Ch. 551..560

Chapter 551 Blank Memories

Before she could fully form the thought, the elevator stopped at a different floor, and someone else got on.

With a new person entering, those inside naturally squeezed into the corners. Adrian was jostled forward a couple of steps, and Eva's stride faltered slightly as well.

The next second, she instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around Adrian's waist, their bodies pressing closely together.

A chuckle came from above her head.

"Why didn't you just hug me sooner?" He teased.

After hearing this, Eva couldn't help but pinch his waist in a feigned annoyance.

"Ouch."

Adrian inhaled sharply from the pinch and caught her mischievous hand, lowering his voice, "Stop it."

The elevator was packed with people, and they were almost at her company's floor. Adrian was concerned that if she continued to pinch him, it wouldn't look good when they stepped out.

Because their bodies were pressed together so tightly, Eva had felt something at the pinch. Her eyes shifted slightly as she internally complained, but she didn't continue. Instead, she just held him gently. As the elevator ascended, Adrian felt the crush of bodies from behind and sighed softly.

"Should we find a new location for the company?"

Her rented space was shared with other companies, and there was only one elevator for the whole building. It was inconvenient for everyone during rush hours.

Eva blinked, "Not necessary. If it were possible to change, I would have done it a long time ago; there's no need to do it now."

Though she had no memory, it was obvious that her choosing this location was due to budget constraints. Otherwise, who wouldn't want their company in a spacious and nice environment with a private elevator? Hearing her say this, Adrian instinctively offered, "Now you have me. I can help you change it."

It should have been a particularly heartwarming statement.

But to Eva, it sounded strange.

She looked at Adrian's handsome face, blinked lightly, and then whispered, "What do you mean, 'now you have me'?"

Adrian's eyes shifted and the smile on his lips faded a bit.

He pursed his lips, realizing he had misspoken, but luckily he was quick to respond. After just a few seconds, he had an answer.

"What I mean is, if you act a little spoiled with me, I'll help you change the company's address right now."

"You wish." Eva nonchalantly answered.

Ding-

Right at that moment, the elevator doors opened, and a bunch of people got out, leaving the space half empty.

But Adrian still kept his hand on her side without letting go, never averting his intense gaze.

"Why is it wishful thinking? It's just acting spoiled with your husband. Do you find that difficult?"

As he spoke, Adrian's fingertips even twined with Eva's hair, "What's there to be shy about acting spoiled with your own husband?"

His voice was low but audible, and since there was no one else speaking in the elevator at the moment, his words carried clearly throughout the space, drawing the attention of the remaining people. They now noticed there was a handsome man and a beautiful woman in the corner, both dressed in a way that suggested wealth.

People always pay extra attention to attractive things, and Adrian's voice made them look over.

Even some girls began to whisper among themselves.

"Wow, they're actually a couple; finally a sighting of a handsome man and beautiful woman together."

"Right, it's really pleasing to the eye when true beauties and hunks pair up. Usually, you see beautiful women with less attractive men, which is quite an eyesore."

The elevator buzzed with their comments.

Eva, a bit embarrassed by everyone's whispers, pursed her lips and tried to withdraw her hand with a small movement.

Unfortunately, Adrian held on tightly, so she couldn't pull away.

It wasn't until they reached their floor that Adrian led her out of the elevator.

As they passed by the group of whispering girls, the girls smiled at her amiably.

"We wish you everlasting happiness."

Eva managed only to smile back and say thanks before the elevator doors closed.

Her heart felt warm, and she was left with one thought: Girls were so gentle.

Walking on, she soon entered the territory of her company.

Why did Eva know this was her company? Because a strong sense of familiarity had already surfaced as she approached.

She glanced at the setup in front of her and the signboard, feeling that it was indeed a style she would like.

Was this... the company she had built by herself?

Eva's hand subconsciously reached for a small plaque hanging by the door, her fingertips lingering over it slowly.

Seeing her action, Adrian stopped and stood behind her.

"Do you have some recollection of this place?" He asked.

At his words, a scene flashed before Eva's eyes where she was personally hanging up the small plaque with Tim by her side.

He applauded her supportively, "Ms. Hansen, you've done a really good job. When you have time, could you make one for me to hang at my office door?" Pleased that her work was affirmed, Eva happily agreed.

"Sure, no problem."

With her memories returning, Eva nodded.

"It seems I have a slight impression."

Hearing this, Adrian grew curious.

"Did you remember something? Is it helpful for your memory?"

Eva shook her head. "It doesn't seem to be of much help, but... it's only the first day. If I come to the company every day, I should be able to remember more." "Right," Adrian nodded in agreement. "Since you have to work every day, just come here every day."

He had initially thought about changing her environment, but now he put that thought aside.

Not only because familiar surroundings might help her recover her memory, but also because he had almost let something slip in the elevator.

So, for the time being, he decided not to bring up the subject.

Although he liked Eva as she was now, without her memory, she was sufficiently reliant on him, which, of course, felt great to Adrian.

But... in some ways, he hoped more that she would find herself.

She probably felt the same; otherwise, she wouldn't have stood here for such a long time.

"So, if I have to come to work every day, what about the children?"

"Don't worry, Dad will be back in a few days, and he'll take care of Ruby and Dylan." Adrian's father...

After losing her memory, Eva had not yet met him and didn't know what kind of person he was. Something else also occurred to her; she only knew Adrian's parents, but what about her own?

In her vague impressions, it seemed she only remembered her father, but as for her mother... Her memory was blank.

She didn't know if it was because of the memory loss that it had become blank, or if it was always that way.

 

Chapter 552 The President's Wife

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her seemingly lost in thought, Adrian asked again.

Eva then voiced the thoughts that were on her mind.

After listening, Adrian fell silent for a long while. One of the things he had been really worried about since she lost her memory was this very issue. If she didn't remember, then once she started asking about her parents, the pain and insecurity she had suffered before would have to be endured all over again.

Was it because he mentioned his father?

"Why aren't you speaking?" Seeing him silent, Eva grew curious. "Is it difficult to talk about?"

Adrian came back to his senses once he heard this. He reached out and gently rubbed the back of her head, softly saying, "No, I was just thinking that maybe we can talk about this after you finish work. We've been standing at the company's entrance for quite a while now. Don't you want to go inside and take a look? Perhaps being inside will be more helpful for the recovery of your memory."

Adrian's point made a lot of sense, so Eva was easily diverted from her inquiry.

"Okay, let's go inside and have a look."

If she could remember anything on her own, then naturally she wouldn't need to ask anyone else.

After saying this, Eva stepped forward and walked inside.

The receptionist at the company's front desk, upon seeing someone enter, instinctively started to greet them but choked on her words when she saw who it was; she was incredulous for a moment before finally reacting. "Ms. Hansen?"

"Ms. Hansen has finally come back," the receptionist exclaimed excitedly to those inside.

This caused the employees who were originally working inside to come running out in an instant.

