Chapter 329 Marriage Is Not Rushed, but Anytime

Chapter 329 Marriage Is Not Rushed, but Anytime

"You're my best friend. Shouldn't you be the first to share in my happiness?"

By now Jake was mostly awake. He sighed dramatically at the ceiling. "Serena is way too easy to win over. One heroic rescue and she hands over her whole life.

Adrian, that's a little opportunistic of you, isn't it?

Though Serena may be easy, Sarah certainly isn't. Mr. Locke, you must have bled quite a bit?"

"Thirty percent equity in the Blue Ocean project."

Jake nearly choked. "Holy—Sarah went for the jugular. Another inch and she'd have hit your main artery. And you're still smiling?"

Adrian glanced back at the woman sleeping peacefully in bed, a gentle smile at the corner of his lips. "That's for Serena. I'm happy to."

Jake had no words for that smug tone. "Alright, fine. You're happy. Just think about how you're going to explain this to your grandfather. Good luck with that."

Adrian ignored the comment. "Enough. Send the wedding gift. I'm hanging up."

Jake cursed under his breath and transferred a substantial sum.

Adrian accepted it without hesitation, then dialed the next number.

Tristan was already asleep, completely unaware of what had happened. Half-conscious, he transferred the money too.

Only after entering his password did he jolt fully awake.

Adrian hadn't even said who the bride was. Was this some scheme to steal his money?

He immediately called Adrian back.

Adrian didn't answer.

Tristan couldn't sleep anymore. He called Jake directly.

Jake laughed shamelessly. "You transferred the money without even asking who the bride was?"

"I was half asleep! Who expects someone to collect wedding gifts in the middle of the night? I just... transferred it. So who's the bride?"

"No idea."

He wasn't getting back to sleep anyway, not after Adrian woke him up. Having Tristan suffer alongside him was fine by him.

Tristan wailed on the phone. "You're laughing at me? You don't know either, and you transferred it too!"

"With that brain of yours, how are you running the Kingsley Group?"

"So do you actually know or not?"

"No."

"That's it. I have to find out. I'm calling him again."

"Go ahead. You call first, then I'll call."

Tristan, completely guileless, hung up and called Adrian again.

But Adrian had anticipated this. He'd already silenced his phone and returned to the bedroom, lying down beside Serena.

No one knew when he finally fell asleep.

At five o'clock in the morning, Serena's internal clock woke her. She opened her eyes to the sight of the man's handsome face beside her and froze.

It took her a long moment to remember—they'd registered. They were married.

They were husband and wife now.

Husband and wife...

A relationship that had only ever existed in her dreams.

She pressed her lips together, smiling shyly.

If not for how thoroughly he'd taken her last night, leaving every muscle aching, she might have thought it was all a dream.

She got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up.

She'd come over in a rush last night. None of her clothes were here.

The outfit she'd worn yesterday was dirty.

She grabbed one of his shirts to wear, then took her clothes to the laundry room.

She did the math—washed and dried, it would be ready in time to wear today.

Then she went to the bathroom to freshen up, figuring she'd just have to make do.

She didn't expect to find brand-new toiletries on the vanity, along with her usual skincare products.

She had no idea when Adrian had prepared these.

A warm, sweet happiness welled up inside her.

After washing up, she instinctively walked into the closet to prepare his outfit for the day.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

The closet had always been only half full, with space on one side.

Now that half was nearly filled—all her things.

Some of the clothes she recognized, looking like they'd been brought from the Rothwell estate.

The other half were all women's current-season pieces, every size exactly right for her.

None of this had been here yesterday morning. It had appeared overnight... Adrian must have had someone bring it all while she slept.

He'd prepared everything in advance.

She'd thought the marriage was rushed, that Sarah had pushed them both into it at the last minute.

Now she realized—Adrian had been ready all along.

This wasn't rushed. He'd been prepared for whenever the moment came.

The sweet warmth in her chest expanded until it filled her completely.

Adrian slipped in silently behind her.

Finding her staring at the clothes in a daze, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Do you like them?"

"...Yes."

No girl didn't like pretty clothes.

Adrian kept one arm around her waist and picked up a white dress with his free hand, holding it against her chest in the mirror. "Wear this today."

Serena looked at their reflection, biting back a smile. "I can't. It's too conspicuous. And we have work today."

The dress looked simple enough, but Serena knew this brand. A single piece started at seven figures.

Wearing seven figures to the office was terrifying.

Adrian disagreed, looking at her through the mirror. "How is this conspicuous? This is one of the most ordinary pieces in here."

There were far more expensive things in this closet.

Serena said helplessly, "Mr. Locke, anything looks normal on you. But I'm just an assistant. Do you really think it's appropriate for me?"

"I don't know about appropriate for an assistant. But it's perfectly appropriate for Mrs. Locke."

Serena startled at his words, turning to face him. "You're planning to make it public?"

Adrian looked at her. "Am I something to be ashamed of?"

As he spoke, he fixed her with a dangerous gaze—as if she dared say yes, he'd make her regret it immediately.

Serena swallowed nervously. "...No."

Adrian looked satisfied. "Good. Then get changed."

His matter-of-fact tone made her face flush. He was still standing right here—how was she supposed to change?

She noticed his gaze growing hotter, as if he were about to devour her whole.

She quickly pushed against his chest. "Go make breakfast. Stop hovering in here."

"Alright."

He agreed without hesitation.

He pressed a quick kiss to her ear. "Whatever you say, darling."

His voice was low and warm.

Serena's knees nearly gave out.