Ch. 291..300

Chapter 291 Are You Willing?

Following his mom's instructions, Dylan earnestly spoke to his little sister, trying to prevent her from talking nonsense.

However, Ruby's personality was too unrestrained, and she didn't even give her brother a chance to react. The first words she said to NightA the next day were, "Uncle NightA, you are really handsome." Hearing this, Dylan immediately knew something was wrong, and he wanted to step forward to stop her, but it was already too late.

Ruby's mouth was exceptionally fast. "I really want Uncle NightA to be my daddy."

Dylan felt deflated. The task his mom entrusted him with had failed just like this. Meanwhile, Adrian, who had been holding something in his hand, stood frozen in place upon hearing Ruby's statement.

Perhaps because he was too shocked, the bag he was carrying fell to the ground, causing a sound that attracted the attention of some people. However, since they were all children in the school, even if they looked, it was only out of curiosity and confusion.

Adrian looked at Ruby with disbelief in his eyes. After a moment's pause, he squatted down in front of her, gripping her thin shoulders with his large hands. "What did you just say?" Adrian's voice was low. "Say it again."

Ruby felt the strong grip on her shoulders, but it didn't hurt. The oppressive feeling from Uncle NightA in front of her was also very heavy, but somehow, it made her feel inexplicably close to him. So Ruby wasn't afraid at all, and continued, "I like Uncle NightA. Can Uncle NightA be Ruby's daddy?"

Hearing this sentence once again from the little girl's mouth, Adrian felt like his heart was melting. His own child liked him and was willing to let him be her father. He thought it would take a long time to win the child's affection, but he didn't expect...

"Uncle NightA." At this moment, Dylan suddenly ran over, nervously saying to Adrian, "Uncle NightA, Ruby was just joking." Adrian turned directly to him. "Are you willing?"

Dylan stood still, not understanding the meaning behind Adrian's words, when he heard Ruby loudly say, "Big brother is willing too!"

It was only now that Dylan finally understood what that question meant. At this moment, Ruby clung to Adrian, and after speaking, she dove into his embrace. "Then, Uncle NightA, if you want to be Ruby's daddy, will you chase after mommy?" Adrian's heart had long melted into a puddle, and he spoke with an extremely gentle and soft tone. "Hmm, I will chase her."

"But, what if mommy doesn't agree?" Ruby still remembered what mommy said yesterday. Mommy didn't let her say it, which actually meant she didn't agree, but there was nothing she could do. Ruby really liked Adrian. Upon hearing this, Adrian reached his hand and gently rubbed her head, whispering, "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

"Maybe she wouldn't agree."

Wanting the children to feel at ease, Adrian thought for a moment and added, "Even if she doesn't agree, Uncle NightA will try his best to make her agree."

Dylan, standing beside them, didn't know what to say and could only tap his fingers, thinking about how to explain this to his mommy later.

At this moment, Adrian softly asked, "Shall we eat first?"

Ruby nodded.

After that, Adrian took the three children to have their meal. Although Lucas seemed to be his nephew on the surface, he rarely had a chance to speak.

But he didn't feel the slightest imbalance in his heart. His parents had instructed him after they returned last night, telling him to be good in front of this 'uncle' and to listen to him no matter what he said. Lucas listened attentively and understood clearly that their current good life was all thanks to this uncle who suddenly appeared.

So even if he was being ignored, he didn't feel any imbalance in his heart.

Today, Adrian didn't bring any junk food but had the chef prepare a special meal and brought it in food containers, unveiling them one by one and placing them on the table. Adrian never expected that one day he would be like a nanny, bringing food in containers to school and feeding children.

He would have never dared to think about it before, and he wouldn't have done it even if asked.

But now... he found it enjoyable.

Especially after he laid out the food and observed the changes in the children's eyes, seeing the surprise in them, perhaps not expecting him to bring such abundant ingredients. He tugged at his lips and chuckled lightly, "Did you wash your hands clean?"

"Cleaned them." Ruby shook her hands toward Adrian.

During the meal, Adrian glanced at the quiet Dylan and finally shifted his gaze to Ruby, asking softly, "Ruby, does your mommy know about what you just said?" "What do you mean?" Ruby tilted her head, but her eyes were fixed on the food containers.

"About wanting me to be your dad." Adrian said.

"She knows, I told her yesterday." Ruby said.

Upon hearing this, Adrian's expression slightly changed.

She told her yesterday? Could it be that she didn't refuse?

Realizing this possibility, Adrian furrowed his brows slightly. "Then what did your mommy say? Did she... agree?"

He hoped for a positive answer. Because Adrian, at this time, was not a stranger to Eva, but someone she wasn't very familiar with.

How could she agree?

In any case, Adrian, at this moment, was caught in a state of extreme conflict due to his multiple roles.

Ruby took a bite of meat and mumbled with her mouth full, "Uncle NightA, maybe you shouldn't know the answer. You'll be sad if you hear it."

He probably knew the answer. Though somewhat expected, Adrian couldn't help but feel a bit down.

"So your mother refused?" Ruby nodded. "Yes, Mommy refused. But don't be sad, Uncle. I will help you."

After speaking, Ruby comfortingly patted Adrian's big hand with her small hand. It was just a small gesture, but it felt incredibly warm to Adrian.

He pursed his lips and gently hooked his pinky finger with Ruby's. "Then let's make a promise, shall we? If your mommy changes her mind in the future, promise me that you'll help me more, okay?" Still chewing on something, Ruby nodded vigorously and raised her hand to hook pinkies with Adrian.

"Okay, Uncle NightA." After the successful agreement, Adrian reached out and ruffled Ruby's head, smiling mysteriously. This little one seemed to really like him. Before fully opening up their relationship, he planned to make both of these little ones grow closer to him. Now, only Dylan was left.

 

Chapter 292 Secrets Between Father and Son

Although it seemed that Adrian had achieved fifty percent success on the surface, he knew very well that it wouldn't be so easy with Dylan. If he failed to secure the remaining fifty percent, it would be a failure.

Even though his son was young, his character was mature, resembling Adrian in his childhood. Suddenly, Adrian regretted how his own personality had made it difficult for him to handle his own son. So when Ruby finished eating and went to play with Lucas, Dylan stayed behind and helped Adrian tidy up.

He didn't complain at all, and despite his young age, he was quite steady in his actions. Adrian quietly observed him and then pursed his lips, saying, "I can handle it, you go play with the other kids."

However, Dylan quietly shook his head and said, "No, Mommy said I can't get by with just eating and drinking. I will do something else." Hearing this, Adrian chuckled softly. "Can't get by with just eating and drinking?" "Hmm," Dylan nodded obediently. Adrian pondered for a moment and then smiled. "Alright, then you can help me by saying a few good things about me in front of your mommy, praising me. That way, it won't be just eating and drinking for you, right?"

Like he heard something shocking, Dylan looked up at Adrian, probably surprised that he would say such a thing. Seeing him looking at him, Adrian humorously asked, "What's wrong? Is this request too difficult for you?"

Under his gaze, the little one pursed his small mouth and remained silent. Adrian couldn't help but sigh and squat down in front of him. "Dylan? Do you dislike me?" It seemed like the word "dislike" was too strong, so the little one quickly shook his head. "I don't dislike you."

"You don't dislike me? Then do you like me? If I say I want to be your dad... Will you be willing, Dylan?" Adrian asked softly.

