Ch. 541..550

Chapter 541 We Can't Go Back Today

Perhaps in the eyes of many, she might seem to lack ambition.

She used to think the same way, always feeling that one needed to step out of their comfort zone to stand out. Otherwise, how could one ever rise above the rest? But in recent years, she truly felt exhausted.

Maybe it was because she had gone too far and become too weary, that she now wanted to stop and rest.

And most importantly, over these years, she had worked hard. Following Nathan, she had completed many projects and earned quite a few bonuses. Coupled with her high salary, she had saved a good amount of money. Once she returned, if she couldn't find a job to her liking, she could just open a small store near her parents' house.

She thought that life seemed pretty good.

Emily didn't share her personal matters, and Nathan didn't ask further; instead, he changed the subject.

"Planning to go back to your hometown?"

"Yep, going home first."

Nathan's lips moved as if he wanted to say something more, but at that moment, Yvette came in with coffee.

"Mr. Powell, your coffee is ready."

So, the words he had at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

The coffee was placed aside; Nathan didn't even touch it until their meeting was over.

After the report, when Emily was leaving the office with Yvette, Yvette couldn't help but ask Emily.

"Emily, is the coffee I made not to Mr. Powell's taste? I noticed he didn't touch it at all."

It was indeed a bit awkward. Emily hadn't expected that Nathan, who had personally asked someone to brew him coffee, would end up not drinking it at all. She wondered what he was really thinking. However, Emily still comforted her. "Maybe it's because the coffee was just brewed, and he was afraid it was too hot. He'll drink it once it's cooled down."

Yvette: "Oh, I see. I thought I didn't make it well."

"If you hadn't made it well, he would have to taste it to know if it was right or not. How could he know you didn't make it well without even taking a sip?" "That's true; you're right," Yvette said with a warm smile towards her.

Emily sighed inwardly when she saw her like this.

Yvette seemed very naive and sensitive. If she faced exploitation later on, would she be able to endure it?

With this thought, Emily said, "Don't do anything else today. Finish reading the book of accumulated experience I gave you. It lists what you can and cannot do. Take a look at it." "Okay."

Perhaps, after she finished reading about those harsh conditions, she wouldn't want to stay in this position anymore.

If she didn't want to stay, then it was better to replace her sooner rather than wasting too much time in between.

Emily was now eager to return home.

The Next Day

Eva woke up very early.

It was still dark outside, without a hint of light.

When Eva drew back the curtains, she realized that it was raining in the city.

"It's pouring. Looks like we can't go back for now."

At that moment, the sky was laden with dark clouds, almost enveloping the city, foreshadowing a torrential downpour. The somber skies seemed to unsettle the pedestrians below. Eva watched for a while, then closed the curtains and turned around to meet Adrian's gaze.

She didn't bring up anything else but said, "Your wound needs to be redressed."

"Okay."

While applying the new dressing, Eva noticed that his wound looked slightly better than it had the day before. It seemed the rest he had gotten over the past couple of days was beneficial.

"In a couple of days, you shouldn't need to change the dressing twice a day anymore. We can reduce it to just once."

"Thanks to you, my wound is healing fast."

Eva put the remaining items back into the medicine box.

"It's the medicine that's effective."

"The medicine is good, and so are your skills."

Eva pursed her lips, "I wonder how long this rain will last."

Hearing this, Adrian looked out the window.

"Not sure, but it seems like it's going to last a long time."

He hadn't heard her answer for the day when he woke up in the morning. She had said they would leave today, but when they got up, they were greeted by the rain, which had them stuck in their hotel room.

There was a silent understanding between them for a while, as if both knew what the other was thinking, yet neither spoke it aloud.

After a moment, Eva took the initiative, "Shall we go downstairs for breakfast?"

"Sure."

The two of them silently went down to have breakfast together.

After breakfast, the rain still hadn't stopped.

The storm seemed to be unleashing something, pouring down relentlessly regardless of anyone's plight.

Since they were staying in a hotel, they didn't have to worry too much. They just couldn't go out for the time being. After breakfast, they returned to their room. Eva nestled onto the room's sofa and started fiddling with her phone. That morning, Adrian's staff had delivered her old phone.

When Eva got it back, a familiar feeling washed over her, and without asking, she charged it and entered the password from muscle memory.

Adrian watched her actions silently. His lips pursed when he saw her unlock the phone.

It seemed she still had muscle memory for many things.

After getting into her phone, Eva clicked around a few spots, finally feeling the sense of having regained something lost, and a smile unconsciously played on her lips.

"How did you find this phone?"

"David."

Adrian said, "He had it sent over this morning. He probably just remembered."

"In the morning?" Eva was surprised. "But the rain was so heavy..."

"Yes, it was delivered in the rain; that person hasn't even left yet."

Thinking of someone braving the rain to deliver her phone made Eva feel a bit guilty, as traveling in such weather was far from safe.

Her expression made it clear she was worried about the person.

"Don't overthink it. If you're concerned about his safety, we can have him go back later. Right now, there's too much water outside, and many roads are flooded. Even if he wanted to leave, he would probably have to wait until the rain stops." Hearing this, Eva finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay."

However, the rain hadn't stopped by noon. The drains began to overflow, and the water on the streets was almost at knee height. The TV stations issued various warnings while broadcasting news about the heavy rain.

Both of their phones were flooded with news alerts about landslides due to the excessive rain. It seemed that many cars were submerged in water, so the news was urging citizens to reduce travel and to be careful if they had to go out. Adrian looked at these warnings and then back at the continuing rain outside.

"It looks like we can't go back today."

Eva fell silent.

It was hard to define what she was feeling. She had intended to leave first thing in the morning to put an end to the ongoing issues.

But as it turned out... mother nature had her own plans.

 

Chapter 542 Don't Be Foolish Again

With this thought, Eva couldn't help but want to glare at Adrian.

"It's all your fault."

"Hmm?" Adrian replied.

"I suggested we go back yesterday. If we had left then, we wouldn't be stuck here today."

Adrian silently looked at her for a long while.

"Maybe it's fate?"

"What?"

"To let you two meet again."

This statement successfully silenced Eva again.

After a long silence, she asked, "Why are you so insistent on me seeing him?"

Wasn't he supposed to be jealous?

Why would he keep suggesting that they meet? Eva didn't quite understand what he was thinking.

"Seeing him will bring closure."

That was Adrian's answer to her question.

Upon hearing this, Eva finally understood his intention.

He was concerned that if they didn't meet, she might continue to dwell on this matter after returning home. Rather than letting her keep him in her thoughts, thereby deepening her impression of him, it was better to let her meet him once more, to ensure he was alright and then she could move on with her life.

That was naturally Adrian's plan, but Michael, that man, clearly had another idea.

