Chapter 185: Adrian’s Overture

Two people sat in silence.

Adrian stared at Julian, his eyes dark. "Julian, I didn't come here today to listen to your lecture."

"Then why are you here?" Julian asked.

"Stay away from her," Adrian said.

Julian gave a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "What gives you the right to tell me that?"

"I'm her husband," Adrian said, his face darkening. "Until our marriage is over, you'd better keep your distance."

"What if she comes to me on her own?" Julian asked.

Adrian's expression changed.

"Adrian," Julian said, his voice softening a little. "Why don't you let her know you care?"

Adrian didn't answer. He just stood up, grabbed his coat from the back of the couch, and turned to leave. After a few steps, he stopped but didn't look back. "Julian, don't see her alone again."

Julian stayed where he was, watching Adrian's back disappear through the door. He leaned back on the couch, glanced at the empty whiskey glass in front of him, and gave a small, helpless laugh.

After leaving the club, Adrian sat in his car for a long time. The sky outside slowly darkened, and the streetlights came on. He didn't start the engine, just leaned back in the driver's seat and closed his eyes for a while.

Julian's words kept circling in his head. He thought about the nights Violet waited for him at the Hart family estate, the soup she made for him, and the way she still smiled at him even after he ignored her. All those things he used to take for granted—he'd destroyed them himself.

Adrian opened his eyes and pulled out his phone. There was an unread message from Martha.

[Sir, Madam came to the Hart family estate this afternoon to pack some personal things. She said she won't be coming back.]

Adrian put his phone down, started the car, and drove toward Violet's apartment. When he got there, he didn't go up. He just sat in the car, looking up at the light coming from the fifth-floor window. It was on, just like last night.

He remembered how she'd trembled under him the night before, tears in her eyes, but turned her face away so she wouldn't have to look at him.

Meanwhile, Violet was on the phone with Edward on the couch.

"Violet," the old man's voice sounded tired but still gentle. "Martha told me you went back to pack your things today."

Violet held the phone and pressed her lips together. "Grandpa…"

"You don't have to explain," Edward cut in. "I understand. It was my fault before, keeping you stuck at the Hart family for so long. I don't blame you for leaving."

Violet's eyes grew warm.

"I just wanted to ask… will you still come visit me?" There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I will," Violet said, her eyes turning red. "You'll always be the elder I respect the most."

Edward was quiet for a moment, then let out a long breath that sounded like a laugh. "That's good. That's good."

After hanging up, Violet set her phone on the coffee table and leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. The doorbell rang. She paused, then got up to answer it.

When she opened the door, the hallway light spilled in. Adrian stood there, carrying the chill of the late night on his shoulders. His face was heavy, and his eyes looked slightly red.

"Violet," he said. "Are you really leaving the Hart family estate for good?"

Violet looked at him calmly. "I should've moved out a long time ago."

Adrian stood in the doorway without speaking, his eyes fixed on her face. He didn't look like he was planning to leave, and Violet didn't close the door either. They just stood there, staring at each other across the doorframe.

"Adrian," Violet spoke first. "Just go. We've already said everything that needed to be said."

Adrian didn't move.

"I was out of line before. I can apologize," he said.

Violet shook her head. "You don't need to. You had your reasons for everything you did. But we're done."

Adrian's hand tightened at his side, his knuckles turning white.

"Violet," he said, looking at her. "What if I was willing to change?"

Violet froze. After a long moment, she said quietly, "Adrian, it's been seven years. I waited seven years for you."

"Whether you change or not, it's too late."

Before he could respond, she shut the door.

She leaned against it, her eyes red and hot with tears. Looking back on the past seven years, all the unwillingness and hurt seemed to fade, leaving only relief.

Adrian stayed where he was, staring at the closed door. He didn't knock again or leave. He just stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall. He stayed there for nearly an hour, the motion-sensor lights turning off and on, on and off. Finally, he turned and went downstairs, got back in his car, and rolled the window halfway down. He looked up at the fifth-floor window. The light was still on.

He stayed there the whole night.

Violet thought her life had finally gotten back on track—Adrian hadn't contacted her in three days.

But on Monday, when she arrived at VelocityTech, the receptionist stopped her and handed her a paper bag. "Ms. Reed, someone dropped this off for you."

Violet took it and opened it. Inside was breakfast, still warm, all the kinds she used to make at the Hart family estate. There was no card, no name. But she only had to glance at it to know it was from Adrian. She set the bag on the reception desk. "If there's no name on it, don't accept anything else."

The receptionist blinked. "Got it, Ms. Reed."

Later, when Violet walked into her office, she saw a bouquet of fresh roses that had been delivered from Hart Group. Her assistant was already putting them in a vase, so Violet didn't say anything.

At lunchtime, Violet and her assistant Jane were heading out to eat when they saw a black Maybach parked by the curb. The windows were up, so she couldn't see inside. Violet walked straight past it like she hadn't noticed. Jane glanced back a couple of times and hesitated. "Director, that car looks like Mr. Hart's…"

"Let's go," Violet said, cutting her off.

Adrian sat in the car, watching Violet's cold back as she walked away, lost in thought. A moment later, his phone buzzed with a message from her.

[Mr. Hart, please stop interfering with my life.]

Dylan, sitting beside him, looked like he was enjoying the show. "Adrian, I gotta say, Violet really isn't giving you any face at all."

"You think she's being this cold because she's actually into Julian now?"