Chapter 050 It's Inconvenient When You Can't See It

The plane was about to land, and Adelina stepped out from Langston's private cabin, returning to her original seat.

Waite looked at her with concern. "Why did it take you so long? Did Mr. Moore assign you a lot of work?"

Adelina's cheeks were flushed, and her hair, which had been tied at the back of her head, had come loose, draping over her graceful, swan-like neck.

However, Waite still sensed something was off and subconsciously reached out to push her hair aside.

She quickly stopped him, turning her head hurriedly to explain, "Mr. Moore went over a lot of the project proposals with me. Since I'm new to this project, there's just so much I need to learn, and that took some time."

Waite didn't doubt the authenticity of her reason, but his focus was still on her neck. "Did you get hurt during the turbulence? That air pocket was so severe, I was worried about you. As soon as the plane stabilized, I thought I'd check on you."

Adelina shook her head. "I'm fine."

Waite felt she was still hiding something and decided to be direct. "Then, what's going on with your neck?"

Adelina's hand was still covering the marked area, her mind filled with the recent image of Langston kissing her neck.

However, it was less a kiss and more like a sucking sensation that had left a searing pain she could still feel.

"I just...didn't have my footing during the turbulence and accidentally bumped into a sharp edge. Fortunately, it didn't bleed, just a bruise," she lied, following the guess he had made earlier.

"Did you put ice on it?" Waite asked caringly.

Adelina shook her head. "There wasn't time to find ice. It's okay, I'll take care of it once we land."

Thirty minutes later, the flight smoothly arrived at Harano City Airport.

There were four SUVs waiting to pick them up, and Adelina purposefully avoided riding in the same vehicle as Langston, opting instead to share a ride with Alan and his confidant, Ward.

Langston gave her a sidelong glance, his face showing a trace of discontent, but Katherine spoke up before him. "Then, Adelina, we would appreciate it if you could take care of our uncle. Gia, why don't you come with us? That way, each car has a medical emergency team member on board, and we'll feel more at ease!"

Adelina was surprised that Katherine would allow Waite to tag along like a third wheel, and even more surprised that Langston didn't object. His cool gaze swept over Adelina. "Let's do that."

After splitting into their respective groups, Vanessa led the geologist and bodyguards ahead as planned, entering the mountain from a different entrance.

Langston and Alan, on the other hand, headed to another private helipad in Harano City, where a helicopter was waiting for them, prearranged.

In the car, Adelina and Alan sat in the backseat, Alan intermittently making conversation with Adelina.

"I didn't expect Miss Howard to know the Watson family's younger son. It's quite a surprise. The young master seems to treat you quite well. Have you thought about taking things further with him?"

Adelina didn't really want to discuss her private life or stir up trouble, and responded plainly, "Mr. Moore, I'm already married, so I don't have any thoughts about the Watson family's younger son. We're just schoolmates."

Alan was a bit taken aback. "You're really married? I wouldn't have guessed! When people said you were, I thought it was a rumor. But, what a pity to be taken so young! What does your husband do? Given how much Langston values you, I could pull a few strings, help your husband network a bit, maybe get a promotion or a raise."

Adelina felt uneasy with Alan's proactive offer of help and smiled faintly. "No need, my husband is currently working abroad."

Catching her wariness, Alan chuckled dismissively, then took a bandage from his pocket and handed it to her with a suggestive tone. "I can understand the loneliness of being apart so soon after marriage. A beauty like Miss Howard shouldn't be neglected. However, there are some things that ought to be covered up!"

Adelina, taking the hint and barely thinking, slapped him across the face!

Ward, who was sitting in the passenger seat, unbuckled his seatbelt and turned back, about to grab Adelina by the neck, but Alan suddenly stopped him.

"Miss Howard, why the anger? Did I say something wrong?" Alan asked with a wry smile. His tone wasn't much harsher than before, but it was enough for anyone to sense his danger.

Adelina's face was a mask of calm as she pulled a band-aid from her backpack and stuck it on her neck before responding, "Mr. Moore, you got it wrong. I just saw a mosquito on your face, so I slapped it away."

"A mosquito?" Alan was skeptical, instinctively touching his own face.

Ward shot back at her fiercely, "Don't lie with your eyes wide open!"

Adelina snorted, "Sir, if we're talking about the ability to lie with eyes wide open, I'm hardly as good as your boss, right?"

With that statement, everyone understood why she had slapped him.

The group fell into silence afterward. Adelina took a motion sickness pill and leaned against the car window to rest.

It wasn't until they reached the helicopter's landing pad that they found Langston and the rest had been waiting for them.

"Why were you all so slow? I thought Alan's car broke down or something!" Katherine addressed Alan with endearing familiarity as if she were already part of the Moore family.

Alan chuckled as he explained, "I needed a smoke break, stopped to light one up, and that slowed us down a bit."

Langston noticed the red handprint on his face and then shifted his gaze to Adelina, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Katherine, who didn't scrutinize as closely, noticed the band-aid on Adelina's neck instead. "What happened to Miss Howard's neck"

Now Langston saw it too, and his expression darkened. "They say bruises heal faster with air. That band-aid is on pretty tight; it might look worse tomorrow."

Although he didn't spell it out, everyone could tell he knew exactly what had caused the injury on Adelina's neck.

Adelina found herself both frustrated and resigned. It was as if he wanted everyone to see his handiwork on her neck.

Katherine's face turned a shade of green with envy.

Just as Adelina was about to cover her neck again, Waite stepped in.

"Adelina, I have some cooling spray here; let me apply it, then we'll get some ointment on it. I believe it will be better by tomorrow."

Unlike the inconvenience on the plane, Waite now readily had his first-aid kit slung over his shoulder. Without waiting for Adelina's consent, he tore off the band-aid from her neck, his face a mix of complex emotions as he saw the true extent of the bruise.

Nothing hurt more than seeing the evidence with his own eyes.

He also tried to convince himself he was just being overly cautious; Adelina wouldn't lie to him.

But there it was…

Then, with a cautious glance toward Langston, he caught his eye. The two men's gazes collided, and it was as if a thick tension filled the air.

Adelina interrupted them, "I've got it, thanks. I've got my own."

Adelina rummaged through her bag, but Waite was quicker to hand her medicine, saying, "Use mine. I've already opened this one. Let me help you; you can't see that spot, it's inconvenient."

Observing the seamless teamwork between the two, Katherine playfully linked her arm with Langston's and remarked, "Don't they make a perfect pair? If we didn't know any better, one might think they're a couple!"

Langston's response, however, was unexpectedly cold. "They're not a match because Adelina is married. I'd advise your brother to look for a suitable, unattached young woman."

"What? She's married?" This revelation genuinely surprised Katherine.

At the time, Ada had only mentioned Adelina in passing.

After all, no one would consider an ordinary intern with no family background a serious threat.

But now, Katherine's view had completely turned around.