Ch. 521..530

Chapter 521 Tomorrow Will Be Better

On the way back, Adrian held Eva's hand the entire time.

Her steps were still a bit unsteady.

She had clearly felt an amorous atmosphere between them before, and he had said some strange things to her.

So, Eva really thought that something might happen between them, but unexpectedly, he just kissed her forehead and then took her hand and walked away.

This was completely different from what Eva had anticipated.

Although she hadn't thought about anything happening with him, there was still a sense of emptiness in her heart now.

Eva reached out and covered her chest, feeling a bit strange about herself.

"What's wrong?"

Adrian's voice suddenly came from beside her, "Is your chest uncomfortable?"

Hearing this, Eva came back to her senses and avoided Adrian's concerned gaze with a guilty conscience, whispering, "No."

Her eyes were obviously evasive, but since she didn't want to talk, and Adrian didn't know why, he didn't say anything more seeing that she seemed fine and her spirit was normal. When they got back, it was just around eight o'clock.

Warren came forward when he saw them returning.

"Back from your walk? How was it? How do you feel about the countryside on your first visit? Are you not used to it?"

"No, the air in the countryside is very nice, and I'm not uncomfortable."

Warren was cheerful.

"That's good. At night, when you sleep, don't open the screens in your room easily, as they can let mosquitoes in." "Okay, got it."

"Oh, and your grandma said that it's too late today, so she'll leave the cooking for tomorrow, otherwise eating too much at night might affect your digestion and sleep." For Eva, this was a pleasant surprise.

"It's getting late; you both should tidy up and then go to bed early. Tomorrow, we can go to the flea market; I'll take you both to have a look."

Eva and Adrian nodded.

Once Eva and Adrian were in their room, Eva couldn't help but say, "It seems that I made the right decision to come back early."

"Yeah," Adrian replied, seeing her happiness and unable to resist, he reached out and pinched her cheek. The feeling in his hand made his heart ache a little; he had pinched her cheeks before, but back then they were felt soft and plump, unlike now where there was barely any flesh to pinch.

He thought to himself that he definitely needed to slowly nurse her back to health.

Eva, oblivious to his thinking, only knew that he had pinched her face, and she pushed his hand away while asking, "What about Ruby and Dylan? Aren't they sleeping with us tonight?"

She was asking because she hadn't seen the two children when they came back and didn't know where they had run off to.

"Hmm, I asked earlier, they should be sleeping with our mom tonight."

Sleeping with their mom?

Seeing her with a thoughtful look and downcast eyes, Adrian knew what she was thinking without having to ask, and said, "What's wrong? Do you want to sleep with them? Why don't you go?"

At that, Eva immediately looked up.

"Can I really go?"

"No. It's just a joke."

Eva was a bit speechless.

"Adrian, are you teasing me on purpose?"

Adrian laughed and said, "No, it's just that I checked earlier, and their bed can only fit three people. If you go, there won't be any place for you to sleep."

Hearing this, Eva glanced over at the large bed behind him.

She realized that the bed wasn't very big either; it could only fit her and Adrian. She herself was fine; she could sleep with the two children.

But with Adrian added, a tall man with long legs, he would almost take up the entire bed once he lay down. Where would there be extra space for two more children?

So, her wish to have the two children come over to sleep was dashed.

"Never mind; let's not think about this anymore." Eva shook her head and then said to Adrian, "I should take a look at your wound first. Where did you put your medicine?" After saying that, Eva started to rummage through his suitcase.

"I'll do it."

Adrian put down the suitcase and took out his medicine and bandages.

Seeing this, Eva directly took them from him and then walked to the side of the bed, "Should we change it here?"

Adrian glanced at the sofa next to him, said nothing, and sat down by the bed.

He had already taken off his overcoat, wearing only a light gray sweater over a white shirt.

"Do you want to take off the sweater? Is it convenient?"

"Yes."

Adrian casually removed his sweater with such ease that he seemed like a normal person unaffected by injury. However, Eva noticed the red stain of blood on the white shirt once the gray sweater was removed, and she realized that Adrian had been enduring pain all along.

Upon seeing the blood on the white shirt, Eva became aware that Adrian had been acting as usual during their journey, but in fact, he had been toughing it out. Perhaps it was the sight of blood that made Adrian's complexion seem paler to Eva now.

She was too careless; she thought she should have let him rest earlier.

With the thought of having him rest and heal, Eva's movements became somewhat hurried as she bent down to start unbuttoning Adrian's shirt.

She was focused on unbuttoning, not sparing any thoughts for anything else, nor did she pay attention to Adrian's expression while she was unbuttoning his shirt.

In no time, she had his shirt unbuttoned, proceeding to help him take it off.

After removing his jacket, Eva's elegant brows involuntarily furrowed at the sight of the bandages wrapped around him.

The allure caused by her soft hands while she had been unbuttoning his shirt had vanished when Adrian saw the concern in her furrowed brows.

"Hey, what's with the frown? Even if the wound is still bleeding a bit, it's much better than yesterday. It will be even better after tonight," he reassured her.

Eva glanced up at him silently and moved forward to start unwrapping his bandages.

Seeing her silence, Adrian caught her delicate wrist.

"What I said is true, I'm not lying to you. The medicine the doctor prescribed is very effective. Haven't you noticed that I'm in much better shape than yesterday?" "Mhm," Eva nodded.

"So, don't worry, okay? I'm fine."

Eva pulled her hand back and continued to unwrap his bandages.

Yesterday, someone had helped him, but today, the two of them were staying together, and he could not avoid her aid.

So now, Eva truly saw the injuries on his body, and there were not just one but two.

From the wounds, it was evident that one was new and the other was old.

The new injury looked more frightening than the old one.

Eva only glanced at it and felt as if her throat had seized; she was struggling to breathe. "These wounds..."

"Don't look too closely. After applying the medicine, it will heal in a couple of days." Adrian was still comforting her.

 

Chapter 522 Seeking Solitude

Eva suddenly felt a wave of sadness wash over her.

"Can you please stop talking?" She asked, her voice choked with emotion.

Adrian froze upon hearing her voice, and when he looked up, he noticed the redness around her eyes.

He couldn't help but stand up abruptly.

"What's wrong? Did I say something out of line?"

"Eva? Don't be upset. If I said something wrong, I apologize, okay?"

But his words seemed to have the opposite effect. Eva's tears, which had been brimming in her eyes, began to fall.

Adrian was flustered by her tears, and he could do nothing but stand helplessly in place.

"Eva..."

In the end, all Adrian could think to do was to try to take her into his arms.

However, Eva stepped back two paces, her tearful eyes gazing at him.

"You have two wounds, an old one and a new one. The new one is so severe, yet you haven't uttered a single complaint about the pain, and now you're..."

She trailed off, realizing that he was comforting her as if she was the one who was hurt, not himself.

Hearing this, Adrian finally understood why she had suddenly burst into tears. He thought he might have said something to hurt her, but now it seemed she was crying out of concern for him. Feeling suddenly melodramatic, Eva questioned why she was crying when she wasn't the one who was hurt.

