Chapter 3
Mrs. Cross set down her fork and said ruthlessly: “I can see right through your little schemes.“]
Victoria’s face went deathly pale, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Mrs. Cross, L… I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t know?” Mrs. Cross laughed coldly. “When you and Adrian were dating in college, the first time he brought you home–the moment you walked through that door, your eyes never left our furnishings.”
“When you heard about our company’s scale, the greed and calculation in your eyes might as well have been written across your facer“]]
rs.]
Victoria trembled all over, seemingly holding back tears.
Seeing this, Adrian slammed the table and shot to his feet
“Enough!” glared at his mother. “It’s been years and you’re still like this! You’re not looking out for me–you just want to control my life!”
“When you forced us to break up back then, Victoria got depression because of it. Don’t you feel any guilt? Now that she’s finally healing, why are you still using such vicious words to hurt her?”
“I’m controlling you?” Mrs. Cross shook with rage.
“If I really wanted to control you, I wouldn’t have let Elena suffer through your bankruptcy with you! You ungrateful bastard, have you forgotten who crawled out of hell with you?”
“I haven’t forgotten!”
Adrian’s eyes were red as he roared: “Til spend my whole life repaying Elena’s kindness! But that doesn’t conflict with me making things right with Victoriar“]
With that, he grabbed the still–trembling Victoria and headed for the door without Jooking back
“Where are you going?” Mrs. Cross shouted after him.
“I can’t stay in this house anymore!” He stormed out with Victoria in tow.
Throughout the entire scene, he never once looked at me, never even considered taking me with him.]
“Elena, ignore him–let him go to hell!”
Mrs. Cross was breathing heavily with anger as she grabbed my hand. “Stay here tonight. Mom will have a drink with you.“]
I shook my head and stood up: “Mom, I should go back.”
This was between Adrian and me. I couldn’t let him completely break with his mother because of me.[]
In the courtyard, Adrian’s car was still there.
there.[]
He leaned against the door, impatiently checking his phone–clearly waiting for me.[]
So he did remember he’d left me behind.
I walked slowly toward him.
Adrian heard my footsteps and looked up.
Seeing it was me, his impatience deepened.]
“What took you so long? Let’s go.” He opened the door and got into the driver’s seat.]
I walked to the passenger side, and before I could open the door, I heard Victoria’s pained moaning from the back seat.]
*Adrian… I feel awful…. can’t breathe…”
Adrian’s expression changed as he immediately twisted around to check on her.
“Victoria, what’s wrong?”
“I think… I’m having… a peanut allergy attack…” Victoria’s voice was broken, full of pain.
Adrian’s gaze immediately turned to me, full of accusation.
“Elenal You knew Victoria was allergic to peanuts–why didn’t you tell the kitchen beforehand?“]
I stared at him in shock.
What the hell?
When did I ever know Victoria was allergic to peanuts? Why would I need to give instructions to my mother–in–law’s kitchen to some stranger? Besides, all the food was already prepared when we arrived.]
“I didn’t know she was allergic to peanuts, 1 replied coldly.
“You didn’t know?” Adrian’s voice shot up. “You did this on purpose! You just can’t stand her, can you?”
I laughed bitterly: “So what? What do you want? Should I take responsibility for her allergy?“]
“I’ll let it slide this time!” Adrian said through gritted teeth.
“But she’s going to be living with us from now on, so pay attention! Don’t let this happen again![]
He wanted me to take care of her in the future? I couldn’t believe my ears. Just how shameless could this man get?
Before I could respond, Victoria let out another pained moan from the back seat.]
Adrian’s composure completely shattered []
“No, we need to get to the hospital now!” He started the car and said anxiously, “Get out!”
I stood there motionless, looking at him: “You want me to walk back?”
This was the wealthy suburb on the city outskirts–public transportation was terrible, and there was no way to get a cab at night.
Adrian irritably pounded the steering wheel. []
“The hospital and home are in opposite directions! I don’t have time to drop you off–Victoria’s condition is more urgent! Figure out your own way back!”
With that, he hit the gas, leaving me nothing but choking exhaust fumes.]
I stood in the empty street as the night wind cut through me with bone–chilling cold.]
He made it sound so easy. “Figure it out.”
Yeah, I’d been figuring it out for years now.
I pulled out my phone and called his personal driver. “Mr. Miller, could you please pick me up at the estate?“]
I
Ten minutes later, Mr. Miller’s car arrived.
Seeing only me, he looked surprised: “Ms. Martinez, where’s Mr. Cross? Wasn’t he supposed to come back with you for dinner?”
I got into the car and said flatly: “Emergency at the company. He left early.”
But inside, I was laughing coldly–busy taking care of his precious first love.
Shortly after getting home, my phone chimed with a message.[]
1 opened it and my pupils contracted sharply.
In a hotel bed, Adrian lay sleeping deeply in a bathrobe!
