The next morning, when Riley woke up, Adrian was already gone.
"Good morning, Madam. Breakfast are ready downstairs."
Riley waved lazily, eyes half-closed. She hadn't slept enough last night. She was still exhausted.
But the servant's next sentence snapped her fully awake.
"Madam, Mr Yates said that if you don't come down, your bunny will cease to exist."
Riley shot upright.
"No! Rye wants her bunny!"
Heartless jerk. Using my bunny to threaten me?
Still groggy and irritated, she dragged herself out of bed. Without bothering to fix her hair, she washed up quickly and followed the servant downstairs, her hair sticking up in every direction.
At the dining table, Adrian was already eating, composed and unhurried.
Her stuffed bunny sat beside him.
Alone.
Riley rushed forward and snatched it into her arms.
"Bunny, don't be scared. I'm here. There there."
"Madam, your breakfast," the servant said as she set the tray before her. "I hope it suits your taste."
Riley hugged the bunny with one arm and grabbed a sandwich with the other, stuffing it straight into her mouth without the slightest concern for manners.
The servants around them couldn't help but feel indignant for their master.
Never had they imagined that their exceptional, near-perfect master would marry a fool.
Heaven must be blind.
Riley, however, was perfectly satisfied. After finishing everything on her plate, she pushed it toward Adrian and tapped it lightly, lifting her chin with quiet pride.
"Rye's still hungry. More."
The butler and servants froze. They thought she had some nerve.
Eating that much was one thing—but ordering our master around?
What happened next stunned them even more.
Adrian calmly picked up two slices of bread, added lettuce and a fried egg, squeezed on some dressing, and placed it neatly onto Riley's plate.
Silence fell.
"Thank you, baby," Riley said brightly, nodding as if approving his effort.
Then she devoured it in a few large bites.
Baby?
Adrian frowned. "Don't call me that."
Riley blinked. "Then what should I call you?"
"Call me Hubby."
"… "
No way. Not for a man with zero manners.
Riley huffed and pretended she hadn't heard him.
Adrian didn't pursue it. He had only said it to stop her from calling him in that tone—like she was talking to a child.
After breakfast, Riley clapped her hands and hopped to her feet. She skipped over to Adrian, stared at him for a moment—
Then, when he wasn't paying attention, she reached out and patted his head.
And ran.
Clutching her bunny, she dashed upstairs as if escaping a crime scene.
Adrian paused mid-motion, his expression shifting.
Just as the servants braced themselves—
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
He smiled.
The butler inhaled sharply, understanding at once.
It was time to remind the staff at Clearbrook Estate—
From now on, they were to treat the new madam with proper respect.
***
After breakfast, Adrian left.
Riley stayed behind, sitting inside her wardrobe with a lollipop in her mouth as she turned on her laptop.
Earlier, she had taken on a high-paying case through her account on a global medical forum.
The job happened to be in the capital.
Convenient.
She logged in to review the details.
From what she remembered, the requirements were clear—
Acupuncture.
Detoxification.
A practitioner skilled in both.
It had been a long time since she'd seen a case like this.
The last time… was three years ago.
On a street in Malacca when she treated a patient infected with the K3 virus.