He didn't want to meet her, simply because he hoped she would keep thinking about him.

Although Adrian still didn't know what Michael's ultimate purpose for compromising was, he had indeed compromised and wouldn't harm Eva anymore, but he still had other motives.

If he couldn't keep her by his side, he wanted her to remember him forever.

The thought of his woman forever remembering another man was simply intolerable for Adrian.

After understanding Adrian's point, Eva no longer resisted and just said, "But he doesn't want to see me."

"Let's try again. If he really doesn't want to, we'll find another opportunity in the future."

Eva could only nod in agreement; that was all they could do for now.

"By the way, make a call to check if it's raining at Mom's place?" Eva suddenly remembered something and quickly voiced her concern.

"Okay." Adrian could tell she was worried about the heavy rain affecting Margaret and the kids, so he immediately made a call and put it on speaker.

After learning that it was sunny there and there was no rain, Eva breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, if it had been raining there too, the weather would have made her even more anxious.

Once she confirmed her family's safety, Eva had nothing to do. The rain outside had lessened, turning from a downpour to a drizzle.

Eva initially wanted to rest on the couch, but she was afraid she might fall asleep by accident, and Adrian would definitely carry her to bed if he found her sleeping.

His wound had just healed; it couldn't split open again.

So, after some deliberation, Eva got up and went to the bedroom to rest, while instructing Adrian not to wander around and to continue resting.

Adrian rubbed the back of her head.

"Alright, stop worrying about me. If you tell me to rest, I'll rest, and I won't do anything else."

After she closed her eyes, Adrian first made sure she was asleep, then had his people bring his laptop to him and went to the study to deal with work.

Recently, he had fallen behind on many company matters, and as for the losses...

He couldn't be bothered to calculate how much he had lost. Now that she was by his side, she and the children had become his greatest wealth.

However, to ensure a good life for them in the future, he naturally couldn't neglect the company's affairs. Now that his injury was somewhat healed and Eva was asleep, Adrian naturally took this opportunity to catch up on work. The study was quiet, with only the sound of the laptop running.

When Eva woke up, the rain had stopped, and the traffic on the roads had somewhat returned to order, with many people out maintaining the peace, although some areas still had standing water.

However, after talking with Adrian, Eva was no longer in a hurry to return.

After all, she had promised Ruby to return within five days at the latest, and today was only the second day. If Adrian was worried that she wouldn't feel at ease without seeing Michael, then she would try and see him again before they left. She leaned on the bed and scrolled through her phone.

There were many chat records on her phone, the most frequent one being with her close friend Emily.

Eva also logged into her Facebook to look at the photos she had posted in the past.

After seeing the photos of Ruby, Dylan, and herself, Eva's eyes warmed with affection.

She was thankful that she was still alive; otherwise, how would she have known that she had given birth to such adorable children?

Having had a near-death experience, Eva felt an intensified attachment to her children, scrolling through one post after another. It appeared she rarely posted on Facebook, typically only sharing photos when the kids were out playing. When she scrolled to a private post, Eva paused and then clicked into it.

After clicking, she realized that this post was set to be visible to her alone.

The content read: Don't be foolish and don't repeat the same mistakes.

Something stirred inside Eva when she saw this, as if some emotion was being roused.

She stared at the content as the warmth in her eyes gradually faded, her mind filling with confusion.

What did it mean by not being foolish and not repeating the same mistakes?

What was the meaning behind this Facebook post?

Eva glanced at the date and realized that the post was from this year, just a few months ago.

Seeing this close timeline, Eva suddenly had an ominous premonition.

She continued to scroll down, and the more she looked, the more alarmed she became.

Because in all the posts she had shared, there was not a single one related to Adrian.

He had never appeared in any of them, which Eva found very strange.

It was normal for there to be no posts about Michael since she didn't have a normal relationship with him, and given her personality, she certainly wouldn't post his photos.

But what about Adrian?

He was clearly Ruby and Dylan's father, so why hadn't she posted even a single thing about him? And then there was that private post visible only to herself, which clearly served as a warning to her. But what was she warning herself against?

She couldn't remember at all now, which meant something must have happened.

Yet, this private post still weighed heavily on Eva's mind.

After putting away her phone, Eva's expression was no longer as relaxed as when she had just woken up.

Although she had forgotten many things, she trusted her emotions, and since she was willing to go and make a deal with Michael for Adrian's sake, it meant that Adrian was indeed significant to her. But...

 

Chapter 543 What Should She Do?

Lost in thought, the doorknob turned gently, and the next second, Adrian opened the door and walked in. When their eyes met, Adrian was taken aback, probably not expecting her to be awake so early. Moreover, she hadn't gone out, and

was simply sitting on the bed looking at her phone.

After closing the door behind him, Adrian walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Why didn't you call me when you woke up?"

Noticing the phone in her hand and her seemingly unwell complexion, Adrian's expression changed slightly.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

Eva replied subconsciously, then put the phone next to the pillow, seizing the moment to inquire, "I seem to have slept for a long time. You didn't wander off during this time, did you?" "Do you really think of me as a child?" Adrian sarcastically shot back.

He couldn't help but reach out and pinch her nose. "Besides, you are here. Where could I possibly go?"

The warm touch on her nose made Eva flustered. She looked at Adrian's handsome features and almost blurted out asking what had happened between them in the past.

But when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back down.

Things seemed to be complicated enough already, and she did not have all her memories at the moment. Even if she asked, it would be a one-sided affair for her.

How could she make a decision suitable for herself based on such one-sided information?

Forget it, better not to ask. She would try to regain her memories later.

With this thought, Eva made up her mind to seek help from her best friend after sorting things out here.

Noticing her hesitate and then fall silent, Adrian wanted to ask but then decided not to. If she wanted to talk, she would ask when the time was right.

"Are you hungry? Shall we have the hotel bring up some food?"

It was only when he mentioned it that Eva realized she was indeed hungry and wanted to eat.

She nodded. "Okay."

Lately, her appetite had improved, and her food intake had gradually increased.

"Let's go."

As she propped herself up to get out of bed, Adrian intended to take her phone for her, but before his hand could touch it, Eva snatched the phone back like she had just been electrocuted. Her action was swift as if she feared something might happen.

After this, both of them instinctively froze.

"Sorry, I just..." Eva was at a loss for words.

She thought Adrian would mind, but he was silent for a while and then said, "Keep the phone with you. Don't worry, your phone has been returned to you, and it won't be taken away by anyone else." Eva was speechless.

She looked at Adrian with some confusion.

Did he really not understand, or was he pretending to be dumb?

"Let's go; let's eat first."

