Kitchen.
Adrian Carter had a giant stuffed toy hanging in his arms. One hand carefully guarded the little girl, while the other kept fiddling with the noodles in the pot.
The pot was boiling with rolling hot water, and the aroma of the noodles slowly began to spread.
May Miller slowly poked her head out. Looking at the slightly bulky figure in the kitchen, she was a little surprised. But in her heart, she also quietly noted that there was actually such a way of cooking. In May's eyes, this was practically a living writing reference.
"May." Yudy Palmer slowly looked back from the sofa. "Do you want some?"
"If you do, let Adrian cook a bit more."
May looked at Adrian's posture and felt a little troubled inside. He must be quite tired like that…
"Do you want some?" Adrian slowly turned his head in that direction.
May swallowed, smiled, and held her slightly trembling stomach. "Yes."
She slowly walked over and sat down not far from Yudy, watching the intimate interaction between the two of them.
Riley Palmer's eyes were still a little unfocused, but there was a slight change. She seemed to be getting a little better.
"Beep beep—" The front door opened.
Chloe Frost, taking off her shoes, looked toward the figure in the kitchen. She froze for a moment before slowly coming back to her senses.
"Miss Frost, have you eaten?" Adrian had already picked up another bundle of noodles and was looking at Chloe by the door.
Chloe glanced at May and Yudy on the sofa, both holding bowls, and responded with a faint "Mm."
"No scallions."
Adrian replied calmly, "Mm."
Chloe looked at the still-dazed Riley. Her heart tightened slightly. Then she glanced at May, whose face was smeared with oil, and her expression darkened a little.
Looking at the message on her phone, she calmly blocked, deleted, and reported the other party in one smooth set of moves.
"What's wrong?" May saw her darkened face and slowly leaned over. "Is it your family again?"
Chloe lightly responded with a soft "Mm," and gently pushed her head aside.
"Try some." Adrian brought over a bowl of steaming broth noodles and placed it in front of Chloe.
Chloe paused for a moment. Looking at the noodles on the table overlapping with a memory, she slowly picked them up, lifting a strand and putting it into her mouth.
So similar… way too similar…
Chloe looked behind her at the boy holding Riley, who was gently blowing on the noodles before putting them into her mouth.
For the first time, Chloe properly looked at Adrian.
That one look lingered for a long time, so long that even May beside her began to look at her in confusion. "Lili, are you okay?"
Chloe gently shook her head, burying the doubt deep in her heart.
"Buzz buzz—"
Yudy looked at the new messages on his phone and frowned slightly.
[Yudy, where have you gone now?]
[Do you even know that Mr. Polly came just for you today?]
[No matter where you are, get over here right now! Otherwise, you deal with the contract yourself!]
"Damn it!" Yudy grabbed his phone impatiently, opened the chat, pressed the voice-record button, and angrily said, "Damn it, I already said I'm not gay. Don't even think about it!"
"A contract, right? I'm done! I'm f*cking done! I'd rather go out and sell myself than be screwed by a man! Go to hell! When I come back, I'll just be trash!"
"Bang!" Yudy throw his phone to the table roughly.
Everyone turned to look at Yudy, seeing the veins on his neck bulging, his face flushed, and the phone lying on the ground.
Only Adrian and Riley showed no obvious reaction. Riley was because her perception had not yet fully recovered. Adrian, because he had already guessed the reason behind Yudy's intense reaction.
"Brother Yudy, are you okay?" May was the first to speak up.
Chloe beside her also looked at Yudy with concern.
Riley sat there blankly, but she was still paying attention to her brother's condition. It was like an instinct, the same way she instinctively wanted to lean against Adrian.
Yudy forced a smile and looked at them. "I'm fine. Just some problems at work."
The smile on his face was far too forced, but they did not plan to ask any further.
If he chose to speak, they would listen to the end.
"I'm a bit tired. I'll go back to my room first." Yudy hastened the rest of his meal, picked up the empty bowl, washed it clean, and returned to his room.
Thud—
May and Chloe both looked in unison toward Riley and Adrian.
Riley's gaze had been fixed on the direction her brother had left, seeing the worry on his face. Her own mood sank as well.
"Worried about Brother Yudy?" Adrian gently called to her. "Do you want to go check on him?"
Riley glanced at him once and shook her head. "He's tired." She spoke word by word.
Adrian smiled lightly, but there was still a hint of worry. Looking at the Riley in his arms, she was just like a real little girl, even like a child.
