CHAPTER 306: LONG TIME AHEAD OF US

Riri and Lala sprinted across the couch of the guest room.

Adrian sat on the bed, his eyes contained a hint of displeasure and there were a few lines between his brows.

’Knock’

Ella pushed open the door and tiptoed inside the room, closing the door behind her.

Adrian lifted his chin, looking up at her.

Ella halted in her tracks. The way he looked at her just then... it was as if she had wronged him in some way.

For a moment, both the people did not exchange a single word.

However, in the next second, Ella threw herself into Adrian’s embrace, her hands tightly wrapping around his neck.

And as if it was his first instinct, Adrian immediately held her firmly and seated her on his lap.

"Baby, what are you doing here?" Ella mumbled as she pulled back to look at him.

"It’s them," Adrian said with a straight face.

Ella looked at Riri and Lala and felt her lips twitch. Sure... Sure, these two babies forcefully drove you here!

Adrian cleared his throat, burying his face in the crook of her neck, "You don’t want me here?" His voice was obviously cold but there was a tinge of... softness in there.

Was... Was he being coquettish?

Ella couldn’t resist Adrian in general, let alone the Adrian who knew how to act cute.

She bit her bottom lips and stroked his back. However, when she felt his muscles flexing under her caresses, her hand’s intention changed a bit.

Her touch slowed, lingering on his skin as she gently drawled her fingers down.

Adrian looked at her, his pupils glinting with an undecipherable glint that sent danger alarms in her head.

Ella removed her hand from his back but it was too late. In a swift movement, the man pinned her to the bed, capturing both her wrists above her head.

Ella gulped when his face hovered over the swell of her breasts.

And then slowly, his face dipped towards her collarbone.

She held her breath. But right at this moment, there were sounds of vigorous knocks on the door.

The trance broke and Ella’s breath hitched.

"Mr. King... Mr. King, it’s me.." Esther’s honeyed voice floated across the guest room like a witch’s spell.

"_"

Ella broke out in goosebumps... This... Why was she feeling second hand embarrassment?

Looking at Adrian’s darkening face, Ella wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered teasing, "Mr. King, don’t you have fans everywhere?"

The displeasure in Adrian’s eyes faded a bit when he looked at her teasing eyes. Sighing, he leaned closer to her, "Nonsense," His lips hovered over hers, and their breaths intermingled.

Just as their lips were about to clash, Esther’s voice floated in again.

"Mr. King, earlier, I couldn’t greet you properly so I felt very guilty about it..."

Outside the room, Esther stood in a provocative red nightgown that clung to her body, revealing her deep cleavage. The nightgown did not hide much of her body.

But after waiting for a few moments, Esther did not get a response from inside. But the lights were on...

"Mr. King, I..."

"Scram."

Adrian’s thunderous voice reverberated in the place and Esther flinched.

"What are you doing here?"

Before she could come back to her senses, she was dragged away by her father, "Didn’t I tell you to come out after an hour?"

"But..."

"Go to your room. Now!"

...

With Esther gone, Adrian and Ella sat up on the bed. He pulled her onto his lap.

"What’s bothering you?" Adrian suddenly asked, watching Ella tug at his sleeve absent-mindedly.

"Earlier..." Ella’s brows furrowed slightly, "...you wanted to speak about our relationship but I stopped you again. I just..."

"It doesn’t matter," Adrian hugged her, "We have a long way ahead of us. Things will happen wherever, however and whenever you want them to."

Ella’s nose turned sour, her eyes burned slowly.

She had not forgiven her parents for what happened the last time. And Ella did not if she could ever put aside that rock on her chest.

But, today, when her mother showed care for her, Ella did not want for that moment to end. She did not know what reaction it would bring if they knew her true relationship with Adrian.

At that time, Ella just found herself unwilling to get into another fight with them.

She thought Adrian would be angry.

But...

Ella sighed, nestling into the strong arms of the man, inhaling his comforting scent that seemed to drown all her worries away.

...

Later, Ella returned to her room, but sleep wouldn’t come easily.

She tossed and turned, her mind buzzing with everything that had happened.

Just as her eyelids began to feel heavy, a faint rustling sound caught her attention.