Adrian could sense her unease, but he didn't know what had caused it. Now that it was mealtime and she was hungry, he didn't want to stop and discuss these matters, preferring to have her eat quickly. Eva, of course, did not know his thoughts. If she had anything to say, it would have to wait until after her meal.

After putting on slippers and a coat, Eva followed Adrian to the restaurant downstairs. As they passed the study, she noticed the light was on and stopped in surprise. "Did you use the study?"

Since they were staying in a high-end presidential suite, their hotel room came with complete facilities, including a study.

She remembered the light in the study was off before she entered her room, but now it was on.

This could only mean that Adrian had used the study.

Sure enough, after she asked, the person walking ahead paused slightly before saying, "Yeah, I used it for a little while."

Since it was discovered, denying it would only make her more suspicious.

"A little while?" This description made Eva narrow her eyes warily. "You don't mean from the time I went to sleep until I woke up, do you?"

Adrian didn't know how to respond.

She had hit the nail on the head.

"Adrian, did you work?"

With no choice, Adrian could only sigh inwardly and then say, "I did work, but it was also quite relaxing. I just used the laptop and sat on the chair." He paused, then added as if remembering something, "I didn't move around."

Eva didn't speak; she just pursed her lips and suddenly stepped forward to lift his shirt.

"Let me see your wound."

"Eva."

Adrian clearly did not expect her sudden movement. He stood frozen for a moment, and before he could react, Eva had already lifted his shirt. Realizing what she intended to do, Adrian decided not to stop her. He just stood there and let her check.

As expected, after lifting his shirt, Eva carefully examined his wound, making sure that the bandage was still pristine white and not stained with blood. Luckily, everything was okay, and she sighed in relief. Seeing her like this, Adrian couldn't help but let out a low chuckle and tease her, "Are you that worried about me?"

However, Eva was not in the mood to joke with him; instead, she looked up at him with displeasure.

"How can you even say that? You're injured, and if you took the time to properly rest, you wouldn't even be away from work for a long time. Can't you endure it for just that short period?"

Faced with her questioning, Adrian could only respond helplessly, "I was just dealing with a bit of work, and I didn't move around, did I?"

"Resting and working are not the same thing. Otherwise, why do you think patients are advised to rest? If you work, can that be called resting?" "Alright, alright."

Adrian realized he couldn't win the argument with her, and mainly, he was afraid of her getting angry, so after a few words, he started to concede. "I was wrong, and I promise there won't be a next time."

Given his sincerely apologetic attitude, Eva felt awkward about being angry and could only tease him in return.

"You're always like this; you're quick to apologize, but then you repeat the same mistake."

Adrian wrapped his arms around her waist with a laugh, "I promise I won't do it again."

"I don't believe you."

She realized she had already understood his pattern. The next time she caught him, he would start apologizing and pleading again.

"Well, let's skip this topic. Are you hungry, baby? Shall we go eat? Room service is probably about to arrive."

During the meal, Adrian took good care of her, serving only her favorite foods.

"It's just the two of us. Eat until you don't feel like eating anymore."

As she gazed at the considerate man in front of her, Eva thought again about the Facebook post she had made. Could it be related to him? If it was related, then what should she do?

 

Chapter 544 To Meet or Not to Meet?

Clearly, their relationship now was not as simple as just them being together or apart. There were children involved, and their parents were concerned for them as well.

"What's the matter?"

Adrian's voice brought her back to reality.

Eva came to her senses and saw Adrian looking at her with concern, "Are you full?"

In truth, she hadn't eaten much, but it seemed her appetite wasn't great today, so after eating a little, she felt like she couldn't eat anymore, so Eva simply nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess I'm full."

Adrian saw that she hadn't eaten much and was still a bit worried.

"Eat a little more?"

Eva didn't feel nauseous, so she leaned in and took a few more bites.

"Okay."

After finishing those bites, Eva put down her utensils, no longer willing to continue, and Adrian, seeing that she had lost her appetite, also put down his utensils.

"What's wrong today? Are you in a bad mood? Or is there something that's making you unhappy?"

Eva shook her head.

"It's not that I'm in a bad mood, I just..."

She looked at the person in front of her, hesitating whether to voice her thoughts. But when the words reached her lips, she couldn't speak them out loud. After all, it was just a Facebook post.

She had lost her memory, and what she was seeing now was just the tip of the iceberg. If she were to bring it up, Adrian might explain it, but she still wouldn't know how to handle it.

Maybe it was better to act as if it never happened and try to regain her memory first.

"Just what?"

Adrian, not waiting for her answer, clearly felt a bit uneasy and took the initiative to ask.

Eva was taken aback. Adrian had clearly sensed her mood. If she denied it now, it might just lead to him overthinking, so she simply said, "Sorry, I don't want to talk about these things right now." This was an unexpected answer.

Adrian had thought that even if she didn't want to talk, she would say she was fine. He didn't expect her to directly tell him that she didn't want to talk.

With the conversation having reached this point, he felt like if he pressed further, it would only pressure her.

Thinking this, Adrian could only purse his lips and say softly, "Okay, if you don't want to talk about it now, then we won't. But if you really can't figure it out, you must tell me. If it's something bad, don't keep it to yourself. Telling me is definitely better than brooding over it alone."

His respect and understanding made Eva feel at ease, and she was no longer tense. Eva agreed.

"Okay."

The Next Day

The puddles from yesterday's rain had receded, and the sun peeked out from the clouds, warming the world as if the torrential downpour had never happened.

Traffic on the roads was flowing smoothly again.

Around ten o'clock, Eva and Adrian were ready to leave. The luggage was packed in the trunk. Eva had made it clear to Adrian the night before that today would be the last attempt.

If Michael still didn't want to meet her, then she would have to go back.

This was a decision Eva had made herself; Adrian didn't interfere. He simply agreed after listening to her.

David wasn't surprised that Eva didn't come during yesterday's heavy rain. After all, he would have been worried if she had.

Besides his concern, someone else seemed to be even more worried. Since waking up to the heavy rain, which showed no sign of stopping, he had been visibly restless in the house. Eventually, David suggested, "Ms. Hansen's phone is still here. Why don't I have someone send it over?"

To his surprise, Michael scoffed at the suggestion.

"Send it over? How do you know she's still around? If you really wanted to return the phone to her, why didn't you do it yesterday?"

David ignored the latter half of his remark and simply said, "She settled into a nearby hotel. We'll know if she's there when we send it."

After that, Michael didn't say anything more.

Later, the person who went to send the phone had been gone for a long time, and just when Michael thought the phone couldn't be delivered, David received a message. "The phone was delivered, but the rain is too heavy. I'm taking a break there for now."

Michael pursed his lips and didn't respond.

"The rain is too heavy; Ms. Hansen can't leave yet."