Her crying only made Adrian anxious, and then he would try to console her, causing time to slip away while his wounds remained unattended.

With this realization, Eva's mindset shifted. She quickly wiped away her tears, pushed Adrian down onto the bed, and fetched the medical supplies needed to treat his wounds.

Adrian was still contemplating how to comfort her. In one moment, she was crying, and in the next, she was pressing down on his shoulder, pushing him onto the bed and turning to grab the medicine. Eva, with her back to him, wiped away her tears quickly and efficiently. Soon, she returned with the necessary items.

When Adrian saw her again, her face was clean, and she appeared calm, showing no sign of the uncontrolled, vulnerable crying from before.

She was so composed that if it weren't for the redness at the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose, he would have doubted he had seen her cry at all.

Adrian collected himself after seeing her calm demeanor. He parted his lips, about to say something when Eva interrupted him, "Lift your arm here."

His left wound extended under his arm, and his hand would cover it if let down, so Eva needed him to lift his arm for her to clean the wound.

Adrian, slightly dazed, obediently lifted his arm as she had asked.

Eva leaned over with a poker face to tend to his wounds, her unique fragrance wafting from her as she drew near.

In close proximity, Adrian watched her serene face with a complex expression.

He had been worried that Eva would be frightened by the sight of his wounds.

Yet, to his surprise, she was now calmly treating them.

Adrian's gaze was intense as he watched her.

What was going on? Just a second ago she was in tears; why did she suddenly change completely in the next? Could it be that she had regained her memory?

No, it couldn't have happened so quickly. There was nothing that could have triggered such a recovery just now. Moreover, even if she had truly regained her memory; she shouldn't be in this state.

With this thought, Adrian couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you?"

Eva seemed to have no interest in engaging with him. She simply shook her head and continued to tend to his wounds.

She worked quickly, and, in no time, had applied medication to both of his wounds, then took some gauze to wrap them up.

Throughout the process, Adrian wanted to speak to her but could not find the opportunity, only able to comply with her instructions to lift his arm or hold the other end of the gauze. The man who usually commanded the business world now sat there with his noble head bowed as his eyes tenderly followed Eva's every move.

It wasn't until Eva finished bandaging and said it was done, then turned to tidy up, that Adrian watched her bending over to clean up, his lips involuntarily pressing into a thin line as he slowly walked over to her. "Leave that, you should go take a shower."

Eva ignored him.

Adrian could only squat down and grasp her delicate wrist.

"Eva!"

His tone was heavier, and there was force in his hand. Eva couldn't break free and had to take a deep breath.

"Fine, let me go, I'll go shower now."

"What happened? You were so concerned about me while bandaging me, and now you don't want to bother with me."

"Nothing," Eva shook her head softly and said, "You should sleep; I'm going to take a shower."

After speaking, Eva got up to gather her clothes and then entered the bathroom.

When she tried to close the door, she didn't expect Adrian to follow her in.

Eva paused, subconsciously trying to close the door and keep Adrian out, but with a lift of his hand, he propped the bathroom door open.

This action made Eva unconsciously frown, "I'm going to take a shower, do you need something?"

"Are you upset? Can we talk about it?"

"No," Eva denied instinctively, "You're overthinking."

"One second you were crying, the next you were bandaging my wounds like nothing happened. Where did all those emotions go?"

If she didn't talk about it, she would only keep it bottled up inside.

Adrian didn't know what would happen if she kept it all bottled up; he just knew he couldn't let her keep doing that.

But Eva didn't want to answer his question, simply saying, "I want to shower first."

With that, she tried once again to close the door.

Adrian braced himself and furrowed his brows, saying, "If you don't make things clear, I won't leave. You don't want me to go in, that's fine, but remember you're the one who bandaged my wounds." Hearing his last words, Eva finally realized something.

She lifted her gaze and noticed Adrian's hand pressed against the door panel, connected to his wound. If he exerted force...

Thinking back to when she was treating his wound, remembering the depth of it....

Eva's eyes narrowed slightly, and she finally spoke, "It's not that I don't want to clarify things with you, I just need some time alone to calm down."

Her unusually calm explanation to herself took Adrian by surprise.

"It's not just that I blame you for not telling me you were feeling unwell, I also blame myself. Always making a fuss about this with you is unnecessary and just a waste of time. It would have been better to have treated your wound earlier so you could rest sooner."

After hearing this, Adrian could no longer misunderstand her intentions.

 

Chapter 523 To See If You Truly Don't Need Me

He had considered many possibilities, like her being angry because he hadn't told her something, or perhaps he had said something wrong to upset her. But he never thought that she would be blaming herself.

After watching the redness swell at the corners of her eyes as she forcibly swallowed back her tears, Adrian felt an unbearable ache in his heart. Without another thought, he quickly pulled her into his embrace, "Fool, why are you blaming yourself?"

Eva leaned into his chest, blinking gently.

"I've told you everything, can I be alone now?"

Adrian paused.

He truly didn't want to let her go, but she seemed desperate to be alone, and if he stayed, it would probably make her uncomfortable.

Letting her take a shower and calm down before they talked again was the best option.

After realizing this, Adrian loosened his hold on her.

"Alright, go take your shower, and I'll wait for you in bed."

Even in such a serious moment, with her mood still somewhat heavy, his sudden comment, "I'll wait for you in bed," somehow lightened her heart.

She knew he didn't mean anything by it, that it was just an unconscious utterance, but Eva couldn't help but think mischievously.

She pushed Adrian, signaling him to hurry out.

Adrian, unaware of her misinterpretation and not realizing there was anything amiss with his comment, obediently turned and left.

Once he was gone, Eva finally closed the bathroom door, leaning against it as she slowly closed her eyes.

At last, she could be alone.

Since losing her memory and being saved by Adrian, everything was unfamiliar, yet she felt like she could accept it. She liked being by his side, but clearly, their interactions required some finesse. Or perhaps not, maybe it was just the recent events that had thrown her heart into disarray.

By the time Eva had finished her shower, nearly half an hour had passed.

During that half-hour, Adrian was just leaning against the bed, waiting.

At first, he could sit quietly, but after ten minutes, he couldn't resist checking the time on his phone.

"Girls usually take longer to shower," thought Adrian.

So, he put down his phone and didn't rush her.

Twenty minutes later, with no sound coming from the bathroom, Adrian pursed his thin lips, barely being able to restrain himself from getting up to knock on the door.

It wasn't impatience; he was worried she might faint from weakness if she stayed in too long.

But considering that he might disturb her, Adrian held back and instead looked up how long girls typically take to shower on his phone. The myriad of answers made his head spin.

In the end, he gathered that it was normal for girls to take a longer shower. Not wanting to pry further, he confirmed that twenty minutes wasn't considered long and continued waiting outside. After thirty minutes had passed with no sign of Eva, Adrian finally got up from the bed, ready to check on her.

Just as he got off the bed, he heard the sound of the bathroom door opening.

Eva stepped out, dressed only in a thin nightgown as steam emanated from the bathroom.

