"Knock, knock—"
Adrian Carter lifted his head and glanced at the figure outside the window, then coldly lowered his car window.
"Brother Yudy," Adrian looked at Yudy, who was covering his ears outside the car.
Yudy glanced at Riley Palmer, who was asleep beside Adrian, and smiled lightly. "Come to my room later."
"Okay." Adrian brushed Riley's hair gently and nodded.
The car window slowly rose. Riley swayed lightly, turned her head, and slowly opened her eyes.
"You're awake?" Adrian looked at her with a smile.
Riley looked at Adrian's face and softly hummed in reply.
Adrian gently ruffled her hair. "Let's get out."
He held Riley's hand and stepped away from the parking space, glancing back at the still-lit car behind them.
"Knock, knock—"
Yudy walked slowly to the door and looked at the man standing outside. "You're here."
Adrian nodded and entered Yudy's room.
Yudy closed the door and glanced at Adrian, who was standing obediently to the side. "Don't be so nervous. We're just talking."
Adrian didn't move, watching him walk toward the sofa. His hands gradually tightened.
"Adrian, I only have one little sister…" Yudy took a sip of water from the table and looked at Adrian.
Adrian slowly straightened his back, his voice sincere. "Yudy, these are my current assets and finances. After some time, I'll transfer them to Riley's name. I won't cheat, this is something I can promise with absolute certainty. I'm not just saying it, I mean it."
Yudy didn't look at him but silently opened his suitcase.
Adrian's gaze followed Yudy as he slowly lifted a box from the bottom of the suitcase.
"Adrian," Yudy exhaled lightly and looked at the box. "This was my mother's dowry. She passed away early, so I'll make the decision for her. What's inside probably can't compare to the Carter family's things. But…"
Yudy stood and walked up to Adrian. "Adrian… I hope you won't disappoint me."
Adrian shifted his gaze from the box to Yudy's eyes and answered firmly, "Yudy, I won't let you down."
"Beep, beep, beep—"
Adrian entered his room just as Riley walked out of the bathroom.
Seeing her damp hair, his chest filled with warmth. "Finished?"
Riley stared at the box in his hand. "Did my brother talk to you?"
Adrian glanced at the box. "Yeah."
He looked up at her again. "Come on, I'll dry your hair."
He didn't wait for her response and gently pulled her to the sofa.
"Whooo—"
Adrian parted her hair and dried every strand with care.
Riley quietly watched him in the mirror, her eyes drifting to the box in his arms.
She recognized it, It was her mother's. Her mother's dowry.
Adrian noticed her gaze lingering on the box.
He touched her now-dry hair and placed the box on her lap. "Take a look. I'll go shower."
Riley held the slightly rusted box, glanced toward the bathroom where Adrian had disappeared, and smiled softly.
Click—
Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.
There weren't many things: A photo album, An envelope, A passbook.
Her eyes landed on the dusty photo album. She gently opened it.
Page by page, she traced her parents' faces with her fingertips, her lips trembling."Mom, Dad… I miss you guys so much…"
Without her noticing, Adrian, now in a bathrobe, stood behind her, watching as tears rolled down her face one by one.
"Alright, time to sleep." Adrian wrapped his arms around the trembling girl from behind. "We still have to travel tomorrow."
He kissed away the tears on her cheek, lifted her gently, and carried her to the bed.
Riley didn't speak, she simply lay against his arm and slowly closed her eyes.
Adrian gazed at her long eyelashes and softly patted her back while humming a tune.
When she finally fell asleep, his gaze drifted to the opened box on the table.
He carefully slid his arm free. Riley stirred, and he hurried to pat her back to soothe her.
There were still traces of tears on her face. Adrian tried wiping them, but...
They wouldn't come off.
He sighed helplessly, leaned down, and kissed them away.
Then he walked to the sofa and picked up the letter with a line written on the back:
"For Riley's future boyfriend."
"Hello, young man!"
"If you're reading this, it means something has already happened to me."
"I'm sorry."
"Riley must be very sensitive right now… It's my fault for not giving her a complete fatherly love."
"She must hate me."
"Young man, I don't know what kind of person you are. But knowing my daughter's taste, you must be pretty handsome."
"The passbook is my lifetime gift to her, a little dowry. The money isn't much. It's just my secret savings. Please don't dislike it."
"Riley is my late treasure. Please, cherish her."
Adrian's grip tightened unconsciously. His chest twisted painfully.
"Young man, please protect my Riley. This isn't an order, it's a request."
