Chapter 24

Serena pov

I had no idea why Adrian was here. And I didn't want to know. So I only glanced at him briefly before pulling my emotions together and walking straight toward the building entrance. He was standing right in the doorway. To get home, I had to pass him. At that moment, all I wanted was for him to pretend he didn't see me. Unfortunately, he wasn't blind. As I drew near, he spoke, his voice colder than the night itself. "Why are you back so late?" The tone was pure accusation, as if he had any right to question me. I almost laughed. What standing did he have to ask that? When I ignored him, he reached out and grabbed my arm. The movement tugged at the scrape on my elbow. I couldn't hold back a sharp hiss of pain. As if something clicked, Adrian let go immediately, his brows knitting even tighter than before. "Where are you hurt?" "Is it serious?" He sounded concerned. But that concern came far too late—and felt far too false. I didn't want it anymore. It left me unmoved. "If you have something to say, just say it." My hard tone made him frown repeatedly. Only then did he seem to realize my recent distance might be me sulking at him. For once, he softened his stance. "About appointing Elena as Director of Department Three—I should have told you beforehand. I was just too busy and didn't get around to it." Busy. The perfect excuse. It works anytime, in any relationship. Except the intimate ones. Because there it's just evasion. I heard his explanation, but it stirred nothing inside me. "Are you done? Can I go home now?" Adrian clearly hadn't expected this reaction. In ten years together, what he'd always liked most about me was how sensible and accommodating I was. Never demanding, never fighting, yet capable. He assumed I'd understand every decision he made, every arrangement. That even if there was a small misunderstanding, one word from him and I'd believe him unconditionally. But this time I didn't. The warmth that used to fill my eyes when I looked at him was gone, replaced by something as cool as the night around us. My response left an unexplained irritation simmering in him. "Serena, I've said what I needed to. I can understand you being upset, but there's a limit." "Skipping work without reason—I hope that stops here." By the end, his commanding tone had returned. "I understand," I said, lowering my gaze to hide whatever flickered in my eyes. His brows finally relaxed. "It's late. Get some rest. There's an investment committee meeting tomorrow morning—come in early and prepare." "With you gone these past days, the assistants have made a mess of everything. A lot of work fell behind." I wanted to say that if he weren't blocking my way, I'd already be upstairs resting. From the look of it, he planned to follow me up. I was about to refuse when his private phone rang. This time I didn't even glance at the screen. I'd lost all curiosity about him. Adrian seemed to know who was calling. He didn't answer in front of me, only said, "Go on upstairs." I turned and walked away. I'd just reached the elevator when I heard him outside, answering. "Elena, what is it?" Heh. The doors opened. I stepped in quickly and hit the close button, desperate to shut everything outside away. After days of poor sleep, that night I couldn't sleep at all. I tossed and turned for hours. Around eleven, Maya messaged me. She'd sent seven or eight lawyers' contacts—some through connections, some famous online personalities. She was doing everything she could to help. Since I was awake anyway, I chatted with a few. At first they all sounded confident, but the moment they heard it was a lawsuit against Blackwood business's legal team, they went silent. It was even thornier than I'd imagined. I'd signed that agreement willingly. That alone would likely doom any case. Litigation wasn't viable. If the other side dragged it out maliciously for three or five years, my career would be over. So my only option was through Adrian. I'd have to keep dealing with him. The realization irritated me deeply. Karma really does come around. Who told me to grow only a lovesick brain back then and nothing else? This was my retribution. Maya asked, "So what now?" I steeled myself. "I'll have to endure the humiliation for now." Maya was truly impressed by the new me. "Serena, you've finally woken up! That's great!" Yes. At least it wasn't too late. But awakening alone is one percent others' reminders. The other ninety-nine percent is being carved a thousand times over. … The next morning I arrived at the office early. Adrian came in with Elena. Seeing me quietly at my desk put him at ease. So my recent odd behavior had just been me throwing a tantrum at him. He'd given a simple explanation last night, and I'd obediently returned. He was very satisfied with how reasonable I was. After entering his office with Elena, he called me on the intercom to bring in two coffees. I did. "Adrian, can you check if this PPT still needs changes?" "Didn't I look at it last night?" "I tweaked it a little more." Elena's voice was soft and sweet. I was genuinely curious how she produced that sound. Adrian patiently reviewed it with her. I placed the files needing signatures on his desk. "Adrian, these need your signature." "Leave them there." He didn't even look up, fully focused on revising Elena's PPT. I quietly left the office, sent the meeting agenda to Chloe, and then slipped out of Blackwood business. I told Chloe that if Adrian asked, say I was arranging the celebration banquet. Whenever a subsidiary went public, Blackwood business held a sizable celebration. I'd always handled it before, so this time was no different. No one would doubt the excuse—not even Adrian. I reached the hospital by nine-thirty and checked on Grace first. Her condition hadn't improved. When I entered, she instinctively looked past me. Seeing I was alone, disappointment shadowed her eyes. I knew who she'd hoped to see and what she wanted to discuss with him. But I couldn't tell her the truth. I could only hide it. At least let her focus on treatment without worry. While waiting the half hour for Jack, Chloe messaged me with complaints.