Hearing this, Michael's lips curled into a mocking smile, "What does that have to do with me? Why do you have to tell me these trivial matters?"

After speaking, he went straight into his room.

David stood there, clearly sensing that Michael's mood had improved slightly.

He sighed, feeling increasingly sad inside.

Just like today, there was no rain. If they had wanted to come over, they should have been here much earlier, but by ten o'clock, there was still no sign of them. David could sense his restlessness.

However, Michael was patient. Even though he was anxious, he didn't say a word.

The phone had already been sent out, and David had nothing else to deliver today, so he could only wait with him.

After a while, Michael stood up, preparing to return to his room when he heard David address him, "Mr. Cooper." Hearing this, Michael paused in his steps and turned around with displeasure in his gaze.

The look in his eyes was cold and filled with resentment.

"What is it?"

"Are you waiting for Ms. Hansen?"

"No." Michael coldly replied.

"Who told you I was waiting for her?"

David did not argue but simply continued to ask, "If Ms. Hansen arrives later, will you see her or not?"

Michael frowned.

"Why do you ask?"

"It will determine whether I should bring her in to see you later."

After a pause, Michael finally said, "She won't come."

"But what if she does?"

Michael only responded with silence.

"Will you see her, Mr. Cooper?"

Silence yet again.

At this moment, the sound of a car horn came from outside the window.

Michael's expression changed slightly after hearing it. His lips were pressed into a straight line.

David's gaze was fixed on his face, not missing any subtle expression.

A moment later, he curved his lips into a smile.

"It seems Ms. Hansen has arrived, Mr. Cooper. Will you see her or not? I need a definitive answer."

Only a day had passed, but Eva's reappearance here felt like a long time had gone by.

The Coopers' servant saw her and went upstairs to find David, familiar with the routine. They were supposed to wait next door, but today Eva politely declined and expressed that she would wait outside for his response. When David came down, he saw Eva standing not far from the front door.

Seeing her expression and eyes, David anticipated something and sighed inwardly as he approached.

"Ms. Hansen."

"David."

Eva gave him a slight smile. "We meet again. You should know why I'm here."

David nodded.

"Yes, but I'm sorry, Ms. Hansen. Mr. Cooper still does not wish to see you."

It was an expected answer, and Eva was not surprised or disappointed. Facing David's gaze, she simply nodded quietly. "Alright, I understand."

 

Chapter 545 Never to Remember Him Again

David took a careful look at her and found that she appeared very calm. She didn't seem surprised by the outcome, as if she had anticipated this result all along. David suddenly had an ominous premonition.

As expected, the thought had barely formed in his mind when it quickly came to fruition.

"Since he still refuses to see me, I won't insist," she said.

At that point, Eva gave him a slight smile and added, "Please tell him to take good care of himself."

David was taken aback.

"Oh, and David, I remember the favor you did for me. If you ever need my help in the future, don't be afraid to ask."

David had thought she would continue to talk about Michael, but her conversation swiftly turned to focus on him instead.

"Ms. Hansen, the help I provided you... you don't need to keep it at heart; I had my own reasons."

If Michael were to fall from power, where would he find such a patron in the future?

Only if Michael remained unchallenged would he be able to continue working under him, right?

Seeing him deflect the credit, Eva simply smiled slightly and said no more. She knew he was trying not to put too much pressure on her; after all, the selfish reasons he mentioned were trivial compared to her safety and security. He had risked offending Michael twice, with consequences yet unknown.

What he did meant a lot to Eva.

"Anyway, if you need help with anything, make sure to reach out to me. My offer will always stand."

Reluctantly, David could only nod.

"Alright, I understand, Ms. Hansen. Thank you."

"Then I'll be going now."

David hesitated as he looked into her eyes, "Ms. Hansen, you mean?"

"Yes, I'm preparing to go back. I didn't plan to be here for long; my children are waiting for me."

"They're waiting for us."

An annoyed voice spoke up at her side, and a hand reached out to pull her into an embrace.

He had accompanied her all this way, and Eva didn't expect him to be jealous at this moment, nor to hold her so possessively.

Surprised, yet unable to stop a slight curve at the corner of her lips, she responded softly.

"Of course."

David clearly hadn't expected to witness such a scene. As he felt a sense of foreboding, a loud crash came from upstairs. Indeed.

The crash drew many people's attention, their gazes unconsciously moving towards the source of the noise. Unfortunately, separated by corridors and walls, they couldn't see clearly what had happened. Their responsibilities kept them rooted to the spot, unable to leave their post.

Eva, startled by the noise, felt the person beside her tighten his hold as if fearing some mishap.

After the noise had stopped, it seemed like nothing had happened.

Eva, still unsettled, looked at David and inquired, "David? What just happened?"

Compared to Eva's panic, David appeared much calmer. He didn't move an inch, nor did he frown.

He simply stood there, calmly saying, "It's nothing; a worker probably messed up and broke something. Someone will take care of it."

Without his explanation, Eva wouldn't have known what happened, but seeing David's calm demeanor, as if such incidents were not unusual, reassured her.

After the initial shock, Eva gradually regained her composure.

She pursed her lips and tentatively spoke, "That's good then."

A moment of silence followed.

Eva glanced at Adrian. He stood by her side, and when she looked at him, he raised an eyebrow but didn't speak.

Seeing his reaction, he was clearly following her lead.

Eva and he exchanged looks for a few seconds, then she whispered, "Shall we prepare to go back now?"

Adrian curled his lip slightly, giving a gentle squeeze at her waist.

"As you wish."

"Okay," Eva nodded and then, without further hesitation, turned to David and spoke decisively, "David, since he doesn't want to see me, let's get going."

With that, Eva's gaze briefly swept upwards toward a micro-camera hidden in the corner-an object she didn't notice.

Behind the camera, Michael found his breath hitch. For a split second, it was as if her eyes, through the camera, collided directly with his.

Michael's lips suddenly tightened, and the hand that hung by his side clenched into a fist.

There were many moments when he almost couldn't control his desire to see her, but...

The thought that after seeing him, her worries would be gone, and she would probably live her life well and forget him, made Michael think that maintaining the status quo was better. Let her be unable to let go of him, to always remember him.

With that thought, his tightened fist slowly relaxed.

When Eva looked in his direction, her expression and eyes conveyed a sense of calm. After a fleeting gaze, she redirected her attention to the man by her side and softly said, "Let's go." "Alright," Adrian replied while nodding. Together they departed, their exit clean and decisive, without any signs of lingering or second-guessing. In no time at all, they vanished from sight.

David stood there for a moment, waiting for any indication of activity behind him. Hearing none, he advanced on his own. As he passed the staircase, his eyes unintentionally flicked toward the hidden camera. When he pushed the door open, he found Michael had already returned to his room.