"Ms. Hansen? Where is Ms. Hansen?"

"Ms. Hansen is back?"

"Which one is Ms. Hansen?"

During Eva's absence, Tim and the people sent by the Blackwood family business had been diligently managing the company.

Even without Eva, the company was running smoothly. However, the new hires knew their boss was Ms. Hansen but had ever seen her. Luckily, Tim never missed a chance to praise her, lauding not just her beauty but also her competence, painting her as an excellent boss.

So even though they had never met Eva, they had heard nothing but good things about her and were filled with anticipation.

As soon as the receptionist announced her return, they swarmed out like bees from a hive.

Eva stood there, bewildered by the crowd.

All eyes were on her, filled with recognition, inquiry, curiosity, and a variety of other expressions.

Many were shocked by Eva's beauty, as they had only half-believed Tim when he said their boss was both smart and beautiful.

In their minds, there were no ugly women in the world, only lazy ones. Any woman could look good with the right effort and money.

But upon seeing Eva in person, they realized Tim wasn't just praising her; he was stating facts.

Her elegance and beauty weren't something that could be bought with money.

No wonder Tim couldn't stop talking about her; with such looks, she could hold her own in the entertainment industry, rivaling every female celebrity. And then there was the man beside her, tall and handsome.

Together, they looked like a match made in heaven.

Some recognized Adrian and whispered his identity.

The crowd was abuzz.

"Adrian Blackwood? You don't mean the Adrian Blackwood of the Blackwood family business, do you?"

"Although it feels surreal, that is the Adrian Blackwood of the Blackwood family business."

"Why would Adrian Blackwood of the Blackwood family business be here?"

"Are you dumb? Our company has secured an investment from the Blackwood family business."

"But even if we did secure the investment, Mr. Blackwood himself shouldn't be appearing here, right? Is that reasonable?"

The crowd fell silent...

It seemed truly unreasonable. After all, to the Blackwood family business, their company was too small to notice, so the reason for this man's presence here... Their gaze inevitably fell back on Eva.

It wasn't their fault for thinking this way; after all, she was beautiful, and Adrian was a man.

In most people's eyes, men were attracted to beautiful women, especially those with power and status.

Adrian, whether to play along with their thoughts or to announce their marital status, embraced the person beside him in the midst of the gossiping crowd.

"It seems everyone is curious about what relationship I have with her."

Before Eva could even react, her waist was tightly encircled by Adrian's arm, and her head was resting against his chest.

Then she felt the vibration from Adrian's chest as he spoke.

"We are married."

The crowd erupted at his declaration.

Everyone was still speculating, but unexpectedly, Adrian quickly acknowledged their relationship, and what was more shocking... they were actually husband and wife.

And Adrian? After dropping this bombshell, he wrapped his arm around Eva and vanished from the spot, leaving everyone else abuzz with various comments.

"Our company's boss and Mr. Blackwood are actually husband and wife. Does that mean our boss is the wife of the Blackwood family business' president??"

"Oh my, to put it a step further, does that mean we're essentially working at a subsidiary of the Blackwood family business?"

Previously, because of the investment from the Blackwood family business, everyone was willing to work at this company. A company that the Blackwood family business was optimistic about and willing to invest in surely had great development prospects, so everyone came here for an interview.

Their friends who knew they were coming here for a legitimate company interview were somewhat sarcastically teasing them.

"It's just a small company favored by the Blackwood family business, and you guys are scrambling over it. One would think it's a subsidiary of the Blackwood family business without knowing any better."

"Going to this kind of small workshop company is just as good as finding any random one abroad."

"Exactly."

When they first heard these sour words, everyone felt uncomfortable, but now they felt extremely vindicated.

It could be described as a feeling of exhilarating triumph.

What could they say when they next met their friends?

"Hey, didn't you say this was just a small workshop company? But the boss is the wife of the president of the Blackwood family business; that's even more impressive than being a subsidiary."

 

Chapter 553 Maybe You Kept a Man Stashed in the Office?

Adrian led Eva to a secluded spot before stopping.

Eva was puzzled.

"Why did you tell them about our relationship?"

Hearing her question, Adrian's arm, which was around her waist, momentarily tensed, and after turning to see her bewildered expression, he couldn't help but retort, "Why shouldn't I tell them?" He leaned in a little closer; his voice laced with a hint of danger.

"What's the matter, Eva? You don't want others to know about us? Is there something about me you don't want people to see?"

Eva was speechless.

"Or is it that... you've got something going on at the office? Maybe you kept a man stashed in the office?"

Originally, it was just curiosity that led her to wonder why he'd announced their relationship to the world, but it quickly became clear he had a talent for filling in the blanks with his imagination. Could guys really spin such a web of thoughts from just one sentence?

Eva blinked softly as she gazed at Adrian standing before her.

"I don't have my past memories, so even if I really did have a man stashed in the office, I wouldn't remember, right?" Her tone was playful, teasing herself as much as him.

But Adrian couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy in his heart. He pursed his thin lips and said deliberately, "It doesn't matter if you don't remember. If you did keep a man, they would fall into the trap willingly." Eva raised an eyebrow, "If that's the case, shall we look forward to it?"

Thinking of something, Eva added, "You're only talking about me, but what about your company? After all, your company is definitely bigger than mine. It would be much easier for you to keep a mistress, wouldn't it?" Adrian fell silent.

He didn't expect to be caught off guard by her counterargument.

His company was big?

Heh, wasn't this just her way of saying that if he really wanted to keep a mistress, he would have much more opportunity to do so than her?

The jealousy that had risen in his heart due to her attitude was somewhat alleviated at this moment.

Adrian could also feel that she cared about him; otherwise, she wouldn't have thought of his company in her counterargument.

With this in mind, he simply said directly, "If you're so worried, why not bring your laptop and work at my company?"

Hearing this, Eva did not refuse but instead asked, "Can I really do that? Going to your company won't affect you?"

Adrian's voice was deep, "Affect what?"

"Affect you keeping a mistress."

After she said this, Eva felt Adrian's grip on her waist tighten, and he narrowed his eyes dangerously, "Eva, whether I have a mistress or not, you'll know if you see for yourself."

She felt his dangerous aura emanating from him, and his hot breath on her face, as he closed in.

Eva almost had the illusion that he would kiss her right then and there.

This was her company, and if he really couldn't control himself and kissed her, it would be embarrassing if someone saw them.

With this thought, Eva could only push him away.

"Let's not."

After speaking, she took a deep breath and lowered her head to straighten out her clothes that had been disheveled.

"Not going to?"

These words made Adrian's brows furrow, and he asked in confusion, "What do you mean by 'let's not'? You're not going to my company?"

Was she just talking for the sake of it? Did she actually not want to go?

The possibility made Adrian's expression turn sour.

Eva also saw his face suddenly darken and immediately realized what he was thinking, asking helplessly, "Are you angry?" Adrian pursed his lips but still answered, "No."

