Chapter 19
“Ten years ago, at that yacht party in Silverden…”
“Did you forget who you saved?”
Clarisse froze. Her memory was suddenly pulled back ten years-
That night on the yacht, she had been standing near the deck, enjoying the sea breeze, when she suddenly heard a splash.
A young boy had fallen into the water.
Before anyone else could react, she had already jumped in.
The sea had been freezing cold. She swam with all her strength toward the flailing figure, choking on water again and again before finally dragging him back to shore.
“Are you okay?” She was drenched from head to toe, but didn’t spare a thought for herself. Kneeling on the ground, she performed CPR on the little boy.
The boy coughed up several mouthfuls of water. When he finally opened his eyes, droplets still clung to his eyelashes.
She had taken off her coat and wrapped it around his shivering body. “You little rascal, be more careful next time. Don’t go running around the deck.”
The boy had clutched her jacket tightly, his eyes shining like stars.
Clarisse snapped out of the memory, staring at Adrian in disbelief. “That little kid who fell in the water… was you?!”
Adrian’s ears turned faintly red. “Yeah. That was me.”
“I’ve been looking for you for ten years.”
Clarisse suddenly laughed, surprised. “But you were only twelve then, and I was sixteen. I’m four years older than you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I hadn’t even had my first crush at that age, and you’re telling me you fell for me at first sight?”
Adrian looked at her, his gaze clear and sincere. “Clarisse, do you want the truth?”
“Say it.”
“Because you were too dazzling.” His voice was soft. “You’re so dazzling you was like the sun. I couldn’t look away.”
Clarisse froze.
She had been complimented countless times on her looks growing up, but when Adrian said it, it felt different.
J
Maybe it was because his eyes were just too pure, without a trace of pretense, like he was baring his entire heart to her.
“Clarisse,” Adrian abruptly took a step closer, “I really do like you.”
“If you’d give me a chance…” His voice trembled slightly. “Let me give you a home. I’ll spend my whole life treating you well.”
The word “home” hit Clarisse straight in the heart.
Suddenly, memories rushed back.
Alpha Vexley handing her off to Silverden for profit.
The photos of Grace in Leopold’s study.
Those three days in the Pack Prison.
The numb despair she felt when she burned down wolf castle.
Where else could she go?
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The Eboncrest Pack had long stopped being her home. And Leopold didn’t like her.
She looked at the man in front of her, four years younger than she was.
Adrian’s gaze was painfully sincere–so pure it made her heart ache.
And for a brief moment, she thought–maybe… she could try?
At the very least, here was someone who loved her wholeheartedly.
Clarisse reached out.
Adrian’s eyes dimmed. He thought she was going to leave. His whole posture slumped like an abandoned puppy. “Clarisse, I’ll get someone to arrange your trip back…”
But Clarisse smiled. “Back where?”
She took his hand in hers actively. “This is my home now.”
“And you better remember what you just said–you’ll treat me well for the rest of your life.”
JAdrian’s eyes lit up instantly with joy, almost glowing. “The pack members in the Noctelle Pack never lie!”
“Every single one of us spoils his mate rotten. If I ever lie to you, you can…”
“I can what?”
“You can throw me into the sea. Just like the first time we met.”
Clarisse couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
In the days that followed, Adrian practically spoiled her rotten.
She casually mentioned craving pastries from SW, and within thirty minutes, the head chef of the famous shop showed up at the castle, tools in hand, ready to bake on the spot.
One afternoon, she frowned slightly in her sleep. Adrian immediately ordered every rug in the wolf castle replaced with softer
materials.
When she rubbed her eyes while reading, the next day an international eye specialist was flown in to give her a full examination.
But what mattered more was that everyone in the Noctelle Pack treated her like family.
Adrian’s grandmother held her hand and shared embarrassing stories about Adrian’s childhood. His mother personally cooked soups for her. Even Adrian’s usually stern father would soften his expression every time he saw her.
It had been so long since Clarisse felt cherished and treated as the apple of one’s eye.
She suddenly felt like her life had turned into a dream.
Until someone paid a visit to her.
“Miss Clarisse, Alpha Leopold is here.” A servant rushed in. “He says he wants to see you.”
Clarisse’s fingers trembled. The magazine in her hand fell to the floor with a soft thud.
A wave stirred in her chest but quickly calmed.
She looked up and met Adrian’s anxious gaze.
He slowly set down the pomegranate he’d been peeling, his voice tight. “Clarisse… do you want to see him?”
Clarisse glanced at his tense profile and suddenly smiled.
“No, I don’t want to see him.”
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She reached out and poked his cheek. “Keep peeling your pomegranate.”
Adrian’s eyes lit up instantly. He returned to his “puppy mode,” head down, carefully peeling each ruby–red seed and feeding them to
her one by one.
Clarisse suddenly felt like she’d adopted a giant, loyal dog.
On Clarisse’s birthday, Adrian threw her a grand banquet.
The entire Noctelle Pack estate was transformed into a galaxy of stars. Countless crystal chandeliers cascaded from the ceiling like falling stardust, turning the hall into a dreamlike slice of the Milky Way.
There were mountains of gifts.
They were limited edition sports cars, the deed to a private island, even a rare antique piano flown in from overseas.
And when Adrian led her onstage and publicly announced he was transferring 50% of his shares to her, the crowd erupted in shock.
“Has Adrian lost his mind?”
“Does he have any idea how many billions that’s worth?”
“This is next–level spoiling…”
Clarisse tugged at Adrian’s sleeve. “What are you doing? Can’t you figure out how much 50% is worth?”
Adrian looked down at her, his eyes gleaming. “Clarisse, I might be younger than you, but I know how to do math.”
“If I didn’t think it would stress you out, I’d give you a hundred percent.”
Clarisse let out a helpless sigh. “I really don’t know what to do with you.”
Suddenly, someone from the crowd shouted, “Kiss! Kiss!”
The entire hall broke into cheers and applause.
Adrian’s ears turned beet red. He glanced at Clarisse with a cautious look.
Just as he lowered his head to kiss her-
“Bang!”
The banquet doors burst open with a deafening crash.
The entire room fell silent.
Leopold stood at the entrance, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, but his expression was cold and menacing.
His gaze locked onto Clarisse and Adrian’s tightly intertwined hands.
No one made a sound.
Chapter 19
