LOGINCHAPTER 134ADRIAN'S POVThree hours later, after dropping Lara at home, I found myself driving somewhere I hated. Somewhere I avoided whenever possible, that I hadn't visited in months.My father's estate. The large iron gates opened automatically. The mansion beyond looked exactly as I remembered. I hated it just as I hated the man living inside it. The butler greeted me immediately."Mr Romano."I ignored him, walking straight inside, towards the study The door was already open. As though he had known I was coming. Of course he had. Nothing escaped him. Not much anyway. My father sat behind his desk.His silver hair reflected the evening light streaming through the windows. He didn't look up immediately. Typical.Finally:"Adriano."I hated hearing that name from him."Father."His eyes lifted. Studied and judged me. The way they always did."You look tired."I didn't come here for observations."I need information."A faint smile touched his lips."Straight to business."I remaine
CHAPTER 133 LARA'S POVI woke up feeling completely at peace again. I smiled before I even opened my eyes. The reason was obvious. Adrian. I could feel his arm wrapped securely around my waist. His chest rose and fell steadily behind me. At some point during the night, I'd practically climbed on top of him in my sleep. Not that he seemed to mind. Slowly, I turned around. His face was only inches away. He was unfairly handsome. Even asleep while asleep. The harsh edges of his personality seemed to disappear whenever he slept. I reached out and brushed a lock of dark hair from his forehead. Immediately, his green eyes opened. "Good morning, little lamb." His voice was rough from sleep. My stomach fluttered. "Good morning." I yelped as he suddenly pulled me on top of him. "Adrian!" "What?" His hands settled comfortably on my waist. The man had absolutely no shame. "It's morning." "I know." "We should get up." "We should." Neither of us moved. I laughed and
CHAPTER 132ADRIAN'S POVI waited until Lara fell asleep. She had been exhausted after the move, after spending hours unpacking her things and listening to Ken embarrass me with stories from high school. Not that she seemed to mind. In fact, she had enjoyed it far too much.I could still picture her laughing on the couch while Ken recounted the time I'd punched a classmate. The memory almost made me smile. Then I remembered Vincent's message. My expression hardened.I carefully slipped out of bed. Lara stirred slightly. Immediately, I froze. Her arm instinctively reached for my side of the bed. My chest tightened. Even asleep, she searched for me. I leaned down and kissed her forehead."Go back to sleep, sweetheart."She mumbled something incoherent and settled down again. Only then did I leave.The home office was already occupied when I arrived. Vincent stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows. Ken sat in one of the leather chairs with a glass of whiskey in his hand. Both men looked
CHAPTER 131LARA'S POVThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was that I had absolutely no idea where I was. For one terrifying second, I sat upright in bed. Then reality came rushing back.The massive bedroom. The floor-to-ceiling windows. The luxurious furniture. The expensive sheets wrapped around my body. Adrian.I smiled immediately. I lived here now. Well...not officially officially. But I lived here. The thought made my stomach flutter. Beside me, Adrian was still asleep.For a moment, I simply watched him. His dark hair was slightly messy. His face looked younger when he slept. Less intimidating. Less CEO. Less Adriano Romano. More... Adrian. My Adrian.The thought made my cheeks warm. Carefully, I slipped out of bed. I had no intention of waking him. The man rarely slept properly.Whenever I woke during the night, I'd find him staring at the ceiling or working on his phone. For once, he looked peaceful. I wasn't ruining that.After freshening up, I changed into a pair of ye
CHAPTER 130ADRIAN'S POVI was standing in Lara's apartment, smiling like an idiot. I never thought watching someone pack would make me happy, yet there I was. Thankfully, she was too busy sorting through her wardrobe to notice. Or maybe she noticed and was pretending not to."You don't need all of those."Lara immediately looked offended. I regretted speaking."What do you mean I don't need all of those?"I pointed at the pile currently occupying half her bed."There are enough clothes there to survive a lockdown.""Are you criticizing my fashion choices?" Her eyes narrowed.I raised both hands."I would never.""Smart answer." She smiled.I smiled too. God. I loved this. The normality of it all. After everything we'd been through recently, standing in her apartment arguing about clothes felt strangely perfect.Lara returned to packing. Most of her things were already boxed. She wasn't taking much. Just clothes, shoes, toiletries, her makeup collection, some books, documents and phot
CHAPTER 129LARA'S POVI woke up with the memory of last night immediately flooding my mind. Adrian showing up at my apartment. His vulnerable confession. The way we'd finally talked through everything. The way he'd held me all night as though he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go. A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.The space between us was gone.bWe were finally okay again. Beside me, the bed was empty. I frowned. The scent of his cologne still lingered on the pillow.A few seconds later, my phone vibrated. As if he knew I was thinking about him.Adrian: Good morning, Little lamb.I smiled immediately.Me: You didn't come last night.Three dots appeared. Then:Adrian: That's why I asked you to move in with me.I paused, then laughed softly.Me: Fine. You're forgiven.Adrian: Thank you.I rolled my eyes. My smile remained for the rest of the morning.Unfortunately, happiness didn't excuse me from work. By the time I arrived at Blackstone, I was already preparing m
CHAPTER EIGHT LARA’S POV Moving out sounded like freedom. But no one really tells you that freedom also comes with… silence that feels unfamiliar. The first few mornings in my new apartment, I kept waking up expecting to hear my mother calling from the kitchen or my father asking w
CHAPTER SEVENThe email came in at exactly 8:14 a.m.I almost ignored it.I was halfway through fixing my blouse in the bathroom mirror at work when my phone buzzed inside my handbag.Salary Credit Notification.For a moment, I just stared blankly at my phone.Then my heart started p
CHAPTER FIVE Chris was acting strange. Not terrible. Not rude. Just… different. And the worst part was that I couldn’t even explain it properly. The calls became shorter. The texts became drier. And every time I mentioned work, his mood changed. At first, I told myself I w
CHAPTER FOUR My first week at Blackstone Conglomerate was terrifying. Not because the work was impossible. But because I feared encountering Adrian Romano again. And somehow— I did not see him again because he was the CEO, until when we had an impromptu meeting. I saw him. Our