"Really?"

"Hmm."

She didn't expect him to be so stubborn, even though he was clearly angry.

Eva was about to explain herself when hurried footsteps approached, and a tall figure rounded the corner. "Ms. Hansen."

At first glance, Eva was almost certain that this was the manager that Adrian had mentioned -and it was indeed Tim.

Having wrapped up his work, Tim was informed by his colleagues that Eva had come to the office, and not just her-Adrian was there, too. On hearing this, Tim rushed over. His excitement upon seeing Eva was palpable. It had been a long time since their last encounter, and Eva's sudden absence, akin to a disappearance, had caused him considerable concern.

Seeing her now, safe and well, was a great relief. After all, Tim couldn't find such a wonderful job anywhere else. After exchanging greetings with Eva, he turned to Adrian.

"Mr. Blackwood, you're here too."

Due to what just happened, Adrian's expression wasn't the best, but since Tim was an important figure in Eva's company, Adrian nodded and grunted in response, despite feeling unhappy inside.

Tim, sensing something was amiss, didn't voice his thoughts but instead led Eva to the office with a smile while discussing work matters with her.

As Eva hadn't been to the company in a while, there was quite a bit of work to catch up on. Initially, she was somewhat bewildered, but she soon focused and got down to business.

Since she was busy with work, there was no place for Adrian in the office, so he ended up sitting on the couch waiting for her.

While Tim was briefing Eva, he occasionally glanced at Adrian sitting on the distant sofa and quietly asked, "Ms. Hansen, why did Mr. Blackwood come with you?"

After asking, Tim seemed to remember something and added, "And Ms. Hansen, why didn't you tell me before that you two were in that kind of relationship?"

Eva paused at the question.

Thinking of the news Adrian had announced in the company earlier, she quickly pieced things together and had some guesses. She decided to go along with his line of questioning, "I didn't tell you before?" "No."

Since Eva didn't show it, Tim was unaware of her memory loss. He subconsciously thought she might have intended to tell him but simply forgot.

"Tsck," Tim said, looking at Adrian's back. "If you had said earlier that you two were married, I wouldn't have had to worry about you. But since you're a couple, why did you have such a fight before? Was it an argument?" Eva's heart sank after she heard this. A fight?

Eva pursed her lips and directly asked, "Do you remember the date you joined the company?"

Tim didn't find the question strange, assuming she might not want to answer his and thus was changing the subject.

He kindly told her when he started.

After that, he said with a meaningful tone, " Ms. Hansen, even if you don't want to answer my question, there's no need to deflect with that kind of topic, right?"

But Eva was lost in her own thoughts.

His first day at the company was very close to the date of the Facebook post she had made.

And he was unaware of her relationship with Adrian...

 

Chapter 554 How Could I Not Care About You?

It was clear that something complex had happened between them in the past. Something she couldn't remember at all. Eva bit her lip and flung herself deep in thought. "Ms. Hansen? Ms. Hansen?"

It wasn't until Tim called out to her twice and waved his hand in front of her face that Eva snapped out of her daze. "What's up?"

Tim looked at her worriedly. He had thought Eva was just dodging his question by asking about his first day. Now, her demeanor suggested it wasn't that simple. She had seemed genuinely interested in when he started, and something about his answer seemed to have struck a chord with her.

Anyone who had climbed the ranks to a top management position in a major company had to have an exceptional instinct for these things.

Piecing things together, Tim also sensed something amiss and instinctively glanced over at Adrian, who sat with a stony expression.

Then, considering the papers in his hand and the person who had just increased his pay out of the blue, he blurted out, "Ms. Hansen, you've only just returned to the company. There's no need to rush into dealing with these matters. I can handle them on my own for now. Why don't you take the rest of the day off to rest?"

Eva was taken aback and gave him a puzzled look.

"You're telling me to take a rest when I've barely just arrived at the office?"

Tim rubbed the back of his head, catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye that the aura of the heavy-hitter on the couch seemed less icy than before.

It looked like he was on the right track.

"Ms. Hansen, I was thinking you should head back and get some rest. You seem to have slimmed down quite a bit since I last saw you at the office. Have you been feeling under the weather lately?" Tim pressed on with renewed vigor. Eva couldn't really argue against that; her noticeable weight loss was something she couldn't deny-even at a glance.

Upon seeing her purse her lips without responding, Tim continued, "Ms. Hansen, why don't you go home and rest? If you're worried about the company, you could come by for a bit each day. I'll keep you informed about anything important, and I'll handle the rest, okay?"

With that said, it seemed there was nothing left for Eva to refuse. She thought for a moment and finally nodded. "Alright then."

Now that his suggestion was accepted, Tim's gaze involuntarily flickered back to the tall and handsome man on the couch.

As he looked over, he caught the man giving a meaningful look in their direction.

Tim couldn't help but scratch his head again; it seemed he had handled the situation quite well.

"Well, Ms. Hansen, you can stay here a little longer, then head back home. I've got other things to take care of," Tim said. "Alright, go on with your work," Eva replied.

Once Tim left, Adrian, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up and walked over to Eva.

"Tired?" He asked; his voice low, and his tone not particularly cheerful. The recent events had soured his mood, but he couldn't help showing concern for Eva and took the initiative to speak to her.

Eva had planned to finish her work before going to see him and to soothe the emotions that hadn't been calmed earlier, but she hadn't expected him to come over and show concern for her first. With this thought, Eva's heart softened, and as he approached, she allowed herself to lean into his embrace.

Adrian was taken aback and instinctively caught her.

He looked down at Eva as she closed her eyes slightly and rested her cheek against his chest.

"Maybe it's just been too long since I've worked. I do feel a bit drained."

Hearing this, Adrian's brows furrowed with instant concern. "Drained? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Eva couldn't help but laugh at the concern in his voice. "I just said dealing with work is draining; I didn't say I was feeling unwell. Why are you so worried?" Adrian was at a loss. "Worried? When was I worried?"

"Weren't you just worried?"

"Hmm, I was just asking. Is there a problem?"

Clearly, he cared, but he didn't want to admit it. Eva thought for a moment and then moved her hand down to find his other hand, which was motionless at his side.

She leaned in and took the initiative to intertwine her fingers with his.

In an instant, Eva felt Adrian's body jolt.

She chuckled to herself, and as she looked up, she met Adrian's gaze as he was looking down.

Their eyes locked in the air.

"After we finish up here, shall we go check out your company?" Eva suggested, her eyes clear and bright, like a pristine, sunlit lake, rippling with reflected office light. Adrian stared for a moment, visibly dazed. "Why?" His voice was raspy, and his grip on her waist was intensifying, while the hand she held remained still, only feeling the warmth of her delicate palm.

The heat from her touch warmed his heart, yet the sourness remained, considering her previous statement.

"Didn't you say we should forget about it?"

"Yeah," Eva admitted openly, "I did say that."

