Adrian Carter looked at the watch on his wrist. Four forty-three. Only seventeen minutes left, should still make it.
"Put your seatbelt on first." Adrian bent down and helped the girl pull the belt across. "Let's go!"
The black Land Rover sped down the road at full throttle.
In less than ten minutes, they reached the Civil Affairs Bureau, a trip usually taking twenty minutes. They rushed inside right before closing time.
Adrian held Riley Palmer's hand tightly as they ran toward the marriage registration area.
"Hello, we want to register for marriage!" Adrian's voice boomed, as if he had just won a battle.
He didn't want to wait anymore. He was twenty-eight today, the last year he had promised himself to wait.
Aurelius Group had twenty-eight floors, symbolizing a promise he made to himself. If by twenty-eight he had not found the one he loved, he would obey his family's arrangements and marry a wealthy socialite of matching status.
At this moment, Adrian had only one thought in his mind: he had won, he had won the bet.
He had finally waited for the girl he longed for day and night. No, he should now call her his wife.
Adrian held the marriage certificate with overflowing joy, staring at it in disbelief.
Beside him, Riley looked at his beaming face and felt her own joy swelling.
"Adrian, we're married," Riley said carefully, still a little shaken as she stared at the two red booklets in his hand.
Adrian slowly turned his head toward her. "Riley… we're married."
He wrapped her in his arms, repeating again and again, "Riley, we're married, we're married."
Adrian lifted her up and spun her around a few times. Looking at the girl in his arms, his eyes filled only with love and excitement.
He took out his phone and snapped a picture, his hand holding the marriage certificate.
[The one I love. My love. My wife.]
[I finally waited long enough.]
Adrian looked at the post happily, a smile never leaving his face.
"Bzzz—bzzz—"
He glanced at the new Moments post that popped up on his screen. He checked Riley beside him before gently swiping it open.
[Good things come after hardship. The right person will always be waiting in your future.]
[My wish has come true.]
The photo was of the red blessing cloths they once tied at the temple.
This time, Adrian clearly saw the words Riley had written.
[May the one I love live a happy and fulfilling life and walk toward a bright future with me.]
Adrian smiled at the girl, gently wrapped an arm around her, and walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau with her.
They got back in the car, still overwhelmed by what had just happened.
Both of their phones kept ringing nonstop. Riley peeked at the messages in her group chat.
[Riley, you two got married??]
[Congratulations, Riley!]
[When are we celebrating?!]
[Congrats, Riley]
[When's the wedding? I need to start losing weight now.]
[They're going to see the bride, not you.]
Riley smiled softly at the messages.
[Thank you, everyone!]
[kiss.jpg]
Adrian's phone also wouldn't stop buzzing. He didn't need to look to know it was Caleb Montgomery.
[Master Adrian, congrats!!]
[When are you treating your brothers to a feast?]
Caleb bombarded him with messages until Adrian helplessly muted his notifications.
"Riley, are we going home? Or should we go see my dad?" Adrian asked, seeing that Riley was still lost in happiness.
"…Let's visit uncle," Riley said. Truthfully, she didn't really have anywhere else to go. Rather than letting May Miller bombard her with questions, it was better to visit him.
"Alright, whatever my wife wants." Adrian gripped the steering wheel, stepped on the gas, and headed for the Carter residence.
Carter Residence
The chairman looked at the red booklets on his phone screen, his face glowing with joy.
"Young Master is back," the butler announced breathlessly, also unable to hide his smile.
The chairman adjusted his glasses. "Riley and Adrian are here. Go get the things I prepared."
"Yes, sir." The butler hurried to the chairman's room and returned with a large red box.
"Hello, uncle." Riley greeted him first. Seeing the smile on the chairman's face, she knew he already knew everything.
His gaze remained fixed on Riley as she walked toward him. He teased lightly, "Still calling me uncle?"
Adrian held Riley's hand tightly, glancing at her several times. "Dad, don't scare her."
He wasn't about to let anything or anyone frighten away the wife he had worked so hard to win.
He shot the chairman an annoyed look, making the old man feel a bit embarrassed.
"Alright, alright." The chairman reached out and guided Riley to sit beside him.
Seeing his wife slip away from him, Adrian immediately followed and sat right next to her.
With teary eyes, the chairman opened the red box. His voice trembled slightly. "Riley, try this on. See if it fits."
