Chapter 4

The high fever turned into severe pneumonia, and I finally collapsed on the living room floor.

It was Noah, a senior colleague from my group, who sensed something was wrong, broke down the door with building management, and got me to the hospital.

He stayed up all night, his eyes red, keeping watch by my bed, changing my towels and giving me warm water.

Adrian didn't get to the hospital until the next morning.

He looked exhausted, the collar of his white shirt still damp with rain, his cashmere coat draped over one arm, altogether too disheveled to be the ever-proper, elegant Professor Hall.

The moment he pushed open the ward door, his gaze fixed on Noah, who was spoon-feeding me porridge.

His face darkened in an instant.

"I'm her fiancé. It's not your place to fawn over her here. Get out."

Noah glanced at him, set down the bowl, and turned to leave.

Only the two of us were left in the ward.

Adrian's knees bent, and he knelt before my bed.

He grabbed my hand and pressed it hard against his cheek.

His lashes were soaked, his voice shaking.

"Eve, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"I'm her advisor. The accident could have cost a life, I couldn't just ignore her. Hit me, scream at me, whatever you want, but don't look at me like that. It scares me."

I looked at him quietly.

Years ago, when I had my appendix out, he'd knelt by the bed and held my hand just like this.

Heartbroken, he'd said he'd take the pain for me if he could.

Watching him in this state of anguish, I suddenly felt dazed.

I couldn't tell whether he was begging my forgiveness or desperately trying to prove he was still the Adrian who used to love me.

I slowly drew my hand back.

I picked up a tissue from the nightstand and wiped the back of my hand.

"It's fine. You were only doing your duty, Professor Hall. I completely understand."

"But we still need to confirm the wedding guest list. Don't leave anyone off."

I didn't cry, and I didn't demand answers.

Looking at me like this, Adrian's breathing faltered for the first time.

To put me at ease, he took out his phone in front of me and deleted Selena's contact then and there.

He held up the screen for me to see and swore, one word at a time.

"I'll transfer her to another advisor tomorrow. I promise, I'll never see her again."

Looking at the empty chat screen, I suddenly found it funny.

A man who could hide five hundred and twenty records couldn't possibly have only one way to reach her.

But I nodded anyway.

"Alright."

The day I was discharged was the last day of the countdown.

Without telling Adrian, I went to his office alone to collect my clearance file and transfer papers.

The corridor was dead quiet.

The office door was left ajar, a gap remaining.

No light was on inside, only the gray daylight filtering in from the window.

I stopped and looked in through the crack.

The usually lofty, cool, upright Professor Hall was sprawled casually in his leather office chair.

And Selena, who was supposed to have been "transferred to another advisor," was sitting on his lap.

Her wine-red slip dress had slid halfway down, baring a wide stretch of pale skin.

In Adrian's hand, he was toying with a black leather collar.

He didn't push her away. Instead he raised his hand and fastened the collar around her neck.

A soft click.

Adrian's voice was hoarse, thick with undisguised desire.

"I deleted you right in front of her. This collar locks around no one but you. From now on, you answer only to me."

His fingers stroked the metal clasp.

"I'm the only one with the key. Satisfied now? I've all but thrown away my dignity for you."

Selena laughed softly and wound her arms around his neck.

But her eyes went past Adrian's shoulder, staring straight at me outside the door.

Just then, my fingers on the door handle shifted.

The hinge gave a faint creak.

Adrian frowned and looked up.

The moment that ever-refined face met my eyes, every trace of color drained from it.