and rose from his chair. "I need to handle some

She gestured toward the kitchen, voice tightening. "The chef has already finished prepa

Jessica and pulled her to her feet, h

yl's anger erupted. Her chest rose sharply as

n was becoming more

why was every word and action of hi

essica, why did he remai

age and child failed to d

make sense of his

an lit a cigarette, pale smoke c

abit. Adrian only smoked

him, breathing lightly,

inch by inch until onl

d, his intense gaze

ey had first met-delicate features, a gent

rotested or made a scene, always

ightest, yet his dislike for her s

onsive, while he, a man with ordinary desires, favor

's chest intensified. He pulled

oothing the fabric before placin

before he spoke abruptly. "You heard w

ssica's brows as she turned to lo

ce and asked, "What d

g behind his question failed t

Adrian continued, his voice stea

ly. "I'll follow whatever your mother decides. You don't need

ir marriage, she had once imagined a c

she realized th

od things were reserved for

e like her, a mute person, unwan

their first year of marriage, she had eat

ard her, whispers spreading as peopl

hardened, and Adrian's express

uckley family had no intention of welcoming a child currently and that i

nd she instinctively tu

ng. He did not object

r to Jessica. Adrian did not want a child,

understood it was never a question of her wishes; he j

s followed calmly. "You understand what I mean, d

her hands again, "It's alright. I

ed he might misunderstand her. She had an earnest expression

ted to hear, yet the sense of eas

ore letting out a breath and turning to look at

d the color from Jessic

red her head quickly, slender fin

been about what she wanted, only about confirming w

ot blurted out her tr

ulse, the humiliation wou

chest tighten briefly bef

d to a stop at the entran

essica immediately spotte

ed on Jessica getting out of the car behind Adrian, tha

ing her here?" The displeasure in her tone was obvious

tation, he turned to speak to Jessica

ad obediently and settl

g to Adrian's hand, her annoyance plain. "Adrian, c

. "People might misunderstand a

response was calm. "She is my

er lips into a pout. "I just don't like you bein

flickered across Adrian's

eply, his silence serv

hed the exchange, her vision slow

ring another woman, and that w

how openly she tried to take her place, Ad

he loved could n

so-called Mrs. Buckley, was not

d sign language to quietly ins