Reborn: The Tyrant's Obsession-Chapter 176: He said ’please’

"What happened... Why did you stop?" Kade turned to Ella, who had suddenly halted in her tracks.

Ruby and Kade followed Ella’s gaze.

At a little distance, Esther stood with a middle-aged man.

"Daddy! Oh my god, you wanted to surprise me?" Esther covered her mouth with her hands, but her voice rang out clearly.

Mr. Yu held two beautiful flower bouquets and sweet boxes in one hand, while his other hand was occupied with luxury shopping bags.

"I wanted to come yesterday but was held back by meetings. But your fiancé wouldn’t let me off until I came to properly congratulate you for doing so well in all your papers!"

"Ah Jun asked you?" Esther blinked away her tears.

"He’s on a business trip, but he still worries about you. Have you been eating well, little princess? You look so thin..."

On the other side, Ruby tugged Ella’s arm, "Why don’t we go and greet Uncle Yu?"

"That’s your father?" Kade arched an eyebrow. "Honestly, he seems more like your sister’s dad only..."

Ruby shot him a cold look.

"What? All those bouquets for her, but not a single flower for Ella..." Kade trailed off as his gaze landed on Ella.

Not a single flower? A bitterness spread across Ella’s chest. She would have felt grateful if they spared her a single thought.

Ella looked at the scene of Mr. Yu doting on Esther as tears began to well up in her eyes.

In her previous life, she had only heard of her parents when Esther talked about them. Locked in the Eve Mansion, she had no way of knowing what went on outside.

’Sis, you shouldn’t blame our parents. They’ve always cared about the family reputation, and you... ruined it.’

Even though the scandal was made up, Ella thought it was her fault after Esther said that.

When Esther said: ’Sis, our parents look down on people in the entertainment industry. They’re disappointed. You went against their wishes, and then got involved in those dirty scandals.’

Ella blamed herself again

One time, Ella had mustered her courage to ask: ’Essie, did they ask about me?’

’Sis, they... they hate you. They even hate it when I mention you. They said they regret giving birth to you... but, please don’t take it to heart. They must’ve said it in anger.’ That was Esther’s response.

At some point, Ella had given up on the thought of reconciling with them. She told Esther: ’It’s fine. Don’t mention my name to them again.’

After her rebirth, Ella no longer trusted Esther. Often, she thought to herself, ’What if everything she said was a lie? Maybe my parents missed me just as much as I missed them...’

But looking at her father now, smiling so brightly and doting on Esther, Ella wondered... if they had ever cared about her at all.

Suddenly, Ella’s shoulders slumped as an elegantly wrapped box was pushed into her hands.

Snapping out of her daze, she blinked away her tears and averted her gaze from the view of the loving family.

"What is this?" Ella glanced at the box.

"Whatever it is, you can have it," Kade waved his hand like the bigger person.

When Ruby saw the box, a hint of recognition flickered in her gaze. Was that... the same thing that Jasmine had gifted Kade today?

Ella sighed. "Fine, I won’t say no to free gifts."

As she started unwrapping it, Kade watched her.

The only one who remained strangely silent was Ruby.

’Bam’

Countless explicit hentais tumbled out of the box.

Silence.

Kade’s eyes nearly dropped onto the sidewalk. He hurriedly clutched them, hiding them from the girls’ sight.

Ella’s face turned green. "Were these given to you by Jasmine?"

"Yes, why would she give me these... Wait. WAIT! How do you know they were given to me by her?!"

Kade slowly turned to Ella, his face frosting over. "It was you!"

...

’Phew.’

After shaking off Kade, Ella finally reached her dorm room, panting.

Thankfully, her morning runs had made her a decent sprinter.

Patting her chest, she pushed open the door to her room.

But in the next moment, her footsteps came to a halt.

What greeted her was a breathtaking sight, countless red sunflowers, daisies, and lilies arranged across the room.

Ella stood at the door for a long moment before stepping inside. On her bed sat a huge box of desserts—assorted chocolates, pastries, cupcakes...

