Adrian looked taken aback, then let out a low chuckle. “Me? Really?” He smirked, clearly amused. “Well, that’s an ego booster.”I laughed, feeling the tension ease a little. “Yeah, don’t let it go to your head. She’s just… let’s say, a bit over the top.”“Well, if it’s that unbearable, why not just quit?” he asked, giving me a thoughtful look.I shook my head, smiling. “It’s not my job—I hate Harper, not my Job. Plus, Sophia works there too. She makes things bearable, so quitting isn’t really on my radar.”He leaned back, crossing his arms, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “Still, it’s not like you need to work. The Knights are… well, let’s just say we’re pretty comfortable financially. And when this marriage ends, you’ll get a hefty severance package.”I paused, surprised by his honesty. “That’s… really thoughtful of you,” I replied softly.His words about the divorce stung a little more than I’d expected, though I tried to shake it off. I forced a small smile, saying, “Thanks, but
Adrian watched me, his gaze softening a bit. “It’s strange. You seem to care more than most people I know.”“Well,” I shrugged, slightly flustered by his intensity. “I know what it’s like to deal with entitled jerks. And you don’t deserve that kind of hassle, not from your own family.”His expression softened, and he nodded. “Thank you. Most people don’t get it.”"Well, what about your mom?" I asked, hoping to shift the mood a little. "What does she think about all of this?"Adrian's face darkened, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. He sighed, leaning back in his chair as he seemed to weigh his words carefully. "That's... a whole different story. She has her own ideas," he muttered, almost to himself, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the thought. Then, with a quick shift in his posture, he straightened up, his face regaining its usual composure. "But enough about work and family issues. I actually brought you here tonight for something important.
The night had gone smoothly, and soon enough, we found ourselves back at the house. We settled in the kitchen, chatting softly, the comfortable silence of the late hour wrapping around us. I watched as Adrian’s face softened, his usual guarded expression slipping just a little. He seemed more relaxed tonight, almost like the weight he usually carried had eased, even if only for a moment.I glanced at him with a grateful smile. “Thanks again for the dinner. I really had a wonderful time.”He smiled back, a faint glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He shifted slightly, looking down at his legs, and something about his expression changed, becoming more thoughtful, almost distant.I watched him in silence, noticing the way his gaze lingered on his legs, as if he were lost in thought. Then, almost as if he hadn’t planned to say it out loud, he murmured, “I’ve started to feel some sensation in my legs.”I blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Wait… serio
With a quiet determination, I helped Adrian back to his room, wheeling him carefully down the hall. Once there, I steadied him as he transferred to the bed, mindful of his still-tense expression. He leaned back, avoiding my gaze for a moment, then sighed.“Listen, I’m… sorry,” he murmured, a faint hint of frustration still lingering in his tone. “I lost my temper out there. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”I nodded, offering a small smile. “It’s okay, Adrian. I can’t imagine how tough this is for you.”He seemed relieved, the tension in his face softening a little. I pulled the bedsheet over him, making sure he was comfortable before stepping back. “Goodnight,” I whispered.He looked up, his eyes warm but weary. “Goodnight.”I returned to my room, already feeling the weight of the day pulling at me. I slipped into my pajamas and was just about to get into bed when my phone rang, the sudden sound piercing the quiet night. Glancing at the screen, I saw an unknown number flashing. Hesitati
Arriving at the cafe Mr. White had designated for our meeting, I took a deep breath, steadying myself before stepping inside. He was already seated near the window, his expression unreadable, though he looked slightly worn around the edges—perhaps a result of the years spent handling my family’s affairs and, most recently, the stresses brought on by my father’s deteriorating business.As I approached, he looked up, recognizing me with a familiar nod. I hadn’t seen him in some time, but he’d been around the family often during my father’s healthier days.“Hello, Mr. White,” I greeted him, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervousness churning in my stomach.He stood and reached out to shake my hand, greeting me with my maiden name out of habit.“Good to see you again, Ms. Collins.”A small smile broke across my face, and I gently corrected him. “Actually, I’m a Knight now.”His face softened, his smile acknowledging the reminder. “Yes, of course. I suppose Vivian filled me in
I arrived at work, still shaken from the morning’s meeting with Mr. White. Just as I stepped inside, I spotted Harper leaning against my desk, her arms crossed, lips pursed, and that trademark scowl already in place."Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," she sneered. "The Queen of the office."I swallowed hard and forced myself to apologize. "I’m really sorry, Harper. Traffic was—""Save it," she cut me off, her tone icy. "I’ve heard that same excuse too many times."I barely had a chance to respond before she continued, clearly on a roll. "You need to straighten up if you want to keep your job around here."I nodded, biting back another apology. It was common knowledge that if I wasn’t the best editor she had, she’d have fired me ages ago. But still, she didn’t make things easy."I'm serious," she continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "You’re going to have to prove your worth if you want to stay."I braced myself and asked, "How?"She folded her arms t
Sophia’s eyes blazed as she rolled up her sleeves, stepping toward the clerk with a scathing look. “Excuse me?” she spat, her voice low but dangerous. “How dare you talk to us like that—with that cheap perfume wafting off you? You really think you’re something here?”I reached out, putting a hand on her arm to try and diffuse the tension. “Sophia, let’s not—she didn’t mean it like that.”The clerk crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, not backing down an inch. “Oh, I meant every word,” she said with a smirk. “You clearly don’t belong here. So, maybe you should take your little… daydream of ‘fancy’ elsewhere.”My patience snapped. I straightened up, matching her cold stare. “And what exactly makes you think we can’t afford anything in this store?”She gave a dismissive laugh, looking us up and down with a haughty smirk. “Please. You two look like you’d max out a credit card just trying to buy one accessory here.”Sophia scoffed, completely outraged, her fists clenched at her sides. “
After finally selecting three dresses, Sophia and I made our way to the changing rooms with arms full. The first one I tried on was a deep red satin gown that clung in all the right places and flowed gracefully as I moved. The moment I slipped into it, I knew it was something special. It hugged my curves and shimmered under the boutique lights, catching Sophia's eye immediately.She let out a low whistle. "Girl, that dress was made for you. I swear Adrian’s jaw will drop when he sees you in that."I glanced in the mirror, struck by how the fabric seemed to make my skin glow. “You really think so?” I asked, striking a little pose with a laugh.“Absolutely. Trust me, the man’s not going to know what hit him,” Sophia said, nudging me with a grin.Feeling encouraged, I tried on the second dress—this one an elegant emerald green with a subtle slit up the side and a flattering neckline. I stepped out of the dressing room, and Sophia’s jaw actually dropped this time.“Okay, that’s it,” she d