Dylan looked at him, still silent.

Adrian wasn't in a hurry. The father and son quietly locked eyes.

After a long while, Dylan muttered, "Uncle, it's not up to me to decide."

"Oh? Then who will decide? Your mommy?" Adrian asked.

Dylan nodded. "Yes."

"So, if your mommy agrees, you will agree too?" Adrian said gently.

Dylan didn't say anything, but his expression and demeanor seemed to imply that he had already accepted that. However, for Adrian, it wasn't that simple.

Without a doubt, even if he gained the affection of the two children, there was no guarantee that he could pass Eva's test, let alone win her back.

It was even harder to imagine.

He did have other means though. After all, the children were his, and with a little scheming, he could easily bring Eva back to his side.

But just like Jacob had said, she had left him five years ago because of his own wrongdoing. What right did he have to force her back? Considering this, Adrian rubbed Dylan's head with his large hand. "Alright, go inside. I'll take care of this place."

Dylan didn't argue anymore this time, nodded, and prepared to go in. After taking two steps, he suddenly turned his head, "Uncle, do you know my mommy?"

It was strange. When they accidentally met at the airport before, Dylan had overheard his phone call.

Adrian's voice at that time was cold, his tone was flat, and he didn't even have any expression on his face. He seemed like a powerful and fierce person.

But he turned out to be Uncle NightA, and even wanted to be their father.

This made him feel very strange, and more so, he felt like Uncle NightA already knew mommy, which was why he continuously gave them gifts during their livestreams. After asking this question, Adrian hesitated briefly before quickly realizing.

He looked at the little Dylan standing before him, someone so small that he only seemed to have a tiny presence, yet his perceptiveness was so strong.

This kind of question wasn't asked on a whim.

Adrian tugged at his lips, revealing a faint smile, and then threw the question back at Dylan. "What do you think, Dylan?"

Dylan's lips moved but he didn't answer.

Cunning.

A word flashed through Dylan's mind, a perfect match for the Uncle NightA standing before his eyes.

Dylan suddenly had a feeling that if mommy and Uncle NightA were together, she definitely wouldn't outsmart him. Considering this, Dylan became alert.

Adrian paused, not expecting that his probing question would suddenly raise Dylan's guard.

So, he not only understood his words but also came up with his own conclusions.

Truly, he was Adrian's son.

Intelligent.

Adrian, of course, couldn't let him have any more doubts.

He walked up and gently rubbed the little guy's head, explaining, "Actually, we do know each other, but it's our secret, okay?" Hearing this, Dylan's eyes flashed with confusion. "Uncle really knows my mommy? Does my mommy know you too?" Adrian pursed his lips.

Although it was just a five-year-old child in front of him, considering his remarkable alertness, it was best to tell the truth. After pondering for a moment, he spoke in a deep voice, "Yes, we know each other."

Indeed, Dylan's usually expressionless face finally showed a look of shock.

"But I did something wrong, so your mommy doesn't want to see me for now. But I want to make it up, so can you keep it a secret for me temporarily?" Adrian said.

"Will Uncle hurt my mommy?" Dylan asked earnestly.

"No, I promise you, I won't hurt your mommy," Adrian raised his head earnestly.

The little guy fell silent, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

Adrian didn't rush, quietly waiting for him to give an answer.

After a while, the little guy looked up and said, "Then... I'll keep Uncle's secret for now."

Hearing this, Adrian's lips curled up slightly. "Thank you, Dylan."

As soon as he finished speaking, Adrian's large hand landed on the back of Dylan's head again, but this time it didn't leave. His broad and warm palm stayed on the back of Dylan's head, looking seriously at the little guy in front of him. "Dylan, you don't have to be so restrained and nervous in front of me. You're only five years old, so you can rely on Uncle like Ruby does. I will take good care of both of you."

Hearing this, Dylan didn't know why, but his eyes inexplicably turned warm.

Yes, even though he usually showed great responsibility because he was the older brother, at the end of the day, he was still just a five-year-old kid!

 

Chapter 293 Have We Forgotten Our Relationship?

It had always been like this.

Dylan automatically perceived himself as the older brother. Coupled with Ruby's gluttony, love for play, and excessive energy, he naturally became quiet.

His gaze always focused on his little sister, watching over her to prevent her from speaking carelessly or getting hurt.

But now Adrian said something like this to him.

When a tinge of warmth appeared in the little guy's eyes, his strong sense of pride quickly made him lower his head, afraid that others might see his expression. How could Adrian not understand his emotions?

It was also at this moment that he realized, despite being young, children also have their own dignity.

He must respect that.

Realizing this, Adrian whispered softly, "Go inside now, Ruby must be waiting anxiously."

"Mhm." The little guy nodded, then turned around and went inside.

However, this time, he took several steps before turning back to give Adrian a glance. "Uncle, I... I will keep your secret."

"Is that so? Then, thank you, Dylan," Adrian's lips curved into a wider smile as he waited for Dylan to continue.

Once he disappeared from his sight, his lips gradually straightened, but soon after, they curled up again.

Unexpectedly, those few words brought about an unexpected joy.

With Dylan keeping his secret, their relationship grew closer.

At this moment, Eva still had no idea that even Dylan had been turned, and she continued to work diligently.

During this time, Eva had become much more relaxed in managing interpersonal relationships.

Since that day, Michael hadn't come to see her again.

He hadn't sent her any messages either, as if he had evaporated from the world.

This surprised Eva because she had intended to say even harsher words if Michael were to come looking for her again. Luckily, he didn't, because if Michael did find her again, she wasn't sure if she could say those hurtful things again.

But what surprised her even more was Adrian.

After the day when they went to see the car, he hadn't reached out to her again.

Although she didn't know what had happened that day to make Adrian disappear suddenly, this outcome was for the best.

Her surroundings would slowly regain tranquility.

Now that Ruby and Dylan were still young, in a few years, when the two children grew up and her company stabilized, things would be much easier for her. Lost in her thoughts, her phone rang.

Eva took it out and glanced at it, her expression instantly changing.

Although she didn't save his contact information, Eva had only glanced at this phone number a few times and remembered it.

Just when she was thinking that he had finally disappeared from her life, his phone call came in the next second.

Indeed, there were some things one shouldn't think about, right?

Eva pondered for a moment before simply putting her phone on silent and placing it on the desk next to her.

She didn't want any further entanglement with him now.

After muting her phone, the office regained its silence, and Eva threw herself into her work.

To her surprise, a few minutes later, Tim knocked on her office door.

Upon hearing the sound, Eva averted her gaze from the screen. "What's up?"

Tim nodded and walked up to her, handing her his phone. "There's a call for you." Eva thought she misheard.

Her phone? How could her phone end up with Tim?

So Eva asked with her eyes, but Tim shook his head and passed the phone forward. Helplessly, Eva took the phone.

Upon seeing the number on the screen, Eva's expression darkened.

Adrian!

If she didn't answer his call, he would dial her company employee's phone?

What did he mean by this?

Eva immediately became furious and exclaimed, "Adrian, do you think this is funny?"

The response on the other end was a long silence.

And as Tim witnessed her angered state, his scalp began to tingle.

Although he knew that Eva had a previous marriage with Adrian, their relationship should be very close.

However, at this moment, he dared not say a word and could only hold his breath, trying to lower his presence.

