Chapter 032

Donald offered to drive me home, his voice filled with concern as he insisted on making sure I got there safely. It was hard to resist; I was still rattled from the evening’s ordeal, and the idea of not facing a silent, lonely drive sounded like a small mercy. Once we reached my place, I thanked him warmly, doing my best to brush off the tension still coiling tightly inside me, and stepped out of the car. As I walked up to the door, I tried to shake off the night’s ugliness, but the anger and frustration were stubborn.

Inside, I was met with an unexpected surprise. Adrian was seated in the living room, glancing up as soon as he heard the door open. He rose to greet me, a welcoming smile on his face. That familiar warmth in his expression was like a balm, easing some of the nerves I hadn’t realized were still knotted inside me.

“Adrian,” I said, startled and pleasantly surprised, my brows lifting in astonishment. “Were you... waiting for me?”

He nodded, his smile softening as he looked