Chapter 242
"Really?" Olivia's voice was loud, her reaction even bigger.
Adeline quickly covered her mouth. "Keep it down, before someone hears you."
Olivia nodded repeatedly. When she finally had a chance to speak, she whispered, "So what are you going to do now? You've slept together. You're a couple now, right?"
Adeline didn't answer.
Something's not right. Olivia narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you're not going to take responsibility."
"What are you talking about?" She was the woman. If anyone was at a disadvantage, it was her. Why was it her responsibility? Adeline refused to take the blame. "I was drugged. I don't remember anything. But he knew. He could have said no."
"You expected him to say no?" That was impossible. Edward had been obsessed with Adeline for years. He would have jumped at the chance to be with her.
Adeline threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine. I'm not going to agree to it." She had wanted to draw a clear line with Edward for a long time. If it weren't for Lily, if it weren't for his persistence, this never would have happened.
Olivia saw that she had made up her mind and didn't press the issue. "You two." she sighed. "When are you ever going to sort things out?"
Adeline didn't answer.
Lily came in then, and they dropped the subject.
At lunch, Lily ate quickly and went to play in the living room. Olivia finally had a chance to ask, "Was it that fan who drugged you?"
"I don't think so."
"Why do you say that?"
Adeline had noticed yesterday that Orion was dressed simply. He didn't look rich. How could someone like that afford to tamper with food and drinks at a high-end clubhouse? "I'm not sure where the problem was. I want to report it to the police first, and then find someone..."
Before she could finish, the door opened. Edward walked in, followed by Anson, who was holding a file. Edward sat down next to Adeline. He frowned when he saw that she had only eaten a few bites. "Is the food not to your liking?"
Adeline shook her head.
Edward looked at her intently, then took the file from Anson and handed it to her. "Take a look."
"What is it?"
Edward didn't answer, so Adeline opened it. The file was simple and clear: Orion Hughes, 30, male, divorced six months ago because he was obsessed with comics and refused to work or support his family. His wife had left with their child, and Orion had been spending his days and nights reading comics. Three days ago, he had received a phone call and met with a mysterious person. No one knew what they had talked about, but for the next three days, Orion had been unusually excited, a happy expression on his face. His neighbors had asked him about it, and he had just said that he had good news, that he was getting married.
It seemed this was premeditated.
"I had someone look into it." Edward said. "A sum of money was deposited into his account."
Adeline put the file down, her face grim. "Is Orla okay?"
"She's fine. She was just worried about you, but I told her you weren't feeling well and she needed to go back and handle your work." Edward turned his head to look at her. "Aren't you going to ask who sent the money?"
Adeline didn't look up. "If you had found out, you would have told me."
'She trusts me that much?' Edward let out a low chuckle.
"What are you laughing at?" Adeline asked, confused.
"Nothing."
Adeline was still shaken from the incident and feeling weak, so she decided to rest at home for a few days. Lily was thrilled. It was the weekend, and she wanted to go out as a family.
That evening, Lily went to bed early. Adeline had intended to stay with her, but Edward carried her back to her room. She thought about it and didn't refuse. There were some things they needed to talk about.
Her room was pure white. With the moonlight streaming in, she could see everything without turning on the lights. Edward carried her to the bed.
Adeline leaned against the headboard and looked at him. "Let's just forget about last night."
Edward froze, his hands on the bed. After a long moment, he asked, "Why?"
Adeline looked away. "There's no why."
"Then I can't agree." He insisted on a reason.
Adeline felt a surge of annoyance. "I told you from the beginning. These three months were just to make you give up."
Edward sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her. The air was thick with silence. Adeline turned over and pulled the covers over her head.
A moment later, she felt a gentle tug on the covers. She didn't move. The covers were slowly pulled back, and a warm body slid in behind her, pressing against her back. She curled up, trying to move away. He followed. They ended up at the edge of the bed. Adeline had nowhere to go. She pulled the covers down and glared at him. "Stop crowding me."
"I'm cold."
"Do you even believe that yourself?" The room was warm, and he was a big man, as hot as a furnace.
"I do."
Adeline was silent. She couldn't help but reach out and pinch his cheek. "When did you get so thick-skinned? Even if it's cold, I should be the one who's cold."
"You're cold?" In the darkness, Edward's eyes lit up. He pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her forehead. "There. Not cold anymore."
Adeline was completely silent. She was too tired to struggle, and she fell asleep.
When he felt her breathing even out, Edward slowly opened his eyes. He couldn't sleep. Last night, he had held her like this and had a rare good night's sleep. It was a strange thing. He was afraid of white, afraid of being surrounded by it. But as long as she was in his arms, everything was simple. He was no longer afraid. White was no longer so menacing.
Edward lowered his head, inhaling the scent of her hair, secretly looking at her face in the moonlight. Only when she was asleep could he look at her so greedily, so unabashedly. Because only then would she not shy away.
In the morning, when Adeline woke up, he was gone. She was alone in the bed. The side of the bed where he had been was cold. He had been gone for a while.
Adeline went to the police station and saw Orion. He was still as fanatical as ever, but he seemed to have been beaten into submission and didn't dare to get close to her.
"Mr. Thomas is pressing charges." the police officer told her. "Based on his actions, he will be sentenced."
"Thank you."
Adeline left the police station and got into her car. The car stopped in front of a shopping mall. She was about to get out when she froze.
In the coffee shop across the street, a man and a woman were sitting together. The woman was beautiful, dressed in a stylish white work uniform, with wavy hair that gave her a mature, sophisticated look. Adeline didn't know her. But she knew the man sitting across from her. It was Aaron. What was he doing here?
Just then, she got a message from Olivia.
[Adeline, where are you? I need to talk to you about Aaron.]
[I think we're done.]
[His ex-girlfriend is back.]
Adeline read the message and instinctively looked back at the coffee shop. Her eyes widened. The woman suddenly stood up, leaned across the table, and pressed her red lips to Aaron's.