"Riley, how are you? Feeling better?"
"I heard from Leonard Sterling that you were sick. Is it serious? Is it because Master Adrian didn't take good care of you?"
Caleb Montgomery kept chattering on the other end of the line. Riley Palmer didn't even know when she should cut in to reply.
Adrian Carter slowly took the phone from him. "Hold on. Let her answer first."
Riley finally spoke softly. "I'm fine now. Adrian treats me very well. My getting sick has nothing to do with him."
Riley burrowed lightly into Adrian's abs again, her hair brushing gently against his skin.
Adrian's ears flushed red. He tilted his head back slightly, enjoying the soft tickle of Riley's hair.
Watching the faint smile on Riley's face, Adrian gently stroked her hair.
Riley lifted her head to look at him, her eyes glancing toward the phone.
"All done talking?" Adrian asked in a soft, low voice.
Riley nodded and handed the phone back to his ear.
"Anything else?" Adrian's voice dropped slightly as he lowered his gaze, watching the little girl beside him tracing circles on his abs.
Leonard Sterling looked at Caleb, who was clasping his hands together as if praying, then sighed. "Are you free tomorrow night?"
Adrian paused, looked down at Riley, and said slowly, "What is it?"
"Master Adrian! Master Adrian!" Caleb suddenly snatched the phone from Leonard, completely abandoning his pleading demeanor. "Let's go watch the sunset tomorrow!"
Adrian's lips curved in a smile. "And how are we getting there?"
"We're taking a yacht!" Caleb said excitedly. "Leonard just bought me one. You don't have one, do you?"
Adrian chuckled helplessly. "Nope. That guy Leonard not causing trouble for me is already a blessing. If he ever gives me a gift, the sky must be collapsing."
Adrian turned to Riley, speaking gently. "Caleb wants us to watch the sunset tomorrow. By yacht. Do you want to go?"
He was worried about Riley's condition. Her emotions had only just stabilized, and he was genuinely afraid she might slip back into how she was before.
"Is it fun?" Riley looked up at him, shifting higher to lean on his shoulder.
Adrian patted her shoulder lightly. "It's fun. You can sing on the yacht, there's BBQ, and the evening view is beautiful."
Of course, Adrian didn't plan to tell Riley what he had experienced on yachts over the years—how he would sit alone on the second deck in the middle of the night while others leaned close to each other, whispering intimately…Or how he was always the one excluded when playing games—what started as single-player casually turned into two-against-one.
Riley's eyes sparkled when she heard about the scenery and the food.
Adrian smiled. "We'll go."
"Yes!!" Caleb hopped excitedly into his bedroom to pick out his outfit for tomorrow.
Leonard lowered his voice deliberately and said to Adrian, "Handle your own business tomorrow—don't disturb me and Caleb's couple time."
Adrian gave a small smile and teased him, "Couple time? You should first see whether Caleb feels the same way."
Before Leonard could respond, the call ended with a series of beeps.
Adrian's smile deepened, his mood instantly improving.
He leaned back, pulled Riley into his arms, kissing and hugging her again.
Looking at the various marks on her body, he felt very satisfied.
"Let's catch a bit more sleep."
Riley didn't nod or answer, she just leaned quietly in his arms.
The Next Morning
Riley shifted closer to the warm body beside her, rubbing gently against it as she slowly opened her eyes.
But the "warm body" she was hugging… turned out to be a teddy bear.
She scanned the room, saw Adrian's phone placed neatly on the bedside table, and slowly relaxed.
Clack—The bathroom door opened.
Adrian walked out fully dressed in a fitted suit, his silhouette emphasizing the lines of his body, making him look exceptionally formal and mature.
Riley leaned against the pillow, watching the steam drift from the bathroom and the man walking out of it. She couldn't help but smile softly.
Her gaze lingered on the scar near Adrian's left waist. She stared for so long that she didn't even notice when he approached.
"Riley?" Adrian called.
Riley snapped out of it. "Ah? What is it?" She lifted her head to look at him.
Adrian bent down slightly, flicked her forehead, and asked, "What were you staring at?"Then, placing his lips near her ear, he whispered, "Didn't get enough of looking last night?"
A blush instantly spread across Riley's cheeks. She glanced away. "I—I'm going to wash up."
Adrian tilted his head, watching the little girl flee into the bathroom with a smile.
Buzz—buzz—
Adrian walked over to Riley's phone. Seeing the same unfamiliar number message her again, he frowned.
Last night, Yulius Linn had already confirmed that the number came from Jassen Carter's residence.
The first person Adrian thought of… was Chris Carter.
Neither Jassen nor Lydia Suvian cared enough about Riley to contact her. The only one in that house who needed Riley—there was no doubt—it was Chris.
Adrian wondered what Chris wanted now.Was the company unable to function without Riley?Or was it about the Liharbor project, was Chris trying to beg Riley for help again?
Adrian immediately blocked the number. Then he looked toward the bathroom, where Riley's faint silhouette could be seen through the frosted glass, and smiled slightly.
Riley waited until she heard the bedroom door close before stepping out naked, picking up the clothes neatly laid out on the bed and returning to the bathroom.
When she finally opened the door again, she saw a familiar figure busying himself in the kitchen.
"Riley." May Miller looked at Riley's now-steady eyes and hugged her happily. "I missed you so much!"
Riley smelled alcohol on May's clothes and covered her nose. "You guys drank last night?"
"Hehe!" May scratched her head and grinned. "Just a little."
Riley poked her forehead lightly and pushed her away.
May ran back to her room, giggling.
The living room was empty now, except for May's laptop screen still lit on the couch.
Riley stepped onto the carpet, sat down, pressed the save button, and put the computer to sleep mode.
"What do you want to drink?" Adrian was boiling soft-boiled eggs and glanced at Riley.
Riley thought for a moment, walked to the cabinet, and looked at the tea bags.
"This one… I'll take this one." She picked out a green tea bag and watched Adrian pour hot water into the cup.
Steam rose instantly. Adrian carefully set the cup on the table. "Be careful, it's hot."
Riley nodded obediently and followed him.
Sitting at the dining table, Riley watched Adrian cooking breakfast and smiled softly.
She raised her phone and quietly took a picture.
Then she posted it on her Moments—a simple photo, a warm silhouette.
Riley looked at the picture and smiled.
"What are you looking at?" Adrian slid her phone down from her hands, saw her new post, and also gave a small smile.
He took out his own phone and snapped a picture of the freshly steamed buns.
[Happiness is handmade buns for my wife.]
Caleb immediately commented:
[Master Adrian, you've changed. Where's mine?? Where's Leonard's??]
Adrian smiled and replied:
[None for you. Let Leonard make you some.]
He even tagged Leonard's WeChat.
Leonard quietly liked Adrian's reply.
Adrian shook his head, put down his phone, and placed the buns on the table.
Riley scrolled through Moments, marveling at how lively these supposedly elegant young masters actually were.
A new post popped up. She tapped it open.
[Who else doesn't have buns!!]
"Pfft—" Riley laughed.
Adrian glanced at her and gently stroked her hair. "Careful."
Riley showed him Caleb's latest post.
Adrian looked at it and shook his head with a helpless smile.
"All right, eat up."
Riley looked at the food on her plate and happily dug in.