Seeing the silence on the other end, Eva had no intention of just hanging up the phone. She urged, "Say something?" After her persistence, a deep voice finally sounded on the other end. "What do you want me to say?"

"Why did you call the employee of my company?" Eva interrogated.

Adrian countered with a question, "Then why didn't you answer the phone?"

"Why should I answer your call?" Eva snorted.

After a long pause, Adrian chuckled lightly and said, "Eva, did you think I was calling you in a personal capacity?"

"Forgot what our relationship is?" Adrian's tone sounded somewhat casual, reminding her, "Do I need to remind you?"

Hearing this, the anger that had rushed to Eva's head instantly dissipated.

Adrian was now an investor in her company.

But soon, she composed herself and coldly said, "So what? Even if we have a cooperative relationship, you don't need to call my employees, do you? Does our cooperation contract include harassing employees?" Adrian chuckled softly. "Then does our contract include not answering calls from investors?"

Eva pursed her lips and didn't respond.

"Do I need to remind you? The design proposal still hasn't been delivered," Adrian's indifferent tone and the content of his words made Eva fully sober.

The cooperative proposal?

She suddenly looked at Tim, who couldn't hear their conversation, but his eyes showed confusion after being looked at by her.

Eva realized something and said, "Sorry, I'll give you an answer after I check it."

"Okay," Adrian replied.

After hanging up the phone, Eva returned the mobile phone to Tim. "Have you already sent our design proposal to the Blackwood family?"

Upon hearing this, Tim became even more confused. "Isn't that your responsibility?"

Eva was also confused. "Is it my responsibility? Isn't it yours?"

Tim blinked his eyes and said matter-of-factly, "But you're the boss. Didn't you say you've moved on from him a long time ago? I thought you would personally take care of it."

If they continued, they would end up discussing her feelings again, and Eva didn't want to discuss this issue with her employee anymore. "I understand, I will handle it. You can go back to work." "Okay," Tim returned to his workstation.

After Tim left, Eva sighed and leaned back on the chair, helpless.

So he called just for the design proposal?

 

 

Chapter 294 Is that all you've learned?

Eva organized the proposal and then called Adrian again. "I'll send it to your email."

"What is the email address? I will send the plan..."

"Send it to the office," Adrian interrupted her.

Eva hesitated for a moment, then heard the other person say, "I'll have Jacob send you the address."

"Can't you send it to my email?" Eva asked.

"Eva, the money I invested is not a small sum, and it's not for you to play around with. You better take it seriously," Adrian reminded her. After hanging up the phone, Eva took a deep breath to suppress her temper and then got up to print out the design plan from the printer. Once she finished, Jacob sent the address of the Blackwood family's Chicago branch.

Eva put the plan in a file bag and left.

Following the address given by Jacob, she quickly arrived at the building of the branch office.

True to the reputation of the Blackwood family, even the branch office in Chicago was extremely impressive.

No wonder as soon as the news got out that he invested in her small company, a bunch of people immediately came looking for jobs.

Eva entered the building with the file bag in her hand.

Even for a branch office, appointments were required to meet someone.

Eva had already learned to be clever and wouldn't directly tell the receptionist that she was looking for Adrian. Instead, she said, "Hello, I'm here to meet Jacob."

Sure enough, the name Jacob caught the receptionist off guard, especially when she looked at Eva's neat attire. She nodded immediately and said, "Alright, ma'am, let me check for you."

A minute later, the receptionist hung up the phone. "Miss, please take elevator 5 directly to the 16th floor, to the CEO's office."

"Thank you." Eva stepped into the elevator and stood there lost in her thoughts.

She had thought that her life would become peaceful after everything, but little did she know that they would meet again because of work.

And what was even scarier was that if he used work as an excuse, she wouldn't be able to refuse.

Thinking about this, Eva couldn't help but pinch her forehead.

Outside the elevator, Jacob was already waiting.

When he saw her, he immediately smiled and said, "Ms. Hansen."

Eva nodded at him and walked out.

"Mr. Blackwood is waiting for you in his office," Jacob said.

Eva followed behind him silently, discreetly observing the surroundings. The office environment here was slightly inferior to that of New York.

This office space must have just been relocated recently.

When Jacob led Eva into the office, Adrian was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window making a phone call.

He was tall and had long legs. As soon as he heard a noise, his hand paused, and his narrow eyes looked over in this direction. Then he exchanged a glance with Jacob, and Jacob left the room. He even thoughtfully closed the office door behind him.

Adrian continued to make his call by the window, only glancing at her when she entered. After that, it was as if she didn't exist.

At this moment, Eva couldn't leave, so she could only wait.

A few minutes later, Adrian finished the call, put away his phone, and walked straight towards her.

She walked over.

Instantaneously, she was overwhelmed by a masculine scent, a surge of male hormones. Adrian had a faint scent of mint, fresh and cold.

His approach made Eva instinctively take two steps back to maintain a distance from him.

But Adrian unexpectedly only lifted his hand and took the proposal book from her, lowering his eyes to flip it open.

His expression was indifferent, his movements swift, appearing as if he was just dealing with work and nothing more.

In an instant, Eva felt that she had been overly defensive.

She subtly pursed her lips.

Adrian stood in place, initially expressionless, unsure of what he saw, his eyebrows furrowing. "Who made this design proposal?" Hearing his tone, Eva raised her eyelids to look at him. "What's the matter?"

"Did you make it?" Adrian countered.

Eva nodded. "Yes, what's wrong?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Adrian let out a cold laugh. "It's been five years, and this is all you've learned?"

Upon hearing this, Eva's complexion turned slightly pale. "What do you mean? Is there something wrong with my proposal?"

"If we follow this proposal, we might as well shut down the company, don't waste any time," Adrian said bluntly.

Although hearing these words from Adrian infuriated Eva, she understood him well enough that when it came to work, he was always serious and wouldn't talk nonsense.

If he could say this, then it meant her proposal had problems.

Although she was annoyed deep down, Eva forced a smile and said, "So, what are your suggestions?"

Adrian glanced at her without responding, and instead walked over to his own desk with the design proposal and threw it on top.

Seeing that he was ignoring her, Eva pursed her lips and walked over. "Where exactly is the problem? I can make changes."

Adrian pursed his lips. "This one's useless, no need to make any changes."

Did she do such a lousy job on the plan?

Forget about making changes, did the whole thing really have to be scrapped?

Eva suddenly doubted whether Adrian was intentionally seeking revenge.

She picked up the plan and looked at it, then asked, "Are you sure you want to scrap this entire thing?"

Upon hearing this, Adrian pursed his lips. "If you want to use it, I don't mind, but you'll have to bear the loss."

After a moment of silence, Eva said, "I understand. If you are not satisfied with this proposal, I will make a new one and send it over." After speaking, Eva turned around wanting to leave.

"Did I tell you to leave?" Adrian's voice rang out.

Eva turned back, confused.

But Adrian furrowed his brow tightly. "How much time will you waste on the road back and forth? Or do you think I have plenty of time?" "Wasting time on the road? Didn't you ask me to come?" Eva said irritably.

"I asked you to come, did I tell you to leave?" he raised his chin slightly, gesturing for Eva to sit next to him. "Come here, write."

If she thought Adrian's judgment of her proposal earlier was correct, now she was starting to doubt it again.

The proposal wasn't good, she could just go back and make a new one, so why isn't he letting her go?

