Late in the evening, David arrived at the hospital. He spotted Adrian standing outside the ward where Mr. Lawrence Grace was admitted. In a swift stride, David approached him.
"Good evening, Mr. Frost," he greeted respectfully.
Adrian glanced at him briefly, then looked through the glass window of the ward. Inside, Isabella was still sitting by her father's bedside, holding his hand in silence. Adrian stepped away from the door and motioned David to follow him to the other side of the corridor.
Once they were alone, Adrian asked in his usual calm and intimidating tone, "Did you find anything about the lady in the silver veil?"
David shook his head. "No, Mr. Frost."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "But… today you were so deeply involved in Madam Isabella's problem that you completely forgot about the person who drugged you last night."
Only then did Adrian remember that earlier in the morning, he had indeed ordered David to investigate who had dared to drug him. But now he had no interest in that matter. His first and only priority was Isabella. Still, he said nothing and simply looked at David, waiting for him to continue.
Understanding his alpha's silence, David spoke carefully.
"The person who drugged you last night was none other than Miss Jane—the daughter of the Bloodmoon Pack's Alpha."
Adrian's expression turned icy cold, but before he could respond, the ward door opened and Isabella stepped out. Her eyes met Adrian's, and his entire demeanor softened instantly.
"Shall we leave now?" he asked with concern.
Isabella nodded silently.
Adrian gently placed his hand on her back and escorted her out of the hospital. On the way, he turned to David and ordered, "Send sweets to everyone in the Frost Family and to the other two allied packs. I am sure by now they've seen the news of my marriage with Isabella."
With that, Adrian left the hospital with Isabella.
Inside the car, Adrian asked, "Are you hungry? We'll go for dinner first, then head home."
"Yes," Isabella replied honestly. "I'm starving. Let's go to a restaurant."
After dinner, they finally returned home. Isabella went straight to the bedroom and headed into the bathroom for a hot shower. Meanwhile, Adrian stayed in the living room, finishing an urgent phone call.
When Adrian entered the bedroom a while later, Isabella had already changed into her nightdress and was drying her hair in front of the mirror. Without a word, Adrian walked up to her and gently took the hairdryer from her hand. He expertly dried her hair, his movements steady and caring.
"I'm going to take a shower," he said softly. "It may take some time. You should sleep—you need proper rest. Don't wait for me."
He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Isabella froze in surprise, her breath caught in her throat. Adrian's lips curved into a subtle smile at her reaction. He wanted to tease her, but he knew that if he pushed further, he might lose control. So, he quietly walked into the bathroom.
Isabella only moved after she was sure he had gone. She slowly lifted her fingers to touch her forehead, still feeling the warmth of his kiss. Strangely, she hadn't disliked it. In fact… she had liked it. His touch carried tenderness and sincerity—something she had never felt from Victor. Even after being in a relationship with Victor for a year, she had never allowed him to touch her—not even once.
She finished her skincare routine, slipped under the quilt, and closed her eyes. She was still awake when she heard the bathroom door open. Quickly, she pretended to be asleep.
Adrian came out and looked at her peaceful face. Believing she was truly asleep, he sighed and lay down beside her. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he controlled himself. If he held her now, he wasn't sure he would be able to stop. So he forced himself to stay on his side of the bed.
But Isabella was not really asleep. She waited—expecting him to hold her. When he didn't, she secretly opened her eyes and peeked at him. He was lying stiffly on the other side, as if keeping a safe distance from her.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind. She closed her eyes again, turned over, and hugged him tightly—pretending to do it unconsciously in her sleep.
Adrian froze instantly. She was curled into him like a small kitten, and her soft warmth against his body tested every bit of his control. He laughed silently at his own misery. This woman was driving him insane.
Helpless but happy, he carefully wrapped an arm around her, pulling her a little closer. Only then did Isabella feel truly safe and cherished. But within seconds, Adrian realized—she was not asleep at all. She was faking it.
A knowing smile appeared on his lips. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead again.
"So, you're awake," he murmured.
Isabella's body stiffened, caught red-handed. Gathering her courage, she slowly lifted her head to look at him. Before he could say another word, she leaned forward, placed a quick soft kiss on his lips, and whispered:
"Goodnight."
By the time Adrian processed what had happened, she had already buried her face in his chest—hiding, blushing furiously. His heart pounded as he held her close, a content smile tugging at his lips. Tonight, something between them had undeniably changed.