After eating the cake, he fed her a cup of milk.
Still sitting on his laps, she asked softly, "Uncle, is something bothering you?"
Adrian shook his head. "Why do you ask?" he replied.
"I saw you frowning over the phone earlier," she said, tilting her head curiously.
Adrian looked at her, then said, "It's just business matters, nothing serious."
He couldn't possibly tell her that he was sick — that he had just found out he couldn't live past thirty-five years. He didn't want the girl to worry. He had already found the miracle doctor and planned to meet him that night.
Aria said nothing again, but her phone beeped with a message. She opened it and saw what Cathy had sent her.
> Cathy: Aria, I told him to meet you tonight at the Golden Hotel owned by our entertainment company.
Aria typed back quickly, Okay, tonight it is.
After typing, she turned off her phone and relaxed against his body.
Adrian felt happy and asked, "Darling, do you want me to hug you to sleep?"
"Yes," Aria replied softly.
He carried her back to their room and laid her gently on the bed. Then he went to the bathroom, took a shower, and came back to lie beside her, holding her tightly.
"Uncle," she asked, "you don't have any work to do?"
"Yes," he said, "there's no work to do. Besides, Eric can handle everything."
"Uncle, why are those around you all so handsome and hardworking?" Aria asked, blinking her almond-shaped eyes.
Adrian's face darkened, and he sneered inwardly, already planning to send Eric to Africa to mine.
> Eric (somewhere sneezing): Boss, I swear I'll never be handsome again. I'll hide my face!
Aria noticed the temperature in the room drop and remembered that Adrian was always a jealous old man. She quickly cleared her throat and said, "But Uncle is the most handsome in my eyes."
Adrian's face brightened immediately as he kissed her. "This is a reward for what you just said," he murmured.
Aria blinked her eyes innocently. "You're shameless, Uncle."
Adrian smiled. "Only for you, darling."
Aria rolled her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Adrian chuckled and leaned close to her ear. "Darling, can you fulfill your promise today? You know, exercising can also help with digestion."
Aria's ears turned red. She looked at Adrian, trying to escape, but he caught her and kissed her deeply, tracing soft kisses from her neck to her collarbone.
"Can I?" he asked in a deep, hoarse voice.
Aria looked at him, feeling shy yet happy that he asked for her permission. She already knew she liked him, so she nodded gently.
Adrian smiled and devoured her lips, kissing her passionately.
Aria moaned softly, giving him full access.
"I'll be gentle," he whispered against her ear.
She nodded absentmindedly, her breath unsteady.
Adrian's hands roamed across her body as he removed her clothes piece by piece until she was completely bare. He smiled down at her and said softly, "You're beautiful, darling."
Aria blushed and looked away.
He captured her lips again, kissing her until the room was filled with muffled moans and soft gasps of pleasure.
After the deed, Aria fell asleep, completely exhausted. Adrian carried her to the bathroom, cleaned her up carefully, and tucked her into bed. She slept soundly, her breathing steady and peaceful.
Adrian checked the time — it was 7 p.m. He kissed her forehead gently and left the room.
Aria slept until 9 p.m. When she woke up, she felt sore all over her body.
She cursed Adrian in her mind. Then she remembered that she had an appointment with the "miracle doctor" — the same Adrian, though she didn't know it yet — and tried to stand up to go freshen up.
Her legs felt weak, and she groaned in pain.
"He said he'd be gentle," she muttered. "Gentle my foot! We did it for hours. He gave it to me hard and deep, and now I can't even walk properly!"
She hissed softly and carried her sore body to the bathroom to soak herself in warm water. The heat helped a little, relaxing her aching muscles.
After she dressed up, she left the house.
When she reached the Golden Hotel, she took the presidential elevator straight to the seventh floor.
Tonight, she wore a long black dress and a matching black mask. She had applied light eye shadow, and the mask only revealed her beautiful eyes and pale lips.
She went to her private suite to pick up a small case, then headed to the room where she was supposed to meet the man who had been poisoned.
When she entered the room, a thick curtain separated her and Adrian.
She sat down and, in a slightly altered tone, said, "I heard you wanted to see me."
Adrian's cold voice replied from behind the curtain, "Yes. I've been poisoned, and I heard you're the only one who can cure it."
Aria's heart shivered at the sound of his voice, but she quickly composed herself. "Yes," she said calmly, "I can cure you. But it will take time."
"How long?" Adrian asked.
"Probably a month," she replied.
Adrian heaved a sigh of relief.
"Name your price," he said.
"I don't want money," Aria replied coolly. "I want something else."
He frowned slightly. "What do you want?"
"I know you're powerful," Aria said seriously. "I want you to help me clear the E-Organization."
Adrian's brows furrowed, a hint of menace flashing in his eyes. "Why do you want to destroy it? And why me?"
"As I said before," Aria explained, "it's because you're powerful. There's nothing you can't do. Everyone in A Country fears you. You're the perfect candidate. And besides, they provoked me first. I want all of them gone." Her tone was cold and sharp.
Adrian smiled faintly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You'll hear the news within two days," he said.
Aria's eyes widened behind the mask. Two days? She was shocked. It had taken her months of planning just to weaken that organization slightly, and he was saying two days to completely wipe them out?
She marveled at his confidence — at his terrifying power.
Adrian asked again, "When will I get the antidote for the poison?"
"I'll work on it," Aria said, rising from her chair. "It takes time, like I said before. I'll let my people inform you once it's ready."
Adrian also stood up and stretched his hand toward the curtain. "Then, let's seal this deal," he said.
Aria hesitated for a moment, then reached out her hand from behind the curtain to shake his.
She was wearing black gloves — and so was he.
As their hands touched, Adrian caught a familiar scent. A faint fragrance of orange and herbs — a scent that belonged to…
He froze for a split second, a knowing smile slowly curling his lips.