"Adrian, I'm tired too." Riley burrowed further into his arms and held him tightly.
Adrian looked at her with a troubled expression, gently stroking her back. "Riley, eat a little more."
"I'm full." Her voice was soft and fragile.
He looked at her with concern, still wanting to persuade her a little.
"Depression often comes with a bit of anorexia. As long as she can eat a little and keep her body functioning, that's enough." Chloe glanced at the notes on her phone.
Adrian looked at Riley in surprise, then nodded. "Thank you."
That "thank you" wasn't only for telling him about Riley's condition, it was also for taking care of his little girl before he appeared in her life.
He picked Riley up and headed toward the bedroom, leaving behind, "Just leave the bowls. I'll wash them later."
Chloe and May didn't reply, only quietly watching them go.
Adrian gently laid Riley down by the bed, knelt down, and looked at her. "Do you want me to wipe your body?"
Riley didn't answer him. She simply turned onto her side, holding the stuffed toy Adrian had once brought home.
Adrian smiled helplessly, gently put socks on her, and adjusted the room temperature.
He lay down beside her, slowly hugging her, patting her lightly, until he heard her soft breathing.
"Riley, get well soon, okay?" He gently kissed her forehead, looking sadly at the little girl before him.
Three years… She hadn't relapsed in three years. This time, it happened because of his moment of anger…
Adrian picked up his phone from the table and dialed Yulius Linn.
"Mr. Carter." Yulius's voice was a bit noisy on the other end. "What's the matter?"
"Investigate Riley Palmer's records over the past few years. I want everything in detail, especially anything related to hospitals or psychological issues and consultations." Adrian's voice was heavy.
As soon as Yulius heard it was about Riley, he became serious. "Understood, Mr. Carter."
Adrian looked at the little girl clinging tightly to his arm and could only hold her back.
After she slowly turned over and freed his arm, he carefully left the room.
There was a trace of exhaustion on his face. The once flawless, handsome face now had a bit of stubble that looked slightly harsh.
He looked at the clean bowls neatly arranged in the kitchen, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Lost in thought, Adrian walked back toward the rooms, and his eyes slowly swept over the lonely figure on the balcony.
It was Yudy.
The balcony was filled with smoke, and Yudy's figure looked blurred.
Adrian slowly changed direction and walked toward the balcony.
Hearing the sound behind him, Yudy instinctively pressed the lit cigarette into the ashtray.
Looking at Adrian quietly closing the door behind him, he gave a faint smile. "You already know, don't you?"
Adrian did not answer. He simply took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
"Smoking is bad for your lungs." Yudy raised his hand, trying to stop him.
Adrian stepped back a bit. "It's fine. I don't smoke much, and I won't smoke in front of her."
Only then did Yudy stop, relighting the cigarette he had just put out. "How much do you know?"
After a moment of silence, Adrian finally spoke. "Not much. Liam Polly has started investing in the entertainment industry. He wants to buy out your company. And your recent relationship with him."
Yudy looked at Adrian. "And you call that 'not much'?"
That was practically everything.
He recalled how Liam Polly had been deliberately getting close these days, suddenly appearing at all kinds of small events.
His heart unconsciously trembled. He hugged himself tightly, afraid that the next second that beast would devour him whole.
"If you need it, Leonard Sterling can help." Adrian put out his cigarette, popped a piece of gum into his mouth, and chewed it.
Yudy laughed softly. "Mr. Sterling's company was opened just for Caleb. I don't deserve that level…"
"As long as Caleb agrees, or I speak. He will." Adrian replied.
"No need, Adrian." Yudy looked up at the dark sky. "If it really comes to that, I'll find someone to help."
"I just want to ask one thing," he lowered his head to look at Adrian, "Mr. Polly, he really is…?"
"Yes. And you look a lot like him." Adrian slowly turned around, sniffed his clothes, and frowned.
Yudy gave a self-mocking laugh and slapped the railing hard.
Adrian didn't look at him again. He turned and left. "I'm going back first, brother."
Adrian returned to the room, first checking that Riley hadn't moved, only then going into the bathroom to shower.
He came out in a bathrobe and saw the little girl seeming to murmur something. He bent down to listen closely.
"Adrian… Adrian… don't go… don't leave me…"
His heart ached. He looked at her tightly furrowed brows and gently rubbed her forehead."Riley, I'm not going. I'm here."