Riley's last-second comeback left Felicia and her group frozen in place.
Fifteen seconds was all it took for everything to flip.
Riley had received the final wave of gifts right at the end.
Felicia was livid.
Her eyes stung with unshed tears, her expression stiff as stone. The chat flooded with comforting messages, but she couldn't hear any of it. She ended the stream abruptly and stormed back to her room, slamming the door behind her.
She exploded in rage.
There has to be someone backing Riley. No one would spend that kind of money otherwise.
But whoever it is, it definitely isn't from the Yates family.
Because there's no way Adrian would ever take an interest in Riley.
***
At Clearbrook Estate, Riley had already ended her stream.
She contacted the platform and refunded every single gift from her students in Class Seven.
Even after returning all that money, she still had the one million dollars from her mysterious sponsor.
Not bad at all.
Phone in hand, she walked up to the study and knocked.
"Come in."
The voice from inside was calm, cool and familiar.
She pushed the door open and slipped inside.
"Hubby, is this you?" she asked, holding up her phone and pointing at the username Husky.
Adrian's gaze flickered, but he said nothing.
That silence was answer enough.
Riley's expression shifted into a just as I thought look, but her heartbeat picked up instantly.
How much did he see?
I painted. I played the violin.
Did I slip up somewhere?
Her unease deepened when Adrian's eyes settled on her.
Then he stood and started walking toward her.
Riley instinctively stepped back.
One step.
Then another.
His tall frame loomed over her, his presence pressing in like a wall, stealing the air from the room.
A faint smile curved his lips. His sharp, hawk-like eyes locked onto her, as if he could see straight through every layer she tried to hide.
"You paint well," he said.
Her mind raced.
"I-I… learned before," she stammered.
"You play the violin well too."
"Th-that… I learned that before too."
"Is that so?"
Just simple words.
But the weight behind them crushed down on her.
He suspected her.
And he wasn't done.
His low, magnetic voice lingered by her ear, slow and deliberate, like a spell tightening around her.
"We've been married this long, and I still don't know much about you."
A pause.
Then, one question after another.
"Riley, when exactly did you become a 'fool'? When did you go abroad? What did you do while you were there? When did you come back? And why did you come back?"
Each question hit harder than the last.
Riley lowered her head, nerves tightening in her chest.
"Um… Hubby, can you ask one at a time? I need to think… I mean, answer slowly."
She looked up, forcing a pitiful expression.
"Too many questions… I can't remember them all."
Adrian let out a soft, almost amused scoff.
Instead of backing off, he stepped closer until she had nowhere left to go.
Her back hit the wall.
Trapped.
"Think slowly?" he murmured.
Or was she just trying to stall and make something up?
Did she really think I'd give her time to fabricate answers?
He braced a hand against the wall, boxing her in completely, leaving her no chance to escape.
Riley's mind blanked.
I've been exposed.
But I can't admit it.
Not now.
If I ever tell the truth, it will be after the divorce. When I can walk away clean.
She swallowed, glancing up at him. His expression held a trace of teasing, like he was enjoying this far too much.
Then, she moved.
Rising onto her toes, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
Soft.
Warm.
A fleeting brush of contact.
Adrian froze. For a split second, his entire body went rigid.
That was all she needed. Riley ducked under his arm, slipped out of his hold, and bolted for the door.
Gone in a flash.
Adrian watched Riley flee the room, her escape almost comical.
But there was no anger in his eyes.
Only a surge of exhilaration.
Pure, unmistakable exhilaration.
If Riley wasn't actually a fool… then maybe…
***
Meanwhile, Riley didn't stop running until she was well out of the study.
She bent forward, gasping for breath, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.
Her thoughts were a tangled mess.
So what if I can paint? That's not weird, right?
And playing the violin… that's normal too, isn't it?
The more she thought about it, the more she convinced herself it wasn't a big deal.
She hadn't been a "fool" her whole life. Just because she'd learned things before didn't mean she had to forget them now.
Her back straightened, confidence returning to her at least a little.
Still, she wasn't about to confront Adrian head-on just yet.
One step at a time, she decided. I'll deal with it when the time comes.
***
That night, while she drifted in and out of sleep, she suddenly felt a wave of heat behind her.
Before she could react, an arm wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her into a familiar embrace.
The faint scent of pine filled her senses.
Riley clenched her teeth.
Didn't I lock the door?
Did he climbed in through the window?!
The next morning, after breakfast, the two of them went their separate ways. One to the university, the other to the company.
Or at least, that was the plan.
Just as Mr Yeardley was about to usher Riley into her car, Adrian's voice cut in calmly.
"I'll drop her off. It's on the way."
Riley turned to stare at him, eyes wide.
Since when are we on the same route?!
Even Mr Yeardley looked confused. Sterling Corp and Imperial University were in completely different directions. There was no way this was "on the way". And he hadn't heard anything from Derek about a schedule change either.
Still, he said nothing and simply acknowledged the order before stepping aside.
Riley was not pleased. She shoved Adrian lightly as they got into the car.
Once inside, she deliberately chose the seat farthest from him, turning her head toward the window and refusing to look his way.
Adrian noticed and he said nothing.
The ride passed in silence until they reached the university gates.
To avoid unnecessary attention, Riley had the driver stop at the side instead of the main entrance.
As she reached for the door, she froze.
A figure was hovering outside the window, peeking in.
Riley's eyes flickered.
Then she pushed the door open hard.
BANG!
"Ah—!"
A sharp cry rang out.
Felicia staggered back, clutching her forehead, now reddened from the impact. She glared at Riley, furious.
"You idiot! What are you doing?!"
Riley blinked innocently. "I'm getting out of the car. How was I supposed to know you were standing there?"
The moment the car had stopped, Felicia had rushed over and started circling it. She thought Riley couldn't guess what she was up to.
Felicia shot her an annoyed look, then turned her gaze eagerly toward the inside of the car.
Even with the pain in her forehead, she hadn't missed what she saw.
The man sitting inside was elegant, striking, impossibly refined. Even just his profile was enough to make her heart race. He was more attractive than any man she had ever seen.
"Is that… Adrian?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.
Unable to stop herself, she reached for the car door, only to have Riley block her hand instantly.
Riley looked at her with a half-smile, her tone laced with quiet mockery.
"That's my husband. What do you want?"
Husband.
Inside the car, Adrian's lips curved slightly, clearly pleased by the word.
Felicia bit her lip, glaring at Riley.
"Can't I say hi?"
Riley let out a soft snort. "Then greet him from there. Or were you planning to get into the car just to say hello?"
Caught red-handed, Felicia's expression stiffened with embarrassment.
She had planned to get in to get closer to the famous Adrian Yates.
She had heard plenty about him. How he built his own business empire at a young age, decisive, ruthless, cold.
She'd always imagined someone older. Overweight. Disgusting.
But she hadn't expected this.
Not like this.
He was so handsome it made people forget entirely about his legs condition.