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
"It's snowing."The sky had been brooding all day, and at last, late into the night, delicate flakes began to drift downward.Adriana let go of Francesco, palms lifted, chasing the falling snow. The flakes were thin and light—melting instantly against her warm hands. She reached, cupped them, then
Adriana tilted her head back and let out a deep breath.Whenever her mother was mentioned, her nose tingled, her eyes pricked with tears. She forced a wry smile, staring straight at Chris, ignoring the redness around her eyes."You almost made me lose my mother's keepsake. It was Neo who got it fo
Adriana strode out of the exhibition hall, inhaling the crisp evening air. Her mind immediately cleared.It was still early, so she decided to head back to the lab. The research on the walking aid she was developing for Chris had hit a bottleneck, and the stack of materials she had prepared was wai
Francesco rose and sank into the sofa. "Sit."Adriana took the seat across from him. "May I ask what kind of meeting this is?"The clock pointed to eleven. Most of the office staff had already left. She suspected his intentions weren't about the meeting at all, but about cornering her.Francesco'