At this, Adrian's eyes darkened. "So, you really don't care about me."

Eva struggled to contain her laughter. "Where did I show that I don't care? I care about you so much that I'd rather not go."

Adrian was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"You're still healing, remember? We've been out long enough. We should head back."

After she finished speaking, Eva noticed his confused look and continued, "What, did you forget about your injury because it started to heal a bit?"

Eva finally had a chance to gently scold him. Adrian had felt a hint of sourness earlier, thinking she didn't care about visiting the company, or she just wasn't in a rush. But it turned out she was more concerned about his injury than he realized. Now, the sourness in Adrian's heart dissipated and was replaced by the warmth of her concern.

Overwhelmed with satisfaction, he leaned in, burying his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her being.

"I didn't forget," he croaked, "just... I wasn't thinking about it for a moment. I'm glad you remembered for me."

"If not for you, for whom else?" She playfully challenged.

"Mhm," he willingly murmured, "Keep remembering for me."

As they spoke, his previously motionless hand finally tightened around hers.

Eva felt that too, and with it, any last wisp of doubt cleared from her heart.

"So shall we head back now?"

"Let's go."

Although they had agreed, he didn't move; he was just simply holding her in his arms.

Eva waited for a moment, puzzled by his lack of action. Just as she was about to lift her head to ask, her chin was gently grasped.

 

Chapter 555 It Won't Stop Me from Kissing You

His breath was hot and close. Before she could react, her lips were enveloped in a kiss.

"Umm."

This unexpected kiss stunned Eva, who hadn't anticipated an ambush in the office.

His touch on her lips was gentle and warm, saturated with Adrian's unique scent, which seemed to effortlessly invade her every breath.

Eva's initial confusion turned into resistance as her hands pushed against his chest, trying to fend him off.

"Umm, no... this is an office..."

If someone walked in and saw them, the embarrassment would have her wishing she could disappear into the ground.

So, while protesting, she tilted her head back, attempting to dodge his advances.

After evading him a couple of times, the man in front of her stopped with dissatisfaction, then gripped the nape of her neck. His deep, husky voice carried a heavy note of frustration. "Why are you refusing me?"

Eva gave him a glance and was intimidated by his penetrating dark gaze.

Ever since she had regained her memory, she hadn't seen such an intense look in Adrian's eyes-dark as if they were a vortex and dangerously magnetic, as if she might get sucked in at any moment. Remembering their previous close encounter, and now facing those piercing dark eyes, Eva's pale cheeks couldn't help but flush a deep crimson.

She even instinctively turned her face away, unable to meet his gaze, and stuttered, "But... what if someone walks in..."

His voice was raspy, "No one will."

Eva remained silent.

"How do you know no one will come?"

"Who else besides Tim would enter your office without permission? And even if it were Tim, he'd knock first, right?" "Is that so?" Eva didn't remember, so she wasn't sure.

"Yes."

Adrian, however, responded with certainty, as if he were the true owner of the office, not just a visitor.

After replying, the hand on the nape of Eva's neck applied a slight pressure as he leaned in for another kiss.

As he drew closer, Eva instinctively dodged to the side again.

Her evasion meant that he missed his target.

The fact that he landed the first kiss surprised him, mostly because she hadn't reacted in time. He finally tasted the sweetness he had longed for-perhaps even sweeter than he had imagined. Initially, intending only a brief taste, he found the flavor too delightful to let go.

But before he could indulge in another kiss, she ducked away.

After explaining himself and attempting another kiss with no success, Adrian was left intensely desiring more; his gaze was now locked on her. His hand, resting at the nape of her neck, tightened unconsciously-assertive, yes, but not to the point of causing her pain.

"What are you dodging now?"

Eva's ears flushed red, a testament to the huskiness now evident in Adrian's voice.

"I just..."

Noticing the almost blood-like redness at the tips of her ears, Adrian's irritation seemed to dissolve a bit. A teasing smile played upon his lips as he pinched her ear gently.

"Shy, are you? Too embarrassed, or afraid we might be interrupted?"

Indeed, Eva felt embarrassed, but her greater concern was the possibility of an unwelcome guest. If they were caught, what would that do to her authority as the boss of the company? After a long pause, Eva said, "Maybe... we shouldn't kiss here; let's wait until..."

"No."

Before she could finish her thought, thinking they could resume back at home, Adrian cut her off.

"I don't want to wait."

As he spoke, Eva felt his grip on her neck release, and then she watched as he turned to walk towards the exit.

For a moment, Eva thought Adrian was angry with her refusal. Her skin still tingled from where he had touched her. It felt empty now...

Where was he going?

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize Adrian had moved to lock the office door until he was done.

Eva, who had first thought he was leaving out of anger, stood there speechless as she watched him lock the door and then turn back towards her with an intense, almost ferocious gaze. No, it was more than ferocity; it was a deep intensity that felt predatory.

Eva felt like prey under the watchful eye of a wolf—a fierce, bold wolf.

Remembering how she had thwarted his advances because of his past injuries, a sudden wave of urgency flooded over her.

It seemed inevitable; she wasn't going to escape today. So, as he approached, Eva instinctively circled to the other side of her desk.

Her movement made Adrian pause, and then he stood still, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face as he watched her.

"Eva, what's with the hide-and-seek? If you were worried about someone barging in, that's not an issue anymore - the door's locked."

It was no joke for her, the fact that he had locked the door made things even scarier.

With the door unlocked, there had been the chance of someone walking in, a possibility that might have kept his actions in check.

But with the door locked? Eva was genuinely worried that if she conceded to his desires, he might devour her whole with the ravenous intensity he had just displayed.

Her heart wasn't against it, but she just couldn't bring herself to accept the situation here.

What if she were to make some indescribable noises that passersby might hear?

All sorts of scenarios had flashed through her mind, leading her to conclude this was something she just couldn't accept.

Seeing her rooted to the spot, Adrian grew visibly impatient - or perhaps more accurately, his desires were unfulfilled. He braced his hands on the counter, his gaze locked deep into hers.

"Eva, come here."

Eva hesitated for only a moment before flatly refusing, "No."

She knew all too well what would happen if she approached.

Adrian couldn't help but find her reaction amusing.

"How long do you think you can resist ?" He quipped, as he leisurely closed the distance between them.

With each step he took, Eva countered, trying to reason with him, "Can't you control yourself? Your injuries..."

Before she could finish, he interjected, "The wounds have healed."

"It's only been a few days. How could you possibly be fully healed?"

"Even if my wounds haven't fully healed, that wouldn't stop me from kissing you, right?"

With each mention of 'kiss' and every swift step, Eva was caught off guard, and soon, she was swiftly ensnared into his embrace. "Eva..."

Adrian's breath was hot as he pulled her close, urgently seeking out her soft lips with his own.

His movements were fervent, as if he had been parched for a long time.

