Adrian hung up the phone and lifted his foot off Marcus's body.
Thomas stood nearby. Noticing the dirt on his boss's leather shoes, he knelt down and pulled out a tissue from his pocket to clean the tip of Adrian's shoe.
Christine, half-leaning out of the car, could now clearly see Marcus's face.
It was a ss - his eyes were so swollen she couldn't tell if they were open or closed. Blood covered his nose and lips, mixed with shards from his broken glasses and the car window, along with black stains from the asphalt.
Suddenly, her stomach lurched and she threw up with a slight "ugh."
Christine was in her first trister, and the morning sickness had just kicked in this month. But thanks to Sophie's careful attention, the nausea wasn't too bad, usually just a brief spell when she first woke up.
But tonight's emotional rollercoaster - from Marcus's threats to Adrian's sudden bombshell, plus the shocking sight and sll before her - was too much. She bent over, emptying her stomach onto the dark alley ground.
Jas had been quietly supporting her the whole ti. After she finished, he first offered her water to rinse her mouth, then carefully helped her into the car. Inside, the warm air conditioning was running. Jas helped her remove her down jacket before taking his place in the front passenger seat.
When Christine got in, Adrian was already seated in the back, immaculate in his suit, resting his chin on his hand while staring blankly out the window.
He'd always had an intimidating presence, but she'd never seen him beat soone like that before. The mory of his violent outburst was still vivid in her mind, yet here he was, back to his usual ice-cold deanor.
Uncertain of his mood and still dizzy from throwing up, she sat as far from him as possible, wrapped herself in a blanket, and whispered, "Thank you."
Actually, she had no idea how Adrian knew where to find her, or how he'd gotten here so fast.
Was he following her? To protect her? Or was it because of the baby?
And why were his bodyguards here? She rarely saw Thomas around. Had a guard been specifically assigned to her, or was it just coincidence?
She had so many questions, but each ti she tried to speak, her courage failed her.
She took a deep breath of the car's warm air, catching the faint scent of cedar. The familiar sll helped ease her tense mind, and her stomach finally began to settle.
At the sa ti, Adrian glanced up at the rearview mirror, and Jas quietly signaled the driver to start moving.
As the Maybach's engine humd to life, Adrian noticed a spot of blood on his collar - probably from getting too close to Marcus earlier. He frowned slightly, pulled out his handkerchief, and dabbed at the stain.
Christine noticed he was wearing the platinum cufflinks she'd given him two months ago, their subtle gleam catching her eye.
Just like in her last dream about him.
Her mind wandered back to monts ago, when Adrian had declared her as "his woman" to Marcus and Victor. Between that announcent and the cufflinks, could he possibly...?
She didn't dare ask - afraid of seeming presumptuous. The answer was obvious anyway. Adrian could have any woman he wanted. His words were probably just to protect her and the baby, nothing more.
Still, regardless of his motives, he shouldn't have said that to Victor.
How could she be "his woman"? She'd never thought of herself that way. Everyone knew she was Ethan's wife.
All she'd wanted was a baby, nothing more.
Their arrangent was supposed to be absolutely secret - not for her reputation, but for Ethan's sake.
What would Victor and the others think after hearing that? Would they guess about the baby? If they told Rebecca or Ethan, how could she possibly explain?
Christine could only hope Adrian had so explanation planned.
As the car slowly backed out of the alley, Christine watched the dim street lights outside. After much hesitation, she turned to face him: "Adrian… brother, you... you shouldn't have said those things to Victor. I'm worried they, they might misunderstand..."
"Misunderstand what?"
His voice still carried that dangerous edge from the fight. He glanced at her, eyes sharp, looking utterly nacing.
Despite her fear, Christine gathered her courage to et his gaze: "Misunderstand... about us. You said I was… but... I'm not..."
She noticed Adrian's eyes flick to her stomach.
At three months, her pregnancy wasn't showing yet. In the cold winter weather, the baby was safely hidden under her sweater.
His look seed to mock her: You're carrying my child, yet you dare say you're not my woman?
Christine instinctively covered her stomach, growing anxious, her voice trembling: "Brother, I... I only wanted this baby, nothing else. We're not like that. You said it yourself before - once I got pregnant, our agreent would end."
Her tone was sincere and earnest. This concerned Ethan, so she pushed past her fear to look directly at him.
The assistant and driver were Adrian's n - she assud they already knew everything. There was no point hiding anymore.
She wondered if she'd done sothing wrong, sothing that made Adrian misunderstand her intentions.
Christine had heard from Ethan about the many won - far more prominent and beautiful than her - who had tried or were trying to beco that dreamy Mrs. Blackwood. But she never had such intentions. She didn't want Adrian's na or wealth. She was grateful he'd given her this child, but that was all. She just wanted Ethan to live.
Looking back, she realized she'd crossed lines she shouldn't have: making him apple pies, giving him that scented sachet, even those cufflinks in that mont of panic... They shouldn't have had any connection beyond their agreent.
Now, she just wanted their relationship to return to what it was ant to be.
"Now that I'm pregnant, so... so..."
Christine's voice turned almost pleading: "Please don't say things like that anymore."
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