Seeing her standing still, Adrian squinted his eyes. "What, do you think that you'll be able to come up with a satisfactory plan once you go back?"

Eva's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she responded with a question of her own. "So, are you implying that I can write a plan that satisfies you right here in front of you?" Ignoring her question, Adrian stated, "Write and revise as you go, we need to implement it today."

After speaking, Adrian no longer paid attention to her and sat down in his own seat. Eva stood in place for a moment before finally walking over and sitting down in the designated spot.

Once she sat down, Adrian handed her a notebook. "Use my backup machine first." Eva took it and instinctively said, "Thank you," with a touch of grace. Both of them paused for a moment. Several seconds later, Adrian's expression turned dark. Have their relationship become so distant that they have to say thank you like this?

"What's the password?" Eva asked. Only when Eva's voice came through did Adrian snap out of his thoughts. He glanced at her before slowly saying, "Your birthday." Eva was stunned.

 

 

Chapter 295 I was wrong

What does this password mean? This backup machine looks new, so it must have been recently purchased. And he set her birthday as the startup password?

After hurting her, initiating the divorce, and even suggesting that she should have an abortion, he uses her birthday as the password? Eva lightly bit her lower lip, expressionless, and began typing a series of characters. When the computer truly turned on, she suddenly found it ridiculously amusing. Who does he think he is? On what grounds? Eva reluctantly started a new document and began typing.

Don't think about it, don't get deceived. Even if he uses her birthday as a password, it doesn't mean anything. The past is already in the past, and now she needs to look forward and complete the task at hand.

But if the plan doesn't meet his expectations, Eva will naturally inquire about his opinion. Seeing that the matter with the password didn't cause any reaction from her, Adrian naturally felt stifled in his chest. But there was nothing he could do, he was the one who asked her to stay.

The plan must be completed today. Adrian tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, appearing casual in both expression and actions. "You run an advertising company, but that plan you just presented seemed more like an individual's plan, too idealistic. A small company that wants to establish itself quickly in the market must learn to seize opportunities."

As he spoke, his fingertip landed on a particular point in the previous plan, ruthlessly criticizing it. "Too conservative, it's a failure when launched. Did you only learn these things during your five years abroad? Or did he only teach you these things? It seems like your choice of him wasn't that great."

The last sentence carried too much personal emotion. This added a different expression to Eva's previously attentive face as she frowned and looked displeased. "Mr. Blackwood, are you here to discuss work or personal life with me?" Adrian's eyes turned pitch black. "What's wrong with discussing work? What's wrong with discussing personal life?"

"If you want to discuss work, then please focus on that."

"If you want to talk about personal life, that's fine. I can bring the plan back to my company," Eva said.

As soon as she finished speaking, Adrian sneered. "Eva, if your ability matched your temperament, I wouldn't have to worry so much."

This remark angered Eva.

She directly closed her notebook, making a sound. "Mr. Blackwood, since you don't trust me, then there really is no need for us to cooperate."

After speaking, Eva stood up to leave, but before she could take a step, Adrian gripped her wrist.

Adrian frowned deeply.

Before she arrived, he had decided to live with her peacefully, just as Jacob had suggested. Since he wanted to win her back, he had to have an attitude.

But seeing her unwilling appearance, Adrian's heart began to feel blocked and pained. He was provoked to say insincere things.

"Let go." Eva struggled, but couldn't break free.

"Eva, do you really want to work on the plan?" Adrian asked.

Hearing this, Eva laughed coldly. "Shouldn't that question be asked by me instead? When you're working on the plan, you're constantly rummaging through other people's past?" After a long silence, Adrian clenched his teeth and said, "I was wrong, okay?"

Eva thought she had misheard and looked at Adrian in astonishment.

He actually admitted his mistake? And on this matter?

Adrian let go of her hand and lowered his gaze. "Don't look at me like that. Are you still going to work on the plan?"

Maybe because he admitted his mistake, Eva felt slightly relieved. After all, the plan was something that needed to be done.

During the rest of the working hours, Adrian no longer made sarcastic remarks but seriously discussed the plan with her.

Perhaps because she hadn't been back to her home country for a long time and didn't have a full understanding of the situation, Eva benefited greatly from Adrian's guidance and prompts. In the end, Eva forgot that the man beside her was her ex-husband. She wholeheartedly focused on her work and spoke to Adrian in a normal tone, as if he really were a business partner. When Adrian realized this, his expression became serious again.

Eva was working diligently, and when Jacob knocked on the door to remind them to have a meal, she was still a bit behind with the planning document.

Ignoring the reminder, she continued to concentrate on her notebook.

Jacob couldn't help but look at Adrian.

Adrian pursed his lips and reminded her, "It's time to eat."

"Mhm," Eva responded without lifting her head from the screen.

Seeing her like this, Adrian doubted whether she had even heard what he said and simply responded to the sound.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Eva was still in her seat, not moving at all, not even lifting her head.

Adrian furrowed his brows slightly and reminded her again. "Eva."

Eva once again absentmindedly lifted her head.

"Wait a moment," Adrian said, reaching out and tapping the desk next to Eva's notebook. "Let's eat first, then work."

Perhaps due to frequent interruptions, Eva found it difficult to concentrate. She frowned and looked displeased at Adrian. "I was just about to finish my work. Can't you go eat by yourself?" Besides, she had no intention of dining together with him here.

Adrian pursed his lips and didn't say anything.

Observing the situation, Jacob stepped forward and said, "Ms. Hansen, work is important, but it's also crucial to have meals on time. Otherwise, it's easy to develop stomach problems. Just look at Mr. Blackwood here. His previous stomach bleeding was caused by working too hard and not eating regularly."

Eva wasn't convinced and countered, "He had stomach bleeding because he overworked? Isn't it because he's always drinking?"

Jacob felt a little embarrassed and smiled apologetically. "Drinking is one factor, but the main reason is irregular eating habits. So, Ms. Hansen, please go and have your meal."

Actually, Eva did want to finish her work, but she realized something when she heard Jacob mention Adrian's stomach bleeding incident.

Since his discharge from the hospital, he seemed to never have returned. She wondered if he had been taking his medication on time. After all, she was the one who took him out, and if something happened later...

With these thoughts in mind, Eva let out a sigh and saved her work before closing her notebook. "Fine, let's eat first."

If possible, she really didn't want to dine together with him here, as if they had already made up. But considering his guidance and advice this morning...

Forget it, let's just take it as repaying him.

After all, it's just a meal.

She wouldn't lose anything.

 

Chapter 296 I'll just take it as you caring about me

Seeing that she finally agreed to have a meal, Jacob quickly brought over the prepared food.

Lunch was prepared in advance on his request, bought from a high-end restaurant, with beautiful presentation and even thermal insulation. When the lid was opened, the aroma filled the air.

Eva took a bite of the rice and then looked at Adrian's plate. Sure enough, there was rice in his dish too.

She frowned slightly and instinctively asked, "Can you eat rice now? Your stomach doesn't need to rest anymore?"

A silence engulfed the surroundings.

Before Adrian turned his gaze towards her, Eva quickly explained, "I was just asking because of our cooperation."

If she didn't explain, it would be fine, but once she did, her question seemed to have a hidden purpose.

As expected, Adrian's thin lips curled up slightly as he explained, "Is that so? I'll just take it as you caring about me then."

The negative emotions that arose from her earlier reluctance had completely vanished.

In Adrian's mind, there was only one thought.