 

Chapter 556 Didn't Look That Closely

After Tim left the office, he felt a sense of hidden accomplishment because he had done something that greatly pleased Mr. Blackwood. On his way back, he kept thinking about the events that had just unfolded in the office.

For some reason, he couldn't shake off the feeling that the questions his boss had asked him in the office were a bit odd.

Initially, he thought that Eva was trying to divert the conversation, but after leaving the office, something didn't feel quite right.

Even if she intended to distract him, there should have been many other topics to choose from, so why ask that particular question?

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed to Tim, and he started to feel uneasy. After pondering for a moment, he went back to his office to grab a document that needed signing and headed back, intending to probe for more information.

Worried, Tim walked unusually fast, and in no time, he found himself back at the office door, where he knocked.

However, there was no response from inside the office.

Tim wasn't in a hurry; he stood there quietly and waited for a while.

After about thirty seconds, seeing that there was still no movement inside, he knocked on the door again and called out, "Ms. Hansen."

A short moment later, there was the sound of a chair falling over from inside.

Just by listening from outside, the commotion seemed significant, and Tim began to worry that there might have been a conflict, especially considering how odd the situation had been just before.

With this in mind, Tim became more anxious. He began knocking on the door forcefully and asked in a worried tone, "Ms. Hansen, are you alright? Ms. Hansen, what happened?"

However, all was quiet inside, with no response.

"Ms. Hansen?"

Tim was too concerned, and after a moment of hesitation, he reached out and tried the doorknob.

Click-

The knob turned slightly but then wouldn't budge.

He stood there, stunned, staring at the doorknob in front of him.

Was the door... locked from the inside??

Just then, a hoarse bass voice came from inside, "What's the matter?"

Tim quickly recognized it as Mr. Blackwood's voice. He felt like he was onto something, but at that moment, his brain seemed to short-circuit, and he was unable to make any connection. Lucky for him, his mouth was faster than his brain, and after hearing Adrian's question, he blurted out without thinking, "I have a document here for Ms. Hansen to sign." There was silence again inside.

"Wait there."

After dropping that line, the inside fell quiet once more.

Tim stood at the door, still feeling that something was very strange.

What on earth was going on?

Suddenly, in a flash of realization, Tim, who was standing at the door, remembered something and his eyes widened in shock.

After he had left earlier, the office door had been locked from the inside... Wasn't the purpose of that to prevent anyone from entering?

And there had been the sound of a chair falling over, and even Mr. Blackwood's voice sounded hoarse when he spoke.

Tim finally realized that he had inadvertently interrupted something private.

It was over for him.

Where had his sharp wit gone from when he was in upper management?

Why had his brain suddenly hit a snag?

At this moment, Tim truly wished he could pry open his skull to see what on earth was going on inside.

However, things being as they were, he didn't dare to leave and could only stand there stiff as a board.

He didn't know how long he stood there. He was still for so long that Tim felt like he was turning into stone. Suddenly, there were footsteps from inside. Following that, the door was opened from within.

When the door opened, Tim instinctively flashed his trademark smile.

Unfortunately, it was to no avail. The person opening the door was not Eva, but a very grim-faced Adrian.

"Where's the document?"

Tim noticed his sour expression and the disarray of his collar. Two buttons of his shirt were also undone, and his tie? It was nowhere to be seen. Seeing this, Tim immediately confirmed that he had indeed interrupted something.

"Here..."

Tim could only numbly hand over the document he was holding.

Actually, it wouldn't have mattered if Eva hadn't signed this particular document; it was just an excuse he had grabbed from the pile.

After Adrian took the document, he said "Wait here," and then he promptly shut the office door.

Click.

Tim stood outside the door, almost as if he had been brushed off.

But there was no helping it. As a man, he understood all too well the frustration of being interrupted in the midst of... that sort of activity. If he were the one interrupted, he would probably feel murderous.

So even if Adrian's attitude towards him was less than friendly, he could only ruefully touch his nose and wait right there. Inside the office.

Adrian handed the document Tim had given him to Eva.

"It needs your signature."

Eva was hurriedly adjusting her clothes; her face flushed to her neck and ears, almost her entire visible self had turned red.

She quickly fastened the buttons of her collar, took the document from Adrian's hand, and picked up a pen.

"Where do I sign?"

Seeing her flustered, with her hair in disarray, and remembering how she had suddenly pushed him away when things were getting intimate and how they were interrupted by the knocking at the door, Adrian couldn't help but feel frustrated. Damn Tim.

He could have come at any other time, but he had to choose that moment to ruin things.

These days, because of his injury, Eva had been reluctant to get too close, fearing it might affect his healing.

So, the opportunity he had finally found, to arouse her to the point where she forgot about his wounds, was ruined by Tim's untimely intrusion.

He stood next to Eva, his gaze dropping as she opened the document, eventually settling on the nape of her neck.

There, a red mark from his kiss stood out against her skin like a vivid little patch on flawless porcelain.

After seeing this red mark, Adrian's irritated expression softened and a hint of satisfaction appeared in his dark eyes.

It was a mark he had left on her, a proof of their intimacy just moments ago.

Eva quickly reviewed the document and hastily signed her name before handing it back to Adrian.

"Done; you can take it out now."

However, Adrian didn't rush to take the document. Instead, he held it in his hands and started to read through it seriously.

Seeing this, Eva couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

"Don't you look at the documents you sign your name to?"

Adrian's voice was still a bit hoarse, but he was noticeably calmer than before.

He stood in front of Eva, brows slightly furrowed as he flipped through the document quickly. Eva watched him do this, quietly defending herself. "I did look at it, just not that closely."

 

Chapter 557 Don't Come Together Next Time

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Adrian turn a page.

Eva's eyes widened. She wanted to say something but the sight of his furrowed brow made her hold back.

Never mind, even if he read through it quickly, it was still better for both of them to have looked over it instead of just one.

She didn't disturb him and just sat on the chair, waiting for him to finish reviewing the document.

It took Adrian a few minutes to go through the contract and when he saw her neatly signed name at the end, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

After closing the document, he heard Eva grumble, "You finished so quickly; you didn't look very closely either, and you're talking about me."

Hearing this, Adrian glanced at her.

"What's the content of the third line on the fifth page; do you remember?" He asked.

"What?" Eva was startled by his sudden question, and she looked at him in astonishment.

Adrian, however, leisurely recited the content he had just asked about.

Eva paused, then leaned over next to him and flipped through the document, finding that the third line on the fifth page was indeed as he had said. She glanced at Adrian..

Adrian's eyes sparkled with amusement, " Did I do well?"

Eva was speechless.

Afterward, Adrian ruffled her hair, "I'll take this to him; wait here for me."

With that, Adrian took the document out. As he turned around, the smile that had been on his face towards Eva disappeared instantly, and when he opened the door to hand the document to Tim, the temperature around him seemed to drop to the extreme.

Tim took the document, looking awkward.