Ella’s eyes snapped open as she froze, straining to listen.

But the sound slowly moved to a distance. Ella rose from the bed and walked out of her room.

"You... Stop there!" Her gaze snapped onto a shadow that flashed past a distant pillar.

Ella immediately rushed after the person.

As she reached a distinct hallway, a shiver ran down her spine.

She could feel a presence behind her.

Instinctively, she grabbed a nearby vase, ready to smash it over whoever it was.

But before she could act, a strong force shoved her into the nearest room, slamming the door and locking it from the outside.

Within a second, darkness enveloped her. And suddenly, Ella’s feet froze. Her senses were overwhelmed...

Images flashed in her mind... That suffocating prison room, the rats... the blood...

Panic gripped her chest, and she sank to the floor, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Help..." Her voice was barely above a whisper and it seemed to fade right into the darkness.

Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps as she bumped back onto a solid shelf.

Some random objects landed on her before clattering on the floor as she flailed, knocking over a few things in her frenzy, "Help..."

Ella couldn’t breathe. She could not see anything.

She did not know how long she sat in that suffocating silence before she moved.

Summoning whatever control she could, Ella managed to rise her feet. Moving her hands in the darkness, she reached the nearest wall and held it closely as she stepped forward.

The moment her trembling hands came in contact with a fabric, her eyes widened. She quickly drew open the curtains.

Moonlight spilled into the room, casting silvery light over the entire place.

Ella’s heart still raced as she slumped on the floor weakly.

Her breathing gradually returned to normal after a long time.

Her gaze adjusted to her surroundings and she realized that she was into... what seemed like a storeroom.

Ella slowly took in the sight of the tall shelves, still drenched in the cold sweat, "This room... hadn’t been there before in the mansion..."

Ella tried to stand but suddenly, her eyes caught sight of the objects that had littered across the floor.

What caught her attention was a small diary with two rabbit ears on top of it.

This diary...

’Essie, see what I got for you?’

’A diary? It has bunny ears!’

’Do you like it?’

’You are the best, sis...’

With slow footsteps, Ella reached out to pick the diary she had once gifted Esther.

...

On the other side, Adrian laid on the bed, still wide awake.

After a long time of staring at the ceiling, he rose from the bed and walked out of the guest room.

His footsteps halted for a brief moment before he walked in the direction from where he had seen Ella walk out earlier.

He stopped in front of Ella’s room and reached out to the doorknob.

But after a moment, he knocked on the door for once.

And then he opened the door.

However, the room was empty and dark, save for the soft flicker of candles scattered across the space, their light casting dancing shadows on the walls.

The faint sound of running water came from the bathroom.

Adrian walked over to the bed and sat, letting his gaze drift.

His eyes paused on the photo frame on Ella’s bedside table.

In the picture, Mr. Yu and Mrs. Yu smiled down at Esther.

And a teenage Ella sat slightly apart, not quite upset yet not visibly happy.

Adrian picked the picture up and traced Ella’s face gently.

At that moment, the bathroom door creaked open.

Adrian carefully set the photo down and turned but suddenly, his eyes turned frigid.

Before him stood Esther, completely naked, her body swaying provocatively toward him.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop immediately.

Fury flared in Adrian’s eyes, cold and sharp.

"Mr. King..." Esther called out softly.

Adrian rose to his full height, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

But before he could take a step, a strange dizziness swept over him and he stumbled back onto the bed.

His gaze flicked to the nearest candle, and the flames seemed to dance in his dark eyes, mimicking his fury.

"Mr. King," Esther purred, her voice smooth, deliberate.

"It’s a futile effort... this undetectable fragrance stirs every desire inside you that you resist. I know it’s me you truly want." She leaned closer, letting her breasts hang low, pressing temptation against him. "Why not let me serve you tonight..."

The moment her hand brushed him, Adrian snapped. A snarl ripped from his chest. "Get lost!" he barked, shoving her back with all his strength.

But Esther was undeterred. She crawled toward him again, her eyes smoldering with intent. "Let me help you..." she whispered, her fingers teasing at his clothing, trying to undress him.

Adrian’s body tensed and his eyes hardened.