His demand.

°SERENA°

The phone screen lit up suddenly, and my hands trembled as I reached for it.

"Don’t make a scene next time you’re going out." — Adrian.

This heartless guy!

Relief washed over me that it was him, but seriously, could he not text more humanely?

Wait—how does he even know what happened?

Of course, I should have guessed. I did see the bluetooth on Tim's ear.

So Adrian really listened to what happened.

Still, I’m not going to reply to you, Adrian Royce.

Clutching my phone, I fell back onto my bed. For a fleeting moment, I thought it was someone else, but thank God it wasn him.

The next morning, I woke up early, a little giddy—it was my first day of college. Excitement bubbled in my chest as I stepped out.

When I arrived, the campus was magnificent—tall buildings surrounded by bustling students in white coats. Soon, I’d be one of them!

Right then, my stomach growled, loud and demanding. I hadn’t eaten since leaving his villa—an hour-and-a-half-long drive. If only it wasn’t so far away.

"It’s his money, his house, Serena." I shook the thought off and went on a quest for the canteen, guided only by signboards. Finally, I found it. After ordering steamed fish rice, I sat and waited.

"Steamed fish rice!"

My food!

I rushed to grab the bowl, but another pair of hands reached for it at the same time. I froze in confusion, staring at the owner of those hands—a girl who looked as rushed and hungry as I was.

“It’s hers; she ordered first,” the cashier said, pointing at me.

“Sorry,” the girl murmured.

“No, you can have it—” I started, only for my stomach to betray me with a loud growl. I smiled awkwardly.

The girl chuckled. “I have an idea. Let’s share the food.”

Relieved, I nodded, and we sat down together.

“What’s your name?” she asked between bites.

“Serena Cooper. And you?”

“Nina Ashwood.”

“Greate,I just joined. What about you?” I asked, curious.

“Oh, same here! But my whole family went to this college, so I’m already familiar with the place,” she explained.

“I’m glad we met.”

“Me too. Looks like we’re classmates, Serena.”

After breakfast, we headed to class together. The day passed in a blur of introductions and settling in.

By evening, Nina’s driver picked her up, she too lived far from here. while I took a cab back to the villa.

Back home, I checked on the herbs I’d soaked the previous night. The water needed changing, and by tomorrow, they’d be ready.

Then We should start needling today.

With that in mind, I knocked on Adrian’s door and received a cold,

“Come in,”

Could he care about people’s feelings even a little? Heartless guy.

His already icy gaze hardened further when he saw me, and I gulped instinctively.

“What?” he asked bluntly.

“The herbs will be ready by tomorrow,” I began. “It’s better to start needling today.”

“Okay.”

That’s it?

“Can you drench under cold water for two minutes?” I asked hesitantly.

He raised an eyebrow, so I elaborated. “The cold water will calm the heat in your body and relax your brain.”

Without a word, he pushed his chair back and disappeared into what I assumed was the bathroom.

When he came from the shower, I was not prepared for what I saw.

He looked breathtakingly handsome? beautiful? Stunning?

Water dripped from his hair, droplets clinging to his bushy brows. His shirt stuck to his figure, outlining a body that seemed impossibly well-maintained for someone wheelchair-bound.

How does he manage to look like this?

God, I am a girl too.

“Done staring?” His voice broke my trance.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I wasn’t staring,” I muttered, my voice barely audible

Focus, Serena. You’re here for work—zip your thoughts and do the job.

I watched as he rolled to the bed and pressed a few buttons. Instantly, the bed lowered itself, and his wheelchair connected seamlessly, allowing him to transfer without anyone's help.

Wow! The life of the rich, I guess.

I grabbed the needles and approached him, trying to steady my trembling hands. But the bed was lower than I expected, and as I leaned forward, I lost my footing.

Before I knew it, I was falling.

I landed right on top of him.

My hands caught me just in time, pressing against the firm planes of his chest. My heart thundered, the sound deafening in my ears. But then I noticed something else—his heartbeat, quick and unsteady beneath my palms.

His body radiated warmth, pulling me in like a magnet. My breath hitched as I realized just how close we were. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world around us faded into a hazy blur.

“Comfortable?” he asked, his voice low and laced with something I couldn’t quite place.

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, trying to push myself up. But before I could, his hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

“Why didn’t you respond to my text?” he demanded, his voice a notch deeper, his gaze unwavering.