Seeing her dressed so lightly, Adrian immediately took one of his long coats and draped it over her.

"You shouldn't wear so little, even just after a shower."

Eva was enveloped by his long coat, instantly shielding her from the cold air outside. Her eyes shone brightly, and her fair cheeks were flushed, making her look exceptionally tempting. "I seem to have only found this in the closet; I thought it would be more comfortable to sleep in."

Adrian pulled her, now in his coat, to the bed, saying, "If we're going to accompany Grandma to the flea market tomorrow, we can buy some necessities then."

Buy necessities?

They hadn't brought much luggage with them, partly because it was heavy, and Adrian's idea was that whatever they lacked, they could buy here.

But now that he mentioned it, Eva couldn't help but ask, "Are we going to stay here for a long time?"

Hearing this, Adrian fell silent for a moment, then said, "It depends on you. Do you like it here? If not, we can go back."

Eva thought about it and felt that she didn't dislike the place, but after seriously considering it, she realized she didn't have a particular place she wanted to go to either. She simply wanted to be by her children's side.

Even this visit here, she had come only because her children were here; she just wanted to see and be with them.

Thinking this, Eva said, "It's not a matter of liking or not liking, it mainly depends on the two children."

After hearing this, Adrian seemed to realize something.

Indeed, she had come here upon hearing that her children were here. If it weren't for the children being here, she probably wouldn't have wanted to come at all, right? There really wasn't much to think about, but for some reason, Adrian found himself inexplicably thinking on another level.

It seemed like she only cared about the children.

As long as the children were by her side, it seemed like she really didn't care about anything else, including himself.

Adrian knew he shouldn't think this way, yet he couldn't help but subconsciously drift towards that thought.

"However, I see that Grandma seems to like them a lot. I was even telling Mom that during the summer and winter holidays, we could let the children stay here. It's not like we can stay as long as they do." While Adrian was feeling disheartened, hearing her say this reignited his hope.

Still, he said, "It's up to you. If you want to stay with them here, then stay. Your happiness is what matters."

"And what about you?"

Eva looked up at him.

"Me?" Adrian 's thin lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. "I'm responsible for making money and providing for the family. If you need me, I'll be here. If not... I'll be in the city making money, how's that?" He portrayed himself as someone who would listen to Eva's wishes. Eva looked steadily into his eyes, then nodded.

"Okay, then you should go back tomorrow."

The smile on Adrian's lips stiffened for a moment.

"I'm going to the flea market in the morning, maybe you shouldn't come?"

Realizing at this point that she was teasing him, Adrian narrowed his eyes and tightened his hold on her slender waist, pulling her close to him.

"Are you teasing me?"

The sudden closeness made Eva's heart skip a beat, "No, wasn't it you who said you're responsible for making money?"

"I was testing to see if you really don't need me."

 

 

Chapter 524 Sharing the Same Pillow

Noticing her silence, Adrian asked, "It seems that someone really doesn't need me that much, huh? Then how about I pack up now and go back tomorrow?" As he spoke, Eva pursed her red lips and did not move.

Adrian, noticing her not speaking, loosened the hand that was wrapped around her waist, as if he were about to turn around and pack his things.

In fact, Eva knew that he was just teasing her, and even his turning around was a deliberate act for her to see.

The reason he was putting on this act was simply to get her to...

She was well aware of this and thought that it wouldn't be bad to just quietly watch his performance.

However, she couldn't control herself and subconsciously reached out to tug at the hem of his clothes when he turned around.

Her movement was very light, and for Adrian, it should have been a resistance so small it was almost negligible.

If Adrian had wanted to leave, he could have completely ignored this almost nonexistent resistance.

But having felt this slight resistance, his steps halted abruptly, and he stood still.

Eva looked at him and spoke with some difficulty, "Even if you have to pack up, this isn't the right time, right?"

Hearing this, Adrian turned his gaze to look at her.

"Then can you give me a time and a firm answer?"

Faced with his direct and sharp gaze, Eva said, "Let's not talk about that for now. You're still injured; don't push yourself. Even if you have to leave, you should wait until your wounds have healed." Upon hearing this, Adrian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"So, you're saying, as long as my injury doesn't heal, I can stay here to recover?"

Eva subconsciously nodded her head.

After nodding, she suddenly realized there was something amiss with Adrian's words and looked at him.

"What do you mean by that? You're not planning to deliberately..."

Adrian's lips curved into a smile.

"Do you really see me as that kind of person?"

Eva fell silent.

He didn't admit it, but he didn't deny it either. He just asked her if that's the kind of person she thought he was. Maybe, he really would...

The possibility made Eva's elegant brows unconsciously furrow.

"If you dare do that, I will never speak to you again."

After saying that, Eva turned her back on him, walked over to the bed, and sat down.

Adrian had originally intended to tease her, wanting to see her caring about him to balance the jealousy in his heart, but he ended up annoying her again and had to follow her to apologize. "I was wrong; I promise I won't hurt myself. Don't be mad at me, okay?"

Eva pursed her lips, continuing to ignore him.

"Eva?"

After Adrian called her name several times, Eva finally turned her head around.

"Don't joke about your own wounds."

This time, Adrian sincerely admitted his mistake and nodded.

"Alright, I promise you; I will never joke about my wounds again."

Adrian took her wrist, looking earnestly into her eyes, "So, when my wounds are healed, will you come with me?"

The heat from his palm warmed her wrist.

Eva still couldn't help but ask, "What about Ruby and Dylan? Will they come back with us too?"

Hearing this, Adrian took a deep breath, reminding himself internally that those two kids were also his treasures.

They were the fruit of the love between him and Eva; he shouldn't be jealous of his own children.

After mentally preparing himself, Adrian then said, "Of course, when we leave, they'll come back with us too. It's not the holiday season yet, Mom only asked for a little over a week's leave for them." Adrian was mainly concerned about leaving the two children with two elderly people.

The issue of safety was also a concern, as his grandparents were advanced in age. There was a fear that if Michael had any dirty tricks up his sleeve, something bad might happen if Michael and his men found the two children here. It could scare the elderly couple, which would be unfortunate.

These were all considerations Adrian had taken into account.

He also wouldn't stay here for too long; just for about two or three days, and then he would have to go back.

Eva nodded, also realizing that this time was indeed not during the school holidays.

"Okay, then we'll go back together when the time comes."

With that, there seemed to be nothing more to say between the two of them.

Eva looked quite tired as well. She began leaning against the bed with drooping eyelids.

Upon seeing her like this, Adrian made a suggestion, "It's getting late; shall we rest?"

After speaking, he lifted the covers for Eva to lie down and then tucked her in.

The bed was very cold at this time of year.

When going to bed, Eva took off the coat that Adrian had draped over her, so when she lay down, she couldn't help but shiver and said instinctively, "It's so cold." Seeing this, Adrian also lay down.

"I'm warm; shall I hold you while we sleep?"

As he spoke, he was about to turn and embrace her, but Eva, who had been lying still, quickly said, "Don't move."

