"Bro, are you really just going to let the Cole family off like that?" asked Zachary.
Adrian's expression remained indifferent. "I don't have time to deal with them right now. Is everything in Yates Global under control?"
"I've been keeping a close eye on it," Zachary replied. "Don't worry."
Then he circled right back. "Forget that for now—tell me about that fool you married. You can't seriously keep someone like that by your side. She'll only drag you down. No, this won't do. You need to divorce her and send her back. The Cole family has gone too far! And what about your grandfather? Does he know?"
Adrian shook his head. "It doesn't matter who I marry. As long as she doesn't interfere, what's wrong with keeping her for life?"
For some reason, the thought of that girl at home—hugging her bunny, silly and bright-eyed—didn't bother him at all.
Instead, fragments from that night surfaced in his mind.
He had been in a bad mood, ready to throw her out—
And she had offered him candy.
Pressed her cool fingers against his brow.
The pressure had been just right.
She knew how to read the room. She wasn't noisy.
When she was upset, she pouted and resisted. When she was happy, she bounced around without restraint. Everything she felt showed clearly on her face—simple, genuine, unfiltered.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd met someone like that.
Zachary, of course, knew none of this. He was still fuming. "But the problem is—"
"That person should be here soon. Wait." Adrian cut him off. "Ten minutes."
Zachary sighed and shut his mouth.
***
At the same time, Riley arrived at Imperial Bar.
After asking at the front desk, she headed upstairs.
But just as she reached the second floor, her phone rang.
She pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
It was a call from the 1005.
Riley frowned slightly.
He rarely called me.
Why now, of all times—when he knew I was about to meet a client?
She answered.
The moment the call connected, his urgent voice burst through the line.
"Rye, do you know who that case you picked up belongs to? It's Adrian—the big shot of the capital! I just found out and called you immediately. His condition isn't simple. There's something deep going on. You cannot get involved. Leave now!"
"What the—how is it Adrian Yates?!"
Riley's foot slipped on the step, nearly sending her tumbling down the stairs.
Her heart skipped.
No time to think.
She turned and bolted.
I didn't expected that a case I casually picked up would turn out to be his. I can't be exposed. I had to leave.
"What's going on?" On the other end, all he could hear was her uneven breathing. His brows knit together.
"Running for my life. Talk later—I'm out!" Riley said quickly, already moving.
"Wait, wait! One more thing—I'm coming back to the country tomorrow! Hey, did you hear me? Tomorrow! I'm coming to meet you in person!"
Whether she heard him or not, all that followed was a string of disconnected beeps.
Lucas lowered his phone and walked to the window, staring out into the dark night.
I'm going back and I can't wait to finally meeting Rye.
***
Back in the VIP room, it was already past eleven.
Still, no one had shown up.
"Bro, do you think they're not coming?" Zachary frowned.
Adrian's brows drew together slightly. "Derek, what's going on?"
Derek shook his head. "They should have come. Someone at the front desk said a woman asked for our room earlier. I don't know why she didn't come up."
Adrian's expression turned cold.
"Check the surveillance footage. Now."