Chapter 261

"Mr. Carter, something has happened with Ms. Brown." the assistant rushed in.

Randy looked up from his computer. "What happened?"

"Someone online exposed Ms. Brown for plagiarism, but it's been resolved now."

Randy fell silent.

The assistant hesitated. "Would you like to..."

"What does this have to do with me?" Randy cut him off. For whatever reason or in whatever capacity, it wasn't appropriate for him to go.

The assistant said no more.

Randy then asked, "Is Waverly still in Emberfall City?"

"Yes."

"Book a flight."

"Yes, sir."

The assistant grumbled to himself. Randy said he wasn't going, but he was still going.

As if explaining to his assistant, or perhaps to himself, Randy said, "My fiancée is in Emberfall City. Is there a problem with me going to see her?"

"No, I'll book the tickets right away."

After the assistant left, Randy leaned back in his office chair. His real reason for wanting to go to Emberfall City wasn't Adeline. He just felt that Waverly's actions were strange. She was pregnant, their wedding was approaching, yet she insisted on going to Emberfall City. And as soon as she arrived, something happened with Adeline. He didn't want to be a conspiracy theorist, nor did he want to think the worst of people. He hoped it was all just his imagination.

Night fell.

Edward went to take a shower. Adeline sat on the sofa with her laptop, trying to work, but the sound of the water from the bathroom was inexplicably distracting. For some reason, Edward had recently taken to showering while she was working. It used to be that she would shower first, then him. The sound of the water was grating on her nerves.

She couldn't focus on her computer anymore. She wanted to go out for some fresh air, but the phone on the coffee table suddenly rang. It was Randy. But it wasn't Adeline's phone, so she couldn't answer it. She had intended to ignore it, but the ringing went on for a long time.

She held the phone and called towards the bathroom, "Edward, Randy's calling you."

The door opened, and Edward walked out. Water droplets trickled down his broad chest. He had a white towel wrapped around his waist and was rubbing his hair haphazardly with another towel.

"You answer it for me."

He said it so naturally, but Adeline averted her gaze. "Why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

"Who wears clothes in the shower?" Edward looked down at himself, then at her blushing face. He found it amusing and walked over to her, leaning in to get a closer look. The rush of steam and the scent of shower gel made Adeline feel a little dizzy.

She glared at Edward in annoyance, but when she looked up, her gaze fell on his chest. He was completely unashamed!

The phone had stopped ringing at some point. Adeline grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa and threw it at him, hitting him squarely on the shoulder. He rubbed his shoulder and frowned. "That hurt."

Adeline was skeptical. "I didn't even use any force."

"It's a big pillow." Of course, it would hurt. Edward frowned, his hand still on his shoulder.

Adeline was now uncertain. "Then why don't you hit me back?"

Edward picked up the pillow from the floor and raised it high. Adeline quickly shut her eyes. But no pillow hit her face. Instead, a warm sensation landed on her lips. She opened her eyes just as Edward pulled away. "I've hit you back."

"Get out!" someone said, flustered and angry.

Edward chuckled, took the phone, and walked out, still in his bathrobe. Adeline patted her face, trying to cool down. She suddenly had a delayed realization. Had he changed his tactics?

She was about to go take a shower when Edward suddenly pushed the door open. "Randy's here. He's inviting us out to dinner."

Adeline was taken aback. "But Lily's already asleep. We shouldn't wake her up at this hour."

"Then the two of us will go. Let Lily stay home."

"Do we have to go?"

Edward shrugged. "If you really don't want to go, then we don't have to. It's just that Randy said it's been a while, and he wants to treat us to dinner, said he has a lot to talk about."

Since he had put it that way, Adeline couldn't refuse any longer. "Alright, let's go."

At the restaurant, Randy had arrived early. He knew Edward and Adeline well, knew what they liked to eat, and had already ordered for them before they arrived. Once seated, Randy raised his glass. "I'm getting married soon, and you two still haven't made up. Let this toast be a wish for your speedy reconciliation."

Adeline's lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.

Edward clinked glasses with Randy. "Thank you for the well wishes."

The two men had endless things to talk about. Adeline ate quietly beside them. Midway through, she went to the restroom. When she came out, she saw Randy. "Is something wrong?"

Randy looked at her deeply. "No, I'm just happy for you."

"Happy that we're getting back together?"

"No, happy that you have your own career." Randy said warmly. "Adeline, take good care of yourself. I really hope you can be happy." It was time for him to say goodbye to the past, and to the feelings he had never voiced.

Adeline smiled faintly. "You too."

On their way back, Adeline didn't see a puddle of water on the floor around the corner. She stepped in it and almost fell, but Randy caught her in time. Seeing the water on the floor, he quickly called for the janitor to clean it up. "You need to be more careful with hygiene. What if an elderly person slipped on a puddle like this!"

The janitor nodded profusely.

Adeline looked at Randy and smiled. "You look just like a company manager scolding an employee right now."

Randy chuckled. "Occupational hazard."

The two of them walked back to the private room side by side. Edward's gaze swept over them for a moment, then he hooked an arm around Randy's shoulder. "What took you so long? Can you still drink?"

"Of course, I can."

The two men looked at each other and smiled, seemingly having found that old, unspoken understanding again.

The living room was pitch black. When Randy pushed the door open, he thought no one was there. He had had a lot to drink and was now quite drunk. He fumbled his way to the sofa, about to collapse onto it, when he saw someone sitting there. For a moment, Randy was startled.

He turned on the light and saw it was Waverly. "Are you trying to scare me to death, sitting here in the dark without making a sound?"

Waverly looked up at him. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to Emberfall City?"

Randy sat on the sofa, rubbing his throbbing temples, and said drunkenly, "I called you. I couldn't get through."

"So you just..." Waverly's words died in her throat.

Randy opened his drunken eyes in confusion. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. Get some rest." Waverly said, getting up and going upstairs.

'Was she upset? Why was she upset?' Randy thought about it but couldn't figure it out. The alcohol had turned his brain to mush. He couldn't think straight about anything; all he wanted to do was sleep. So he gave up.

Waverly stood on the stairs and looked back. Randy had already passed out on the sofa, snoring. She caressed her belly, remembering the doctor's words. "Your body is not suitable for pregnancy. Even if you do get pregnant, you may not be able to carry the child to term. There is at least an 80% chance of miscarriage. You must be mentally prepared."

Waverly closed her eyes and turned to go upstairs. If this child was destined not to be, then its value had to be maximized.

Randy had to forget Adeline.