Chapter 62 Chapter 62
When the man turned his head toward me, the vase almost slipped from my sweating palms as my knees turned to jelly.
For a moment, my body froze. I blinked multiple times, unable to believe what I was seeing.
"Adrian?" I whispered.
My voice was barely audible over the loud thudding of my heart.
Adrian stood up straight and brushed the dust off his shirt while I placed the vase aside. He looked thinner, and his face was a bit paler than I remembered.
Of course, he is back to his senses after a damn month.
My body relaxed a bit, but my mind was still in shock. A long, shaky breath escaped my lips.
"You’re... you’re awake," I stammered, my eyes scanning him from head to toe to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. "How? I mean..." I swallowed and stepped further into the room.
"Are you not happy?" he asked.
"No! Adrian. I am happy that you are awake, but I am just a bit surprised. How did you get here? Did the hospital discharge you? Why didn't anyone call me?"
My mind was reeling with questions. Adrian was the last person I expected to see here. I had been thinking about visiting him today, but I didn't know he would surprise me like this.
But why was he rummaging through his own drawers like a thief?
"I didn't want to bother you, that's why I didn't let the hospital staff inform you," he whispered.
"Are you serious, Adrian?" I asked in disbelief. "How could you..."
Before I could finish, we heard a small gasp from the doorway. I whirled around to see Aurora standing there with her tiny hands covering her mouth.
"AD?" she squeaked.
Adrian’s expression softened instantly. He dropped the papers in his hand and knelt down, opening his arms for Aurora.
Aurora didn't hesitate. She sprinted across the room and threw herself into his arms. My throat tightened as I watched them.
"We came to surprise you, and you surprised us!" Aurora laughed, her soft cackles filling the awkward silence of the room.
"Did you like the surprise?" Adrian asked.
"Very much!" Aurora pouted.
"I missed you so much. Did you miss me?" he asked.
Aurora nodded.
"But Mr. Stranger is also a nice man. He took good care of us. He fought the bogeyman and gave me lots of strawberries behind Mumma's back."
She giggled, placing her tiny palm over her mouth.
"Mr. Stranger?" Adrian repeated. His eyes flicked up to me, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Yeahhh... Lusheen," Aurora said in her baby voice.
I saw Adrian's eyes darkening with rage. His jaw twitched as he kept staring at me, countless questions swirling in his green orbs.
"I... Uh... Aurora," I called my baby softly. "AD is tired and needs to rest. Can you be a good girl and go to your room while I make coffee for AD and pancakes for you?"
"Okay, Mumma," she said with a wide smile on her lips. "But promise that we will play together later."
"I promise," I said, looking at Aurora and trying my best to ignore Adrian's burning gaze.
Aurora left the room happily, jumping on her way out.
Adrian stood up slowly, not moving his gaze off me for a second.
"So, while I was in a coma, you were with Lucien?" he asked in a calm voice, but I could feel the storm behind it.
"I will tell you everything, Adrian," I took a deep breath. "Just sit."
He looked me over from head to toe and waited for a moment before taking a seat. I sat in front of him and began to tell him everything, from Lucien winning Aurora's custody to today's incident, while he listened silently.
"I know I did wrong by going back to him, but I did it for my daughter." I looked down, fiddling with my fingers.
"For him, Aurora was just a way to get to you. He only wanted you."
My eyes snapped up at Adrian. My throat tightened. I didn't know what to say or how to react to this. I had seen Lucien with Aurora. He genuinely cares for her. In his eyes, I had seen the regret of losing the initial years of her childhood.
"I don't think it's like that," I whispered. "Aurora is his dau..."
"Mine," Adrian cut me off. "Aurora is my daughter, Cynthia," he added. "I have raised her. I know everything about her. She is my daughter, and not even you can change that fact."
I looked down.
"And if he cares so much about Aurora, then why did he stay silent today?" he asked. "Why didn't he just throw Sophia out? Instead, he preferred you leaving the house with nowhere to go"
I fell silent.
That was the thing bothering me the most.
"And tell me one thing, Cynthia. Why are you feeling bad for him?" he asked me again. "Do you still love him?"
Silence.
A long silence followed his question. I opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out.
I sighed heavily.
"I just want to build my life on my own and live a peaceful, secluded life with my daughter."
"And you think Lucien will let that happen?" Adrian asked me back "He will marry Sophia for the merger but still keep you for himself to satisfy his needs."
I didn't know what to say anymore.
"Do you want to go back to him?"
I shook my head.
I kept looking down, blinking multiple times to stop myself from crying.
"Then what have you decided? Are you going to just run like this? Do you even have any idea what effect it would have on Aurora? Think about her once"
My eyes closed for a moment. I am ready to sacrifice my life for her. But right now my mind is in chaos. I can't think or take any decision.
"I don't know anything, Adrian. I just came out of his house the moment I saw an opportunity. I know Lucien will not sit silently. He will definitely come for Aurora"
I looked up at Adrian and found him staring at me intently. It was as if he was in a deep thought, contemplating a decision.
He sighed and leaned back. Slowly he stood up and I followed his lead. He took a small step towards me.
"If you really want peace and keep Aurora safe then you would have to find a way to keep Lucien away"
I swallowed.
"There is only one way to do that."
I cocked my head, looking between his eyes.
"Marry me."