Under the box was a small note: ’Healthy.’

Ella’s lips twitched. She lifted the note, only for another delicate card to slip off the box.

She picked it up and examined it closely. In elegant cursive, a few words were written:

’You did well today.’

The words were simple, brief... yet with one glance, Ella knew who had written them.

Adrian.

As she looked around at the flowers that filled her room, a deep emotion surged in her chest.

It was different from the care she’d felt for him before. Different from everything else.

For once, Ella felt a flicker of relief, a quiet sense of belonging.

The realization struck her, if the world forgot about her, there was still one person who wouldn’t.

Without a single thought, Ella grabbed her bag, pushed the dessert box inside it and left the room.

After a moment, the door opened again. Ella rushed back inside, sprayed some perfume, checked herself out in the mirror before running out.

...

At King Empires.

"Second Master, all the arrangements have been made. I’m sure Miss Yu will like it," Ji Yan said as he peeked at the man sitting in the swivel chair, distractedly staring at his phone.

After a pause, Ji Yan added, "The ban on the Hill family has been lifted."

Adrian’s brows moved slightly. "Did he bother her again?"

Ji Yan shook his head. "No, it seems Maxwell Hill has changed his ways. Lately, he’s been sending gifts to the Ambrose family. They’re pleased. If nothing goes wrong, the marriage will proceed."

He paused, wondering if his master might intervene for Ruby’s sake.

But clearly, he expected too much.

Adrian remained indifferent. If it didn’t involve Ella, he didn’t care.

At that moment, Ji Yan’s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he excused himself and rushed out.

Adrian propped his forehead on his fingers, staring out of the window, his thoughts unreadable.

But his gaze drifted toward the distant Imperial University.

Right then—

’Click’

’Click’

’Click’

The sound of heels echoed, followed by a light, flowery fragrance.

Adrian’s brows furrowed, his gaze sharpening. "Scram."

’Bam.’

Ella’s bag dropped to the floor as she flinched, startled by his sudden outburst.

"Damn..." she muttered, squatting to lift her bag and the dessert box.

Hearing her voice, Adrian froze.

He turned his swivel chair and stood.

When a shadow loomed over her, Ella paused and looked up.

"See what you did, Baby? I brought the dessert box to eat together, but you had to go and scare me off—"

Before she could say more, strong arms hoisted her up from the floor.

Adrian wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "Elle." His voice was low, sensuous... almost sad?

Ella met his gaze.

The man’s eyes were slightly downcast, his chest heaving. "Come back."

"What?" She thought she misheard.

"Come back to the Eve Mansion." Adrian’s grip around her waist tightened, gentle, yet firm. "Please."

Ella froze.

His demand wasn’t the most shocking part.

What truly stunned her was the word ’please’ coming from his mouth, turning his demand into a request.

"If you don’t want me around, I’ll stay away," Adrian muttered, frowning. A flicker of self-hatred crossed his face. "Just... be near me."

"Alright."

"Elle, I—" The man stilled, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

Ella burst out laughing at the expression on his face. Before this, she never thought she would think like this but Adrian, in that moment, looked adorable.

Adrian’s expression didn’t budge, as if afraid she was joking.

"Adrian, I came here to eat desserts with you and to also talk about..." Ella pointed between them, "Us."

Adrian said nothing and leaned in toward her lips.

Ella stopped him with a finger on his mouth.

His brows furrowed, a dark cloud forming over his head.

Ella didn’t budge. "We need to talk..."

Suddenly—

She froze as his tongue peeked out and licked the tip of her finger.

"_"

H-He actually did that?

"Adrian, I’m serious."

"I am too."

Ella was speechless. Why was he still as unreasonable as he’d been months ago when it came to communication?

And she really thought she could talk it out this time.

Maybe regaining a sliver of sanity, Adrian let go of her finger and licked the corner of his lips.

The small action was so sensual that Ella’s brain let out two dead ’beep’ ’beep’.

It was then that the man opened his mouth—

"Speak."

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