LOGINFrancesco and Adriana's marriage progressed with unexpected smoothness.After hearing about Francesco's dramatic escape from the wedding in Mitaly, no one in the Stanley family dared voice opposition to the marriage anymore.They all understood that Francesco was fully capable of cutting ties with the family. If they opposed him, the Stanley family would lose its only heir.Only three days after Adriana met the family, Richard and Bella's parents met to discuss the engagement arrangements.Since Adriana had no close relatives of her own, she decided to make the choice herself and skip both the engagement banquet and the wedding ceremony altogether, replacing them with a traveling wedding instead.Francesco, however, looked reluctant."I already prepared a guest list. Can't you cooperate with me a little?"Adriana took the list from his hand. The names included Bella and Patrick, Chris, Oliver, and several others."With only these people invited, why would we even need a wedding
"As for you and Francesco being together, neither my dad nor I object to it. I'm just wondering whether there's anyone on your side we can discuss the engagement with."At first, Richard had opposed the relationship. But under relentless pressure from Francesco, he had reluctantly agreed to at least meet Adriana first.Now that he had met her and spoken with her tonight, he had completely abandoned the idea of opposing them.Adriana had Francesco wrapped firmly around her finger. If he continued resisting, he would only end up like his wife—losing this son entirely.Objectively speaking, aside from the mismatch in family background, there was nothing about Adriana that made her unworthy of Francesco.Although families like theirs didn't necessarily need a scientist as a daughter-in-law, when it came to scientific talent, Adriana might even surpass Francesco."Isn't this a little too rushed?"Adriana hesitated. There were still things she hadn't explained clearly yet. Until she s
After arriving in Heatherton City, Francesco's paternal family called and invited Francesco to bring Adriana home for dinner.When she heard the news, Adriana got so nervous she practically paced in circles."I can't do this. I've never met your dad and grandfather before. Maybe I just shouldn't go?""The ugly daughter-in-law has to meet the in-laws sooner or later. Besides, you're this gorgeous and a world-famous scientist. My grandfather and father should consider themselves lucky to meet you."Francesco coaxed her while leading her into a high-end boutique to pick out clothes."You're right! Other than not being as rich as you, what part of me is lacking?"Adriana hyped herself up, regaining some confidence.She picked out a more casual black outfit so she wouldn't come off as too much of an innocent girl."Give you an inch, and you take a mile."Francesco teased as he paid for the clothes and handbag.That evening, the two of them arrived at the Stanley family estate.Ad
Watching Adriana leave without once looking back, Francesco felt a sour ache rise in his chest.He had said he would wait there, and Adriana really had gone alone without bringing him along.He sat down on the sofa and casually picked up a book about rehabilitation, flipping through it absentmindedly, though he couldn't absorb a single word.When Adriana entered the garden, she spotted Chris immediately beneath a camphor tree.He sat in a specially designed wheelchair, his complexion as pale as ever, his frame even thinner than before. He wore a black lounge outfit.Anna sat beside him, reading aloud.Looking around, nearly everyone else in the garden was elderly.Adriana wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, forced a smile onto her face, and walked toward him."Chris."At the sound of her voice, Chris seemed stunned for a moment before finally turning toward her."Adriana?""I happened to be passing through, so I came to see you."Adriana greeted Anna, who smiled
Francesco bent down, resting his chin on Adriana's shoulder as he brushed lightly against her cheek."What are you, clairvoyant? You can see that island from this far away?""Get away from me."Adriana shoved his head aside and shot him a glare."Come on. Let's go back to Heatherton City."Francesco's gaze softened as he gently rubbed her head."I'm going to Egypt to see the pyramids. You can go back by yourself."Adriana wasn't speaking out of spite. For the time being, she truly had no plans to return to Heatherton City.Francesco pleaded, "Just come back to Heatherton City with me first and visit Bianca. After that, I'll follow you anywhere. To the ends of the earth—wherever you want to go."Adriana looked up at him in confusion."Our four-year agreement still has a long way to go. Why would you follow me?""Silly girl, how could I really make you wait four years?"Francesco sat beside her and leaned his head against hers."When my mother forced me to marry Suzie, I fin
Francesco gently pulled back a corner of the blanket and found Adriana's cheeks slightly flushed, her breathing slow and even. She had already fallen asleep."Well, looks like all that talking was for nothing."He tugged the blanket down a little farther, exposing her head.Adriana was sleeping deeply. She must have been utterly exhausted lately.As he stared at the familiar sleeping face before him, it felt as though a spring breeze had drifted through the dead of winter inside his chest, leaving his heart warm, restless, and faintly intoxicated.He gazed at her in silence for a long while before remembering he still had important things to handle.Mars was downstairs waiting for him, practically falling asleep already."Sir, are we heading back to Heatherton City?""Pack everything first. We'll leave once Adriana wakes up."Francesco unlocked his phone. His father had returned it to him before the wedding began.Countless missed calls.Countless unread messages.He found
Adriana was closer to Chris. Before the German Shepherd could tackle him, she stepped in front of him."Adriana!"Several voices cried out at once as everyone rushed forward.Joan ran straight to Chris. "Chris, are you okay?"Chris pushed her aside and asked urgently, "Adriana, are you hurt?"A
"Mr. Este, are you satisfied with the results of today's little test? Five years ago, she already gave you her answer. And today, five years later, she repeated it. So from now on, please keep your distance from my wife and me."Chris had once worried that Adriana truly intended to leave him. But a
"I've known him since I was eight or nine. It's been over ten years. Even without love, there's some sort of family bond."He took advantage of the fact that no one had my back. If my parents could see me now, in my twenties, living like this… they'd be heartbroken."I admit I'm weak. I'm afraid o
Adriana's heart skipped a beat. She reached for the drawing, but Chris had already snatched it up. His cold eyes scanned the figure on the paper, and a harsh laugh escaped him."No wonder you've been sulking lately. Thinking of an old flame, huh?"He knew about Adriana's mixed-race ex-boyfriend—so