Adrian stopped completely.

"What's wrong?"

He didn't dare to move and could only ask Eva why he had to stay so stiff.

"You're injured; you should only lie on your back." Eva looked at his face as he lay flat, and said seriously, "If you turn over, it will press on your wounds."

Adrian realized she was right.

"Alright, I understand."

He nodded, didn't move any further, and instead reached out his hand, "Then come over to me."

"Why should I come over?"

"Aren't you cold?" Adrian chuckled softly, "I'm warm."

Eva didn't want to move closer at first, but after hearing him say he was warm; she thought about it and slowly snuggled up to his side, turning to wrap her arm around him. Indeed, as he said, Adrian's body was very warm. He was almost like a furnace.

As soon as Eva touched him, she could feel the heat flowing continuously from his body, a sensation that seemed familiar to her. She seemed to have done something similar before. A few not-so-clear images flashed into Eva's mind.

They were images of the two of them lying in bed together, embracing, but there were several images, with different clothes and poses.

Some were of her holding his waist, others were of her curled up asleep and being held by Adrian from behind, and there were even some where they were both undressed...

These images were filled with intimacy, causing Eva's face to flush with warmth.

She shyly lowered her gaze and leaned her face against his arm.

Adrian raised his hand and pressed a switch nearby.

The bright room instantly darkened.

Strangely, once the room turned dark and nothing could be seen, their sense of hearing seemed to be heightened.

After turning off the lights, Eva noticed the difference between the countryside and the city.

If you turned off the lights in the city at this time, you would still hear various sounds, but in the countryside, after turning off the lights, you could only hear the calls of some small animals outside.

 

Chapter 525 A Sense of Security

The room was very quiet, so quiet that the only sounds to be heard were their breathing and heartbeats.

Eva was lying in a position slightly lower than Adrian 's chest, close enough to clearly hear the steady beat of his heart against her arm. It thumped rhythmically, as if it were pulsing against her own chest. After a while of sensing his heartbeat, Eva's eyes could no longer resist the fatigue and slowly closed. Soon, she fell asleep against Adrian.

Adrian listened as her breathing gradually became even and smooth, and he knew she had fallen asleep. He sighed softly and wrapped his large hand around her, pulling her as close to him as possible, so close there was no space left between them. Only then did the unease and emptiness in his heart begin to feel filled.

In these past few days, even though he had successfully rescued her and brought her to his side, he always felt a lingering sense of unease. Even his sleep was troubled. When she wasn't awake, he would spend the time restlessly, almost sleeplessly watching over her.

He feared that if he opened his eyes, he might find that rescuing her had been nothing but a dream, and everything he cherished would vanish into thin air.

Thus, Adrian had hardly slept well during this time.

Even now, with the soft warmth of her in his arms, feeling her breath and hearing her heartbeat, and even the warm breath she exhaled against his chest-all of it felt incredibly real. Yet, he still feared that it might not be.

If it was real, then why had everything gone so smoothly for him?

And if it wasn't real..., should he continue to immerse himself in this beautiful dream, or should he wake up quickly?

For a moment, Adrian didn't know what choice to make.

He lay there quietly holding her, not knowing how much time had passed when suddenly, Eva murmured a few sounds in her sleep and shifted slightly in his arms.

The ever-vigilant Adrian immediately lowered his head to check on her, thinking something might have happened. But it turned out that Eva had just wriggled a bit in his arms, then hugged him even tighter and burrowed into his embrace before falling back to sleep.

It was then that Adrian realized she had been talking in her sleep and hadn't actually woken up.

However...

The fact that she had instinctively held him tighter even in her unconscious state brought a bright smile to Adrian's lips.

Although he had been jealous of the children during the day, feeling that they weighed more in her heart than he did, at this moment, he felt an exceptional satisfaction.

No matter what, in his heart, she and the children always carried the most weight.

Perhaps it was this pleasant mood that led Adrian to subconsciously close his eyes.

Afterward, with such feelings, Adrian finally had his first good sleep in days.

He didn't know how long he had slept for, but when Adrian realized that he had dozed off and suddenly woke up, there was already light inside the room.

He turned his head towards the window and discovered that it was already daytime.

Eva...

As the thought flashed through his mind, Adrian lowered his gaze to the person in his arms. Seeing Eva still deep in slumber against him, Adrian's heart, which had been suspended in a sudden void, relaxed and settled back into place. She was still there, right by his side. She wasn't not gone.

As he watched her peaceful sleeping face, Adrian's hollow heart was gradually filled again. He contently wrapped his arms around her, leaning in to gently press a kiss on her smooth forehead.

In her sleep, Eva felt as if someone had lightly kissed her forehead.

For some reason, even though she was still very sleepy, the sensation on her forehead prompted her to unconsciously open her eyes.

As she did, she caught sight of Adrian's firm jaw and thin lips.

He had just pulled back a little, and when their eyes met, Eva realized that Adrian had been kissing her forehead.

"Awake?" Adrian's voice was hoarse, his throat moving as he swallowed, "Did I wake you? Sorry, I couldn't control myself just now. If you're still sleepy, go back to sleep for a while."

Eva blinked gently, not really feeling disturbed.

She shook her head.

"I'm not sleepy anymore; I went to bed early last night."

Last night, she and Adrian fell asleep before ten o'clock. Judging by the brightness of the sky, it was probably close to six in the morning now; they must have slept for about eight hours.

They were supposed to go to the flea market with their grandma and others later. Eva had never been to one and was quite curious about it.

Thinking this, Eva threw off the covers and got out of bed, with Adrian following suit. After seeing her quickly dress up and then head into the bathroom, Adrian realized how genuinely interested in the outing she was.

Adrian, with a touch of helplessness in his heart, also got dressed and followed her into the bathroom.

By the time he entered, Eva had already brushed her teeth and was washing her face. Seeing him come in, she instinctively moved aside at the sink to make space for Adrian.

After Adrian stood beside her, Eva remembered something and turned to him, "You're injured; you can't come with us to the flea market later."

Adrian's actions paused, "Why not? I was fine when I went out with you yesterday, wasn't I?"

"Fine on the surface, right?" Having spent an intimate night together, Eva was more natural in his presence, her words less cautious, "Who do you think was treating your wound last night? Do you think I didn't see the blood on the bandage? It's only because it's winter that it's not visible. If it were summer, the blood would be seeping through right away."

The more she spoke, the more Eva felt it was not okay.

"Although I've never been to a flea market, I know that it won't be lacking in people. What if you get bumped and someone hits your wound?"

Realizing she was seemingly determined to prevent him from going, Adrian promptly corrected her assumption.

"If I get bumped, I get bumped. It's precisely because it will be crowded that I can't let you go alone."

"I'm not going alone; I'm going with Grandma and the others."

 

Chapter 526 It's For Your Own Good

"That's not acceptable either," Adrian's gaze was heavy as he looked at her, "Grandma is getting old, and with your frail health, if you were to faint, they wouldn't be able to take care of you." Eva: "..."

"My body is indeed weak, but I wouldn't faint just from going to a flea market, would I?"

