LOGINAdriana took Chris's cold hand in hers and gently patted it."If someone isn't good to you, then we don't need them."Chris looked at her and chuckled softly."Like how you treated Francesco?"Adriana neither confirmed nor denied it, smoothly steering the conversation elsewhere."You're doing much better now. There's no need to rush into making a will. Maybe one day you'll get married and have children of your own. The kids and I aren't short on money."Chris caught the deliberate distance in her words."I won't get married or have children," he said quietly. "Your children are my children."Even though both children resembled Francesco, especially Milo, who looked almost identical to that man, making it difficult for Chris to feel any affection toward him.But Maeve took after Adriana much more.To him, the little girl was a priceless treasure.Not wanting to continue the conversation, he picked Maeve up and carried her out of the dining room."Come on, Maeve. Let's put on
When Adriana received Anna's message, she was having dinner with Chris at the Slater family estate.As long as she wasn't too busy on weekends, she would bring Milo and Maeve over to spend time with Chris.Sometimes, when she saw him standing alone beneath the old tree in the courtyard, his figure carrying a sense of desolation and loneliness, it felt as though she was looking at someone abandoned by the entire world.Anna: [Adriana, when do you have time? Would it be convenient for us to meet?]Adriana: [Is something wrong?]After sending the message, Adriana looked up at Chris.He was eating while teasing Maeve, his entire being filled with a rare sense of vitality."Chris, has your mom been doing well recently?"Chris frowned."Why are you suddenly asking about her?""It's been a long time since I heard from her. Just asking."Adriana didn't know why Anna wanted to see her, so she didn't rush to tell Chris.Although mother and son had reunited, their relationship still s
The person who once had no hope left in life had found the strength to rise again, and the reason was actually a woman.In Anna's eyes, all of her son's misfortunes had been brought about by Adriana.If it weren't for Adriana, her son would never have jumped into the river, nor would he have been struck by Joan and suffered such severe injuries, leaving him in his current condition.She didn't even dare imagine what would happen if something like that occurred again. Chris would surely still throw himself in front of Adriana without hesitation, risking his own life to protect her.As his mother, all she wanted was for Chris to put himself first and never sacrifice himself for anyone."Sir, may I ask why you wanted to see me?"Anna composed herself. With Francesco's personality, he would never come looking for her just to reminisce about old times.Francesco leaned back against the chair, his gaze deep and unreadable."I need you to help me with something."Anna lifted her eyes
The hallway fell silent for a moment.Francesco closed his eyes and asked again, "Anything else?"Bianca shook her head, her tone completely sincere."No. Adriana only said you're an idiot because a smart person wouldn't walk home."Francesco picked up the cup of warm water in his hand and took a large gulp. The warmth slid down into his stomach, yet it couldn't warm any part of him.This illness had been completely pointless. He really was an idiot. He had actually tried to use such a clumsy method to gain even the slightest bit of sympathy and concern from Adriana.In the end, he had only deceived himself and humiliated himself."Cesco, don't be so stubborn in the future. As your older sister, I'll worry about you."Bianca patted his shoulder before turning around to get his medicine.Everyone said she was a fool, but she felt that Francesco wasn't exactly that smart either. At least she wouldn't have walked home in the middle of the night."Got it. I'm going back to rest."
When they arrived at the Stanley residence, Adriana gently woke Bianca."Bianca, we're home.""Thank you…"Bianca mumbled sleepily, still half-conscious as she pushed open the door and got out of the car. She walked around to the back and knocked on the window."Cesco, get out."Adriana let out an awkward laugh."He's not in the car."Bianca scratched her head, looking completely confused. She clearly remembered that Cesco had been sitting in the back seat before she fell asleep."Where did he go?""He thought the car was too stuffy, so he decided to walk home. He said it would help him get some fresh air and exercise."Bianca didn't suspect anything. She simply waved goodbye and turned to walk inside.Adriana turned the steering wheel and took a different route home instead of her usual one, deliberately taking a longer way.She was worried that stubborn man might still be walking on the street. If they ran into each other, it would be awkward.The moment she turned the c
The three of them returned to the car.Sitting in the driver's seat, Adriana still felt uneasy. She swiped across the screen with her fingertip and called Oliver.The phone rang for a long while before the other end finally picked up.Oliver's voice was hoarse. "Adriana?""Oliver, I'm leaving now. If anything happens, you must call me.""I'm not drunk. Don't worry about me. Go home and get some rest."His words were slurred and unclear, which only made him sound less reassuring.Adriana gave him a few more reminders before finally hanging up. The car fell silent once again.The streetlights outside passed through the windows, casting their glow over Francesco's sharply defined features in the back seat. The light and shadows shifted across his face.His expression, which had originally been cold and emotionless, now carried a trace of complicated feelings.Bianca leaned against the passenger seat and slept soundly, her breathing steady and even.Francesco suddenly spoke, his
"What do you think?"Joan let out a haughty snort, stepping back half a pace—right onto his polished leather shoes."When we were abroad, we could still meet often. But now that we're back, it's nearly impossible to see each other."Dean's usual calm, composed demeanor shifted; a playful, almost
In the blink of an eye, the day of Grandma Rosie's memorial arrived. Adriana got to the cemetery early, confirming the arrangements with the staff.Dew clung to the grass beside the graves, soaking her pant legs as she walked. She settled on a bench to dry off, lifting her gaze to a sea of headston
Of course it wasn't fine. Even a man who kept a mistress wouldn't bring her to an occasion this respectable.Chris was a well-known figure in their circle, and Joan came from a good family herself. Back then, the prospect of a marriage alliance between the Slater and Hill families had been common k
Francesco let out a bitter, self-mocking smile. For a man like Chris, Adriana had walked away from him without hesitation.In her eyes, he didn't even compare to Chris."Perhaps," Adriana murmured, then released her hand and paused mid-step on the dance floor, offering no explanation. "Anyway, tha







