Chapter 34 Consequences
A moment later, the door opened quietly, and a figure stepped into the room. Madam Lauren carried a steaming bowl of soup, which she carefully placed on the bedside table before sitting beside Adeline with a warm, motherly smile.
“Adeline, you’re awake.” Her voice was soft, like a spring breeze. “Are you hungry? I made some soup–try it and see if your
like it.”
Adeline opened her eyes and looked at her. Those ink–black pupils betrayed no emotion. She parted her lips but ended up saying only. “Thank you.”
Madam Lauren didn’t seem to notice her coldness. With gentle patience, she scooped a spoonful of soup blew on it to cool it down, and held it to Adeline’s lips. “Come now, eat a little more. It’ll help you recover
Adeline hesitated, but in the end, opened her mouth and swallowed the spoonful. The warm liquid slid down her throat, bringing with it a flicker of comfort–but it wasn’t enough to chase away the cold and exhaustion that clung to her soul.
Seeing her eat, Madam Lauren offered another spoonful and asked softly, “How are you feeling? Anywhere else hurting?”
“I’m fine,” Adeline replied briefly, her tone distant. But Madam Lauren didn’t seem to mind, continuing to feed her patiently. For a while, the only sound in the room was the clinking of the spoon against the bowl, filling the space with a strange sense of peace.
Fragments of memory began to surface–The Layton family, Gavin, Michelle.. and that so–called “home” that used to be hers. The images flickered through her mind like frames from an old film reel, a happy family around the dinner table: Gavin gently serving her food; Michelle’s syrupy voice when she played cute…. As a child, Adeline had believed she truly had a complete and happy family.
Now, thinking back, it all seemed so laughable.
“What’s wrong?” Madam Lauren noticed the shift in her expression and asked gently, “Did something come to mind?”
Adeline shook her head without answering, choosing instead to shut her eyes and shove the memories deep into the back of
her mind.
Just then, Eden entered the room, her expression tense as she looked at Adeline. “Ms. Adeline, there’s something I have to tell
you.”
“Go ahead.” Adeline kept her eyes closed, her voice carrying the weight of fatigue and detachment. “I’m listening”
“Mr. Brian got summoned by Mr. Justin this morning–because of what happened yesterday at Orchard Square,” Eden said in a low voice. “Apparently, Mr. Justin is furious..
Before she could finish, Madam Lauren frowned and cut her off, clearly upset. “What do you mean ‘apparently‘? It’s not a rumor–it’s fact! He is furious, and he’s threatening to punish Brian!” Her tone grew sharper as she began pacing around the room. “Brian’s been working so hard. The only reason he got involved at all was to help, and now he’s the one getting blamed? How can justin be so harsh!”
Adeline opened her eyes and looked at Madam Lauren’s angry expression, then at Eden’s conflicted one. A strange unease stirred in her chest. She struggled to sit up, but Eden stopped her,
“Ms. Adeline, please don’t move!”
“Let me up.” Adeline said firmly. “This started because of me. I won’t let someone else suffer the consequences for it.”
“No!” Madam Lauren objected immediately. “You’re not well enough to be gotting involved. Leave this to us. You don’t need to worry about it.”
But no matter how they tried to stop her, Adeline insisted on seeing Mr. Justin herself. Her stubbornness left both women helpless. In the end, they gave in. With Eden’s cautious support, Adeline slowly made her way out of the hospital room. Every step was difficult and heavy, but her ink–dark eves burned with a determination no one could ignore.
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1120 AM
Chapter 34 Consequences
+8 Pearls
The moment they stepped into the building, the icy atmosphere of a corporate empire washed over them, making it harder for Adeline to breathe. But she didn’t stop. Gritting her teeth, she kept moving forward.
When they reached the door to Mr. Justin’s office-
A familiar and utterly detestable sight met her eyes, Rayden and Diana. And Christopher..
The moment they saw Adeline, all three of them reacted–surprise, displeasure, and disdain twisting their faces. The air grew heavy, thick with tension, and their expressions were so stiff they could have been carved from stone.
“What are you doing here?” Rayden was the first to speak. His voice was dripping with contempt. “This isn’t a place for someone like you.”
Mine’s voice was calm, but beneath it was a quiet
“I’m here to explain what happened yesterday to Mr. Justin. all.” defiance and a steel–hard resolve.
She didn’t wait for a response. Instead, she walked straight toward the office door.
Just as she reached for it, a hand shot out and blocked her path–it was Christopher. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her with a predatory, amused gaze.
sure you want to go in there?” he asked, voice low and laced with danger. “Do you even understand the consequences?”
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