Moreover, she felt that she was in a better state today than yesterday.

Eva believed that it would be fine for her to go out, but no matter what, Adrian disagreed with her going alone.

The starting point for both not wanting to go out was their concern for each other.

For instance, Eva was worried about Adrian's wounds, feeling that he needed to rest for them to heal quickly. Otherwise, if the wounds tore open every day, how could he recover?

On the other hand, Adrian thought she was malnourished and ate too little. With so many people at the market, if she were to faint, their grandparents would surely be flustered. Most importantly, he was afraid something might happen to her. In any case, both were reaching a peak in their consideration for each other, neither willing to give in, yet both had their own health concerns.

After a while, they were still at an impasse.

Until Margaret came knocking on the door again.

"Eva, Adrian, are you two ready yet?"

Hearing Margaret's voice, Eva instinctively said, "Mom, I'm ready; Adrian is not going."

"Ah?" When Margaret heard that Adrian was not going, she was taken aback. Before she could react and ask what was going on, the door in front of her was pulled open, and then her son's cold face appeared in front of her.

Adrian's voice was icy, his hand still propped against the door as if blocking something.

"Mom, Eva isn't going either."

Margaret: "??"

What was going on with these two? Why was each saying the other wasn't going?

"Mom, I want to go."

Eva's voice came from behind Adrian, and Margaret watched her try to squeeze past Adrian to talk to her, but Adrian's hand was always blocking her. If she moved left, his hand went left; if she moved right, he also moved right. "Adrian, move aside and let me out."

Adrian, with an expressionless face, said: "If you don't let me go, then no one goes."

"I'm not letting you go for your own good."

"Yeah, I'm doing it for your own good too."

"Why are you so ungrateful?" Eva was clearly angry.

Adrian pursed his thin lips, "Well, consider me ungrateful then."

In the past, if Eva got angry, Adrian would apologize and then compromise.

But this time, he was determined to be stubborn to the end, completely disagreeing with her going out.

"Adrian, move aside now; your grandparents will get impatient."

"If they get impatient, let them go first."

"Adrian!"

Margaret watched the scene unfold before her with a headache and squinted eyes.

"What is going on with you two? Why won't you let each other go out?"

Upon her asking this question, the two of them once again tacitly shut their mouths and said nothing.

Margaret sensed something and her aura intensified. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the two of them, "What exactly is going on? Are you hiding something from me?"

Eva blinked her eyes but did not respond. Margaret turned to her son, "You tell me."

Adrian pursed his thin lips and said calmly, "She just came back from abroad and is weak. I don't want her to go to crowded places."

That was the truth.

Margaret listened and couldn't find fault with that. Eva did look frail and pale, so it made sense for him to not want her to go out.

But there was another point...

"What about you?" Margaret stared at her son with a more piercing gaze, "Why does Eva not agree to let you go out?"

Adrian pursed his lips, remaining silent.

"Speak up," Margaret's volume rose a notch, even scrutinizing her own son up and down, fearing he might have been injured and was afraid to let his mother know.

The mere thought of this possibility left Margaret speechless.

However, under Margaret's gaze, Adrian still withstood the pressure and remained silent. In the end, Margaret could only turn to Eva with a gentle smile.

"Eva, if he won't speak, will you?"

She spoke so softly, gently trying to coax her to speak.

Faced with Margaret's demeanor, Eva felt somewhat helpless, "Alright then."

Hearing Eva's concession, Adrian's brows immediately furrowed. If she were to explain everything in front of Margaret...

As he hesitated, he heard Eva say, "Mom, the truth is that he doesn't agree with me going, so I also don't want him to go."

Upon hearing this, Adrian was somewhat taken aback, but his furrowed brows also relaxed, and he affectionately glanced down at her, astonished by how quick-witted she was. Her answer was seamless.

Indeed, Margaret was stunned by Eva's response, probably because she had not expected this answer at all.

Before Eva's response, Margaret was thinking that perhaps her son had suffered a serious injury; otherwise, why would they be so concerned about each other?

To think it was actually like this...

The act was complete.

At this point, Eva said with annoyance, "Mom, if I can't go, then he can't go either."

Adrian spoke up directly, "I will stay at home to take care of her and the children."

Margaret thought it over. Initially, she had planned to take the children out with the whole family, but considering Eva's condition, she realized it was indeed not suitable for her to go out.

If anything were to happen, she couldn't bear the responsibility.

If Eva didn't go, leaving her alone at home was out of the question; Adrian had to stay to take care of her. With Adrian staying, taking the two children out when there were many people around was also not ideal, in case they couldn't keep an eye on them...

With this in mind, Margaret said, "Alright, then you two stay at home and wait for us to return. I will go with the others, and if you want to buy anything, I'll buy it for you."

Adrian immediately mentioned the issue with her thin pajamas from the previous night, and Margaret agreed to buy Eva two thicker sets of pajamas.

After that, there didn't seem to be anything else they wanted.

Margaret thought for a moment, "Are you sure there's nothing else you need?"

Adrian nodded.

"Alright then, I'll just make sure to stock up on things you might need."

But Adrian shook his head, "No need, we're leaving in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Margaret was taken aback but then understood.

"That's true, you're not staying here long, so there's really no need to buy too much. I'll just get the two sets of pajamas then."

"Thank you, Mom."

Once Margaret left, Eva immediately glared at Adrian.

Because he had succeeded in keeping her from going out, Adrian was in a rather good mood and, even after seeing her glare at him, he didn't get angry. Instead, he curved his lips into a smile, preempting her outburst by saying, "I'll go bring the two kids over."

 

Chapter 527 Heartache

Eva was about to scold him, but when he voluntarily offered to bring the two kids over, her anger dissipated in an instant.

After Adrian left, she went back to her room to tidy up her dress.

About fifteen minutes later, Adrian returned with the two little ones.

As soon as they saw Eva, they pounced on her, showering her with kisses, hugs, and cuddles.

"Mommy."

They clung to Eva as if they hadn't seen her in a long time, which was frighteningly affectionate.

Eva had missed them since yesterday and had been longing for them all night. Now that she was holding them, she felt immensely satisfied.

After closely embracing Ruby and Dylan for some time, she remembered something and looked up at Adrian to ask, "Where are our grandparents?" Adrian squatted down in front of her and reached out to stroke the children's heads.

"They've already gone out."

Eva nodded in understanding.

After a moment of silence, Adrian suddenly said, "The little ones wanted to follow them to the flea market; they were curious."

Eva paused and looked towards Ruby and Dylan when she heard this.

"Do you really want to go?"

Upon hearing this, Ruby and Dylan nodded together, but then shook their heads and wrapped their arms around her, saying, "If Mommy isn't going, we won't go either." "Yes, we want to stay with Mommy."

These warm words once again filled Eva's ears, and she curled her lips into a beautiful smile, contented with the children's firm choice to stay with her.

"That's a promise, then. You'll stay with Mommy."

Since they had nothing to do at home, Adrian suggested going out for a walk.