She cared about him.

Although her behavior seemed awkward, this tiny bit of concern was enough to make Adrian delighted.

Seeing her silence, Adrian took the initiative to ask, "Doesn't rice nourish the stomach? I thought having three normal meals would be enough."

This question made Eva furrow her brows. "Of course, having three normal meals is fine, but didn't you have a gastric bleeding episode recently? Your stomach is still in a fragile state, so it's best to avoid eating these things during the recovery period."

"What should I eat, then?" he asked humbly.

"Liquid food, easily digestible, vegetables and fruits. But be mindful of the intake; don't eat too much. It's best to have smaller meals more frequently," Eva explained.

When she first went abroad, her father had a bout of gastric illness, and she took care of him during that time. That's why Eva was able to bring appropriate food to the hospital when Adrian had gastric bleeding and stayed there.

Adrian wondered about something for a moment before asking, "Like the ones you brought to the hospital last time?"

Suddenly reminded of the incident, Eva wasn't sure what he had in mind, but she nodded nonetheless. "Something like that."

"Okay, I'll have Jacob take note of it," Adrian nodded.

Eva took a bite of rice, but her brows remained furrowed.

Even if he didn't understand these things, Vivian beside him couldn't possibly be ignorant. And during this period, why hadn't Eva seen Vivian at all? Could it be that she didn't even know about his gastric bleeding? The relationship between the two of them...

Thinking of this, Eva abruptly interrupted the strange thoughts in her mind.

I can't think about it anymore!

Her and Adrian's relationship was already a thing of the past, and none of these matters concerned her anymore.

Why should she trouble herself unnecessarily?

After clearing her mind of these unnecessary thoughts, Eva refocused on her work, without any distractions.

Perhaps due to the change in her mindset, her aura seemed to shift slightly.

Adrian could sense the coldness emanating from her and his expression also darkened.

Just a moment ago, everything was fine, so how did it suddenly change?

Eva had an easily influential hold over Adrian's thoughts, which is why even when she finished the proposal and handed it to him, Adrian's gaze was still fixed on her face. "What...is wrong with you?" Hearing his words, a trace of confusion flashed in Eva's eyes. "What do you mean?"

Adrian tightened his lips, then took out a spare notebook after a moment, not saying anything more.

As Adrian examined the proposal, Eva silently waited by his side.

Adrian quickly skimmed through it, intending to find some issues to make her stay.

But this woman, Eva, learned things excessively fast, and coupled with the fact that he had been observing her during the writing process, he truly couldn't find a single mistake. Finally, Adrian managed to spot a typo. "There's a mistake here."

Without hesitation, Eva leaned in. "Where?"

As Adrian moved his mouse, Eva followed his gaze until he pointed to a specific word.

At first, Eva was taken aback and didn't understand what Adrian meant, so she asked, "What's wrong with this part?"

"It's 'collaborate', not 'collabroate'," Adrian calmly corrected her.

Upon hearing this, Eva realized her mistake. She gave Adrian a glance, amazed that he could spot such a small error in a chunk of text.

"Sorry, I didn't pay attention," Eva said as she took back her notebook to make the correction and then handed it over again. "Any other issues?"

Adrian browsed through it again, and during the waiting time, Eva felt a bit bored and had the urge to yawn. However, for the sake of her company, she had to cover her mouth and nose with her hand, suppressing the yawn. After what seemed like a long wait, Adrian finally pointed out another mistake. "Grammatical error."

Eva found it hard to believe what she had just heard and gave Adrian another look.

But thinking about it, it made sense. He was always strict with his work, so it was normal for him to find linguistic flaws and typos in her writing. It was her own fault for not being meticulous enough and letting him discover the issues. So she made the necessary corrections to the sentence and handed it back.

A few minutes later.

"There's also a problem with this sentence," Adrian pointed out.

Eva continued to make changes.

A few more minutes passed.

"This part needs to be paragraphed. The text is too dense, affecting the readability," Adrian continued.

Eva bit her lip, enduring it.

After several repetitions of irrelevant incidents, when he started reviewing her proposal for the fifth time, Eva couldn't help but ask, "Are there no more important issues?"

He kept pointing out these minor flaws. Was he really fine?

Upon hearing this, Adrian's movements paused momentarily, and he glanced at her. "You think these aren't important?"

"I didn't mean that. I just..." Eva's voice grew weaker.

Adrian asked, "Just what?"

Facing his cold gaze, Eva pursed her lips and finally said, "It's nothing. You can continue reviewing, and I'll make improvements if needed."

Adrian withdrew his gaze.

Eva waited beside him.

Perhaps she had been too focused while writing the proposal, causing her to become sleepier. Earlier, she was able to control her yawns.

But now, she couldn't control them at all.

Eva continued to cover her mouth and nose with her hand, but this time, she couldn't hold back the yawn. The sound was faint, but in the silent office where only the sound of mouse scrolling could be heard, it was still audible. Adrian's movements paused slightly, and he turned to look at her, catching sight of Eva's teary eyes as she yawned for the second time. He felt a slight flutter in his heart, and unconsciously, his voice softened a bit. "Tired?" Eva didn't expect that even a simple yawn would attract his attention. She quickly waved her hand and said, "It's nothing, please continue reviewing. If there's any issue, let me know, and I can make the necessary changes." "No need. When a person is tired, their brain is more likely to be sluggish. Even if they forcefully come up with something, it's highly likely to be unusable."

After saying that, Adrian closed his notebook with a firm snap.

 

 

Chapter 297 In the Pocket of the Pants

Eva asked, "Is it done?"

"Done? Are you saying it's usable?" Eva widened her eyes.

"Yes," Adrian nodded.

So, he only pointed out her minor faults because he confirmed that it was good enough after reviewing it?

If she thought of it that way, it wouldn't be unacceptable, right?

"Since it's done, then I... " Eva didn't finish her sentence before Adrian stood up with the car keys in his hand. "Let's go, I'll drive you back."

Without thinking, Eva instinctively refused, "No need, I drove here myself, so I can go back on my own."

Besides, she came to deliver the proposal, not to develop anything with him. How could she agree to let him drive her back?

With that in mind, Eva quickly grabbed her bag and headed to the door.

After a few steps, Adrian grabbed her wrist. "Did you cheat on the theoretical part of the driver's license test?"

Adrian asked, "Otherwise, how could you not know about fatigue driving?"

"I just yawned a few times, how does that count as fatigue driving? It's a different concept," Eva looked at him in surprise.

Unexpectedly, Adrian directly argued, "You can yawn when you're not fatigued? Stop talking and let's go."

"I yawned earlier, not now..." Eva was interrupted as she couldn't help but yawn again.

Adrian sneered, "You still say you're not fatigued?"

Now she couldn't argue back anymore.

But she still didn't want Adrian to drive her, so she could only suggest indirectly, "Alright, if you don't want to drive, I'll call a designated driver to pick me up." After saying that, Eva took out her phone to call a designated driver, but her hand was stopped by Adrian.

She looked up and unexpectedly met his dark eyes, "Are you rejecting me like this?"

Eva was briefly stunned and then turned her head to avoid his deep gaze, "Mr. Blackwood, you must be joking. We have a working relationship, why would I reject you?"

"Is that so? Since you don't reject it, what's wrong with having a business partner drive you home? Or is it that you're deliberately avoiding me, afraid that I'll find out something?" Adrian deliberately provoked her with those last words. Eva's gaze flickered slightly.

