standing close to the actress.Her oversized down jacket looked distinctly like something from the Montgomery family.
Adrian said nothing further, taking Riley's hand and preparing to leave.
"Staying for lunch?" he asked casually.
Leonard slowly turned. "Okay."