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Vivian could hardly believe what she had just heard. This was not at all what she had imagined. She wanted Adrian to be moved and concerned for her—wanted him to see her injured finger after she had lovingly prepared a meal for him. They could then spend some time alone in his office, deepening their bond. But instead, she was dismissed. The reality hit her hard.
Trying to keep her composure, Vivian awkwardly laughed, “Adrian, where are you going? If it’s not too long, I can wait for you in your office.”
“I’m sorry, Vivian. I’ll be out for a while. You should leave,” Adrian replied, his voice final.
“I…” Vivian started to protest, but before she could finish, Adrian’s assistant interrupted her.
“Miss Morrison, please come with me.”
Vivian bit her lip, her eyes reddening slightly. She wanted to know if Adrian would remain indifferent, but as the assistant walked past her toward Adrian, it was clear that he was already leaving quickly, as though something urgent awaited him.
Vivian stood still, watching him disappear into the distance. The assistant’s voice broke her trance. “Miss Morrison, are you coming?”
Vivian glanced at the assistant, whose face was expressionless and unfriendly. He made it clear that she wasn’t welcome. Vivian could feel the hostility radiating from him. Everyone knew about Adrian’s relationship with Eva, and here she was—Vivian—deliberately blocking people’s way with her food delivery. Even a child would understand her intentions.
The assistant, who had worked closely with Eva, clearly thought highly of her, admiring her warmth and ability to connect with others. That only made him more irritated with Vivian’s actions. But he was just the assistant, and his job was to follow Adrian’s instructions without comment.
Vivian didn’t want to leave just yet. She had put so much effort into the lunch, and her wound wasn’t that serious. If she left now, would she have to make it worse later just for Adrian to notice? No way.
Smiling sweetly at the assistant, Vivian asked, “Where did Adrian go? Will he be back this afternoon? If he does, could I wait for him in his office?”
The assistant replied coldly, his voice unwavering. “I’m not sure about Mr. Blackwood’s schedule. As for waiting in his office when he isn’t there, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Outsiders aren’t allowed.”
Vivian’s face tightened. She tried to maintain her composure, but the assistant’s blunt refusal stung. “But I’m not an outsider!” she retorted, her voice trembling with frustration.
The assistant remained unmoved. “I don’t know about that.”
Vivian seethed inwardly. Once she became the boss of Blackwood Enterprises, the first thing she’d do was replace this assistant. He had no sense of discretion. But for now, she had to stay calm. She forced another smile, though it felt strained.
“Well then, please send me back. By the way, this lunch was made by me with great effort. Since Adrian didn’t have a chance to eat it, I’ll give it to you.”
Vivian’s words were calculated—trying to win the assistant over, hoping he might be persuaded to her side. But to her surprise, the assistant took a step back, shaking his head.
“Miss Morrison deserves nothing for doing nothing.”
Vivian’s temper flared. She was about to lash out, but the assistant had already turned and led her away, cutting the conversation short.
At the same time, Adrian arrived at the nursing home, feeling the weight of his earlier frustrations lift as he entered the room. He saw Eva lying next to Granny Blackwood’s legs, sound asleep after a long, tense day.
Granny Blackwood, noticing the noise as Adrian entered, gestured for silence. Adrian saw Eva sleeping peacefully, holding onto a pillow as she subconsciously rubbed against it. Smiling softly to himself, he bent down gently and picked her up, carrying her to a nearby small bed without waking her.
Once Eva was settled, he carefully pulled the covers over her, making sure she was comfortable before stepping back.
Granny Blackwood, who had been watching, motioned for Adrian to wheel her out of the room. Adrian complied, pushing her chair into the hallway.
After they left the room, Granny Blackwood’s voice returned to a normal volume. “This little girl said she wanted to hear my story, but fell asleep before I could finish. I don’t know if it’s because my story was too boring or if she hasn’t been resting well lately.”
“It’s probably because she hasn’t been resting well,” Adrian responded. “I noticed her dark circles are much worse than usual.”
As he spoke, Adrian had gently pinched Eva’s cheek earlier, noticing the more pronounced dark circles under her eyes. With her porcelain skin, the tiredness stood out even more.
“Why hasn’t she been resting well?” Granny Blackwood asked. “Did you do something to upset her?”
Adrian smiled softly, though there was a trace of helplessness in his voice. “How could I bully her? She’s always been the one getting the better of me. When have I ever won against her?”
Granny Blackwood clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “Still the same boy who can’t handle a little loss without sulking, huh?”
Adrian shook his head, amused, but didn’t argue.
Granny Blackwood’s expression softened. “Anyway, don’t bully her. This girl really cares about me. She’s not my biological granddaughter; she’s adopted.”
Adrian didn’t argue. He knew that the love and care Eva showed Granny Blackwood was genuine. He was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”
Eva stirred awake, feeling a deep sense of comfort as she slowly opened her eyes. She stretched lazily before realizing where she was. The room around her was familiar, but the sight of Adrian sitting beside her caught her off guard.
“Adrian?” she whispered, blinking in surprise.
Eva quickly looked around, noticing Granny Blackwood’s absence. “Where’s Granny Blackwood?”
Adrian smiled, his voice gentle. “She went for a check-up.”
Eva’s hand instinctively went to her forehead in slight embarrassment. “How did I fall asleep?”
“You fell asleep while listening to Granny’s story,” Adrian replied with a teasing glint in his eyes. “It could only be you.”
Eva blushed, realizing just how comfortable and safe she felt in this moment. As she looked at Adrian, a quiet sense of gratitude filled her heart.
