It was surprisingly fast to find out who had spread the news about my background. Adrián only needed to make a phone call, and the matter was thoroughly investigated.
When the result was revealed, Adrian sneered. "Old Tom?" It turned out that Isabella had seen Old Tom picking me up and dropping me off. In order to find out my background, she had spared no expense to buy off Old Tom, who already hated me. Old Tom had exaggerated and spilled all he knew.
After the matter was settled, Adrián mercilessly told Old Tom to pack up and leave. Old Tom still tried to struggle. "Young master! You need the duke's approval to fire me..."
Adrián directly dialed the phone and pressed the speaker - phone button. For the first time, I heard the voice of my "father" in the biological sense. His voice was extremely cold, without a single fluctuation. "I approve. Did you hear that clearly?" Then the phone was hung up.
Adrián asked me, "Have you met Duke Black?" It took me a moment to react to the name. "Our father," Adrian added beside me. I shook my head. "No."
They didn't continue this topic. Before I entered the Black family, I thought the relationship between them and their father was very deep. Now I realized that their attitude towards their "father" was the same as mine, distant and cold.
A few days later, Adrián baked a plate of cookies and asked me to taste them. At this time, the old - fashioned landline phone in the living room rang abruptly. With a cookie in my mouth, I casually picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"It's me." That cold voice made me choke. Adrián had already walked over and took the receiver.
Duke Black only said one sentence. "At eight o'clock tonight, the driver will come to pick you all up to the Cloud - top Club." Then the phone was hung up, without a trace of extra emotion.
I looked at Adrian and Adrián. There was no change in their expressions. Adrian waved to me. "Come with me, little Lillian."
In the huge cloakroom, Adrian, for the first time, didn't take care of himself first. Instead, he pressed me in front of the dressing mirror. His movements were a bit awkward and full of dislike, but he was extremely serious.
"Lower your head."
"Don't move."
"Tsk, your hair is so stiff."
He mumbled while carefully arranging my hair. In the mirror, he frowned slightly, and his eyes were focused and engaged. This look made a corner of my heart collapse quietly.
When I was a child, my mother's rough hands had also combed my hair. She had clumsily tied a small ponytail and said with a smile, "My daughter is so beautiful." After that, she never had such a mood again. I blinked my eyes, blinking away the sourness in my eyes.
Adrian carefully examined my hair. "Is this hairstyle okay? If not, I'll do it again."
"Yes, it's great, tha..."
Leaning against the door frame, Adrián, who had already changed into a formal dress, sneered. "Are you a parrot, Lillian? You keep saying thank you all day long." He jingled his car keys.
I was at a loss for words. Adrian straightened my head. "Shut up! You're affecting my work." I immediately fell silent.
After a while, Adrian was finally satisfied and handed me a small mirror. The person in the mirror had neat hair and a clear outline, looking somewhat unfamiliar and handsome.
Adrian patted me on the shoulder and said to Adrián, "Well, doesn't she look like a little princess now?" Adrián walked over, didn't say anything, but very naturally reached out and straightened the crooked bow tie on my collar.
"Let's go."
In the car, I couldn't help asking, "What kind of event is it tonight?" Adrián was tidying his cufflinks and said calmly, "He's gathered us all so formally. Probably... he's going to publicize your background and let you recognize your ancestors and return to the clan. A young lady of the Black family can't be hidden away forever." He glanced back at me.
Adrian was applying lipstick and gently hummed in agreement. But I felt that things weren't that simple. A voice in my heart kept reminding me: he wouldn't go to so much trouble for me.
And indeed, this banquet, which seemed to be for establishing my identity, made everyone understand what it was all about when I saw the extraordinary - looking but picky - eyed middle - aged couple beside Duke Black. Their gazes were sizing up Adrián as if they were appraising a commodity. In the end, this was a marriage - trading event.