The moment Derek left, the room fell silent.
Only the two of them remained.
Being forced to marry a fool would sour anyone's mood. Adrian's expression turned colder as he looked at her. "Why are you still here?"
"I'm sleepy."
"This is my room." His voice dropped, sharp and unyielding. "I don't share space with strangers. Get out."
Riley shook her head, blinking as if she were struggling to stay awake. "But Rye wants to sleep on the big bed. Rye is very good girl, very quiet. Won't disturb you. Okay?"
"You—" Adrian stopped himself, irritation rising with nowhere to go.
His handsome face darkened. "How old are you? Speak properly."
Riley raised four fingers proudly. "Rye is five!"
His expression sank further.
There was no reasoning with her. If she could not even tell four from five, what was the point?
Riley blinked at him, as though puzzled by his reaction. Then she skipped over to the bed, placed the stuffed bunny down, and unzipped it. After rummaging inside for a moment, she tucked something neatly beneath the blanket before trotting back.
She placed an object into Adrian's hand.
Then she reached up and pressed lightly between his brows.
"Baby, don't cry. I'll give you a candy."
Adrian glanced down at the lollipop resting in his palm, his brow twitching.
Before he could react, a faint coolness spread across his forehead. He was about to scold her—
But her touch was unexpectedly precise.
It eased the tight pressure at his temples just enough to make his eyes close, if only for a moment.
From the corner of her eye, Riley watched him carefully and let out a quiet breath.
Good. Still human.
Only when his expression softened did she withdraw her hand. Hugging her bunny again, she climbed onto the bed and fell asleep almost immediately, her breathing soft and even.
Normally, she would never sleep this deeply in an unfamiliar place.
But here…
For some reason, she did.
She did not even stir when Adrian finished his shower and stepped out of the bathroom.
He paused beside the bed, his expression shifting slightly as he looked at the woman sleeping peacefully in his place.
A few seconds later, he yanked back the blanket and shoved her—along with the bunny—off the bed in one swift motion before lying down as though nothing had happened.
The sheets still carried a faint sweetness unique to her.
He frowned at first.
Yet, strangely, it was not unpleasant.
Clean. Subtle.
His brows eased.
He closed his eyes.
Thud.
Riley hit the floor hard, the impact dragging her abruptly out of sleep.
Clutching her backside, she shot a glare at the man lying calmly on the bed, irritation pulsing through her.
What a jerk! Not a gentleman at all.
She muttered under her breath, picked up her bunny, and set it carefully on the sofa. Then, barefoot, she climbed straight back onto the bed—this time making sure he heard her.
Adrian's brows drew together, a chill radiating from him.
"Get down."
His voice was cold enough to cut.
Riley ignored him completely. She lifted the blanket and slipped underneath in one smooth motion. "We're both people. Why do you get to sleep here and I don't?"
"This is my bed. My room."
"From now on, it's mine too." She wrapped herself tightly in the blanket—and took his with her. "You can't bully me. If you do, I'll cry."
Adrian narrowed his eyes, reaching to pull the blanket back. "Threatening me won't work. I'll let you stay tonight. Starting tomorrow, you are not allowed in my room. If you come in again, I'll throw you into the dog yard."
"Now get off the bed. I'll pretend nothing happened."
Silence.
No response.
Adrian paused, then focused—
Only to hear the steady rhythm of her breathing beside him.
His expression darkened instantly.
Unbelievable. I was speaking to her, and she had the audacity to fall asleep?
He stopped wasting words and grabbed for the blanket. But Riley had it locked firmly between her legs. No matter how hard he pulled, it would not budge.
His chest rose and fell with restrained irritation as he stared at the woman curled away from him, cocooned in every inch of the covers.
In the end—
He did not even realise when he fell asleep.