Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Adrian Preston Looks Like He Could Have a Son in One Go

Hearing this, Mia pressed a hand to her aching head.

"That’s about right."

"Then you’re really getting the short end of the stick. No matter how you explain something like that, people will still be suspicious. That Chase Lockwood is a real piece of work. He completely screwed you over."

"I didn’t know he was so obsessive."

"But speaking of which, does Adrian have that much self-control? He thinks you’re cheating on him, but he can still put up with you?"

Hearing this, Mia sighed. "What other reason could there be? He has no feelings for me. We’re just in a contract marriage, so what is there for him to care about? I’m telling you, I could be standing stark naked in front of him and he wouldn’t even flinch."

"How can he possibly resist? You’re gorgeous, Mia, with a killer body. How dare he!"

Shayla was indignant on her behalf.

’If I were a man, I’d be laughing in my sleep just dreaming about it.’

"Who knows. In any case, I’m a hundred percent confident he won’t try anything."

Just then, a knock came from the door.

"Come out. Time to change your dressing."

Mia ended the call with Shayla and went to get her dressing changed.

The wound had gotten wet and had to be dried before the ointment was reapplied.

She sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth. The cut was deep, and a thick scab had formed over it.

Adrian watched from the side, a wave of guilt washing over him. It was his fault; he had lost control.

’I have to control my emotions, or I’ll end up destroying her.’

’Thank goodness they gave me anesthetic for the stitches. Otherwise, the pain would have been unbearable.’

She had slept soundly at first due to the anesthesia, but as the effects wore off, the pain slowly began to creep in.

She fell into a nightmare.

In her dream, Chase Lockwood was a crazed beast, ripping at her clothes and yanking her hair as he interrogated her.

"Do you love me or not? Three years! Was it that easy to just throw away three years? Do you even have a heart? How could you move on so quickly?"

"Mia, were you lying to me the whole time? You never loved me. You only love money and power! Did you choose Adrian just to get back at me?"

"You’re just doing this for revenge! Admit it! Say it!"

His hand slowly moved down and closed around her throat.

She couldn’t breathe. Her feet lifted off the ground.

His eyes were wide with fury, his expression sinister and cruel.

"You have to love me..."

"Help... Someone, help me..."

"Mia? It’s just a dream. Look at me. Wake up."

Suddenly, someone was shaking her violently.

Her eyes flew open. Seeing it was Adrian, she immediately threw herself into his arms.

She was trembling, her back drenched in a cold sweat.

Adrian’s hand froze in mid-air. He hesitated for a long moment before gently placing it on her back and stroking it soothingly.

"Whatever you dreamed, it was just a dream."

He hadn’t been able to rest, wanting to check on her, but he hadn’t expected to find her trapped in a nightmare, struggling and crying out, "Let go of me, help me..."

’I wonder what on earth she was dreaming about.’

It took Mia a long while to come to her senses. She felt incredibly safe in Adrian’s arms.

She released him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I finished up in the study and was heading to bed. I heard you talking from the hallway, so I came to check on you."

He said it with a perfectly calm expression, lying without batting an eye.

"I’m fine now. You can go back."

"Alright."

After Adrian left, Mia took a shower and changed into fresh clothes.

The wound throbbed with pain and was horribly swollen.

She wanted to find some painkillers.

She went downstairs to look for the first-aid kit but found that the ibuprofen was gone.

’Now what?’

’How am I supposed to sleep tonight? The pain is going to be excruciating.’

Just then, Adrian’s voice came from behind her.

"What are you looking for?"

"Painkillers. We’re out."

"I’ll have the doctor bring some over."

He took out his phone to make the call but she stopped him.

"Don’t. It’s too late, the doctor needs to rest. There’s no need to bother him over some painkillers. I’ll just go to the pharmacy myself tomorrow."

’It’s only for one night. I can handle it.’

"Does it hurt badly?"

Afraid he would blame himself, Mia lied. "It’s not that bad..."

As she spoke, Adrian raised his hand and gently touched her wound.

Even though it was covered by a layer of gauze, and his touch was feather-light, she still winced in pain.

’It really does hurt!’

Seeing her reaction, Adrian’s brow furrowed.

"There is another kind of painkiller. Do you want to try it?"

"There is? Where? As long as it stops the pain, I don’t care what brand it is," she asked eagerly.

Hearing this, Adrian stepped closer. One hand cradled the back of her head while the other wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Her eyes widened, but before she could react, his thin lips were already on hers.

His tongue skillfully parted her lips and tangled with hers. Their breaths mingled, and their heartbeats quickened.

Her mind went blank as she stared, dazed, at the handsome face so close to her own.

His eyes were closed, completely lost in the kiss.

The kiss lasted for a long, long time.

At last, he released her, looking down at her with dark, profound eyes.

"Now, is it any better?"

Mia finally snapped out of it. For a moment, she had truly forgotten everything, including the pain from her wound.

She remembered the time he’d been shot. There was no anesthetic, and when she’d tried to distract him from the pain, he had kissed her.

’He must be doing this to distract me from the wound again, so it’ll feel a bit better.’

"It does feel a little better, but... but it’s short-acting. It doesn’t last."

She mumbled, not entirely sure what she was even saying.

Adrian chuckled and said softly, "Then we’ll just have to apply it more often."

And he kissed her again.

This time, she closed her eyes as well, seriously savoring Adrian’s kiss. A strange sense of accomplishment washed over her.

’It doesn’t matter who he actually likes. I’m the one who trained him to kiss like this. He perfected his technique through hands-on practice with me.’

’In the future, when he’s kissing some other woman, will he ever think back to the girl he used for practice?’

The moment the thought surfaced, she found it utterly absurd.

This time, the feeling was different for both of them. Her body slowly went pliant, and she melted into Adrian’s embrace.

Adrian’s breathing grew ragged, his heart pounded in his chest. He gazed down at her, and a ravenous beast seemed to stir in the depths of his eyes, as if it would break free of its chains at any moment.

Mia guessed that he was about to stop. He wouldn’t let himself get any more swept up in the passion.

And just as she expected, Adrian spoke.

"Go back to your room and rest."

"Oh."

She mumbled a reply and turned to leave.

Her legs felt a little weak as she walked away.

’If just a kiss does this to me, what would happen if we went all the way?’

’A man with a physique like Adrian’s... he looks so healthy, so virile!’

At the thought, her face burned, and she quickly patted her cheeks.

’Stop letting your mind wander. I need to be more pure.’

She returned to her room, but there was no way she could sleep.

The pain.

It hurt so much she wanted to bang her head against the wall.

’Seven stitches. It’s definitely going to leave a scar. At least it’s on the side where my hair can cover it. Otherwise, it would be hideous.’

Just as she was tossing and turning in bed from the pain, there was a knock at her door.

"Are you asleep?"

Mia opened the door to find Adrian standing there, holding a small bag.

"Painkillers."

She blinked, surprised. "Where did you get these?"