The loud noise from before had already made it clear to David that Michael had heard everything that had just happened downstairs, including their conversation.

David lingered on the spot for a moment before entering the room, where he found Michael sitting on the couch, exuding an aura of deep despondency.

"Mr. Cooper, Ms. Hansen has left," David announced, but his words hung in the air and were met with nothing but silence.

When no reaction came, David spoke again after a while, "Mr. Cooper, it seems Ms. Hansen intends not to come back. Today was probably the last time." Perhaps because David had repeated the obvious, the atmosphere around Michael grew even more somber.

"Just get out," Michael said, his voice ice-cold.

"Mr. Cooper..."

"Are you deaf? Get out!"

David stood there, gazing at him for a long time.

"Mr. Cooper, are you sure you don't want to see her? There's still a chance right now."

After a long pause, Michael let out a snide laugh.

"Leave and don't make me say it a third time."

The hope in David's eyes faded.

Nothing could change the situation now.

 

Chapter 546 Didn't You Know to Sit down and Wait for Me?

Once David had left, a deep silence settled in.

Everyone was gone, including her. And it was likely she wouldn't return.

The world seemed eerily quiet around Michael, as if no other sounds would ever reach his world again.

All that remained was the sound of his own heartbeat.

The ride back was smooth; they had timed their departure to avoid peak traffic hours in the city, and the car effortlessly entered the highway for the return journey. The sound of the wind grew louder as they hit the highway.

Sitting in her seat, Eva listened to the rush of the wind outside, her mind replaying the words Adrian had said to her just before they had entered the highway. "Are you sure about this? Once we're on the highway, turning back won't be so easy if you regret your decision."

Eva's lips tightened, and she didn't respond to him.

A heavy silence fell between them, and without any further instructions, the driver continued onto the highway as planned.

Realizing Adrian seemed to be preoccupied with the issue still, Eva finally understood the possible reason Michael was unwilling to see her.

"You know, even if I didn't get to see him, you don't have to dwell on it," she suddenly broke the silence.

Hearing her voice, Adrian, who had been quiet all along, looked at her.

Eva, who had been gazing out the window, turned to face him at this moment. "If you show that you care a lot, then you're letting him succeed in what he wants to do." Adrian was taken aback.

This statement made Adrian finally come to a sudden realization.

So that was it...

He stared blankly at Eva for a moment, then said, "Indeed."

If he always cared about this matter, wouldn't that mean Michael had achieved his goal?

With his newfound understanding, a smile curled up on his lips.

"You are right, I was worrying over nothing before."

With that, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

"Alright, then let's not talk about this anymore, and go back to living a good life."

Eva nestled into his embrace, blinking gently after hearing his words.

In fact, she was still preoccupied with the matter she had been thinking about.

For the past few days, Emily had been mentoring Yvette.

Yvette seemed very eager to stay in her position, showing great enthusiasm for learning and a willingness to work hard. Although the tasks Emily assigned her weren't done perfectly, Yvette completed each one with serious dedication. For instance, she actually took the time to memorize the documents Emily asked her to learn, even if it resulted in very noticeable dark circles under her eyes.

Emily was somewhat worried about her, and she couldn't help but express her concern.

"I'm glad you take your work seriously, but your health is more important. You must rest properly. Only with good rest can you work better."

Faced with her concern, Yvette smiled shyly.

"It's okay, I know. I'm used to staying up late; I can handle it."

"What if one day you can't handle it? If I'm not here, you'll be the only one in this position."

Emily tried to persuade her several times, but seeing that Yvette didn't seem to be taking her advice, she worried that continuing might make her seem annoying. She decided not to say more, simply instructing Yvette to take better care of herself and then not pressing the matter further.

In fact, the quicker Yvette learnt, the better it was for Emily. The company had set aside a month for the handover because of the workload and the learning curve involved.

However, if the person taking over was familiar with the work and could become competent quickly, then this transition period could be shortened.

Like Yvette, with her relentless pace of learning, Emily estimated that it might only take about half a month to complete the handover of all the work, allowing her to leave early.

But Emily didn't want this. She hoped Yvette would take over the job in a healthy state, to avoid getting sick or being unable to cope later on when Emily was no longer there to help. Moreover, the most important thing was her health. Over the years, Emily hadn't just grown older; she had also matured in her thinking.

The older she got, the more she realized that good health was paramount, and everything else was secondary.

This resignation was partly because of her health; she felt she could no longer work as hard as she used to.

After finishing a report, Emily intended to have Yvette deliver it to Nathan's office. But when she looked up, Yvette was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did she go? Yvette?"

She called out twice but got no response.

With no other option, Emily stood up, preparing to deliver the report to the office herself.

When she knocked on the office door, a brisk "Come in" was heard from inside, and Emily pushed the door open and entered.

Upon her entry, Nathan was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window on a phone call. He glanced over at her briefly as she came in and then continued speaking into his phone. Seeing this, Emily went straight to the desk to leave the report.

Since there was no need for a presentation, she planned to leave as soon as she had placed the report down.

However, just as she reached the door, she heard a voice from behind her. "Wait."

Nathan's voice stopped Emily in her tracks, and she turned around in confusion.

Nathan gestured towards his location, signaling her to come over.

As he was still on the phone, Emily couldn't speak and simply followed the direction he was pointing.

She assumed Nathan had something he wanted her to handle, so she stood beside his office chair, waiting for him to finish his call.

After another two minutes of conversation, Nathan turned his head to find the young lady standing awkwardly beside his chair.

He was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and silently pointed to his seat.

Emily looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Nathan was at a loss for words.

He sighed silently to himself and then said, "Sit down. Wait here for me."

After he spoke, Nathan went back to his call, leaving Emily standing there, bewildered.

What had she just heard?

Mr. Powell was asking her to sit in his chair?

Emily's gaze drifted down to the office chair, which had only ever been occupied by him...

And this position...

She subconsciously shook her head.

She dared not sit.

Emily pursed her lips, not only refraining from sitting but also stepping a few paces to the side to keep a bit more distance.

Since she had to wait there, with nothing else to do, Emily picked up the report she had just delivered and continued to read it. After what felt like an eternity, Nathan finally returned.

"Didn't I tell you to sit down and wait for me?"

 

 

Chapter 547 Endurance

As she spoke, Nathan had already made his way in front of her.

The sudden closeness of his masculine presence took Emily aback, and a strange sensation rose within her, prompting her to instinctively take a couple of steps back to maintain some distance. Her movement caused Nathan to slightly purse his lips.

"What is it that you wanted to see me about?" He asked.

Emily replied, "Yvette isn't here, so I came to deliver a report."