"Stay away," said Adrian coldly.

He would have been better off not saying anything; that sentence made Tim even more embarrassed, and all he could do was nod.

"Alright, I don't have anything else; I won't disturb you and Ms. Hansen anymore."

After saying that, Tim left quickly.

It wasn't until he turned the corner that Tim stopped and let out a sigh of relief.

Despite having been used to being in upper management of big companies, he had rarely seen someone with as strong a presence as Adrian.

Clearly, Mr. Blackwood had a presence that set him apart from others.

...

After sending off the document, Adrian closed the door to the office. His slender fingers hesitated on the doorknob, contemplating whether to lock the office door again.

After all, there might be another person like Tim in the company who would knock on the office door, and even try to turn the knob and come in if there was no response. Most importantly, if they were interrupted halfway, Eva would be distracted by the disturbance. And once she started to get distracted, Adrian would find it extremely displeasing.

What he wanted was her complete immersion, as they united in both body and soul, under his guidance of course. After some thought, Adrian decided this was not a good place for flirtation, so in the end, he did not lock the door. When he returned, Eva had already tidied up the entire desk. Upon seeing him approach, she stood up nervously.

"I've sorted everything out; shall we go now?"

Adrian stood still, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at her.

"Are you in such a hurry to go back?"

Eva didn't know how to respond.

Faced with his wolfish gaze, all Eva wanted to do was instinctively avoid him. "Yeah, there's nothing left to do here, so might as well go back." Adrian had calmed down by now and wasn't in the mood to continue, but seeing her avoid him like that, he couldn't resist teasing her.

"Are you sure there's nothing else that needs to be done?"

Eva said nothing.

"Come here."

Eva hesitated and stood in place. "Maybe we should drop it?"

"If you don't come here, should I come to you?"

Eva wrestled with the idea for two seconds. After thinking of what had just happened, she finally stepped towards him.

Once she began to obediently walk up to him, Adrian couldn't help but laugh again and reach out to pinch her cheek. "Why so obedient all of a sudden?"

"Is it useful to be disobedient?"

Eva hadn't forgotten what had happened after she was caught by him.

"Indeed, it's not."

Seeing her pouty look, Adrian couldn't resist pinching her cheek again, "So remember, don't refuse me again."

With that, he bent down and kissed her smooth forehead.

As he leaned in, his warm breath brushed her face, and Eva instinctively closed her eyes, feeling only a soft warmth on her forehead.

When the soft touch on her forehead left, and Eva thought she was about to face a storm, Adrian suddenly pulled her into his embrace. Eva was startled, and then she opened her eyes.

When she realized that Adrian was just holding her and wasn't about to do anything else, she became somewhat puzzled. "You..."

She didn't know what to say next. Should she directly ask why he didn't continue? Wouldn't that sound like a tacit encouragement?

"What?" Adrian seemed to understand her thoughts, "Regretting that I didn't continue kissing you? Don't want to leave?"

"No." Eva reflexively retorted, "Let's go then."

After speaking, she pushed him away and pulled his arm to leave, fearing that if they stayed any longer, Adrian would lose control again.

And so, Adrian watched her with an indulgent smile as her delicate hand pulled him out of the office.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to close Eva's office door behind them.

When they arrived, it was with such fanfare that the whole company knew about it; the employees were still not over their excitement. So, it was impossible for them to leave quietly. "After this, when I come to the company, you shouldn't come with me," Eva couldn't help but say to Adrian with a hint of disdain as they got into the car.

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Seeing her silence, Adrian asked again, "Is it because of the people in your company? Do you care about what they think so much that you don't want me to be with you?" "It's not that. I come to the company to work, and you're not part of it, so what are you doing following me?"

The two were already seated in the car, and Adrian moved next to her seat, his large hand pulling her into his embrace.

"It's your company, sure, but I'm your husband. What's wrong with a husband wanting to accompany his wife to and from work while he's recovering from an injury?" The mention of his recuperation made Eva hesitate again.

If she didn't allow him to come to the company with her, what would he do at home by himself?

Leaving him alone at home to recover... She knew he surely wouldn't be happy.

Even if he agreed, he would probably work in secret.

Just like that day in the hotel when he used the study while she was asleep.

 

Chapter 558 Yearning

After all, he ran his own business and it wasn't realistic to expect him not to touch a computer or work at all. So, Eva wasn't opposed to him occasionally handling urgent matters online.

His wounds were healing, but he still needed rest. Yet if she left him alone at home, he was less likely to be the obedient patient that he would be by her side.

He was, after all, the same man who despite serious injuries, had risked everything to save her. The very thought of how much he'd bled made her shudder, even though she hadn't been the one hurt. His firm grip on her wrist jolted Eva back to the present.

Adrian was looking at her intently. "Why so quiet? Do you disagree?"

Regaining her senses, Eva sighed helplessly as she met his striking gaze up close. "Fine, you can come with me. But let's get one thing straight - no more office shenanigans."

"Oh?" Adrian feigned innocence with a glint of mischief. "What 'shenanigans' are you referring to?"

Eva was speechless as she glared at him.

"You're playing dumb," she accused.

His smile deepened, and his voice lowered, "How can I play dumb when you haven't told me exactly what you're referring to?"

Eva marveled at just how shameless Adrian, the CEO of the Blackwood family business, could be - especially in front of her. And worst of all, he seemed to enjoy it.

Eva finally got it; whenever he was around her, Adrian just couldn't help but tease her relentlessly.

She decided to play along.

"So, if you can't remember what I said, you better think hard about it," she quipped. "When you figure it out, then you can join me at the office."

Adrian's smirk didn't fade.

"Is that a threat?" He teased.

"You think that'll scare me? Or that if I can't remember, I won't go to the office with you?"

As he finished speaking, he pulled her closer, his voice a low murmur.

"Nice try, but I'm sticking with you wherever you go, whether I can remember or not."

Over these past five years, especially after the recent events, Adrian would often lay awake at night, wondering. Had he paid her more attention back then instead of burying himself in work, could he have noticed sooner that something was amiss? Might he have picked up on the subtle clues in the traces of their life together?

Or perhaps, if he had focused more on her, would he have realized his true feelings earlier and not wasted so many years? Would they not have had so many misunderstandings?

Now, after all she'd been through, after all the pain she'd endured, he knew it might take a lifetime to make it right.

But it had happened, and he didn't want to lose her. Even if making up for it took a lifetime, he wanted to try. He would try his best to give her happiness.

For Adrian now, Eva and their two little kids were far more important than his company.

In simple terms, he could delegate billion-dollar projects to others, but his wife and kids needed his personal touch.

That was Adrian's raw truth.

In this life, he couldn't bear to lose her again.

Eva could feel his constant presence, his clinginess. It wasn't just the regular desire to spend time together, but an almost pathological fear of losing her.

Lately, he seemed to spend every waking hour with her.

Eva didn't mind, though. As long as he wasn't fed up, it was fine by her.

