Chapter 34 You've been warned, again
As soon as Adeline uttered the words, old habits die hard, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier, like something invisible had settled between her and her father. Jonathan didn’t take long to react. He let out a sharp scoff, the sound filled with irritation rather than surprise, like he had already decided that whatever she had to say would be a waste of his time. He adjusted the loose belt of his robe slightly, his expression hardening as he looked at her like she was an inconvenience he had no patience for.
“I highly doubt you came all the way here just to judge me,” he said coldly. “So get to the point of why you’re here, or get the hell out of my room.”
Adeline didn’t move from where she stood. Instead, she let out a scoff of her own, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took him in. The sight of him standing there, half-dressed, completely unbothered by the situation, only reminded her of how little he had ever cared about appearances when it came to his private life. It was almost impressive, the level of shamelessness he carried so easily.
“I’m glad to see you’re still as shameless as always,” she replied, her tone calm but sharp enough to let him know that she was disgusted by him. She didn’t bother softening her words, didn’t bother pretending this was anything other than what it was.
Jonathan’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
“And you’re right,” Adeline continued, crossing her arms loosely as she leaned her weight onto one leg, her posture relaxed in a way that made her look completely unbothered. “I’m not here to judge your habit of sleeping with women my age. That would be a waste of time.”
She paused for just a second, letting her words settle before she added the real reason she was there. “I came to let you know, again, before the rest of the world finds out that Julian and I are really getting married.”
For a brief moment, the room went quiet.
Jonathan stared at her, his expression shifting from irritation to something closer to disbelief, though it didn’t last long. He let out another scoff, this one sharper than the first, and shook his head slowly like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“If I had known that having a daughter would turn out to be my most disgraceful decision,” he said, his voice filled with open hatred, “I would have had your mother terminate that pregnancy before you were even born.”
The words landed harder than anything else he could have said.
For a split second, Adeline felt it. The sting. The familiar, unwanted ache that came from hearing something like that, even when it came from someone she had long stopped expecting anything good from. It wasn’t new, and it didn’t surprise her, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. It was the kind of hurt she had learned to bury over the years, the kind she refused to show, especially not in front of him.
Her expression didn’t change. If anything, the slight smirk that appeared on her face made it seem like his words had no effect on her at all.
“I’m happy to see you’re so supportive,” she said dryly, her tone laced with sarcasm as she tilted her head slightly. “Really. It’s comforting.”
Jonathan’s jaw tightened, clearly not pleased with her response, but Adeline didn’t give him time to interrupt.
“At the very least,” she continued, her voice steady, “I hope you’re smart enough to pretend to support me in public, and if you can’t manage that, then stay quiet. Don’t make any attempts to sabotage what I’m planning.”
The shift in her tone was subtle, but it was there. What started as sarcasm had turned into something more serious, more direct. It wasn’t a request, and it wasn’t a plea. It was a warning.
Jonathan’s reaction was immediate. His expression darkened, and the irritation he had been holding back finally surfaced fully.
“You should be begging me right now,” he snapped. “Not standing there acting like you have any right to make demands.”
Adeline didn’t flinch, step back, or lower her gaze. Instead, she simply shrugged lightly, like his anger didn’t concern her in the slightest.
“I have no reason to beg you,” she replied calmly. “But I do have every reason to warn you.”
Her eyes held his, steady and unyielding. “Don’t get in my way,” she added. “Because if you do, I won’t hesitate to make you regret it.”
The words hung between them, carrying more intensity than if she had raised her voice. There was no hesitation in her tone, no sign that she was bluffing. She meant exactly what she said.
Jonathan stared at her for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh, the sound filled with disbelief and something darker underneath.
“You really think you can threaten me?” he said, shaking his head slightly. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
Adeline didn’t respond.
“You may not see it now,” he continued, his voice colder now, more controlled, “but you will regret this. Getting involved with a Hale is the worst mistake you could make, and when that time comes, when Julian Hale finally shows you who he really is…”
He paused, his gaze hardening further as he looked at her. “I will make sure to throw you out of my life for good.”
The threat was clear, the meaning behind it even clearer. He wasn’t just angry. He was already preparing himself for the moment he believed would prove him right.
“So enjoy this little moment of audacity,” Jonathan added, his tone dripping with bitterness. “Because when everything falls apart, you’ll come back begging.”
Adeline held his gaze without hesitation, her expression still calm, still unreadable.
“And I won’t listen,” he finished.