Upon hearing this, Nathan noticed for the first time that she was still holding the report and reached out to take it from her.

Seeing him take the report and start to review it, Emily thought her presence was no longer needed, "Then, Mr. Powell, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."

After speaking, she intended to leave.

"Is there something frightening in my office?" Nathan unexpectedly asked.

This question left Emily with a puzzled expression.

"Mr. Powell, what do you mean?"

"Don't understand?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You seem in a hurry to leave, as if there's something in here that's scared you."

Emily was a bit taken aback.

So that was what he meant.

"It seems like ever since I approved your resignation, you've been avoiding me. What, did I mistreat you before?"

The word 'mistreat' coming from Nathan's mouth felt extremely severe to Emily.

Her expression changed slightly, and she instinctively explained, "How could that be? Mr. Powell, you've been... quite good to me."

Although she had previously complained internally about the overtime, she truly held grievances against him at that time.

He was a workaholic, not to mention he always asked his subordinates to work overtime with her, making it seem as if the work was all her own.

"Is that so?" Nathan's eyes narrowed slightly as he silently appraised her. "Then why did you say in private that I was exploiting you?" Emily fell silent.

She was taken aback for a moment, her smile strained.

"Mr. Powell, how do you still remember that... I misspoke in a moment of haste, it wasn't intentional."

"And..."

Emily continued earnestly, despite feeling uneasy. "To be honest, I've learned a lot over the years working with you, Mr. Powell."

It was tough, but her progress was remarkably fast. Nathan's demands on her were extremely strict, which naturally led to her rapid development.

Now, even if she resigned, wherever she went, she felt capable of holding her own.

"Is that so?" Nathan sat down in his chair, but his gaze remained on her.

Emily wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that ever since she decided to resign, Nathan's looks towards her had been getting increasingly strange. She bit her lip, nodding unsteadily. "Yes."

The atmosphere seemed to suddenly cool down, and not knowing what else to say, Emily was eager to leave. However, seeing that Nathan seemed to have something more to say, she reluctantly stood her ground and waited. After a while, when Nathan didn't speak, Emily didn't want to talk anymore and thought about just leaving. Just as she was about to do so, Nathan spoke again, "How is the colleague, who's taking over for you, doing?" Upon hearing this, Emily had to pause, "She's doing quite well. She learns quickly, is very hardworking, and can endure hardship. With her helping you, there definitely won't be any problems."

Nathan nodded.

"I think at this rate, I can complete the handover of all the work to her in less than a month."

At this statement, Nathan paused, and after a moment, his gaze drifted leisurely to her face. "Less than a month?"

"Yes, I think half a month will be enough."

"So, you're saying that after half a month, you'll be able to leave?"

Upon mentioning this matter, Emily was quite delighted, "I feel that if she can stick with it, then I should be able to leave in half a month."

As she spoke, joy and excitement were unmistakable on her face, her eyebrows lifted in a way that clearly showed she was in a good mood.

Moreover, during this period, she seemed to be wearing makeup every day. Not only that, but her attire was no longer the usual two sets of work clothes she used to wear. She began to wear different outfits and even adorned her wrist with some bracelets.

These changes prompted Nathan to reflect.

Had he been too harsh on her at work before, causing her not to have time to change into new clothes, not to have time for makeup, and not to have the inclination to think about accessorizing?

With this thought, Nathan pursed his lips.

"Mr. Powell?" Emily waved her hand in front of Nathan's face. "If you don't have anything else, may I leave? I still have some work to take care of."

Nathan sighed with relief in his heart.

"Go ahead."

After she left, Nathan made a call to his assistant to come over.

When the assistant arrived, Nathan went straight to the point. "Have you taken your annual leave this year?"

Upon hearing this, his assistant shook his head.

"No, Mr. Powell, I'm too busy to take my annual leave."

His assistant's response confused Nathan.

As if unable to believe it, Nathan glanced at the time on his computer and realized that the New Year was approaching, and they had not yet taken their annual leave...

"What about Emily? Has she taken her annual leave?"

As soon as he asked this question, his assistant looked at him with a somewhat strange expression.

"Mr. Powell, did you forget because you were too busy? When we wanted to take our annual leave earlier, we ran into a big project, and you told us not to take annual leave this year, and instead, you would give us a bonus at the end of the year..."

At this point, the assistant's expression changed slightly. "Or did you forget about the bonus too?"

Nathan fell silent.

This conversation reminded Nathan that such a thing had happened in the first place. He truly had been too busy.

"Mr. Powell, don't you think you should also take a break?"

Nathan thought of something and asked, "Did you take your annual leave last year?"

"No." His assistant answered.

Just as he expected.

"What about Emily?"

The assistant looked desperate. "Her? Don't even mention it, Emily has never taken an annual leave since she started at our company."

Suddenly, Nathan felt like he understood why Emily wanted to resign and why she was so happy to know she could leave the company early.

She hadn't taken any annual leave in all the years she had been at the company?

"When it comes to this, I think Emily is really tolerant. Although she usually looks like an adorable and soft girl, I didn't expect her to be capable of handling serious matters. She's diligent with projects, and it really is a bit hard to let her go." After speaking, the assistant scratched his head.

"But everyone has their own aspirations, and there's nothing that can be done if she doesn't want to do it anymore. We can only wish her all the best for the future."

However, after saying so much, when he looked up at Nathan, he did not get a response but rather saw Nathan sitting there thoughtfully.

 

Chapter 548 A boyfriend

What was going on?

The assistant, observing Nathan in such a state, subconsciously wondered if Mr. Powell might be reflecting on himself upon hearing that none of them had taken their annual leave. After a while, Nathan snapped back to reality and hesitantly asked, "Do you think her resignation could be related to not taking annual leave?"

Upon hearing this, the assistant was taken aback and took a while to respond.

"I don't think it would be related to that," he said, scratching his head. "If it was because of annual leave that she wanted to resign, she probably wouldn't have waited until now." Nathan didn't say anything.

Although his assistant didn't think it was related, Nathan inexplicably felt it might be. After all, not having taken annual leave for so many years, it seemed quite normal for her to be disappointed with the company's policies and regulations and to want to resign.

He would have to ask her about it when he had the chance.

"Mr. Powell, if you didn't want her to resign, then why did you sign off on it?"

Nathan replied, "What was I supposed to do? Keep her imprisoned at the company?"

The assistant scratched his head.

"That's true."

After his assistant left, Nathan took out his phone and opened Emily's WhatsApp.

Their chat box was updated daily, but it always started with work and ended with work.

Nathan, uncharacteristically distracted, scrolled up through their chat history for a while and finally understood why Emily felt like he was a workaholic and that he was exploiting her.