Once his wounds were healed, she figured he'd get busy and lose that clinginess. That'd give her a moment to herself.

Yeah, that was what Eva had planned.

What she didn't anticipate, however, was that Adrian's attachment didn't dwindle with time. Instead, he became even more clingy day by day, like glue that wouldn't come off. Eventually, the people at the office got used to Adrian's presence and didn't react with the initial excitement or agitation as before.

They also saw how Adrian treated Eva, and they felt incredibly fortunate to have joined the company in its early days.

As the company thrived, those who passed up the chance to join earlier would find it a lot harder to get in later on.

As the year drew to a close, many young people who worked in the city began to take various modes of transport to return home one after another. The bustling city gradually became quieter.

In Eva's small company, people had left in dribs and drabs, leaving the office empty. Eva had planned to decorate the office for the New Year, but seeing that most people had left, she put that idea to rest.

Instead, she took some things she was interested in decorating to her home for Adrian to help with. Adrian, who was accustomed to having others do things for him at the company and never needing to lift a finger, found himself climbing up and down ladders under Eva's direction to help her with the decorations.

As for his injuries, they had long since healed completely, and even the doctors praised his recovery during the follow-up visits. Eva was very pleased when she heard this and even boasted to Adrian about it when she returned.

"I was right to insist on your convalescence, wasn't I? Otherwise, your injuries wouldn't have healed so well."

"Mhm," Adrian replied, his large hand squeezing her waist. "Now that I've recovered so well, you must be very happy, right?"

"Yes!" Eva was, of course, happy. He got so severely injured while saving her, so his recovery was a relief to her. That was why she nodded emphatically when Adrian asked her.

"Since you're happy... shouldn't you give me some kind of reward?" Adrian's hand moved slowly to the nape of her neck, gently pulling her into his embrace. As he inhaled the soft, warm fragrance of her body, his breathing became unconsciously heavier.

From before until now, every time he wanted to get close, Eva would reject him when it got to a certain point, using his injury as the reason.

Because he didn't want her to get upset, Adrian accepted her rejections. But as time went by, his own body felt uncomfortable, and his longing for her grew stronger.

Like now, just being a little closer made him struggle to control himself.

Adrian's gaze grew heavier, and just as he was about to kiss her, Eva's phone rang in her arms.

Without much thought, she pushed Adrian away and said, "I need to take this call."

 

 

Chapter 559 Grounded

After saying this, Eva quickly grabbed her phone and left, completely ignoring the fact that Adrian, who had been emotionally pushed away without warning, stumbled a few steps and looked slightly disheveled. He stood in place, steadying himself for a good while before he managed to calm the nearly overwhelming emotions that had surged within him, along with the intense longing that gradually settled down. Afterward, he looked helplessly in the direction Eva had left and let out a long sigh.

Heartless, not even considering to push him gently.

Adrian had his grievances, but he couldn't bring himself to blame his woman, so at this moment, he could only redirect his annoyance toward the person who had called her. Who was so insensitive to call her at such a time?

Eva walked into the bedroom and answered the call from the person Adrian had mentally accused of being 'insensitive.'

With the year coming to an end, she was, nonetheless, excited to receive this call.

"Emily."

Although her memory hadn't fully returned, she had been chatting on the phone with Emily quite often recently, so their relationship had returned to its former closeness.

They had been close friends since their early years, so even a loss of memory couldn't suppress their subconscious reliance on each other.

During this time, Eva also learned about another person, Lisa.

Lisa was also one of her friends, only according to Emily, Lisa was someone she met abroad, whereas she and Emily had known each other since their school days in their home country. But subconsciously, Eva still relied more on Emily.

And perhaps out of jealousy, Emily would occasionally say to her,

"I'm the one who's been by your side the longest; you better not forget me because of someone else."

Whenever this happened, Eva would comfort her, "Look, even though I've lost my memory, I haven't forgotten you."

Emily scoffed, "You clearly forgot about me. If I hadn't called you, you wouldn't even remember who I am."

"Ah, well, it's no use talking about it now since you don't have your old memories," Emily would relent.

The two would pull at each other for a bit before moving on to other topics, not dwelling too much on these matters.

But recently, Eva really enjoyed talking and sharing the trivialities of daily life with her.

From major company issues to minor details like what she ate today and what she did, they got along very well.

Today's call was the happiest Eva had taken in a while, and right after greeting her, she asked, "Emily, it's the end of the year; are you coming back?"

On the other end of the phone, Emily clicked her tongue, "I wanted to surprise you, but it seems impossible to keep it a secret at the end of the year. Everyone's asking me the same question, sigh..." Hearing her plaintive tone, Eva couldn't help but chuckle.

"Isn't that normal? After all, everyone goes home for the New Year."

"Who says? There were times I didn't go home because I was too busy with work, trying to earn more money..."

Emily's voice trailed off, "Never mind, let's not talk about that."

Just as Eva was about to say something, she heard what seemed like an airport announcement in the background, and she was a bit surprised.

"Are you at the airport?"

"Yeah." Emily nodded as she looked around, her gaze coincidentally meeting Yvette's.

Yvette, bumping into her gaze, immediately bared her teeth in a sweet smile.

Emily also curved her lips slightly, "I'm about to board soon, wait for me to come back, okay?" "Sure."

Thinking of something, Emily added, "But don't wait up for me today; I'll definitely arrive at night."

Considering the long duration of international flights, Emily didn't expect to see Eva today; by the time she arrived, it would be the middle of the night. She planned to stay at a hotel near the airport for the night and then meet her, fresh and renewed, along with her family, the next day.

"At night?"

After asking for her flight number and checking, Eva suggested, "Then I'll pick you up tonight."

"Don't bother."

Emily immediately refused, "I'll be arriving in the middle of the night. You should rest well; we'll meet tomorrow."

Reluctantly, Eva pursed her lips and smiled, not insisting further.

"Alright, I need to get ready to board now; I'll call you tomorrow."

"Safe travels."

After hanging up the phone, Emily had just put away her device when Yvette leaned in close.

"Emily, was that your friend?"

After a moment of serious thought, Emily replied, "A very good sister of many years."

"Someone you met during your student days?"

"Yeah."

Yvette showed an envious expression.

"That's nice. I barely talk to anyone I knew from my student days anymore."

Emily chuckled lightly.

"Isn't that the case for everyone? Most people lose touch, it's just this one that's stayed."

After entering the workforce, who still remembered their friends from their student days? Especially after getting married, the number of friends around you tended to decrease. Everyone had their own busy lives, and it was considered lucky to remember to send a greeting or a blessing during the holidays.

After chatting about this and that for a while, they went their separate ways upon boarding.

Because they didn't purchase adjacent seats and had different destinations after landing, Emily planned to sleep in a nearby hotel, while Yvette was to be picked up by her family.

So, Emily decided not to accompany Yvette. After getting off the plane, she would head straight to the nearby hotel to shower and rest.