He lifted a green jade bracelet and gently held Riley's slender wrist.
Riley looked helplessly toward Adrian.
Adrian smiled. "Just try it."
She let the bracelet slide onto her wrist. Its deep green color made it clear, it was a family heirloom.
"Dad! Grandpa! We're back!"
Several voices echoed from the entryway.
The smiles in the room slowly faded.
The chairman closed the box slightly and nodded toward the butler.
The butler quickly put the box back in its original place.
Lydia Suvian sashayed into the living room in her fitted qipao.
Behind her stood Chris Carter, completely different from his former unruly self. Now dressed in a suit and looking every bit the refined gentleman, he appeared before Riley.
Riley knew this look well. Back in college, Chris's poised, gentlemanly appearance had once caught her attention.
But later… everything changed.
Chris had become someone she grew tired of.
And Riley never knew, Chris was not someone who naturally liked suits and ties. He had changed himself only because of Adrian. He knew Adrian liked Riley, knew that the "mysterious savior" in Riley's heart was actually Adrian. But he refused to accept it.
He had wanted to take everything from Adrian. Why did Adrian get to play carefree and still inherit the family business, while he had to study hard from childhood, achieve perfect grades just to earn a smile from his grandfather?
Seven Years Ago – Summer
Riley stood under the sunlight in a white dress, waiting for May Miller and Chloe Frost to arrive.
[Where are you guys?]
[Almost there, almost there!]
She stood by the roadside, scanning the crowd.
"Riley, we're over here!" May shouted from across the street.
Riley smiled lightly and carefully crossed the street between the stopped cars.
"Beep beep!!" A delivery rider sped past her dangerously close.
A boy behind her pulled her back in time. "Careful!"
Riley didn't see his face clearly, she only caught the faint jasmine scent on him, strangely familiar.
He didn't linger. After making sure she was fine, he turned and walked away.
"Riley, are you okay?" May rushed to her side.
Chloe picked up Riley's fallen bag. "Come on, the light's turning green."
The three ran across the intersection. Riley looked back at the boy's fading silhouette. In her heart, she remembered that trace of jasmine.
"Your bag, are you hurt?" Chloe asked, handing it back.
"I'm fine." Riley shook her head.
"Good. Let's go!" May hooked their arms together cheerfully.
Until the sports meet the next semester....
Riley smelled that familiar jasmine again.
"Are you alright?" The boy held her arm, worried about her ankle.
Riley steadied herself, holding onto Chris's arm. "Thank you."
She leaned closer, confirming the jasmine scent. Relief washed over her.
May hurried over and thanked Chris profusely.
"No need. It's what anyone should do." Chris nodded politely.
As he was walking away, Riley called out, "Classmate, what's your name?"
Chris grinned with a hint of mischief. "Chris Carter." Then he walked off.
Chris… That name stayed in Riley's heart for many years.
Even though Adrian had appeared at her side several times, he had left almost no mark on her life back then.
Adrian squeezed Riley's hand. "Riley? Are you okay?"
He looked at her with worry, holding her hand tightly.
Riley came back to her senses and shook her head. "I'm fine."
Adrian let out a soft smile.
Lydia Suvian glanced at the intimate pair with displeasure, then looked at the jade bracelet on Riley's wrist. Her grip on her handbag tightened.
That was… the old lady's bracelet. The symbol of the Carter family's matriarch.
Lydia stared at the chairman in disbelief, hatred bubbling up.
"Where's Jassen? Isn't he coming home?" the chairman asked, breaking her gaze.
Lydia replied quickly, "Jassen has been very busy lately."
"Busy?" The chairman scoffed. "The contract hasn't been approved in days. That's what you call busy?"
He looked at the mother and son with disdain.
He'd once had high hopes for Chris, but Chris had chosen the wrong path, following his father's footsteps.
The chairman hadn't interfered all these years, but he knew everything they did. Whether it was Adrian's affairs overseas or Jassen's secret dealings with shareholders, he was fully aware.
He believed Adrian had the ability to handle everything.
The chairman looked at Chris standing behind them and forced out a polite smile. "Chris, you're back."
Chris lowered his head slightly. "Yes, Grandpa."
He then turned to Adrian and Riley. "Uncle… Miss Riley."
Adrian wrapped an arm around Riley's waist and said calmly, "Chris, that needs to change."
He looked at Riley gently. "Come on, call her Little Auntie."