She just didn't want to get involved with him too much, not to the extent of avoiding him, but... She couldn't rule out the possibility that Adrian might think that way.

Perhaps being more generous would make him eliminate more concerns.

With that in mind, Eva turned her head back and said, "You really want to drive me home, right?"

Before Adrian could answer, a set of car keys flew out of Eva's hand and gracefully arched through the air before landing securely in Adrian's palm.

He looked down at the car keys in his hand.

There was even a small safe-tie knot tied to it, made with a red string, still looking new, probably just bought.

Adrian raised his gaze and saw Eva provocatively looking at him, a faint smile on her lips.

"Then today, you can be my designated driver," Eva said playfully.

He withdrew his gaze, his voice deep, "Okay."

After saying that, he left the office first, leading the way.

Eva said she would call a designated driver, but with Adrian's presence, she couldn't do it.

Contemporary chauffeuring was intentional after all. Just think about it, how could the president of the prestigious Blackwood Group willingly allow someone else to ask him to become a driver? But Adrian unexpectedly agreed.

She bit her lip and reluctantly followed him.

The two entered the elevator, got out of it, and arrived at the parking lot. They stood behind Eva's car, which cost less than $200,000.

Eva chuckled softly, "My car isn't great. I assume you haven't driven a car worth less than five million dollars before, right? The handling is really not good. Shouldn't you..."

Before she finished speaking, Adrian had already opened the car door and sat inside.

As he fastened his seatbelt, Eva remained standing in place.

Seeing her reluctant and stunned expression, Adrian felt a secret joy. After a subtle curve formed on his thin lips, he reminded her, "Not getting in? Or are you too tired to get in?" Eva bit her lip and begrudgingly got into the car.

She didn't take the passenger seat and went directly to the backseat, treating Adrian as the driver.

After she settled down, she looked at Adrian's face through the rearview mirror and strangely found that he wasn't angry about her mistaking him for a driver.

Soon, the car left the company.

Although the car was cheap for Adrian, he had good driving skills, so as long as he could drive, it was fine for him.

Eva leaned against the backseat with her arms crossed.

She originally thought that Adrian would retort, but he remained quiet, as if he was simply driving her back.

The car was very quiet.

After about two minutes, the car entered the highway, and the journey became smoother.

Adrian glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "If you're tired, rest."

Eva pursed her lips, turned her face away, and ignored him.

It would take about 20 minutes to return to the company. She was indeed a bit tired now. Maybe she should take a nap?

Forget it, it seemed like she trusted him enough to sleep while he drove. She would just hold on and return to the company like this.

After all, the plan was already settled, and she didn't have much to do in the afternoon. She could rest later.

However, despite her thoughts, the car was too steady. Being so focused before made her feel really exhausted now she was relaxed.

So, leaning against the seat, she unintentionally fell asleep.

Hearing the steady breathing, Adrian glanced back and saw that she had already fallen asleep. He calmly slowed down the car and then looked ahead, contemplating for a moment. He made a U-turn and took a detour. Eva was awakened by a burst of cell phone ringing.

When she woke up, she subconsciously checked the time and realized that she had slept for over twenty minutes.

Looking outside the window, they were still on the road.

They hadn't arrived yet?

The phone in the front seat kept ringing, and Eva glanced at Adrian. Their eyes met at that moment. "Did I wake you up? I forgot to put the phone on silent mode."

Eva rubbed her eyes and avoided eye contact, "It's not a big deal."

After that, she ignored him.

The phone continued to ring.

Seeing him calmly driving without answering the call.

In any case, since it's a call meant for him and he doesn't want to answer, Eva couldn't be bothered either. She leaned against the window, silently gazing at the scenery outside.

The phone rang for a moment and then fell silent. But it didn't stay silent for long as it started ringing again, the noise irritating Eva to the point where she furrowed her brows and finally couldn't help but look at him. "Aren't you going to answer the phone?"

"You deny that using theoretical knowledge is cheating, yet you won't answer the phone while driving," Adrian said.

"Well, why don't you just put your phone on silent?" Eva suggested.

"It's not convenient for me," Adrian focused on the road ahead.

"Are you bothered by the noise?" Adrian raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. "If it bothers you, come here and help me."

"No," Eva crossed her arms. "I can endure it."

However, after a few more times of the phone ringing following the two calls, Eva couldn't bear the noise anymore. She stood up and propped her hand on the chair's back. "Where's your phone?"

Adrian gave her a cold glance and simply replied, "In my pocket."

 

 

Chapter 298 Come with Me

Eva had initially reached out for it, but upon hearing his response, she withdrew her hand. "Can't you take it out yourself?" "I'm driving, it's not convenient," Adrian explained.

Eva wanted to say that it's simple to take it out and turn off the sound, but she suspected that if she mentioned it, he would bring up his theoretical knowledge about driving licenses again. So she chose to keep quiet and leaned back in her seat.

Just endure it until we reach the company. We should be there soon.

Lost in her thoughts, Eva couldn't help herself when she heard the phone ring once again. She leaned over and reached into his pocket to take out the phone.

However, after seeing the caller's name on the screen, Eva froze in place.

The phone continued to ring.

Thinking that she didn't know how to silence it, Adrian reminded her, "Long-press the side button to silence it."

Upon hearing his words, Eva snapped out of her daze, followed his instructions to silence the phone, and wordlessly handed it back to him.

She then leaned back in her seat, staring out the window with a cold expression.

Adrian vaguely sensed that something was off, but because she had always been resistant towards him, he didn't think too much of it.

When they finally arrived at the company, Eva got out of the car and coldly asked Adrian for the keys. "The keys."

Adrian pursed his lips and looked at her, feeling like her attitude towards him had worsened, even more so than before.

"But why?" he wondered.

She was perfectly fine in the car earlier.

"Have I offended you?" Adrian asked.

Eva showed no expression. "How could you possibly offend me? Thank you for giving me a ride, but the car is mine. It would be best if you either take a taxi or have a driver pick you up." Adrian furrowed his brows, feeling that her tone was especially unpleasant.

He was about to say something, but Eva took a step back to keep her distance. "I still have a lot of work to handle at my company. I'm leaving now."

After saying that, Eva left without even turning back.

Her reaction left Adrian puzzled.

The thin line on Adrian's almost pursed lips straightened, his smile vanished, and his eyes gradually transformed from confusion to displeasure and indifference.

Until his vibrating phone disturbed the silence, Adrian took it out and answered without even looking at the screen, "What is it?"

Because Eva had stirred up his heart, Adrian was feeling extremely agitated at the moment, and even his tone of speech was impatient.

There was silence for about five to six seconds on the other end of the phone before a soft voice spoke up, "Adrian, it's me."

The familiar voice made Adrian pause. "Vivian?"

"Yes, it sounds like you're upset. Did something unpleasant happen? I called you a few times earlier, but you didn't pick up," Vivian expressed her concern.

Adrian listened reluctantly, and as he heard further, his eyes flashed. "What did you say? You were the one who kept calling me just now?"

"Yeah, I called you a couple of times, but you didn't answer. I was worried, so I kept calling. Are you mad at me? I'm sorry, I was just worried about you," Vivian explained.

Adrian's brows furrowed tightly.