Nathan was someone who worked incessantly, demanding not only of others but even stricter with himself.

When he worked, he was relentless. He'd stay up day and night, with complete disregard for his own well-being. As such, he often failed to notice the feelings of those around him. Now, in the quiet, he saw why she said he exploited her.

Because from every aspect, except for the salary, what he had done was indeed excessive.

With this thought, Nathan pursed his lips in displeasure.

Emily was unaware of Nathan's thoughts as she returned to her desk to finish the remaining tasks when her phone suddenly rang. Despite feeling slightly tired, her spirits lifted immediately upon seeing the caller ID, and she answered the phone with a smile.

"Hello, Mom."

Typically, Emily wouldn't call her parents during work hours because she was too busy and didn't want to worry them. If Emily received a call from her parents while at work, she would keep the conversation short.

But this time was different. Recently, Yvette had taken over many of her duties during the handover process, and Emily finally had some time.

Mrs. Jones, hearing her daughter's clear and cheerful greeting, seemed to sense her mood through her voice.

"Emily? What's up? Is there some good news?"

Emily had not yet shared the news of her resignation with her family. She had been worried that Nathan might disagree or that the approval process would be slow, and she didn't want to cause her parents any unnecessary concern. But now, she felt like keeping it a secret a little longer, thinking it would be better to surprise her parents when she returned home.

With that in mind, Emily suppressed what she wanted to say and responded, "Nothing."

"Nothing? But why do I hear happiness in your voice?" Her mother asked.

"Oh, Mom, I'm always this optimistic and happy. You should know that; you've been calling me for years."

Her mother thought about it and realized that it was true; Emily had always been optimistic and cheerful during their calls over the years, never showing any sign of distress.

But as her mother, Mrs. Jones knew her daughter well. Emily had always been exceptionally considerate, perhaps because of her father's difficulties, always speaking and acting gently. Even when Emily was in a bad mood, she would force a smile and be energetic around her mother, just to avoid worrying her.

Considering her daughter's feelings, Mrs. Jones didn't want to press her further.

"But Emily, don't forget to take care of yourself. It's been a while since you've been home. Don't just focus on making money."

Hearing this, Emily knew what her mother was going to say next and quickly replied, "I know, Mom. Rest assured; I'm not just focused on making money. I will definitely take good care of myself."

After listening to her long response, Mrs. Jones felt somewhat helpless.

"Emily, that's not what I'm talking about."

Confused, Emily asked, "Huh? Then what are you talking about, Mom?"

"Eva's kids are already so big, yet you don't even have a boyfriend. Emily, what's really going on?"

Emily was speechless. This topic made her resent Nathan all over again.

She had forgotten to blame him recently because he had helped her and Eva. But the main reason she blamed him, besides the fact that he was a workaholic and demanding of his subordinates, was that she was too busy with work to have time for a boyfriend.

Indeed, her job had allowed her to meet many eligible men.

But... they couldn't get Emily to go out with them. Why not? Was it because she looked down on them and didn't want to go out? No, it was because she simply had no time. Remembering this made Emily feel sad, and she hastily said, "Oh, Mom, you know how busy I am with work. Besides, finding someone can't be rushed. It also depends on fate."

"Fate? How will fate find you if you're not proactive? How long have you been saying that? Has your fate arrived yet?"

Emily fell silent.

"Speechless, are you? You need to be proactive to have a story."

"Alright, Mom, I got it. I'll pay attention to it. I promise I'll bring someone you'll really like home later. Now, Mom, I have other things to take care of. I have to hang up now, I'll call you when I'm free." With that, Emily hung up the phone in a flurry.

She let out a long sigh of relief. There was no helping it; she could talk about anything else, but when it came to the topic of finding a partner, Emily felt like she just couldn't go on.

After all, it wasn't that she didn't want to find someone; she too yearned for a sweet romance.

 

Chapter 549 Going to School

Emily turned around to the sound behind her, realizing that Yvette had returned.

Just as Emily was about to greet her, Yvette's voice preempted her thoughts. "Emily, were you just talking to your mom on the phone?" She inquired with a hint of curiosity. Emily, caught slightly off guard by the question, simply nodded her head in confirmation.

Yvette's eyes seemed to twinkle with shared understanding as she said, "I couldn't help but overhear a bit. Is your mom also on your case about you finding a partner?"

Emily felt a blush creep up her cheeks. She had not expected Yvette to have caught that part of her private conversation. With an awkward smile pulling at the corners of her mouth, she replied, "Yeah, it seems like it's a universal thing for families to nudge you about these matters, right? Many of us go through that."

Finding common ground, Yvette nodded sagely. "Indeed, my family has been nudging me as well," she shared, her shoulders lifting in a helpless shrug before her expression turned contemplative. But Emily, you've been a cornerstone at the company for quite some time. With your departure on the horizon, do you plan to return to the comforts of home?"

Emily saw no need to hide her plans and told Yvette directly.

"Yes, home seems like the next logical step for me. I'll start there and then see where life takes me."

"Ah, if you go home, maybe your mom will introduce you to some guys."

Emily imagined that scenario and nodded in agreement.

"You're probably right; I guess that might happen."

Yvette shared her own experiences, "I've met a few people through my family's introductions, but alas, none were the right fit."

"Still, I hope you find the right person soon."

"Thank you, and the same to you." Emily responded.

"Speaking of timing, with the New Year just around the corner, are you thinking of heading back early? Once we wrap up the handover, it'll be time for celebrations."

Emily checked the time and it did seem to be the case.

Glancing at her watch, Emily realized that Yvette was right. The holidays were fast approaching. A sense of anticipation filled her at the thought of being home for the festivities.

"It looks like I'll be able to enjoy a truly joyous New Year this time," she mused aloud.

As their chat continued, a surprising revelation came to light - both Emily and Yvette hailed from the same hometown. Yvette, thrilled by this coincidence, eagerly proposed that they journey back together to celebrate the New Year. Emily, delighted by the prospect of a travel companion and a friend to welcome the new beginnings with, readily accepted.

Later, Emily sent a message to Eva, telling her that she would come to see her right after getting off the plane.

Eva didn't reply immediately, but Emily wasn't in a rush. They were in different time zones, and Eva would reply when she had time.

Eva and Adrian's homeward journey was a smooth sail into the quiet of the night. Despite the brief duration of their trip, Eva felt the ache of missing her children, Ruby and Dylan, deep in her bones. She longed to envelop them in her arms the moment they pulled into the driveway. Yet, fate had other plans. The children were already nestled in their beds, dreaming away. Her disappointment was palpable, but Eva knew better than to disturb their peaceful slumber.

Margaret, ever the voice of reason, consoled her, "Had you arrived just half an hour earlier, you would have caught them awake."

