+25 Bonus
Promises and Plans
The door clicked shut behind Mrs. Laurent and Aunt Marie as they walked out angrily.
Sophia stood frozen in the middle of the living room, staring at where they’d been moments ago. Her shoulders were rigid, her breathing shallow.
Then, slowly, she turned to face Adrian.
Her cheeks puffed out…a childish gesture that looked oddly endearing. Her eyes filled with tears that spilled over almost immediately, tracking down her face in hot streams
“I’m so sorry,” she blurted out, her voice breaking. “I know you didn’t want to marry…I’ll sort it out, I promise. It’s only to keep them at bay. I’ll tell them it was a mistake, that we’re not actually…‘
“Sophia.” Adrian’s voice was quiet.
19
She shook her head, still crying, words tumbling out. “I’ll fix it. I promise I’ll fix it. You’ve already done so much for me, and I just trapped you, and that’s not fair…”
}}
Adrian crossed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms.
She collapsed against his chest, her small frame shaking with sobs. The apologies kept coming, muffled against his shirt, desperate and guilty.
Adrian stood there holding her, his hand settling awkwardly on her back. He rubbed small circles, uncertain if he was doing it right. Comfort wasn’t something he was good at.
“Sophia,” he said again, more firmly. “Stop.”
She hiccupped, pulling back to look up at him with red–rimmed eyes. “But I…”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Sophia insisted, wiping at her face. “I basically announced our engagement without asking you and we aren’t even together that way. That’s insane.”
“You did what you needed to do,” Adrian said. “Your mother put you in an impossible position. You reacted.”
“But…”
“It’s done.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face his thumb wiping away a lingering tear. “We’ll figure it out.”
Sophia let out a shaky breath and nodded, though she still looked miserable.
A long moment of silence passed between them.
Then Sophia’s stomach growled.Loudly.
She froze, her face going red for an entirely different reason “Oh my god.”
Adrian’s lips twitched slightly. “When did you eat last?”
“I… don’t remember.” Sophia pressed a hand to her stomach as it growled again, even more insistently. “This morning, maybe?”
“Then I’m ordering food.” Adrian pulled out his phone. “What do you want?”
“I’m a terrible host,” Sophia mumbled, but she didn’t argue. “Anything is fine. I’m not picky.”
1/3
+25 Bonus
Twenty minutes later, takeout containers covered the coffee table. Sophia had apparently stress ordered enough food for four people, and she was now working her way through fried rice with single–minded determination.
Adrian watched her eat. She held her chopsticks awkwardly her cheeks bulging slightly as she chewed. She looked like a small chipmunk storing food.
She caught him staring and paused mid–chew. “What?” The word came out muffled.
“Nothing.” Adrian looked away.
Something uncomfortable shifted in his chest…something warm and soft that he immediately pushed down. Now wasn’t the time for whatever this was.
Sophia finished the rice and moved on to dumplings. The apartment fell into easy silence, just the quiet sounds of eating and the distant hum of traffic outside.
Adrian found himself relaxing slightly. This was manageable, simple companionship, shared food, and no complicated emotions.
They finished eating in silence. Sophia insisted on cleaning up despite Adrian’s offers to help, and he let her, sensing she needed the activity to settle her nerves.
When the containers were thrown away and the coffee table wiped clean, Adrian stood. “I should go.”
Sophia’s face fell slightly, but she nodded. “Right. Of course.”
She walked him to the door, her hands twisting together nervously.
Adrian paused at the threshold. He reached out and patted her head gently, his hand lingering for just a moment in her soft hair.
“Allow me to handle everything,” he said quietly. “Just rest”
Sophia looked up at him, her eyes still slightly red from crying. “Adrian…”
“Rest,” he repeated, then stepped into the hallway before she could argue.
The door closed softly behind him.
Adrian stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door Then he pulled out his phone and walked toward the elevator.
The night air was cool when he stepped outside, a welcome relief after the suffocating tension of Sophia’s apartment. Adrian walked to his car, his mind already shifting gears, analyzing the situation with clarity.
Sophia deserved better than this. Better than a family that treated her like a pawn to be married off to the highest bidder. Better than a mother who valued social standing over her daughter’s happiness. Better than men like Alexander Chen who saw her as a trophy to be won.
He’d given her back her company…that much was done. But the people around her were still terrible. Still circling like vultures, trying to use her, control her, diminish her spark.
It reminded him too much of his own past. Of being surrounded by people who only saw what they could take from him. Of Victoria and her mother and their constant cruelty.
A cold feeling settled in his chest. A sharp–edged protectiveness that bordered on possessiveness. He has the strong urge that made him want to remove every obstacle if her path.
And right now, Alexander Chen was a problem that needed to be dealt with.
Adrian slid into his car and pulled out his phone. He didn’t hesitate before dialing.
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- 25 Bonus
Marcus answered immediately. “Sir?”
“I need you to investigate someone,” Adrian said. His voice was emotionless. “Alexander Chen. He claims to work as a vice president at a company under Stellar Tech Industries.”
A brief pause. “One of our subsidiaries?”
“Apparently.” Adrian started the car, pulling out of the parking space. “I want everything we can find on him.
“Of course, sir.” Marcus’s voice held curiosity. “May I ask what prompted this?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “He’s been harassing Sophia. I don’t appreciate people who work for me using their position to pressure women.”
“Understood.” Marcus’s tone sharpened. “I’ll have a preliminary report by morning.”
“Good.” Adrian ended the call and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he drove through the quiet streets.
D
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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.
