The Florist's Dominance

Chapter 7

She stepped forward, approaching Adrian, her green eyes blazing with restrained emotion. "You think this is a game? This is a child's life! Not a high school biology experiment! Do you want to make Ansel a guinea pig for your absurd theory?"

Adrian didn't answer, only looked at her calmly. But that calmness actually made Evelina even more furious.

The woman didn't stop talking, "You have no practice license, no clear medical background, this place isn't even sterile! Completely unsuitable for Ansel's environment, let alone a clinic!"

Her voice grew louder, "This isn't about certificates. This is about responsibility! Responsibility you clearly don't have!"

For a moment Evelina fell silent, her chest visibly rising and falling from anger and the muscles in her neck slightly tensing.

"I didn't come here to debate treatment theories. I came here for Ansel. I want to see his condition directly right now!"

After unleashing all her anger and anxiety, Evelina no longer asked for permission. She pushed Adrian gently but firmly and stepped inside the flower shop.

Her sharp eyes immediately caught the small figure behind the desk. "Ansel, sweetheart..."

Ansel answered with teary eyes, "Mommy..."

Evelina crouched down, opening her arms. "Come here, sweetheart. Mommy is here."

With hesitant steps, Ansel finally stepped out from behind the desk and walked slowly into Evelina's embrace. Evelina hugged him tightly, then kissed the top of his head.

"I was so worried, sweetheart."

After hugging for a few moments, Evelina checked Ansel's teary eyes and gently gripped Ansel's face, tilting it left and right. Quickly she performed a full body examination of Ansel.

"Are youl okay? He didn't hurt you?"

Ansel shook his head. "I'm fine, Mommy. Daddy Adrian was kind and gave me food."

Evelina narrowed her eyes. "Daddy Adrian?" Then her sharp glance was directed at Adrian as if accusing.

Adrian shrugged, grinning lightly. "Not me. He decided that himself."

Evelina took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She turned her face away from Adrian and hugged Ansel again.

Her smooth hand stroked Ansel's back. "Next time don't run away like that again, okay."

Suddenly Ansel released Evelina's embrace, he shook his head slowly. "I don't want to go home, Mommy! I want to stay at Daddy Adrian's house!"

Evelina was stunned, her anger starting to be provoked again, "Sweetheart, this isn't a house! This is a shop! You can't live here!"

Both her hands cupped Ansel's chubby cheeks. "And he's not Daddy! He's a stranger! You can't act so carelessly!"

Ansel protested, "But I like it here! Daddy Adrian is kind, never forces me!"

Evelina was taken aback. Her anger subsided for a moment, replaced by deep pain. She saw pure fear and strong desire in her own nephew's eyes.

In her heart, she knew Ansel was right. In their big house, everyone always forced him, always controlled him, always told him to "get better" in ways he didn't want.

But Evelina was a product of that world. She couldn't just give in to a kid's request. She stood up, her face hard again and stared at Adrian.

With a cold tone full of challenge she said, "Fine. You want to be a hero? Want to show your prowess? I'll give you a chance."

She reached into her expensive leather bag, then pulled out a checkbook. With quick and arrogant movements, she wrote the amount of $150,000, then tore it off.

Evelina threw the check toward Adrian.

"Three days!"

The paper fell on the floor near Adrian's feet. "He can stay here for three days."

Her slender finger with red polish on the nail pointed at the check on the floor. "For all the costs of food, bed, whatever he needs. And two of my guards will wait outside, watching."

She crossed her arms and looked at Adrian with a judgmental gaze.

"If within three days Ansel's condition doesn't improve or even worsens, I'll take him home. And you'll deal with the police!"

Evelina sneered, "Accept or not?"

The atmosphere in the warm flower shop suddenly froze. Ansel looked on fearfully.

Adrian looked at the check on the floor, then stared at Evelina. A thin smile appeared on his lips.

He didn't bend down to pick up the check. But lifted his foot and calmly stepped on the paper.

Adrian spoke flatly and authoritatively. "I don't sell protection."

His eyes briefly looked at the little boy who had now moved to hug his leg. "And Ansel isn't rental property."

Evelina gasped, her eyes widening.

Adrian turned to the men in black suits standing outside the shop. "You can take your guards home."

Then he stared at Evelina sharply. "If you don't trust me enough to protect Ansel, don't leave him here at all."

"But if you leave your guards here, I consider it a threat."

"And I have a bad habit of not liking to sleep near threats."

Evelina fell silent for a moment, her face reddening with a mix of anger and shock. She hadn't expected the money and surveillance she usually used to control situations to now be flatly rejected.

The beautiful woman growled irritably. "Y-You're crazy!"

"Then on what basis can I trust you?"

Adrian answered, "On the basis that I'm the only person Ansel trusts right now."

Without hesitation Adrian emphasized, "Choose, Evelina. Trust Ansel's instinct and take the risk. Or take him back to the house that terrifies him. But don't try to buy me or watch me. The decision is in your hands."

Evelina looked at Adrian, then at Ansel who was hugging Adrian's leg tightly. She saw the fear in her nephew's eyes.

But as an aunt whom Ansel regarded like his own mother, Evelina couldn't just trust a strange stranger like that.

Gently Evelina reached for Ansel's hand. Then she coaxed, "Sweetheart, let's go home. Mama promises the medicine will be reduced tonight."

Ansel looked at Adrian with tears streaming down. "Don't you want to take care of me anymore, Daddy?"