Eva was initially inclined to agree, but then she remembered that Adrian's injuries still required rest. She didn't know what the future held, but at least for the next few days, it was crucial for him to either lie in bed or sit and recuperate. Those were critical days before, but at that time, he didn't care about himself. Now that she was awake and knew about it, she couldn't let him continue to be reckless.

So, she quickly refused Adrian's suggestion.

"Let's not go out; you need to rest."

Hearing this, Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"I rested quite well last night, after all, it was you who bandaged me, and I'm healing quickly."

When he said this, he deliberately avoided certain words that the children might not understand.

Eva pursed her lips, "Even so, you still need to rest."

"Going out for a walk won't hurt."

"That's not okay either."

The two little ones listened to their parents' almost divine dialogue in confusion. Ruby looked up and said, "Mommy, Daddy, what are you talking about?"

Eva immediately lowered her head with a smile and then said, "Adult matters; it's best for children not to interfere."

Meanwhile, Adrian, hearing the little ones call Eva "mommy" and himself "daddy," felt his heart thump violently twice.

Because Eva had not agreed to let the two kids change how they addressed him, Adrian could be said to be on a 'trial period.'

Unexpectedly, due to her amnesia, their relationship had taken a significant step forward.

Adrian pursed his lips, suddenly wondering if she would regret the events of this period once her memory returned.

Would she still allow the kids to call him as they do now?

Of course, these were thoughts Adrian only went through in his mind and did not voice out loud.

Ruby pouted dissatisfiedly upon hearing Eva's words.

On the other hand, Dylan, by her side, didn't show much of a reaction. When Eva exchanged glances with him, she noticed that this little guy's eyes were so much like Adrian's, and his emotions were very restrained. Just like now, with Ruby asking earnestly, he was calmly looking back at her.

The feeling she got... How should she put it?

It was as if he understood the conversation between her and Adrian.

And she actually felt that even if her son really thought that way, it wouldn't be absurd. Her children were all very smart; it was just that Ruby didn't focus her thoughts on this aspect.

Eva disagreed with going out, and after thinking it over, Adrian didn't say anything more. After all, he had disagreed with her going to the flea market in the morning, and she had eventually agreed. So, they would stay at home and heal.

They had a TV at home and some toys that the elders had bought for the kids in the past few days. Eva didn't want them to watch TV, so in the end, she could only join them in playing with Legos. Adrian was ordered to sit on the sofa and rest.

Sitting there, he watched the three figures in front of him, his smile lingering on his lips as a gentle warmth filled his eyes.

His phone vibrated. Adrian took it out and glanced at it, and subconsciously looked towards Eva.

He had just intended to glance at her, but at that moment, Eva also suddenly looked up at him.

Their gazes met in mid-air.

Clearly, in the quiet living room, she had also heard the vibration of his phone.

After about two or three rings, Adrian stood up.

"I'm going to take a call," he said.

Eva nodded.

She had no reason to let him take the call here, especially since Ruby and Dylan were still around.

Thinking of this, Eva lowered her gaze.

After returning to her country, she lost contact with the other side. She didn't know how Michael was doing now, or David, or Jane...

Although Michael had done something wrong, she seemed... to not want anything bad to happen to him.

With that thought, Eva sighed helplessly.

"Mommy, don't be sad," Ruby suddenly hugged Eva.

Eva paused, coming back to her senses.

"What's wrong, Ruby?"

Ruby reached out to wipe the sparkling tear from the corner of her eye.

Eva, realizing her own tears only when she saw the glistening on her daughter's fingertips, was stunned for a moment, taking a while to come back to herself. "Mommy?"

Once the children sensed her mood, they stopped assembling the Lego and looked at her.

Eva was stunned for a good while before she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, took a deep breath, and then said, "It's okay; Mommy just thought of something sad. Go on and play, and don't tell Daddy about what just happened, okay?"

If they did tell him, he would probably get jealous again.

Some things were just hard to manage perfectly.

Ruby and Dylan could only nod and agree to their mother's request. When they continued playing with their Legos, their mood was no longer as uplifted as before, clearly affected by Eva's tears.

None of the three of them noticed that Adrian, who was about to go out to take the call, thought of something and turned back, inadvertently witnessing this scene.

Adrian had already silenced his phone, and the vibration had stopped.

Adrian stood there for a while, watching Eva intently until the call notification popped up on the screen again, and then he turned and left to take the call.

 

Chapter 528 The Difficulty of Having It All

By the time Adrian came back from taking the call, about five minutes had passed. Eva sat there nonchalantly, not bothering to ask him about it.

When Adrian sat down on the sofa, he noticed that she wasn't looking at him, so he remained silent and just sat quietly.

The atmosphere in the room became oddly tense because of this.

After what seemed like a long time, Ruby, exhausted from playing with her Legos, lay down and soon fell asleep in Eva's arms.

The temperature outside was a bit low, and though there was a carpet on the ground, it was still easy to catch a cold.

Just as Eva was about to pick her up, a tall figure walked over and scooped up the child before she could.

"Let me," he said.

Eva was about to insist, reminding him that he was injured and she should do it herself, but Adrian had already effortlessly picked up Ruby, his ease and demeanor making it look as if he had just picked up a small item. Although it wasn't quite right to describe their own daughter that way.

But the impression that Adrian's action gave Eva was exactly that: it was so effortless, and he was injured at that. What if he hadn't been injured? Would it have been even easier?

Eva couldn't help but inwardly marvel at his strength.

She then stood up as well and said to Dylan, "Mommy is going to help Ruby with her blanket. You keep playing by yourself, Dylan. I'll come over after I'm done."

Dylan nodded obediently and quietly.

Eva followed Adrian into the room and saw him carefully place Ruby on the bed and tuck her in.

Seeing this, Eva couldn't help but approach and whisper, "You need to take off her coat; otherwise, she won't sleep comfortably."

Adrian, who had never taken care of children before, became somewhat flustered after hearing her suggestion.

"Coat?" "Yes."

As Eva nodded, she lifted Ruby out of the covers. The child was such a heavy sleeper that no matter how much Eva moved her, Ruby only murmured in her sleep and quickly drifted off again.

Eva removed Ruby's coat and covered her with the blanket once more. The little one was clearly more comfortable, even stretching luxuriously in front of them.

After tucking her in properly, Eva casually asked, "Have you never taken care of children before?"

Adrian's fingers twitched at his sides, and he pressed out one word from his thin lips, "No."

This answer made Eva lift her head in surprise.

How could that be?

After all, both children were quite grown. It would be normal if he hadn't taken care of them for a short period, but for both to be this age and for him to have never done so? Was that... reasonable? Seeing Eva's gaze fixed on him, Adrian knew he had revealed something and sighed inwardly.

"Something happened in the past. Once you regain your memory, you'll understand," he said.

Eva was feeling a bit bewildered.

Eva didn't find his response too strange. After all, if there hadn't been problems between them, she probably wouldn't have ended up with Michael, nor would she have a subconscious desire not to hurt Michael. It seemed she had forgotten too many things.