—Pendy Palmer
Adrian stared at the signature in a daze.
"Pendy Palmer…"
He picked up his phone and opened the search bar.
A flood of results immediately appeared:
"Pendy Palmer, a rising star in the legal world."
"Pendy Palmer, top-tier lawyer."
"Pendy Palmer, economic law specialist."
Adrian froze, staring at the screen. He looked at the sleeping Riley.
"It really is him…" His voice trembled.
Pendy Palmer, the once-brilliant legal talent, known as the golden successor of his generation.
He had taken on a case where no matter the verdict, he would be wrong.
He won. But the victory was short-lived. Rumor said he died in a car accident, no survivors.
It seemed the police had intervened, hiding the siblings' identities to keep them safe from revenge.
Adrian stared at the sleeping girl with overwhelming heartache.
She had suffered so much.
He didn't open the passbook, only tucked the letter carefully under his clothes.
The next morning.
"Brother, ride with me," Riley poked her head out the window.
Yudy flicked her forehead lightly. She recoiled, holding her head.
He laughed. "Silly. You think I came alone?"
He pointed at the RV behind them. "I have a team, you know."
Riley glanced at the RV and muttered, "Oh."
"Adrian, see you in Capital City," Yudy said as Adrian drove off.
The black Mercedes followed closely behind them.
Leonard Sterling glanced at Caleb Montgomery, curling himself in a thick coat despite already wearing one.
Caleb didn't speak, no longer his usual cheerful self, only shrinking into his seat.
Leonard said nothing and continued driving.
As they entered Capital City, Adrian's car slowed down.
Riley stayed awake, switching between looking outside the window and at Adrian's focused face—occasionally calling his name.
He never got annoyed, only patted her head with a smile.
When they reached the city center, the Mercedes behind them turned toward the Half-Mountain Villa area.
Adrian noticed in the rear-view mirror but didn't think much of it.
"Where are we going?" Riley asked.
"To my villa. I need to grab something."
"Oh." She glanced at the passing high-rises without much reaction.
Adrian glanced at the files behind him and felt relieved.
He played a song, the Cantonese track "Midnight."
Each beat tugged at his heart.
Riley watched him curiously, wondering why he looked so happy.
The car stopped before a Chinese-styled villa. She looked up at the exterior in amazement.
The Mercedes paused briefly behind them, then a window rolled down.
"Riley! Adrian! We're heading home first!"Caleb waved vigorously.
Riley squinted and waved back.
"Let's go," Adrian gently tugged her hand.
She let him pull her into the villa.
Inside, the furnishings were simple, except for a striking golden tree in the center.
Riley's eyes were instantly drawn to it.
"Wait for me," Adrian released her hand and hurried into a room.
She wandered toward the golden tree and touched one of its leaves.
"…Is it real?" she whispered.
A soft laugh sounded behind her. "What are you looking at, Riley?"
Adrian held a green-covered book, which she didn't notice.
Seeing her curiosity, he plucked a leaf, smoothed it, and placed it behind her ear.
"There. Looks good." Arms folded, he admired her dazed expression.
Riley mimicked him and tilted her head, smiling shyly.
Adrian patted her head. "No time left. Let's go."
"Where are we going?" she asked, stopping.
Adrian paused, taking a deep breath."Riley… I can't wait anymore."
His cheeks reddened. His ears turned pink.
"Riley—" he pulled out a ring the size of a polished pebble and knelt on one knee."I know it's sudden. But I can't wait. Not for any other reason, I just want to make you mine. Riley… give me the right to call you my fiancé."
He looked straight into her eyes. "Riley, marry me. I can give you anything you want."
Her eyes blurred with tears.
Adrian panicked, but he didn't dare stand, afraid he'd lose his chance forever.
Riley sniffled, reached out her hand while wiping tears with the other."Adrian, you idiot… aren't you going to put it on me?"
Adrian's eyes shimmered. His hands trembled as he slid the ring onto her finger.
"Riley… you're mine. You're really mine."
He pulled her tightly into his arms, stroking her hair.
"Riley, Riley…"
"Mm. I'm here." She buried her face against his shoulder.
"Riley… let's go tomorrow instead," he whispered.
She pulled back, confused.
He chuckled patiently."Look at you, like a little crying kitten. How are we supposed to take a beautiful marriage photo like this?"
Riley wiped her tears. "It's fine… I want today."
Adrian paused, then stared at her stubborn eyes.
"…Alright. Today."He held up the documents and shook them in front of her.