Adrian Jennings sat in the corner with his thin lips tightly pursed, his deep eyes dark as an endless abyss. Talia’s voice trembled with heartbreaking sadness, "Adrian Jennings, coward, why didn’t you dare to see me since you came?" In the unnoticed corner, someone raised a phone and secretly filmed the scene. Winter Donovan felt heartache seeing Talia . "Talia, you’re drunk. Let me take you back to rest," Winter Donovan said, holding Talia and leading her out through the crowd. Two male bodyguards from the Donovan Family followed closely behind. When Eric Donovan received the video, Vincent Fletcher was just flirting with a newly acquainted beauty. The atmosphere in the private room was ambiguous, a mix of the scent of alcohol and smoke blending into a barely perceptible decadence. Vincent Fletcher held the woman’s waist and kissed her, the sound of her breath growing increasingly urgent. Eric Donovan stood quietly in the corner, trying to minimize his presence, playing the role of a blind, deaf, and dumb background. Vincent Fletcher intended to fully indulge in his fun. It was two hours later when they finally finished. The woman lay on the sofa, her clothes messy, panting for breath. Vincent Fletcher, however, was dressed neatly. The man lazily leaned back against the sofa, drew a cigarette from its pack and lit it, the white smoke veiling his finely sculpted features, giving him an air of wildness and abandon. Seeing that Vincent Fletcher was done, Eric Donovan stepped forward to report. The woman sensibly picked up her clothes from the floor and exited the private room. "Vincent, the batch from Aridia, California has been successfully obtained." The man casually uttered a "Hmm," "What’s the situation in Caldoria?" "There was a problem in Pashan. When we connected with Simon King, we encountered the cops, forcing the deal to halt, and the goods were seized. However, everyone managed to avoid trouble." Vincent Fletcher’s expression darkened with anger, "A bunch of useless fools, losing the goods and still having the face to return?" Eric Donovan remained silent. "What’s the status of that project with Mersa in Aridia?" Eric Donovan swallowed nervously and answered, "After the project was terminated, both we and The Mersa Group faced huge losses. The Jennings Group seized the opportunity to acquire Mersa, and now the procedures are underway." A loud "Bang——" echoed. The long table in front was kicked over by Vincent Fletcher. "Adrian Jennings, one day I’ll make you pay double!" Eric Donovan stood silently observing, waiting until Vincent Fletcher had vented enough to dare speak again, "Vincent, there’s the latest news about Talia Rhodes." Chapters first released on novel✶fire.net Vincent Fletcher collected his expression, "What?" Eric Donovan opened the video and handed over the phone, "Our people followed Talia Rhodes to the bar and filmed this scene. It seems she really broke up with Adrian Jennings." Vincent Fletcher took a glance at the phone, disdain and contempt flashing in his eyes. The man sneered, his tone mocking, "Hah, foolish woman believing in love." "What about her then..." "No need to monitor her further. Just another piece of discarded clothing tossed aside by Adrian Jennings, a worn-out shoe that’s no longer fun to play with. I need manpower now, no time to bother with her." "By the way, Ethan Grant called saying he’d like to meet you." Eric Donovan replied, "Talia Rhodes’ ex-boyfriend." Vincent Fletcher curled his lips, dismissively spoke three words, "Don’t know him." Eric Donovan explained, "Previously, Selina Hughes traded Adrian Jennings’s whereabouts and inside scoop of The Jennings Family for our investment. This investment later went to The Grant Group, which is now thriving, ranked among notable enterprises domestically. The Grant Group still holds value for us." Vincent Fletcher’s eyes flickered with disdain, "Selina Hughes, the idiot she found, what use could he possibly have, just another dumb dog anyway." "So, Vincent, do you want to meet him?" "When a dog comes wagging its tail, I might take him for a walk if I’m in a good mood." Winter Donovan safely delivered Talia home, reminded the live-in nanny of a few things, and left relieved. Talia lay on the bed babbling nonsense, while Rose Palmer had just entered the kitchen to prepare some sobering soup when the doorbell rang. Rose Palmer slightly stunned, "President Jennings, why are you here?" "Miss Rhodes drank too much, I’m about to make her some sobering soup." Adrian Jennings opened his wallet and pulled out some cash, "You’re staying elsewhere tonight, I’ll take care of her." Nanny Rose Palmer accepted the money, "Alright, President Jennings, please wait a bit while I simply pack some clothes." The nanny stepped aside to let Adrian Jennings into the house. The man entered the house, wrapped in the smell of alcohol and cold air, his gaze wandered, calmly surveying the apartment. Shawn Rhodes seemed to treat Talia quite well, as the apartment was decent. Rose Palmer placed a cup of hot tea on the coffee table in the living room, "President Jennings, try to sit down and rest for a bit, I’ll be quick." Rose Palmer pointed towards Talia’s bedroom, "Miss Rhodes’s room is down there, first door on the left." Without taking a break, Adrian Jennings walked toward Talia’s room. The door was unlocked, Adrian Jennings pushed it open and walked in, just in time to hear the girl talking in her sleep. "Adrian, Adrian Jennings..." "Why won’t you have me... sob sob sob..." Upon hearing her soft sobs, Adrian Jennings felt a stab of pain in his heart. He swiftly moved to the bedside. Talia continued to mutter in her sleep. "Adrian Jennings is mean... I don’t want you... go away..." The man lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembled, as he gently caressed Talia’s face, wiping the tears from the girl’s eyes, his tone tender like a spring gentle stream, "Yes, I am a bad guy." The sleeping girl seemed to sense Adrian Jennings’s presence, instinctively moving closer to him, "Adrian..." In her dream, she fluctuated in emotions, sometimes like a furious lion, cursing Adrian Jennings to scram, sometimes like a sweet kitten, softly nuzzling his hand. "Adrian, don’t go, don’t leave me, Talia is very obedient..." Adrian Jennings’s heart softened, "I’m here, I’m not leaving." The man’s features softened, his eyes spilled over with tenderness and affection, his palm felt the warm, soft sensation of the girl’s face softly cuddling against it. A familiar sense of happiness surged within, as if stolen, Adrian Jennings’s heart basked in sweet bitterness. He sat by the bed, gazing at Talia for a long time, never getting enough of her. Rose Palmer had packed her belongings and was about to bid farewell to Adrian Jennings before leaving. When she reached the door, she peeked through the gap and witnessed the moment but didn’t make a sound to disturb them, leaving quietly. Adrian Jennings couldn’t resist leaning over to place a kiss on Talia’s flushed cheek. Sincere, devoid of any desire. The girl seemed to respond, murmuring, suddenly wrapping her arms around Adrian Jennings’s neck, murmuring, "Adrian..." The rising tone carried a soft, coquettish sweetness. Adrian Jennings’s back suddenly stiffened, a tingling sensation rapidly spread throughout his body. The man’s gentle kisses landed on Talia’s brow, cheeks, red lips, collarbones. Caressing downwards, kissing her collarbone and neck hollow. That night, Adrian Jennings stayed. Talia was out cold from drunkenness, he carried her to the bathroom and bathed her, the girl was completely intoxicated, utterly unconscious. After the bath, he gently placed her on the bed, and tucked her in. He then sat in the chair, watching the girl’s sleeping face, gentleness and passion written all over his features. At dawn, the man rose, taking one last look at the sleeping girl before turning to leave.