Chapter 207
Darkness had fallen as Zephyr wheeled Adeline onto the lawn, with Edward and Aaron walking behind them.
Elysia followed at a distance, her face as gloomy as ever.
When their colleagues spotted the group approaching, they exchanged awkward glances—cautious, uncomfortable, yet secretly eager for gossip.
Who wouldn't want to witness this complicated love triangle? Some even anticipated a fight breaking out.
That was just their colleagues' interpretation. The actual parties involved remained perfectly composed, and Elysia made no move to cause trouble.
Zephyr handed Adeline a few grilled lamb skewers and casually adjusted the blanket over her legs. "See? I told you Edward wouldn't approach you again."
"Then I should thank you," Adeline replied, taking a bite of her skewer.
Zephyr was skilled at grilling—the lamb was perfectly seasoned and cooked to just the right doneness.
He cracked open a beer, took a long swig, and sighed with satisfaction. "No need for formalities between us."
"I suggest you go easy on those skewers," came Edward's cool voice from behind them.
Adeline turned around, but he wasn't looking at her.
"Too many will upset your stomach," he added.
"The whole point of today's outing is to enjoy some barbecue," Zephyr immediately countered. "An occasional indulgence won't hurt."
He subtly positioned himself between Adeline and Edward, blocking the latter's view.
So unnecessary, Edward thought coldly. "A man who truly loves his girlfriend wouldn't say something like that."
Zephyr stood his ground. "Love isn't defined by a single statement."
Edward's gaze traveled up and down, with barely perceptible scrutiny in the depths of his eyes.
"Interesting. I hadn't heard that Ms. Turner already had a boyfriend. And you two must be from the same family, correct?"
The implication was clear—if they shared the same surname and family connection, wouldn't their relationship be incestuous?
"Mr. Thomas, there's something you don't know," Zephyr replied, surprised that in just two hours, Edward had already dug up so much information about them.
But he had a ready answer.
"I'm not Mr. Roger Turner's biological son—I'm adopted. While I carry the Turner name, Sophia and I have no blood relation."
Edward narrowed his eyes. "How convenient."
Zephyr lied without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
"I wouldn't call it convenient—I'd call it fate," he said, looking down at Adeline sitting in her wheelchair, eating her lamb skewer.
The wind lifted a strand of hair near her temple.
Zephyr gently tucked it behind her ear. "Right, Sophia?"
Adeline murmured an indistinct agreement.
Edward's eyes turned cold. "I hear Mr. Turner has an impressive alcohol tolerance. Care for a drink?"
A silent declaration of war.
Zephyr naturally refused to back down. "Sure. Red wine, white wine, beer—what's your poison?"
"Let's stick with beer."
Edward improvised, grabbing several cans of beer from the ground and tossing them in front of Zephyr.
He wasn't in the mood for wine tonight—he wouldn't be able to appreciate the flavor anyway.
Zephyr didn't hesitate, opening a can and downing it in one go.
Edward followed suit immediately.
The first round already crackled with tension between them.
The others watched with fascination, unconsciously forming a circle around the three. They had become the center of attention.
Adeline frowned slightly and glanced at Edward, but said nothing.
Edward moved to Adeline's right side and, mimicking Zephyr, sat down on the ground.
Despite his dignified, cool demeanor, sitting with one knee up gave him an unexpectedly carefree air, though his spine remained perfectly straight.
After finishing his beer, he crushed the can and tossed it aside.
"What line of work are you in, Mr. Turner?"
Zephyr responded with a smile, "I'm a freelancer. My friends and I have some small business ventures together, though I leave the management to them."
"So Mr. Turner must enjoy considerable freedom."
In other words: idle and unproductive.
"Freedom isn't quite the word. I earn enough to get by, and I spend most of my time with family."
Zephyr looked at Adeline.
His typically smiling eyes now brimmed with tenderness and focus.
Family already?
Edward's fingers clenched, instantly crushing the can in his hand. Without changing his expression, he tossed it away.
"It's good to spend time with parents," he remarked. Before you became too lovesick.
"Thank you for the advice, Mr. Thomas. I've heard some things about you as well. I understand you have a daughter. Being a father must bring you great happiness."
"You should try having one yourself and find out."
Zephyr's expression froze momentarily before he smiled lightly. "There's no rush for children. I don't dislike kids, but I'm not particularly fond of them either. If it happens, we'll go with the flow. If not, I won't force it."
As he spoke, he glanced at Adeline.
He winked at her discreetly.
But from Edward's perspective, it looked like an adoring, tender gaze.
He ground his back teeth, took another sip of beer, and asked quietly, "When do you plan to get married, Mr. Turner?"
"That's not entirely up to me."
Zephyr's words carried a hidden meaning.
If it wasn't his decision, then naturally it would be his "girlfriend's" choice.
Adeline felt an intense gaze upon her, but when she turned, she only saw Edward with downcast eyes.
He seemed somewhat dejected.
She looked away and reached for a drink, but just as she brought it to her lips, Edward stopped her.
Looking closer, she realized she had picked up alcohol by mistake.
Edward said flatly, "Ms. Turner, you shouldn't drink if you have mobility issues."
Adeline remained silent.
Edward placed a bottle of mineral water in her hand, then suddenly stood up and walked away.
Adeline watched his retreating figure.
Zephyr couldn't help asking, "Feeling sorry for him?"
"No. How much he drinks has nothing to do with me. Why would I feel sorry?"
Adeline turned away.
But then her concerned gaze fell on Zephyr.
"You've never had a high tolerance. Are you sure you're okay after drinking so much?"
The two men had been competing silently, drinking continuously while talking. Dozens of empty cans now littered the ground.
Zephyr was indeed feeling lightheaded.
"I'm fine. Some fresh air will clear my head."
"Why challenge him to a drinking contest? His tolerance is exceptional—not many can match it."
Edward's capacity for alcohol was extraordinary.
According to Kaida, Edward had inherited his impressive tolerance from his biological father.
Zephyr defended himself stubbornly, "When a man is challenged, he can't back down—whether it's drinking or anything else."
Ready or not, you had to step up.
You couldn't let others look down on you.
Adeline shook her head in resignation.
Edward walked a short distance before looking back. The two were chatting happily. He stared at them for a moment, his gaze complex and obscure, then turned and left.
The park had fountains illuminated by lights at night. As he approached, he could feel the mist on his face.
His foggy mind seemed to clear slightly.
"You really like that, Sophia, don't you?"
Elysia appeared silently behind Edward.
Edward ignored her.
Undeterred, Elysia continued, "You can't fool me. The way you look at Sophia is exactly how Zephyr once looked at me."
But unlike Zephyr, Edward had an additional layer of restraint and self-control—intense emotions hidden beneath a carefully maintained mask.
Edward turned to leave.
Elysia suddenly asked, "Are you really content to just watch them be happy together?"