Suddenly, he understood why Eva's demeanor had suddenly changed after getting hold of his phone and why she had reacted the way she did after switching it to silent mode. Although her previous attitude towards him was not good to begin with, she probably saw Vivian's calls, which was the final straw.

Realizing this, Adrian pursed his lips and coldly warned, "Don't make these consecutive calls in the future."

His voice was icy and cold, resembling the rain and snow in the winter.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a remorseful and weak voice., "I'm sorry, Adrian. I... I was just worried that something might have happened to you, that's why I..." "Worried about what?" Adrian sternly interrupted her. "If something really happens, aside from draining my phone's battery with these consecutive calls, what else can you do to help me?"

His words were direct and clear, leaving Vivian unable to refute. She could only softly apologize and promise not to do it again.

Adrian didn't have the patience to listen to her apology and ended the call after mentioning there was something important.

After putting away his phone, Adrian directly chased in the direction where Eva had disappeared earlier.

Eva returned to the company and planned to go back to her office after stepping out of the elevator. However, she unexpectedly ran into the bespectacled guy she had encountered last time at the corner. As soon as he saw her, the bespectacled guy blushed and greeted her, "Hello."

Although she was in a bad mood, Eva quickly adjusted her emotions when facing a fellow employee of her company and smiled at him, "Hmm, what are you doing here?"

The bespectacled guy initially just wanted to greet her, but he didn't expect that she would take the initiative to ask about him, causing his mood to soar.

The woman in front of him was dressed in simple winter attire, a light-colored sweater and regular high-waist jeans, paired with a light gray outer cardigan that reached her waist.

Tucked behind her head was her hair, held in place by a clip. It was a simple style, with no striking colors on her body, yet she radiated a beautiful and gentle glow, captivating people's attention.

The boy's eyes started to shine, and his ears turned red. "I-I'm here to submit a report," stuttered the boy with glasses.

"A report?" Eva asked.

"Yes." The boy handed over the folder in his hands. "It was meant to be handed to my boss, but..."

"Let me take a look." Eva reached out and took the folder.

She stood quietly in her place, flipping through the documents. After about a minute, she suddenly realized something and looked up at the boy with glasses. "If you're busy, you can go ahead. I'll give this report to the manager later." "It's fine," the boy blushed and declined, "I'm not busy, I'll wait here for you."

Adrian had just stepped out of the elevator and witnessed this scene.

Eva stood in place, holding the documents and flipping through them, while the boy with glasses stood across from her, blushing and gazing at her.

Because her head was lowered, the boy's gaze became even more blatant. His admiration was so intense that he was on the verge of confessing his feelings right then and there.

Adrian's face darkened as he walked towards the two of them.

The boy with glasses was the first to notice him and recognized him immediately when he saw his face. His eyes widened in surprise, "Sir..."

Eva heard the voice and raised her head, catching a glimpse of the boy with glasses who looked astonished while staring behind her. She turned her head as well.

Seeing Adrian, Eva was equally surprised.

Before she could speak, Adrian stood in front of her, his face gloomy as he said, "I need to talk to you."

Recalling what had happened in the car earlier, Eva turned her head away, indicating that she had no intention of talking to him.

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

In the next second, he grabbed her wrist.

"Come with me."

 

 

Chapter 299 There's nothing between me and her

"What are you doing?" Eva was pulled so abruptly that she dropped the report from her hand.

But Adrian seemed to be triggered by something and paid no attention. He continued to pull her forward.

"Wait." The boy with glasses finally reacted and quickly rushed forward to stand in front of them. "What are you trying to do to her? Let go of her!"

Adrian looked at the young man standing in front of him like a little chick. It was a coincidence that the gold-rimmed glasses he was wearing reminded him of someone who also frequently wore such glasses. Combined with the fact that he had just seen this man gazing at Eva with affection as soon as he got out of the elevator, both of these points annoyed Adrian.

He sneered and mocked, "You think you're worthy of stopping me?"

His overwhelming presence immediately overwhelmed the boy with glasses.

Eva was still struggling. "Adrian, let go. What are you planning to do?"

Seeing the situation, the boy with glasses tried to step forward. "Let her go."

"Get lost!" Adrian shouted impatiently, "Don't make me get violent."

With that, he pulled Eva away.

It took a while for the boy with glasses to react, wanting to chase after them, but he hesitated and finally decided to let them go.

Adrian rushed towards Tim's office, his terrifying appearance making quite an impression. Tim was in the midst of a phone call with a client when the young man burst in, causing him to quiet down. Tim had to apologize to the client and hung up the call before asking what was going on.

"Why the rush? Why the commotion in the company?" he inquired.

"A man came in just now and took the boss away," the young man anxiously explained.

Upon hearing about Eva, Tim's expression instantly tensed. "What man? Took the boss away? Kidnapped her?"

"Kidnapped?" the bespectacled young man pondered, recalling the situation seriously. "It doesn't seem like a kidnapping, but there was definitely an argument. And the man... he looked like Mr. Blackwood."

When he said this, the young man began to doubt if he had seen correctly. How could he have seen Adrian involved with their boss? And grabbing her wrist at that?

Tim was initially worried but felt relieved upon hearing that it was Adrian. "You should have said so earlier. Why worry then? They know each other, so don't concern yourself. Just go back to work."

"But..." The bespectacled young man didn't relax his vigilance and scratched his head. "Mr. Blackwood didn't seem right. Shouldn't we do something? What if something happens to our boss?"

Tim had already allowed him to leave, but he didn't expect him to linger and ask questions. Tim looked at him speechlessly. "Have you ever been in love? Why are you so oblivious? He likes our boss, so of course something seems off." "Likes?" The bespectacled young man froze, not expecting to receive that answer.

Mr. Blackwood likes Ms. Hansen? Then... doesn't that mean...

"Stop thinking about it. Even without Mr. Blackwood, you don't stand a chance. Those who pursue our boss are lined up, not just anyone can have a chance," Tim said bluntly. Although he already knew this would be the outcome, witnessing and hearing it firsthand still disheartened the young man. "I, I understand. I never thought about it anyway." "It's fine to think, who doesn't like a beautiful and intelligent woman? Now go back and work hard," Tim patted his shoulder.

The dejected young man left, dragging his heavy steps behind him.

Tim shook his head and returned to his own work.

Adrian led Eva to a secluded corner before finally stopping. Initially, Eva struggled, but then she realized that his grip, like iron chains, tightly held her. Any resistance was futile. So in the end, Eva didn't waste her energy and allowed him to lead her without any resistance.

Perhaps because she remained quiet, Adrian's emotions gradually became influenced by her. They hadn't walked for long before he stopped and turned his head to look at her.

The two of them silently locked eyes for a moment, until Eva's gaze eventually fell on his hand holding onto her wrist.

"Now, can you let go?" she asked.

Her voice was calm, clear, and devoid of any warmth. This demeanor made Adrian furrow his brows. Instead of releasing her, he tightened his grip on her wrist and took a couple of steps forward, closing the distance between them. "I have something to tell you," Adrian said, getting closer, his cool breath swirling around her.

It smelled exactly like she remembered.

Almost instinctively, Eva turned her face away, not meeting his gaze. "Fine, go ahead and say what you want."

Her nonchalant and indifferent attitude only made Adrian feel more frustrated, but there were things he needed to make clear. "When you silenced my phone just now, did you see the caller ID?"

At his words, Eva hesitated, clearly not expecting him to ask this question.