Emily had an extremely uncomfortable flight. It was a very long journey with a lengthy layover in between, and to top it off, the airplane food was unappetizing. So, by the time she arrived domestically, she didn't look too well. Yvette specifically waited for her in the corridor when disembarking.

"Your complexion doesn't look good; did you get airsick?"

Emily waved her off, "No, just tired."

"Ah," Yvette sighed, "I also feel quite tired. My family's car is already here. Why don't you join us, and we'll drop you off?"

Emily didn't like to trouble others unless they were very close.

She hadn't known Yvette for long, and it was likely they wouldn't keep in touch afterwards. It didn't seem right to trouble her unnecessarily at this point.

So, she quickly declined.

"No need. The hotel I booked is close by; it's just a cab ride away. It would be too much trouble for you guys to drop me off."

But Yvette was very enthusiastic.

"Not at all, I'm just worried about you because you look pale; I don't want anything to happen to you."

Emily was about to say something else when her phone rang.

"Sorry, I need to take this call; you go ahead. I'm really fine."

However, Yvette shook her head and stubbornly stood in place.

With no other option, Emily pulled out her phone and was somewhat shocked to see that the caller was Eva. "Hello?"

"Ms. Jones, I've seen that your flight has landed; I'm waiting for you at the exit."

 

 

Chapter 560 Come to My House

Emily was rooted to the spot, likely never having anticipated that Eva would call her in the middle of the night, let alone be waiting for her at the airport exit. It took Emily a long while to respond.

"Why aren't you sleeping at this late hour? Didn't we agree that you'd rest and we'd meet tomorrow?"

"How could I not come to pick up my best friend who's returning to the country?"

Eva's voice on the other end of the phone was cheerful and happy.

In that moment, Emily was deeply touched, feeling a warm sensation around her eyes.

"Okay, I'm coming now."

"Waiting for you."

After hanging up, Yvette immediately asked.

"Is your friend coming to pick you up?"

Emily nodded.

"Yeah, I explicitly told her not to come, and yet she's here, not sleeping in the middle of the night."

Yvette was extremely envious.

"That's great. Then you don't need a ride from us, and I don't have to worry about you."

It was clear that Yvette genuinely cared, and Emily was grateful for that, "Thanks for your concern. You should hurry back too, don't keep your family waiting." "Sure, we'll get in touch later."

"Okay."

After parting ways with Yvette, Emily stood still for a moment to take a deep breath, then went to retrieve her luggage.

She was returning home after resigning from her job, so she had a lot of baggage to collect.

Not knowing how long it would take to get her luggage, Emily sent Eva a message to let her know the situation.

Eva replied considerately, telling her not to worry and that she would wait.

Emily suddenly thought of something, "Did you come alone?"

"No."

Emily breathed a sigh of relief.

It was the middle of the night, and it was good that she wasn't alone. Otherwise, considering her best friend's attractiveness, she was genuinely worried about Eva encountering some bad men at this hour. While waiting for her luggage, Emily received an unexpected text message.

"Landed?"

She read it several times, still somewhat in disbelief that the message was from Nathan.

In disbelief, she exited and re-entered the chat, checking his profile several times.

After a few checks, she confirmed that the message was indeed from Nathan.

While she found it strange, she quickly realized something.

She had been exploited by him for so many years at work, not even taking annual leave, so it was quite normal for him to ask after her with a bit of decorum as she flew back home.

So, Emily replied with a polite smiley face.

"Yeah, landed, thank you for your concern, Mr. Powell."

It was a formal response. After replying, Emily didn't look at her phone again because her luggage had just arrived.

After collecting her luggage, Emily hurried towards the exit.

From a distance, she could see her dear friend standing at the exit, with a tall and handsome figure beside her.

It was winter, so that figure had his coat open, enveloping Eva in it.

From afar, they looked like the perfect couple.

Emily hadn't expected to see them being affectionate as soon as she saw them, and, as she approached, the first thing she thought to say was, "Look at you two, showing off in front of a single person." In the past, Emily wouldn't have dared to speak to Adrian like this.

But since she knew about Eva's memory loss and previous events, she was no longer as intimidated by Adrian as before.

Yet Eva just laughed, pushed Adrian away, and then turned to hug Emily tightly.

Emily quickly reciprocated the hug.

The two had not seen each other for a long time and had so much to say, but for now, they just hugged for a long duration.

Because these individuals were so strikingly attractive, many people at the airport couldn't help but turn their gazes towards them as they walked back and forth.

Adrian, watching the two women embrace, held back his comments at first but eventually couldn't resist saying, "Have you hugged enough? It's getting late." Emily was taken aback.

She was speechless as she looked at Adrian.

Though she was at a loss for words, she still let go of Eva. Eva, however, smiled and linked her arm with Emily's.

"Don't mind him; he's just the jealous type," Eva said.

"Alright," Emily agreed.

"Are you hungry? How about we go grab something to eat?" Eva offered.

"No, no need," Emily instinctively waved her hand dismissively, "It's so late; how can I make you go out to eat with me? I'm already very happy that you came to pick me up. Just dropping me off at the hotel is fine. I can just buy some instant noodles downstairs after I get there."

Hearing this, Eva frowned deeply.

"Instant noodles?"

Emily nodded, "Yeah."

"That's not nutritious. Why would you eat such things?"

"It's just this once; what's the harm?"

Eva thought about it and realized she was being hypocritical. She wouldn't mind eating instant noodles herself, but the idea of her best friend eating them made her feel like they were nutritionally inadequate. "No way, get in the car. We're going to eat something proper."

Despite Emily's protests, Eva eventually dragged her into the car, and after some discussion, they decided to go for a late-night snack.

Eva took special care of Emily at the dinner table because she looked a bit pale.

Adrian just watched silently from the side. While watching how tender Eva was with Emily, he couldn't help feeling a bit jealous, even though he knew the two were just friends and that Emily was a woman. Since Emily didn't want to take up too much of the couple's time late at night, she suggested going back after eating a bit.

Unexpectedly, Eva asked where she was staying and proposed that they spend the night together at the hotel.

Emily fell silent; she didn't know how to respond.

She could already sense that if she agreed, Adrian would probably list her as a rival in the future.

So, she could only laugh awkwardly and say, "Why? Can't bear to part with me? Can't we just meet tomorrow? Do you have to follow me to the hotel? Isn't your bed at home more comfortable than the hotel's?" It seemed Eva was persuaded away from the idea.

"That's true. The hotel beds are indeed not as comfortable as the ones at home, and they might not even be as clean," Eva mused.

"Exactly," Emily agreed.

But the next second, Eva said, "Then don't stay at the hotel, come sleep at my place."

"Huh?"

"We have a guest room at home. The maid keeps it very clean; you just need to pull out the blanket to sleep."

Hearing this, Emily didn't respond but instinctively looked in Adrian's direction.