Adrian's black eyes calmly looked at her, as if he had something to say but hesitated.

After a while, Adrian took the initiative to speak, "I have something to tell you."

Eva sensed it too and wasn't surprised. She nodded.

"Let's talk outside, so we don't wake Ruby."

"Alright."

The two left the room together. Dylan was in the living room, and since the doors and windows were closed, there was no need to worry about anything.

Once they were outside, they stood in the corridor.

It was quiet in the corridor. Eva waited for a while, and seeing that Adrian didn't speak, she had to look up.

"What is it you want to tell me?"

As she looked up, she saw Adrian's eyes intensely fixed on her, motionless and unfathomably deep in their darkness.

His gaze made Eva's breath catch; she was almost too intimidated to meet his eyes, so she averted her gaze and said softly, "We've been out here for a while and you haven't said anything. If you're not ready to talk, then I'll go back to Dylan, and you can take some more time to prepare yoursel—"

"Do you want to see him?"

He suddenly interrupted her.

Eva paused, almost unable to believe what she had heard.

Adrian was asking her if she wanted to see him?

She was silent for a long time before asking somberly, "The 'him' you're talking about..."

"Yes."

Adrian nodded. He didn't say a name but confirmed it directly.

By now, Eva understood who he was referring to. Her heart raced, not expecting Adrian to say this.

She had some other guesses in her mind but didn't voice them, feeling that Adrian would clarify things soon.

"If you want to see him, we can go back tonight. I'll make the arrangements," Adrian said without warmth.

Eva pursed her lips and lowered her gaze.

"I'm not going to see him."

This answer surprised Adrian. The light that had sunk in his eyes reignited, "What did you say?"

He seemed unable to believe what he had heard. He watched her mope around these past few days, looking all concerned about his phone calls and seemingly worrying about the safety of Michael.

Now, she was actually saying no?

In Adrian's expectation, Eva's first reaction upon hearing this question should have been to agree and then ask him when they could meet.

He had even prepared himself mentally, telling himself that even if she agreed, it didn't mean anything.

She didn't want to hurt Michael because he had been kind to her once and had given her his heart.

Anyone wouldn't really want to hurt someone who had sincerely cared for them.

So, he could understand and had nothing to be jealous about.

But while talking to her, his mood was uncontrollably desolate and sullen; he was just waiting for her to agree.

He never expected that her answer would be to not see him.

This response was unexpected for Adrian but also pleasing. He knew his own heart wasn't entirely noble, but his possessiveness over Eva was indeed such, and there was no shame in admitting it. At the thought, Adrian forcibly suppressed his heart's leap of joy and asked, "Why not?"

"I've thought a lot these past few days, and some things can't be perfect."

Seeing Michael would settle her own heart, but for Adrian, it could be a hurdle too difficult to overcome.

Since she had already planned to spend her life with him, she didn't bother hurting those close to her for the thoughts of an outsider.

 

 

Chapter 529 Yikes, We're Going Back?

Perhaps she was being cruel to Michael but with things turning out this way, she felt helpless and thought that maybe she was just a selfish person. She didn't have the capacity to please many people; her heart was too small, too limited, and she only had the strength to do what she could handle. She felt so exhausted lately. There were moments she even considered disappearing from this world altogether, to avoid the pain of loss.

But now, she had come to a realization. She wanted to live, to hold on to the beauty she desired in her life. Everything else... well, it had its own destiny, which was beyond her control.

"Don't worry," she said, "now that I've decided to be with you, I won't see him anymore."

Eva stepped forward and gently took Adrian's hand.

"But it's normal for me to feel a bit down. I might be like this for a short while, but it will pass. Don't mind it, just give me some time."

Adrian looked down at the delicate hands holding his, feeling an intense softness in his heart. He pressed his lips together as if struggling to restrain something, but ultimately, he couldn't control himself and pulled her into his embrace. "I don't mind. How could I mind?"

The fact that she had returned to him was enough reason to thank God for his mercy.

And now that she was willing to open up to him honestly, Adrian's heart was also completely open. Even if she were to go see Michael again at this moment, he wouldn't mind.

With this thought, Adrian leaned on her shoulder and closed his eyes contentedly.

"It doesn't matter, go see him."

Eva, still in his arms, was taken aback.

"What did you say?"

"I said go. Do what you want to do. I won't be upset, after all, I was the one who arranged your meeting."

Eva blinked, her eyelashes trembling lightly.

"If you don't speak, can I take it as your consent?"

Eva shifted slightly then gently broke free from his embrace and looked up at him, "If I see him, you really won't be unhappy? What if, when I come back, you..."

"There are no 'what ifs.' Even if there were, once you stand in front of me, how could I stay angry?"

Eva fell silent.

Why did she feel that something was off? Could it be that Adrian was trying to test her?

"Let's pack up after Ruby wakes up from her nap, and I'll let our grandparents know when they come back," he suggested.

Eva replied, "Are we really going? But we asked Mom to buy pajamas this morning."

"Hmm, that's an issue. I'll give Mom a call in a bit. If she hasn't bought them yet, she doesn't need to. If she has, it's not a problem. You'll come back here to stay in the future anyway, so you can just wear them next time." Thinking it over, Eva felt that there didn't seem to be a problem and finally nodded in agreement.

Even if Adrian was testing her, she had already refused once.

"Let's go. You head back to the living room and keep Dylan company," he said.

Eva nodded.

"Okay."

When Eva returned to the living room, a considerable amount of time had passed. She had been talking with Adrian, and time had slipped away without her noticing.

By the time she got back, Dylan had already finished building the Lego set by himself. She was somewhat surprised.

"Dylan, you're so good with the Legos," she exclaimed.

"You're so smart," she praised him earnestly as she sat down and gently stroked his head.

Flushed with the praise, Dylan's cheeks turned a shade of pink.

"Thank you, Mommy," he said.

Eva continued to stroke his head, and after thinking about her earlier conversation with Adrian, she told Dylan about their plans to leave that evening.

"Yikes, we're going back? Aren't we staying here?" Dylan asked.

"Mhm, we'll come back next time. Do you and Ruby like it here?" Eva inquired.

"I like it," Dylan nodded. "Great-grandma and Great-grandpa are very nice to Ruby and me."

Eva couldn't help but smile when she heard this.

"Then, we'll come back next time."

"Okay." Something occurred to Dylan, and he asked, "Next time we come, will you be with us too, Mommy?"

"Of course, I will definitely be with you guys next time. But if you and Ruby want to stay for a long time during the summer or winter holidays, Mommy might not be able to stay with you the entire time," she explained. After saying this, Eva took out her phone to take a picture of the Lego set Dylan had completed. She wanted to post it on her Facebook but realized she didn't have an account.

After she was rescued, Adrian gave her a cell phone. It had a new account, meaning her old phone and account were probably still with Michael.

So, she gave up on posting to Facebook and just saved the picture, then put away her phone, planning to ask Adrian to retrieve her old phone later.

At that moment, Adrian came over, "The pajamas have been bought, and they will be brought over soon. They are on their way back now."

