"That might be the case, if I'm not here," Adrian said gently, "If I'm not by your side, maybe you need to know everything to protect yourself, but I'm here, I'll be always there to keep you safe my dear.""But!""I promise I will protect you, no matter what happens, Chris, I'll never leave you alone, and trust me, I'll never let you face anything alone." Adrian’s voice was soft as his fingers gently cupped Christian’s face, his touch was very careful as if he was afraid that even the slightest pressure might break the fragile peace that had finally settled between them after years of distance, silence, and unspoken truths.Christian blinked slowly, the warmth of that gesture catching him slightly off guard, because despite everything that had happened, despite everything he had just learned, there was still something unfamiliar about being treated with such open affection.A faint smile appeared on his lips as he tilted his head slightly while enjoying the way Adrian treating him."

"Uncle Edward?" Christian woken up from the sleep and looked at the man standing in the doorway."How come you're here? What brought you to the hospital all of a sudden?" Christian was surprised to see Edward out of nowhere in the hospital, for a few seconds he was afraid of what might happen if Edward and Adrian face each other like this."I heard you're injured... But what exactly is happening here?" Edward’s voice came out sharply as he rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard about Christian is in hospital.His expression filled with urgency and barely concealed panic, his eyes scanning the room in a single sweep before settling on Christian as if confirming that he was safe.Behind him, Charles entered just as quickly, though unlike Edward, his gaze did not stop at Christian alone, instead it shifted immediately, sharp and suspicious, landing on Adrian sitting beside Christian.And in that very instant, everything changed.Edward’s expression hardened as well, the relief that

Adrian ruffled Christian's hair, "What do you think they want apart from your marriage alliance with Kaelthorne's family?" The question lingered in the room, heavy and unavoidable, as every person present understood that this was no longer just a personal matter but something far beyond it, something that carried the weight of family, power, and expectations that Christian had never truly chosen for himself.For a brief moment, no one answered.Liliana looked at Edward, while Edward glanced at Charles, and Charles exchanged glances with Betty.All of them are clueless and option less at that moment.Charles… exhaled slowly, as if deciding whether to say it directly or soften it.In the end, he chose the former."See, the thing is we can't escape now, even if you decline marrying the girl from Kaelthorne's family, they'll just arrange another alliance..." he said. "Immediately." Christian’s brows furrowed slightly as he repeated, "Another? Are they that desperate?" Betty stepped ahe

"The quarterly review is not the only thing we are concerned about, Mr. Christian," one of the board members said, and his tone remained measured yet carrying a subtle pressure that filled the conference room as every pair of eyes turned toward the young man seated at the head of the table.The room itself was designed to intimidate without appearing to do so, with its polished glass walls, long obsidian table, and the quiet hum of controlled lighting reflecting off every surface, creating an atmosphere where even silence felt like scrutiny, and in that silence Christian sat calmly, his posture relaxed yet composed, as if the weight of expectation pressing down on him was something he had already grown accustomed to carrying."For the past two days, I'm not even able to get a wink of sleep," Christian sighed inwardly, "as if that's not enough, today facing these people.... Is there a single peaceful day in my life? Did I get cursed to live like this or am I paying for the sins I've do

"What?" Aurora was slightly taken aback by Christian's question.Maintaining the same calm expression, Christian said slowly, his gaze steady as it remained fixed on her, "I'm asking you in return for giving me whatever the information in the file, what do you want in return?" "Nothing comes for free in this world," he added.She said quietly, "you're right, I'm not giving that for free... At the same time I'm not expecting anything either.""Huh?""Well, you can consider it as a dowry from my side."Christian raised an eyebrow, "dowry? What kind of a dowry is it?""Something that can make my man CEO of Sargent group of companies," she grinned.Christian laughed at her response, "I really don't understand what you'll get by doing such a favour to me... Even if I become a CEO, how does that help you?" Aurora did not answer immediately.For a brief moment, she simply watched him, her expression calm yet unreadable, as if she had already expected that question long before he asked it,