Chapter 184 You Will Always Be Keeping Quinn Company

Chapter 184 You Will Always Be Keeping Quinn Company

Quinn wouldn't give up and kept showing up at Hart Group for days.

Roman was updating Adrian's schedule when the front desk called. He glanced at Adrian, who was signing papers at his desk. "Mr. Hart, Ms. Quinn is here again."

Adrian didn't look up. He finished signing and said flatly, "Tell her to leave."

"The front desk says she's been coming for three days straight. She was waiting downstairs since six this morning. She doesn't look well, and they're worried she—"

Adrian set down his pen and closed the file. He looked up. "Do I need to say it twice?"

Roman shut his mouth. "Got it."

He turned and left, closing the office door behind him.

Adrian leaned back in his chair and stared out at the gray sky. He rubbed his forehead, trying to push Quinn out of his mind.

Twenty minutes later, Roman knocked and came back in. "Mr. Hart, Ms. Quinn won't leave. She says if she can't see you, she'll just wait downstairs."

Adrian stood up and grabbed his suit jacket from the chair. "I'm going down."

When the elevator doors opened, Adrian spotted Quinn right away, standing in the middle of the lobby.

She'd lost a lot of weight. Her face looked thinner, and her eyes were red. The moment she saw him, tears welled up.

"Adrian." She rushed over. "You finally agreed to see me."

Adrian stayed where he was, his face cold. "I already told you, there's no need for us to meet again."

"I know you're angry," Quinn said, tears sliding down her cheeks. "I shouldn't have lied to you, but I only did it because I love you too much. I was scared of losing you."

Adrian didn't answer.

Quinn took a step closer and reached for his sleeve, but he moved aside.

"Adrian, don't treat me like this," she said, her voice breaking. "I've been with you all these years. I took a knife for you. I would've given up my life for you. You can hate me or blame me, but you can't just erase everything with one word."

A few employees walked by, glancing over.

Adrian's expression didn't change. "Not going after you for what you did is already the most mercy I can give."

Quinn shook her head, tears falling faster. "I know I went about it the wrong way, but my feelings for you are real."

Adrian looked at her red, teary eyes and felt nothing but tired. He used to feel bad when she cried. Now it just wore him out.

"Quinn," he said evenly. "You think loving me means putting another woman in a stranger's bed and ruining her life?"

Quinn's face went white.

"Or teaming up with Caleb and Elsie to fake a medical emergency and force me into a divorce?" Adrian went on.

Quinn knew she had no defense. Her lips moved, but nothing came out.

"Go home," Adrian said. "There's nothing left to talk about."

He turned to leave.

"Adrian!" Quinn's voice rose behind him, shaky with tears. "Don't you care if I actually die? I'd give up my life for you!"

Adrian kept walking.

"Quinn," he said without turning around. "Trying to kill yourself over a man? I'm disappointed in you."

The elevator doors closed.

Quinn stood alone in the empty lobby, cold all over, tears streaming down her face. She wanted to chase after him, but her legs felt like lead.

The receptionist walked over carefully and handed her a pack of tissues. "Ms. Quinn, maybe you should go home and rest…"

Quinn didn't take them. She turned and walked out of Hart Group.

It was windy outside. The cold air blew through her thin dress. She wrapped her arms around herself and kept going. After a while, her vision blurred with tears again.

She stopped at a bus stop, pulled out her phone, found Adrian's number, and called. He hung up. She called again. He hung up. The third time, it went straight to a busy signal.

He'd blocked her.

Quinn gripped her phone, standing in the wind. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "Violet. This is all your fault. You took Adrian from me. If I can't have him, neither can you."

That same afternoon, Adrian met Julian at a private club owned by Dylan.

Julian was already there when Adrian arrived. He sat on the couch by the window with an untouched glass of whiskey in front of him.

Adrian walked over and sat across from him. "Why were you at her place last night?"

Julian took a sip. "You saw it yourself. Why ask?"

Adrian's fingers tightened on his knee. "Julian, she's my wife."

"In name only," Julian said, looking at him. "Your marriage has been over for a long time. You're not divorcing her because you can't let go of Theo, or because you never planned to let her go?"

"That's my business," Adrian said, his voice colder now.

"If she wants to stay with you, I won't interfere," Julian said, leaning back. "But you know she's unhappy. You let her suffer for seven years. Even when she needed you most, you chose Quinn without hesitation."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"You're right, she's your wife," Julian continued. "But when have you ever treated her like one? Quinn gets all your attention. Violet gets your patience and cold shoulder. The fact that she lasted seven years is already a miracle."

"So you just stepped in?" Adrian's voice was low and tight.

Julian met his eyes. "Adrian, get this straight. I'm not taking advantage. I like her. I'm serious."

The words hit Adrian like a punch to the chest.

His pupils narrowed slightly. He swallowed. "Julian, do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I do," Julian said without looking away. "I've liked her for a long time. You just never noticed. She was your wife before, so I stayed out of it. But if you're not going to value her, why can't I try?"

Adrian's breathing slowed. His fingers were white where they gripped his knee.

"Julian, she won't like you," he said.

"How do you know?" Julian shot back. "Did you ask her?"

Adrian went quiet.

Julian finished his whiskey in one gulp. "You've been married seven years. Do you even know what she likes? Do you remember what food she can't eat? Have you ever spent a single anniversary with her?"

"She takes care of Theo like he's her own. She leaves the lights on for you when you work late. When Eleanor humiliates her in public, she never complains to you," Julian said evenly. "But where were you, Adrian?"

Adrian felt a dull ache in his chest and couldn't answer.

Julian gave a short laugh. "You're always with Quinn."