The Florist's Dominance

Chapter 8

Adrian crouched down, bringing his eyes level with Ansel's. His voice was gentle but clear. "I want to take care of you, Ansel. But your mommy doesn't trust me."

He glanced at Evelina for a moment, then turned back to Ansel. "She wants to pay me, wants to watch me, as if I'm a criminal. That means she doesn't believe I can protect you properly."

The statement was simple, honest, and directly pointed to who was really creating the deadlock. With his innocent logic, Ansel understood immediately.

The boy looked at Evelina, his eyes full of questions and disappointment. "Mommy, why don't you trust Daddy Adrian?"

Evelina jolted. She hadn't expected Adrian to turn the situation around in such a direct, heartfelt way aimed straight at Ansel.

Evelina crouched down and spoke softly again, "Ansel, there are many things you don't understand yet. The world isn't as simple as good people and bad people."

She shot a brief glare at Adrian, her eyes still blazing with anger. "Adults have to think further ahead. I have to make sure you're safe, truly safe. Not just 'not having nightmares here' for a few hours."

Ansel furrowed his little brow. "But Daddy Adrian is good and strong! He could beat up all of Grandpa's guards to protect me!"

Evelina let out a heavy sigh. "And that's what makes me even more worried!" She gripped Ansel's arms with both hands. "He can hurt people, Ansel. What if one day that anger turns on you?"

Adrian, who had been listening silently, took a deep breath. He wanted to argue, but he knew anything he said now would just be seen as an excuse.

Evelina inhaled, trying to stay calm. "I promise, when we're home, we'll talk to Grandpa and Grandma. I will try to find another way. But for now, you have to come home with me. This isn't a choice, it's a necessity."

That word "necessity" was like a wall. Ansel looked at Adrian, searching for a last resort. But Adrian could only look back at him with eyes full of unspoken apology. Finally, this time, Ansel nodded obediently. Evelina then took Ansel's hand and led him towards the door.

However, just before Evelina stepped out of the shop, Adrian spoke softly, "Wait."

Evelina turned, her eyebrow raised in a sneer. "What?"

Adrian spoke flatly, "I know Ansel has a small neuroendocrine tumor in his hypothalamus. And he's on an oral platinum-based chemotherapy drug like Cisplatin or a derivative."

Evelina stiffened, her face turning pale.

How could he possibly know? That's the family's medical secret!

Adrian continued, his voice even but full of conviction, "But Ansel's body has a rare genetic mutation in the CYP450 enzyme and glutathione-S-transferase proteins. That means his liver and kidneys can't metabolize and flush out the platinum metal. The metal is accumulating in his nerve tissues and poisoning his system from the inside."

Adrian paused briefly, then went on, "Tonight, if Ansel takes his next dose, his system is already overloaded. His body will rebel and try to expel the toxin through every possible route like sweat, urine, feces, vomit, even his tears. You'll see black sweat like motor oil, black urine like ink, and black tarry diarrhea."

Adrian took out a small pearl-white bead from a glass vial. "This is Kandila. Medicine I formulated from various rare herbs. Give this to Ansel before he takes his medicine tonight."

Evelina's eyes narrowed as she watched the pill shimmer under the fluorescent light. Then she asked, "Is this medicine legal and has it passed laboratory testing?"

Adrian shook his head. "This medicine doesn't have a certificate from any official lab. But it has saved the lives of people the regular medical system had given up on."

He continued his explanation, "This will bind to the metal and neutralize the free radicals it produces. With this, he won't experience an overload of his system."

Adrian's hand was still outstretched, sincere. "Don't worry, it's free for Ansel."

Evelina was silent for a moment. Deep down, a part of her wanted to trust this man she'd just met. But once again, her practical logic rejected it outright. "I'm not giving Ansel some dubious pill. You keep it for yourself!"

One of Adrian's eyebrows rose. "Are you sure?"

Evelina shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Adrian nodded, then withdrew his hand. "Alright. But if you come back here tonight for the Kandila, don't expect to be able to buy me with money. The trust you rejected during the day cannot be bought at night."

Evelina didn't answer, but the scornful sneer on her face was clear. She then led Ansel into her red car and left Reid flower shop.

Quickly, the red car disappeared from Adrian's view. The shop, which had been warm with Ansel's endless questions, suddenly felt so silent. Adrian still stood in front of the display window, putting his handmade pill back into the glass vial.

But the silence didn't last long.

Creak.

The shop door opened without the bell ringing. Before Adrian could turn around, the sound of footsteps he knew all too well accompanied by the rough scrape of denim shattered the quiet. 

A man with longish hair, wearing a jean jacket and jeans torn at the knees, walked in carrying two shopping bags full of daily necessities.

Adrian glanced at the man, who went straight to the kitchen and placed the two bags on the table. "Jay, I've told you so many times, you don't need to bring stuff every time you come over."

Jaylin Owen answered casually, "Ah, come on. This way I don't feel as guilty when I freeload a meal here." He laughed.

Adrian sighed, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Jaylin's presence, always arriving in moments of quiet, somehow dispelled his loneliness without the need for many words.

Then, he picked up the plates from the table and carried them to the kitchen.

While Adrian was washing the dishes, Jaylin leaned his shoulder against the kitchen doorway. "Who was that pretty woman who just left the shop? Why was she scowling? Complaining about a plant? Did you yell at her kid for breaking a pot?"

While rinsing a plate, Adrian answered, "No, not a customer. She was Evelina Harvey."

Jaylin's eyes widened as he stared at Adrian, then turned back towards the entrance. "Are you serious? Evelina Harvey? The daughter of that richest businessman at Vecredal?"