Eva nodded, "Then we can use them next time we come."

Upon hearing the news that they would be returning home that evening, Lynn hurried back and the first thing she did was to confirm whether it was true. Once confirmed, she expressed her sentiment with a touch of sadness, "Why are you leaving so soon? I thought you could stay at least four or five more days."

Eva, unable to do anything about the situation, acknowledged that plans could never keep up with changes.

Although Lynn felt a tinge of regret, she didn't dwell on words of reluctance. Instead, she simply suggested that they come over again in the future or that she would visit them in the city to see the two children when she had the time. Eva agreed to all of these suggestions without hesitation.

Lynn, without saying much more, had her husband help pack up a lot of the food she made herself to take with them.

Eva thanked them and then said, "After we return, Ruby and Dylan will probably have to go to school, but I'll bring them to visit you when we have the chance."

"Alright, that sounds good," Lynn responded.

After some more pleasantries, Adrian called someone to help with the luggage and prepared to leave.

Margaret had wanted to stay with her parents for a while longer but was worried that no one would look after Ruby and Dylan.

After many years, she had finally been blessed with two grandchildren and was truly reluctant to part with them. In the end, she decided to return with them too. However, due to limited space in the vehicle, Margaret didn't travel with them but took a separate car.

At first, Eva felt bad and wanted to ask Adrian or the children to accompany Margaret, but Margaret said directly, "I'm not a child anymore. What's the big deal about sitting alone? Besides, your family of four should be together. I'd feel terrible for separating you guys."

 

Chapter 530 Are You in a Hurry?

"Mom, nobody would be separated because we're all family," Eva reassured her. Margaret embraced her.

"You're right, we are all family. Since we are a family, there's no need to fuss over each other like strangers. I'll just take a car by myself. It's only a few hours' drive. How about, as compensation, I get to have the two little ones sleep with me tonight when we get back?"

With Margaret putting it this way, Eva seemed to have no reason to refuse. In the end, Margaret got into a car by herself. There weren't many people in her car, so some items had to be placed in her vehicle.

On the way back, Eva thought about the upcoming meeting Adrian had arranged for her with Michael. There were many questions she wanted to ask him.

However, when she was about to speak, she saw the two children in the car and realized some questions were not suitable to ask in their presence. She had to swallow back her words.

It wasn't dark yet on their way back. When passing the rough road they had used last time, Eva noticed some workers who seemed to be preparing something.

After taking a closer look, Eva was certain that these people were there to fix the road.

This reminded her of her previous conversation with Adrian when he mentioned that this road needed repairing. She was quite surprised by how quickly he operated.

She thought he was just making conversation, and even if he was serious, it would take time to prepare. Yet, he had already sent people to work on it.

"By the next time we come here, this road should be much smoother," Adrian suddenly said.

How long did it take to fix a road?

Eva didn't know, but she was sure that with enough workers and money, the process could be very fast.

It wasn't until nightfall that everyone arrived home.

As Eva got out of the car, she looked at the familiar building in front of her, not expecting to return just two days after leaving.

Margaret, having sat in the car for the entire journey, immediately headed straight for the two children upon disembarking.

"Alright, the kids will sleep with me tonight; it's getting late, so I'll take them upstairs to get ready for bed," she said.

But Adrian called out to her, "Mom."

Margaret stopped in her tracks, feeling a bit anxious.

"What's the matter? You're not disagreeing, are you? I just arranged it with Eva, you know? Ruby and Dylan also want to stay with their grandma, right?" Ruby and Dylan both nodded obediently.

"You see, they agree too."

"It's not about that," said Adrian.

Adrian walked up slowly, glanced at the two children, and then said, "It's not just for tonight. I'm afraid that for the next few days, the children will need to be under your care."

Margaret was somewhat surprised to hear this. Although she guessed that there must be some urgent matter for them to return so suddenly, she didn't expect that they would be unable to take care of the children upon their return. "Where are you going?" She asked.

Adrian replied calmly, "We have some things to take care of, and we're not sure when we will return."

At this point, Margaret realized that she should not ask any further and nodded her head.

"Okay then, you go ahead with your tasks. Don't worry about the two kids; they'll be fine here."

After saying this, Margaret was about to lead the two upstairs when, at that moment, Ruby suddenly let go of Margaret's hand, ran toward Eva, and threw herself at her, hugging her legs.

"Mummy, how long will you be gone this time?" Ruby asked with reluctance written all over her face.

After all, the last time Eva said she would be away for just a few days, Ruby and her brother ended up not seeing their mother for a long time.

When they finally saw her again, Eva looked so much thinner. Ruby, though usually carefree and lively, did not lack her own thoughts.

So, upon hearing that Eva was leaving again, she became a bit panicked, afraid that it would be a long time before she saw her mom again.

Eva, being Ruby's mother, even if she had lost her memory, her subconscious and physical reactions were still there. After seeing her daughter clinging to her so anxiously, she could guess what she was worried about. Eva's heart instantly softened, and she half-knelt down to gently place her hand on Ruby's little head.

"Mommy will only be gone for a few days, and I'll be back after that," she reassured.

But clearly, this time Ruby did not easily believe it.

"Last time, Grandmother also said that Mommy would only be gone for a few days, but Mommy was gone for a very long time. How many days are you really going to be gone this time? Is it one day, or two days?" It seemed that the little one felt like she had been deceived last time, so this time she did not trust the same story and needed to know the exact number of days to be at ease.

But Eva, herself, couldn't give a specific date, as it was Adrian who had arranged this mission.

So, Eva could only look towards Adrian for help. Adrian, who had been listening to their conversation all along, saw Eva looking at him and walked over, also crouching down beside her. His hand too rested on Ruby's head.

"The soonest we can be back is in three days, and the latest is five days, okay?" He said.

Ruby looked up with pure eyes and asked, "Does that mean Mommy will be back in no more than five days?" "That's right."

But Ruby didn't just let it go at that she continued to press. "Is it true? You won't lie to me, will you?"

At that moment, Adrian chuckled softly and couldn't resist tapping the little girl's nose. "We won't lie to you."

"Okay! Then it's settled, Ruby will wait at home for you guys to come back," she asserted.

Adrian ruffled her hair, "It's agreed then. It's getting late; hurry up and go rest with Grandma."

With Adrian's assurance, Ruby felt much more at ease and obediently followed Margaret.

Once they had left, Eva asked, "We're not staying here tonight?"

Adrian nodded, "Yes, we need to go to the neighboring city."

Surprised, Eva responded, "We don't have to go abroad?"

She thought that his arranging a meeting meant they were going overseas.

Adrian looked at her and shook his head.

"No, there's no need. He has already returned to the country."

Hearing this, Eva roughly understood, "So, are we leaving now?"

Adrian gave her a deep look.

"Are you in a hurry?"

Eva was puzzled, "I just asked about our departure time, why does that mean I'm in a hurry?"

Adrian smiled faintly, "Even if you are in a hurry, it's okay."

After all, they had opened up to each other, and he knew her heart was with him.