That afternoon,Adrian made the call himself.
Within an hour,his private physician had sent over every recent medical report—scans,bloodwork,full health profiles—and even arranged for a house visit.A new round of tests was drawn and processed at top speed. By the end of the day,the fresh results arrived. Emily sat curled up on the living room couch,Adrian’s phone resting in her palm as she scrolled through the health report his doctor had just sent. Clean. All the new tests had come back normal—blood panels,cardiac scans,sleep profile.Everything. She finally let out a quiet breath,the knot between her brows loosening just a little. Then a notification popped up at the top of the screen. From:Leo Tan. Her thumb paused. Leo Tan? She blinked. That name—Her friend from university.The creative director behind MoonVisualsOfficial,the immersive lunar exhibitThe beginning of his affair with Vivian. The unraveling of everything with Emily. The first step onto a path that now felt entirely…orchestrated. And if Sienna was Adrian’s family— Then none of it was coincidence. It had all been a net. A net he’d walked straight into. Mike stood motionless, the muted voices behind the door already fading into a haze. His mind raced. Adrian. Luthmere. Family. He gritted his teeth, fingers curling into fists at his sides. So this was it? Adrian thought that just because his aunt was one of Luthmere’s key insiders, he could rig the entire board? Destroy A Design from the inside out—just because it threatened E International? And then Emily. Mike’s jaw tensed. Was she just part of the collateral damage? Maybe Adrian’s goal had never been about her. Maybe marrying her had just been convenient—just a way to destabilize the company that had become E International’s biggest competitor. Mike’s heart clenched. Or maybe he ha
She broke. It came in a rush of heat and sound, her spine arching, eyes fluttering shut, a cry caught in her throat as everything tipped over the edge. He didn’t let go, didn’t pull away. He held her through it, steady, patient—his name soft against her skin as her body gave in, moment after moment, until she collapsed back into the cushions, boneless and undone. When her trembling eased, he lifted his head, eyes warm, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He slid up beside her, pulling her into his arms, her body limp against his chest. He didn’t say anything—just kissed her forehead, then her hairline, the rhythm of his breathing falling in sync with hers. When he finally rose, he scooped her up gently, one arm beneath her knees, the other steadying her back. She was half-asleep already, face buried against his collarbone, fingers curling instinctively into his shirt as he carried her through the quiet house. In the bedroom, he laid her down carefully, pulling the blanket
She was about to respond,but he didn’t pull away. Instead,his hands slid to her shoulders,thumbs pressing gently into the tight knots of muscle beneath her shirt. “You’ve been carrying too much tension again,”he murmured.“Let me help.” He shifted behind her on the couch,drawing her between his knees.His hands worked slowly,methodically—pressing,kneading,coaxing her to soften beneath his touch.Her head tilted back against his chest,her breath deepening. “You should’ve been a massage therapist,”she said faintly. He chuckled low in her ear.“Too late now.” His fingers found the hem of her shirt,and he hesitated—just briefly—before lifting it over her head.The air was cool against her skin,but his palms were warm,steady.He kissed the back of her neck.Then her shoulder.Then lower. Her breath caught. “Adrian…” “Shhh,”he whispered.“Let me take care of you.” She turned her head, and he met her halfway, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that started slow, deep, then turned
That afternoon,Adrian made the call himself. Within an hour,his private physician had sent over every recent medical report—scans,bloodwork,full health profiles—and even arranged for a house visit.A new round of tests was drawn and processed at top speed. By the end of the day,the fresh results arrived. Emily sat curled up on the living room couch,Adrian’s phone resting in her palm as she scrolled through the health report his doctor had just sent. Clean. All the new tests had come back normal—blood panels,cardiac scans,sleep profile.Everything. She finally let out a quiet breath,the knot between her brows loosening just a little. Then a notification popped up at the top of the screen. From:Leo Tan. Her thumb paused. Leo Tan? She blinked. That name—Her friend from university.The creative director behind MoonVisualsOfficial,the immersive lunar exhibit
Adrian: Probably just…self-inflicted panic. She read it twice, then thought back to the way he’d been lately. Quiet. Present. Almost like he was afraid of something slipping through the cracks. She typed: Emily: As long as it’s not emotional betrayal, everything else is negotiable. He replied instantly: Adrian: Promise? Emily didn’t type anything this time. Instead, she stood up and walked to the private lounge space Adrian had insisted the renovation team include just for her. It was quiet, soundproofed, with a lockable door. She closed it behind her, placed her phone in its usual stand, and turned on the front-facing camera. Her reflection stared back—clear-eyed and steady. She pressed record. “I promise,”she said.“As long as it’s not emotional betrayal or anything illegal, I will never leave you.” She stopped the recording and sent it to him, unedited. — In the backseat of a black Maybach, Adrian sat in silence. The privacy glass muted the world
When Emily stepped out of her office that evening, Adrian was already waiting by the car, a small velvet box in hand. She raised an eyebrow, curious.“What’s this?” He handed it to her with a smile.“From my aunt. She said it’s for you.” Emily lifted the lid carefully. Inside lay a cascading floral brooch, delicate and ornate. She recognized the design immediately—it was something she’d seen once in a museum exhibit, a rare piece from the Art Nouveau era. The petals were set with high-fire opals that shimmered with shifting colors, and the center gleamed with fine diamonds in place of stamens. It was exquisite. Irreplaceable. Adrian watched her expression.“Don’t worry. She’s not short on money—she genuinely wanted you to have it.” Emily ran a finger lightly along the edge of the brooch.“Then I’ll wear it the next time we have a family dinner. I want her to see I love it.” Jewelry like that wasn’t just a gift—it was a symbol. Wearing it meant more than just acceptance. It