Eva's response was tinged with resignation, "We hurried back as fast as we could."

"You both must be tired from a day of travel. Go freshen up and rest. The kids will be thrilled to see you tomorrow."

"Alright."

As Eva ascended the stairs to freshen up, Adrian made to follow but was promptly intercepted by his mother's inquisitive gaze. "What were you two up to this time?" She inquired.

Adrian gave his mother a look, "Curious?"

Margaret nodded, "Why else would I ask?"

"Why don't you ask Eva directly?"

"What kind of question is that? You're my son; it's more convenient to ask you. Besides, Eva needs her rest after a day of travel." "Oh, so she needs rest, and I don't?"

"What does a strong man like you need so much rest for?"

Adrian was left speechless by his mother's partiality but didn't say anything. He was actually quite happy inside, knowing his family liked Eva. "Alright, your son needs rest too. I'm going upstairs."

Without waiting for any other reaction from Margaret, Adrian went upstairs.

Margaret was left speechless by his hasty departure. However, thinking of Ruby and Dylan, she felt relieved. She adored the two children.

The more she thought about them, the happier Margaret became, and she went upstairs to see her grandchildren.

As the new day dawned, the children resumed their educational journey. Their absence had been keenly felt at the school, and their return, especially under the personal escort of Adrian and Eva, was a poignant moment for the principal. Having Adrian's children at the school was a great honor for them, as the Blackwood family was no ordinary family. The principal had even boasted to his friends that Mr. Blackwood's children attended his school.

When the children suddenly took a leave of absence, everyone speculated whether they would return, considering they could choose better schools.

Just when the principal thought his boasting might have gone too far, Adrian brought his children back personally.

The principal was overjoyed and greeted them himself.

 

Chapter 550 She Felt He Was Taking Advantage of Her

Having previously studied here, Eva, despite her lost memories, found the place somewhat familiar. As she dropped off the two children, she stood at the doorway as fleeting images flashed through her mind. The images came and went too quickly for Eva to capture, and soon they were gone.

She paused in her steps, and the person beside her stopped as well.

"What's wrong?" Adrian reached out to support her waist, his attention almost entirely on her.

Eva shook her head. "It's nothing."

Though she said that, Adrian still looked at her worriedly.

"Let's go, I'll go in and have a look too."

The next second, Eva pushed his hand away and walked inside.

Her memories seemed to be triggered by certain places, and while her current life was quite happy and made the recovery of her memories seem unimportant, after seeing that Facebook post, she felt that there were things she needed to know the truth about.

Even if it might make her unhappy, it was better than being in the dark.

Adrian followed her, his gaze thoughtful as he watched her back.

Once inside, Eva's eyes were fixed on the children, and as they moved, some familiar yet strange scenes began to emerge before her.

But, once again, they were fleeting. She couldn't grasp much and ended up with nothing.

Eva could only sigh in resignation, deciding to take it slow.

It was only the first day, and she had already managed to catch glimpses of her past, which was quite impressive. She would come every day, and perhaps with a little more time, her memories would fully return.

On the way back, Eva told Adrian that she wanted to pick up the children from school every day.

Adrian didn't react much, only saying lightly, "You're taking over mom's job."

Eva was startled to hear this.

"But doesn't Mom have other things to do?"

Adrian's lips curled up, "Since we got married, she may not have said it, but her daily wish is to take care of the children."

Eva fell silent.

It was clear that Margaret loved Ruby and Dylan very much.

Not only was her mother but also her great-grandmother was extremely fond of the children, showing reluctance in their eyes whenever Eva and Adrian took the children away.

Eva hadn't felt much in the morning, but now that Adrian brought it up, she finally understood.

"Besides, aren't you giving up your company?"

This sudden statement from Adrian shocked Eva.

She looked at Adrian in surprise. "Company?"

"Yes." Adrian's lips curled into a smile. "It was a company you worked hard to start."

Eva hadn't expected that she owned a company.

She pursed her lips and asked subconsciously, "Where is it?"

"Want to go take a look?" Adrian asked.

"What do you think?"

After all, it was her company, how could she not want to see it?

"Let's go take a look then."

The next second, Adrian instructed the driver to change destinations, and they quickly turned around. Eva grew curious.

"You said I have my own company, so who has been managing it while I've been busy with my own things?"

Who'd been managing it?

It was thanks to the capable manager she had hired, who, after she was indisposed, managed to keep the company afloat with his management skills.

Later, Jacob found someone to help, and with Tim's salary increased, one could say that his direct supervisor was now Adrian. The pay came from Adrian, but the work was for Eva.

Adrian had reviewed his resume and found it impressive; the man could have had a good career elsewhere but chose to manage a smaller company.

Before giving him his position, Adrian had a candid conversation about work with Tim.

"My wife, my children, and my parents are all in this city. I could work at a larger company, but they're not suitable for me. I believe that the weight of things in everyone's life is different. Some may think a career is more important, but for me, family is the most important."

"So, I just want to find the best job in the right place, nothing more."

Thus, Adrian offered him the best position possible here, a win-win situation for Tim.

With the investment from the Blackwood family, Tim was very optimistic about the company, and even with Eva often absent, he never thought of leaving.

Especially after Adrian gave him a raise.

The salary Adrian offered was more than what he would have earned at a larger company, so now Tim treated Eva's company as if it were his own.

He had everything he wanted, plus a high salary, so what was there to be dissatisfied about?

When Eva found out that a manager she had hired was managing the company, she was quite shocked.

"It's been quite a while since I've even stepped foot in the company, and he's still managing it for me? Doesn't he think the company might not make it?" Adrian smiled meaningfully. "He probably sees you as a promising stock to invest in."

"Me?"

"Yes. He came from a senior management position at a large company and has his own unique vision."

Eva was taken aback.

She felt like Adrian was praising her too highly; she turned her face away in embarrassment, not continuing the conversation. After the car arrived at the company, Eva followed Adrian into the elevator.

All the way, Adrian was leading her. When they got into the crowded elevator, Eva instinctively hid in his embrace.

Adrian, seeing this, also took the opportunity to wrap her in his arms, using his tall figure to shield her from other people's touch.

Eva leaned against Adrian's chest, inhaling his distinct masculine scent as her hand subconsciously clutched the hem of his clothes.

When she looked up, she found herself caught in his dark, deep eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Eva shook her head, "I'm fine."

Adrian's lips curled into a satisfied smile at her dependence on him. With one hand against the elevator wall, he reached out with the other to grasp Eva's wrist, guiding her hand inside his coat to rest on his lean waist as he whispered in her ear, "Hold on to me to avoid getting unsteady if it gets too crowded."

Eva felt a wash of embarrassment flood her face.

She felt like he was taking advantage of her.