She scoffed, "I just silenced it, I'm not interested in your personal privacy."

"Is that so?" Adrian stared at her, his gaze unwavering. "You didn't see it?"

"No," Eva nodded. "I didn't see it. Can you let go of me now?"

The next second, Adrian pushed her against the cold wall, his hand gripping her wrist and his teeth clenching. "You didn't see it? You didn't see how you've been treating me lately, Eva? Do you think I'm a fool?" What started as a mere confrontation now became intense. Eva's wrist was held up high by Adrian, and his entire body leaned against hers.

The distance between them instantly became intimate.

If it wasn't for the thick fabric of their winter clothing, they might have felt each other's skin temperature...

Nevertheless, the difference between a man's body and a woman's body was still discernible. Even in this tight proximity, Eva could distinctly feel the contours of his masculine physique...

"Even if you don't believe me, I have to tell you that there's nothing between me and her." Due to the closeness, Adrian's heated breath brushed against Eva's face as he spoke.

Eva couldn't hold her breath, and this proximity made her feel as if their breaths were intertwining.

She struggled, but Adrian's grip on her hand remained tight.

Eva could only breathe lightly and say, "Why are you telling me all this? I don't care about whatever may or may not exist between you and her. Let go."

"I won't let go." Adrian stubbornly stared at her. "If you don't care, then why did your mood suddenly change?"

"Who says my mood changed? I've always been like this," Eva retorted.

"It's different now," Adrian said.

Eva chuckled, "How is it different?"

Adrian pursed his lips and looked at her with a complex expression. "Even though you've always had a bad attitude towards me, it became worse after you found out. That's the difference. Do you think I can't see that?"

 

 

Chapter 300 Sinister Schemes

Eva never expected that one day someone would use her worsening attitude as evidence of an emotional shift. "So what? I have a worse attitude towards you now, does it mean anything?" Adrian fell silent, just quietly staring at her.

Seeing that he didn't reply, Eva tried to make him let go of her. "Just let go of me first."

He didn't answer, so Eva attempted to push him away.

However, before she knew it, everything turned black.

Adrian suddenly leaned over towards her.

"Are you trying to..." Eva's words were cut short as he embraced her fully.

His warmth immediately enveloped her entire body. Eva stood frozen in place, thinking he was about to forcefully kiss her.

"Yes, perhaps to you, it doesn't mean much, but for me, it holds great significance," Adrian's voice whispered in her ear, low and deep. "What do I have now? Only this subtle change to distinguish if you still have even the slightest bit of affection for me, even if it's just a tiny bit."

Whether it was real or fake, or even if it was fading away, he wanted to hold on tight.

In that moment, Eva truly believed she had misheard him.

Because those words were too humble.

They didn't sound like something Adrian would say at all.

She also began to wonder what he was up to. Didn't he initiate their divorce five years ago and refuse to have a child with her? Now, he says he can only discern her feelings based on this slight change? What does this really mean?

But what happened in these five years? Did he regret divorcing her, which is why he regrets it now?

No, wait. She clearly saw him with Vivian at the auction. They attended the event together and left together, standing close to each other, very intimate.

With this in mind, the emotion in Eva's eyes grew colder. Even though Adrian held her in his embrace now, it felt like holding a stone.

She deliberately pierced him with her words. "What do you mean by saying these things now, Adrian?"

Upon hearing this, Adrian slowly released his grip and looked down at her with lowered brows. "What do I mean? Can't you figure it out?"

Eva arched her eyebrow. "Do I have to? It might be embarrassing, but I genuinely can't figure out what you're trying to say."

She displayed a mocking expression, "Otherwise, let me guess, are you regretting divorcing me? Do you want to reconcile with me?"

As she said these words, Eva's sarcasm was strong, as if she would unleash a verbal assault and embarrass Adrian if he admitted it.

After finishing her sentence, Eva's lips maintained a cold and indifferent smile. Adrian, being an intelligent person, surely noticed her dismissive attitude. If he dared to confess, he would be humiliated by her words. At this moment, she really wanted to know if Adrian would still admit it knowing the outcome.

With this thought in mind, Eva even lifted her chin.

Adrian silently gazed at her.

He understood very well what she intended to do next.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Eva laughed. "Mr. Blackwood, could it be that you're too afraid to admit it?"

"Why provoke me?" Adrian sighed. "I have already made it quite obvious. Yes, you're right, I do regret it."

With those words, he suddenly leaned in closer, almost pressing his thin lips against her moistened ones. His fervent breath brushed against her face.

His eyes were deep, inching closer with each movement, as he was about to kiss those two lips that had haunted him every night for the past five years. Lips that drove him to the brink of madness every time he thought of them. But in that split second before contact, Eva's lips curled into a disdainful smile.

And just like that, his movements came to an abrupt halt.

"So what?" Eva chuckled, her gaze fixed on Adrian, who was now just inches away. Her slender fingers lightly poked his chest, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Just because you regret it, I'm supposed to agree? Adrian, who do you think you are? What gives you the right to come and go as you please? Based on what?"

"I don't have any rights," Adrian could only furrow his brow and deny.

"Well, you sure have a short memory. Have you forgotten that you were the one who brought up the divorce in the first place?" Eva sneered.

At the mention of it, Adrian gritted his teeth. "Fine, let's say it was my fault. But what about you? You didn't even care if I mentioned the divorce back then, did you? I only did it to please you."

Hearing his words, Eva frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Adrian pursed his lips, his gaze intense.

"Who was it that told me afterward that it was just a biological need, with no emotional ties? You even demanded ten million dollars from me," Adrian spoke, remembering something that made him furious.

Eva fell silent for a moment before retorting, "If I remember correctly, I returned that ten million dollars to you a long time ago, didn't I?"

When she left back then, she had truly left him, taking nothing with her.

"Do you really think it's about money?" Adrian's brow furrowed.

"What else could it be? Adrian, I don't owe you anything," Eva said.

"Yes, you don't owe me anything. That's why you can leave so calmly, without any concern, not even willing to spare me a glance," Adrian stared at her, his voice heavy. "What I mind is what you said to me, that it was merely a biological need with no emotions, and now you still think it's about that ten million dollars?"

Eva was taken aback.

Initially, she did think he was referring to the ten million dollars, but now, with his words, she carefully recalled that back then, she only mentioned the biological need.

Seeing her expression, Adrian gritted his teeth. "Remember now? You said it was an accident, a normal physiological need."

How could Eva forget? They were both drunk that night, she didn't know who initiated it, but it happened, and in the morning, she was worried that he would feel pressured. So, she preemptively explained it as an accident and a biological need, to avoid any awkwardness between them.

She never expected that one day, he would use this against her.

With this in mind, Eva raised her gaze and looked at him calmly. "Are you daring to say otherwise?"

Adrian was caught off guard. "I..."

"Are you daring to say it wasn't an accident that night? Or are you going to say that you've been plotting against me all along, so that's why that night happened?" Eva fired off a series of questions. Adrian pursed his thin lips and silently stared at her.

Eva laughed at herself self-deprecatingly, "So you believe that? Is it really possible? Even I find it funny."

After a long pause, Adrian softly parted his thin lips. "Why wouldn't it be possible?"

Eva was taken aback.

"Is this such a strange thing?" Adrian's hand stroked the back of her head, his lips almost touching hers once again. "Haven't you ever considered that I might truly have ulterior motives towards you?"