Chapter Thirty–Four
+25 Bonus
The rain had faded into a soft drizzle by the time Isabella spoke again, her gaze fixed on him. “So you remember now,” she said quietly. “Adrian Ryan Cole. That’s your full name, isn’t it?”
Adrian turned his head slightly, meeting her eyes. “Yeah,” he said after a pause. “I remember that much.”
Isabella’s brow furrowed, her tone cautious. “Does that mean… your memories are coming back?”
He exhaled slowly, setting down the small pouch of herbs he’d been sorting, “Not exactly. But I’m starting to see fragments–tiny flashes that make no sense yet.”
She nodded slightly, her eyes flicking toward the silver ring glinting faintly on his finger. “So the rings are working then,” she said softly.
Adrian glanced down at them, his thumb brushing over the metal. “Maybe. You were right about them. They react to my state of mind, almost like they’re tied to my memory somehow. When I focus, sometimes I get… glimpses.”
Isabella folded her arms, leaning slightly against the wall. “That’s something, at least.”
“It’s not enough,” he murmured. “But I think these herbs might help.”
She tilted her head. “You mean the ones you brought from the event?”
He nodded. “There’s a formula i have to use for the herbs. it’s used to brew something to calm the mind and strengthen memory. I think if I prepare it tonight, it might help me piece things together.”
Isabella hesitated. “Then I’ll stay. In case something goes wrong.”
Adrian looked up from the table, the faintest smile ghosting across his lips. “You’re still as stubborn as ever.
“I call it being practical,” she said lightly, crossing one leg over the other as she sat on the sofa. “Besides, someone needs to make sure you don’t accidentally poison yourself with your ‘mystical herbs.‘
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I appreciate the concern, but you don’t need to stay. It’s already late.”
“Late doesn’t bother me,” she said, then added teasingly, “Unless you’re kicking me out.”
}}
“I’m not,” he said. “But people might start asking questions if they find out the Director of Cole Conglomerate has been spending her nights in a hotel room with an ‘ordinary man.“”
She smirked. “This is your hotel, Adrian. Nobody here would dare whisper a word.”
“Still,” he said, his tone steady, “I’d rather not risk it. You know I’m trying to keep my identity quiet.”
“Right. The mysterious Dr. Ryan Cole,” she said with a small grin. “Still hiding in plain sight.”
He shot her a look. “Exactly.”
For a few seconds, the room fell into an easy silence, the kind that came only from familiarity. The rain tapped gently against the window, filling the space between them.
1/3
Rumours
Chapter Thirty–Four
+25 Bonus
The rain had faded into a soft drizzle by the time Isabella spoke again, her gaze fixed on him. “So you remember now,” she said quietly. “Adrian Ryan Cole. That’s your full name, isn’t it?”
Adrian turned his head slightly, meeting her eyes. “Yeah,” he said after a pause. “I remember that much.”
Isabella’s brow furrowed, her tone cautious. “Does that mean… your memories are coming back?”
He exhaled slowly, setting down the small pouch of herbs he’d been sorting. “Not exactly. But I’m starting to see fragments–tiny flashes that make no sense yet.”
She nodded slightly, her eyes flicking toward the silver ring glinting faintly on his finger. “So the rings are working then,” she said softly.
Adrian glanced down at them, his thumb brushing over the metal. “Maybe. You were right about them. They react to my state of mind, almost like they’re tied to my memory somehow. When I focus, sometimes I get… glimpses.”
Isabella folded her arms, leaning slightly against the wall. “That’s something, at least.”
“It’s not enough,” he murmured. “But I think these herbs might help.”
She tilted her head. “You mean the ones you brought from the event?”
He nodded. “There’s a formula i have to use for the herbs. it’s used to brew something to calm the mind and strengthen memory. I think if I prepare it tonight, it might help me piece things together.”
Isabella hesitated. “Then I’ll stay. In case something goes wrong.”
Adrian looked up from the table, the faintest smile ghosting across his lips. “You’re still as stubborn as ever.”
“I call it being practical,” she said lightly, crossing one leg over the other as she sat on the sofa. “Besides, someone needs to make sure you don’t accidentally poison yourself with your ‘mystical herbs.“”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I appreciate the concern, but you don’t need to stay. It’s already late.”
“Late doesn’t bother me,” she said, then added teasingly, “Unless you’re kicking me out.”
“I’m not,” he said. “But people might start asking questions if they find out the Director of Cole Conglomerate has been spending her nights in a hotel room with an ‘ordinary man.‘
)))
She smirked. “This is your hotel, Adrian. Nobody here would dare whisper a word.”
“Still,” he said, his tone steady, “I’d rather not risk it. You know I’m trying to keep my identity quiet.”
“Right. The mysterious Dr. Ryan Cole,” she said with a small grin. “Still hiding in plain sight.”
He shot her a look. “Exactly.”
For a few seconds, the room fell into an easy silence, the kind that came only from familiarity. The rain tapped gently against the window, filling the space between them.
1/3
* warned you,” he muttered, exhaling through his nose. “But you wouldn’t listen ”
The phone buzzed again, another notification lighting up.
“Cole Congloinerate declines to comment on Director Isabella Reyes‘ late–night visit. ridiculous”
“Pathetic”
The blue light from the screen flickered across his face as his fingers brushed the ring again. It pulsed faintly- like a heartbeat answering his mood.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
