CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: HE SMILED, READY FOR A KISS

She had been worried all afternoon, and now that Adrian Jennings was out of danger, she wanted to see him.

After all, he took that knife for her.

"Be good! Come home with me!" Shawn Rhodes said sternly.

Talia shook her head, her gaze resolute. "Dad, I know you’re angry right now, but I can’t go home yet. Since Adrian sacrificed himself for me, I have to see him. If he opens his eyes and doesn’t see me, he’ll be really upset."

Mr. Jennings looked relieved and turned to Shawn Rhodes, "Shawn, my wife was just being overly harsh earlier. I apologize on her behalf; please don’t take it to heart."

Ian Jennings added, "Yes, Adrian definitely wants to see Talia when he wakes."

Melinda Lynch said, "Dear in-laws, don’t be upset. It’s a good thing that the children have a strong mutual bond."

No matter how powerful Mr. Jennings was, he had humbled himself and personally apologized, leaving Shawn Rhodes no choice but to relent.

Indeed, Mrs. Jennings could be quite unreasonable, but fortunately, other members of the Jennings Family were understanding.

He paused, then looked at Talia. "Fine, you stay here. I’ll go home to check on your sister."

After Shawn Rhodes left, Talia apologized once again for her impulsive behavior.

Mrs. Jennings sighed, took her hand, and said, "Good girl, don’t blame yourself anymore. It’s not your fault. I know that deep down you didn’t want Adrian to get hurt either. Ultimately, it’s our family’s mistake; your father is right."

Tears welled up in Talia’s eyes. "I want to see Adrian."

Melinda Lynch held her hand. "Let’s go together."

...

Adrian Jennings opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Talia Rhodes’s worried face.

Seeing him finally awake, Talia couldn’t hold back her tears as her nose twitched.

"Adrian, you’re finally awake."

Adrian managed to curl his lips into a gentle smile. "Don’t cry, I’m not dying."

Melinda Lynch stood nearby, wiping her tears. "You scared me to death, as long as you’re alright. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t want to live either."

Ian Jennings frowned, "Why say such unlucky things again."

Watching Talia’s tears gush down, Adrian felt heartache. He tried to reach out and wipe her tears, slowly lifting his hand.

His wounds hurt horribly after the anesthetic wore off, making lifting his hand difficult.

Talia quickly held his hand. "Adrian..."

"Talia, don’t cry." Adrian said, his pale face adorned with a slight smile, his gaze tender yet filled with heartache. "As long as you’re safe, it doesn’t matter what happens to me."

"No, that’s not true." Talia wiped away her tears, sniffing softly. "We both need to be okay."

"Child, what are you saying?" Melinda Lynch frowned. "Can’t we all just be okay?"

"How is Jasmine?" Adrian asked.

Talia’s eyes were red. "Jasmine is fine. She’s safe."

"That’s good."

Melinda Lynch chimed in, "You almost lost your life but still worry about others. You need to rest and heal, don’t worry about these things. We will handle matters outside."

"Dad, Mom, please leave for a while. I’d like some time alone with Talia." Adrian said weakly.

Melinda and Ian nodded understandingly, then left.

Adrian looked at Talia, his gaze concerned. "Talia, they haven’t made things hard for you, have they?"

Talia shook her head, feeling a mix of bitterness and pain.

Adrian was in this state, yet he was worried about whether she was in any trouble.

She tried hard to hold back her tears, forcing a smile. "Adrian, you need to get better soon. We still have to hold our engagement ceremony."

Adrian’s lips, pale as paper, curved into a smile. "Okay, I promise."

Ian and Melinda hadn’t been out of the ICU for long before they received a call.

The caller’s tone was urgent, "It’s bad, Mr. Jennings, something happened!"

At the detention center, Jessica Coleman claimed to be pregnant and requested a hospital check-up according to protocol.

On the way to the hospital, a vehicle recklessly crashed into the car Jessica Coleman was in, violently stopping it by the roadside.

Several burly men got out of the car, all skilled at their craft.

Jessica Coleman was taken away by them.

The staff in the car responsible for monitoring her were severely injured, and the vehicle was too damaged to pursue instantly.

Ian listened, disbelief on his face. "She was actually abducted?"

"What’s going on? Who was abducted?" Melinda asked.

Ian took a deep breath, shoulders slumping, "It’s Jessica Coleman."

"What!" Melinda was shocked. "Wasn’t she already detained?"

Ian furrowed his brows deep in thought. "Dad was right. This incident isn’t as simple as the Grant Family said. She has someone backing her, and we need to find out who that person is quickly."

...

Adrian Jennings stayed in the ICU for a few days before moving to a regular ward.

He felt like he had experienced an extended dream.

Upon waking from the dream, Adrian felt utterly exhausted, even breathing was difficult.

He slowly opened his eyes.

The disinfectant smell in the air was pungent.

Sunlight streamed through the window and gently settled on his face.

Adrian reached out, trying to block the glaring light.

A sudden pain came from the back of his hand; his movement had pulled at the wound where the needle was.

"You’re awake." Talia appeared at the door. Seeing him awake, she quickened her pace to his bedside, setting down the thermos container in her hands. "I just went to make some food for you, and you happen to wake up just in time to eat."

Adrian turned to look at the thermos she had placed on the bedside table, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Cooked?"

"Yes." Talia replied shyly with a smile. "I made it myself. Would you like to try it? This is the first time I’ve learned to cook."

As Adrian gradually adapted to the dazzling sunlight, his face softened in the glow, radiating warmth.

He gently curled his lips into a smile, his eyes sparkling with tender light, "Sure."

Talia leaned over closer, her fragrant, floral scent lingered in Adrian’s nose.

Thinking she was about to hug or kiss him, Adrian felt sweet as if sugar was poured into his heart. With a smile in his eyes, he was ready to be kissed, tinged with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

This was the first time Talia initiated a kiss to him.

However, the next moment, the head of the bed slowly rose.

"I’m adjusting the bed for you so you can eat comfortably leaning back."

Hearing this, Adrian felt a bit disappointed yet couldn’t help but find it amusing.

How come he was acting like a lovestruck teenager just now?

Talia propped up the small tray on the bed, covering it with a layer of napkins, then placed the thermos on top.

She opened it, revealing stir-fried bok choy and boiled beef on the top layer.

"The doctor said you need to watch your diet while hospitalized, needing light meals. I made bok choy and beef for you, with a balance of meat and vegetables."

Adrian’s gaze was gentle, quietly focusing on Talia’s face.

These past days, this face repeatedly appeared in his dreams.

Now, she was the first person he saw after waking, making Adrian feel as though the happiness was surreal.