CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: STAY TONIGHT!

"Adrian, you’re so disgusting!"

The slap left her palm stinging.

Serena Sinclair’s face was as cold as frost, "Don’t think everyone is like you!"

She turned around to leave, but her wrist was seized by Adrian.

Adrian didn’t expect Serena’s strength to be surprisingly strong.

An elbow jabbed ruthlessly, making him feel as though his stomach was being flattened.

Just as Adrian lost his breath, Serena’s sharp high heels viciously dug into the top of his foot.

He loosened his grip, allowing Serena to swiftly withdraw her hand.

When he looked up again, she had already walked through the hotel entrance; her silhouette was nowhere to be seen.

Adrian’s face was as dark as water.

He had come to warn Serena.

The scene at the birthday party was terribly ugly, and after calming down, Adrian realized one very serious problem.

Even rabbits bite when they’re cornered.

Though Serena was gentle and kind, with a good temper, if pushed to the edge, who knows what she might do.

The municipal investment and bidding conference was imminent; if Serena became upset and spoke recklessly, it wouldn’t just affect The Lockwood Group’s stock price—it would also affect his reputation with the municipal leaders, which would not be worth it.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t answer the phone.

She blocked him on WeChat.

After waiting all night, he ended up seeing her step out of another man’s car with a smile as bright as flowers.

With a grim face, Adrian called Ian Young, "Find out who that man is, the one who’s been involved with Serena!"

Ending the call, Adrian got into the car.

The Mercedes roared away, the driver’s seat air filled with Adrian’s somber mood.

The night wind seemed to conspire against him, mercilessly cutting past his ear and making the left side of his face burn.

This was the first time Serena had raised her hand against him.

As a teenager, Serena was calm and quiet.

After they got together, she was even more attentive and gave all her gentleness to him.

But tonight, for the sake of another man, she had disregarded their years of marriage and actually raised her hand against him!

Vroom!

The Mercedes revved loudly.

When the car stopped in front of The Lockwood Villa, the entire villa was brightly lit.

Adrian got out of the car just as the villa door opened in response.

A flash of light in his eyes as he looked up to see Chloe Lynch stepping out to greet him.

"You... didn’t leave?"

Adrian stepped forward.

Chloe shook her head, "Miles wasn’t feeling well, so I stayed a little longer with him."

"Not feeling well?"

Adrian quickened his pace into the children’s room.

Miles looked sickly, a fever patch on his forehead, his little face flushed red.

"The doctor has been here and said it might be a cold. He’s been given medicine..."

Chloe said softly, reaching for Adrian’s arm, "Why are you back so late?"

She’d left early to pick up Miles from kindergarten.

She thought he would just be an hour late and they could have dinner together.

But unexpectedly, Adrian returned so late.

A glance at the red mark on Adrian’s face—a slap mark was obvious.

Chloe’s heart skipped: Did he go see Serena?

Part of her thought Adrian couldn’t be so pathetic; after such a scene at the birthday party, why go looking for Serena?

Another part couldn’t stop the chaotic thoughts.

Since Adrian hadn’t divorced yet, her heart couldn’t settle down.

"Something came up."

Adrian frowned slightly.

Serena would never ask why he came back late.

She would only say, don’t work too hard, money is never-ending.

"You..." Go ahead.

"Mama..."

As Adrian started to usher Chloe out, Miles turned over and mumbled "Mama."

Something clicked in Adrian’s mind.

Adrian turned to Chloe, "Tonight, you can stay!"

Chloe’s eyes brightened instantly.

She had waited for this day for so long!

In Serena’s eyes, she was the other woman.

Perhaps others also saw her that way.

But in reality, nothing had happened between them.

She wanted to say yes immediately, but maintained her composure for a long time.

Chloe responded, "...Okay."

"Go ahead upstairs."

Watching Chloe’s light steps going upstairs, Adrian took out his phone to call Serena.

Not sure if he was blacklisted, he dialed several times but Serena didn’t answer.

Adrian switched to calling the driver.

The doorbell rang just as Serena finished taking a shower.

Looking through the peephole and seeing the driver outside, Serena checked her clothes and then opened the door.

The driver looked anxious, "Madam, the young master has a fever and is crying for you. You should go back and take a look!"

Serena hesitated just a moment before agreeing, "Wait for me."

She changed her clothes and went downstairs with the driver.

The car sped towards The Lockwood Villa.

Serena’s expression was calm, but her heart was anxious.

If it were Adrian who was sick, Serena could refuse without hesitation.

He’s an adult, with doctors and nurses; he won’t die.

Not to mention they were already divorced.

But no matter the divorce, Miles was her flesh and blood, and that would never change.

Over the past five years, Miles rarely got sick.

He refused injections and medicine, every time leaving Serena dry-mouthed and exhausted.

Which made every time he fell ill especially agonizing for Serena.

Who knows about the future...

The car stopped, breaking Serena’s train of thought.

As Serena entered, she heard the noise from the children’s room.

Miles was crying.

The nurse was trying to soothe him.

Adrian was angry.

Serena headed to the bedroom and saw Miles with a fever patch on his head, the nurse holding a cup and coaxing him to take medicine.

With his face flushed, Miles stubbornly refused, "I won’t take medicine, I don’t want medicine, I want Chloe to come and build Lego with me, I want to see Chloe..."

Preparing mentally before this moment didn’t prevent the knife-like pain in Serena’s heart.

She suppressed the bitterness and moved forward to take the medicine from the nurse, soothing him, "Miles, don’t cry... You’re sick, if Aunt Chloe comes and gets sick too, then what? You take your medicine properly; when you’re better, you can play with her, alright?"

Miles pouted and drank the medicine.

"I want to hear a story."

"Okay. Should we talk about Ultraman or the Pea Prince today?"

"No... I want to hear about Grandma Wolf versus Tesla."

"... Okay. In the depths of the forest, there lived a magical Grandma Wolf, and one day..."

Halfway through the story, Miles fell asleep, his little palm no longer sweaty, his face no longer red.

Serena gently patted him, waiting until he was deeply asleep before turning off the lights and leaving the room.

Adrian’s face still bore a fading red mark, but he seemed calmer now, "Miles isn’t feeling well. You tonight..."

"Adrian!"

A voice called out from behind Adrian.

Serena looked up to see Chloe Lynch descending slowly from the second floor.

Chloe was still wearing her silk nightgown.