Chapter 17 Adelaide figured if she kept chatting with him , she might actually lose her cool . He was a ruthless boss in public , but around her , he was just a total jerk . She got up . " Thanks for the ice pack , Mr. Thorton . It's late . I should head back and get some rest ." " Alright , I'll see you out ," he replied . " Don't bother ," she said flatly , but he was already standing . Reginald gave her a lazy look . " I can show you the fastest way back . Next time when I call , you'll get to me quicker." It sounded pretty off . Adelaide didn't say a word . She just followed him quietly . The path Reginald led her on wasn't the main road outside the gate . Normally , that road would get her to the nearest west gate of the Sterling Estate's in just six or seven minutes on foot . But this path they were on now was not exactly hidden , but not obvious either . It was because the streetlights were on the ground , super bright , and stretched on for a long way . There were woods on both sides . It was like a little private park for his manor . At the end , Adelaide saw the north side of the Sterling Estates . She remembered there was no gate here because it was right next to Rosecliff Manor , so they never built one when they designed the place . But with Reginald showing her , she found a small gate . And it was a fingerprint - locked gate ! Reginald waved his hand in front of her face to get her attention . He grinned and said , " Adelaide , remember the way ? " Adelaide was still kind of stunned , pointing at the gate . " I thought it was … " " I built it . I can do whatever I want , " Reginald said , all arrogant and reckless . Adelaide didn't know what to say . When one was rich , he could get away with being a bit full of himself . Besides , the Sterling Estates had the strictest rules for buying properties in Evercrest . That was because Reginald called the shots . " Come over . Scan your fingerprint ," Reginald said . Adelaide was still in a daze . She wasn't being self - centered , but this path , this small gate , and especially Reginald letting her live in the Sterling Estates made her wonder more than once if Reginald had planned all of this for her from the start . Just like how he once swore that her marriage with Garrett wouldn't last . Three years later , his words came true . It was ridiculous , but it made perfect sense for Reginald . He had power and money . No one in Evercrest could act as freely as he did . Adelaide was completely puzzled . Reginald was so privileged and wealthy . Even if he was into her at first sight , why did he waste three years tangled up with her ? It was hard to figure out what those rich guys were thinking . Was he just bored ? While Adelaide was lost in these messy thoughts , Reginald had already grabbed her right wrist and her thumb , starting to scan the fingerprint . Adelaide jolted , instinctively wanting to pull her hand back , but it was held tight . Reginald kept scanning her fingerprint and said , " The password Chapter 17 is 221108. " She felt like she had heard these numbers before . Reginald seemed to get what she was thinking and smirked , " It was the day we made that bet three years ago . " " Mr. Thorton , you really have a great memory ," she said , " but do we really need to scan all five fingers ? " She sounded helpless . " What if your thumb gets hurt someday ? " he replied . " Mr. Thorton , I don't think that's a thoughtful concern at all ," she said .