"I’m alone, I can live anywhere. The things are still there, but the people are gone. I hate living in that house." I deliberately made my words sound unpleasant to express my distaste for the villa. But actually, everything in that villa was carefully chosen and arranged by me, and I really liked it. But now nothing is more important than the bracelet my mom left behind. "Okay, how much do you want?" Actually, the depreciation for renovation and furniture should be considered, but I didn’t want to be fair. He wronged me first, why should I consider him? "I’ll give you fifteen million. Tomorrow afternoon, let’s go through the transfer procedures. But you don’t need to rush to move out, you can stay as long as you want." Adrian was very generous, which surprised me. "I just want eight million, not a penny more. And I’ll move out as soon as possible." Taking more money from him makes me uneasy. I fear if his old illness resurfaces and he really asks me for a blood transfusion again, the extra seven million would become the price for my life. Seeing my determination, Adrian felt heartbroken again, "Lily... we truly loved each other. Do you really have to draw a..." "See you tomorrow." I didn’t wait for him to finish his sentimental words and hung up the phone after throwing out three words. I carefully calculated that I now have over ten million on hand. If I use the company account to get a bank loan, I should be able to get another ten million. This move is technically unreasonable, but I can’t care about that now. A few years ago, I went to a similar charity auction with Adrian. Those rich tycoons, spending money extravagantly, often closed deals at prices many times over the auction items just for a good reputation. If the starting price for the bracelet is around thirty million, I need to prepare at least a hundred million. A hundred million, for me, is an astronomical figure... I went through all the friends I could think of around me, estimating the funds I could borrow from them, at most another ten million. But I was still seventy million short. I had insomnia again that night. The next afternoon, Adrian personally drove to pick me up from the company downstairs. I didn’t sit in his Rolls-Royce. I drove my own car to the government affairs center. There were a lot of people handling the transfer, and after taking a number, we waited on the side. Adrian walked away for a moment, then returned with a cup of hot cocoa in hand. "It’s colder today, a little chilly, have a hot drink to warm up." He handed it to me, his tone warm, and his expression caring. I glanced at it and refused, "No thanks, I’m on a diet." I do like hot cocoa, but he was too late to please me. "You’re not overweight, why diet? Health is the most important." Adrian sat beside me, persuading me, and pushed the hot drink toward me again. I still didn’t take it. In the standoff, Adrian’s phone rang. He took it out, glanced at it, and hung up. But soon, the phone rang again. I could clearly feel his impatience as he set the drink down and answered the call. "Brother Adrian, where did you go? I feel so uncomfortable. I want to see you..." With us sitting so close, the soft tone of Sophie drifted over as soon as Adrian answered the call. "I’m at work in the company. I’ve been busy these days, like I told you." Adrian explained. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel⟡fire.net I listened, unable to stop a cold smile from forming on my lips. Lying to brush her off already? Really makes me feel sorry for Sophie. "Brother Adrian, is work more important or am I more important? You have a lifetime to work, but not many days left to spend with me..." Adrian patiently soothed her, "Don’t make a fuss, I really have matters to handle." "’I’m making a fuss? Adrian, don’t think I don’t know you’re with Lily? How many times have you lied to me? You said you wouldn’t meet her, but you’ve gone to see her again!" Sophie’s sudden outburst of emotion startled even me sitting beside. I was taken aback, glanced at Adrian, and then looked around the surroundings. Sure enough, Sophie had arrived! My head buzzed, secretly thinking this isn’t good. It’s not that I’m guilty or afraid of her, but she’s so unstable now, doing things without considering the consequences. The online attacks on me have just calmed down, I don’t want her to make a scene and push me back into hot search. "Forget it for today, you comfort her well, I’ll leave first." Before my voice fell, I stood up and left the service hall from the other side. But even though I wanted peace, Sophie didn’t plan to let me go. "Lily! Stop right there! Why run if you’re not stealing someone else’s husband!" Sophie’s sharp and shrill scream suddenly rang out, startling everyone in the hall. Everyone looked up and around, not knowing what was happening. "If you have the guts, come chase me—" I waved at Sophie from a distance, still with a smile on my face, clearly provoking. "Lily!" Sophie became even more furious, rushing forward like a headless fly. "Sophie, stop making a scene. I asked Lily to meet just to handle the house transfer. Isn’t it what you want, for me to clear things with her? Divorce requires completing the division of assets first." Adrian hurriedly blocked Sophie and explained to her. Hearing this, a cold sneer crossed my heart, extreme disdain. This scumbag was still caring for me in one moment, and in the next, telling the new lover he’s ready to cut ties with me. I didn’t know, that after being in love for so many years, someone could have such acting potential. "Then why did you lie to me saying you’re working? Every time I ask you to accompany me, you say you’re busy. If I hadn’t followed you today, I’d still be in the dark! You even bought her a drink! You care for her so much but tell me I’m overthinking?" Sophie proved difficult to deceive. She must have noticed Adrian showing some regret and goodwill towards me, hence her hysteria. The hall was quickly crowded with people, I had already walked out the glass door, looked back, and saw them still arguing. In her rage, Sophie picked up the cup of hot cocoa and splashed it on Adrian. The people around quickly dodged away. Adrian looked terribly embarrassed. I happened to see this scene and my face changed, my shoulder subconsciously twitching. Wennie was right, Sophie was too much. Surely no man could stand it. Adrian truly brought this upon himself. The transfer didn’t go through, but it didn’t stop me from moving. Seeing Sophie’s erratic behavior pushed me to immediately commit to moving away. I must keep a distance from Adrian and the Miller family to feel safe. That afternoon, I found a place and moved house. To avoid suspicion, I didn’t contact Adrian, instead letting the property management notify him by phone. That evening, while I was still organizing things in the rental house, Adrian called. Then he sent a WeChat message. [Lily, where did you move to? Is life there convenient? Is the area safe?] [Lily, Sophie’s recent treatment is painful, and she’s a bit irritable. Don’t take it to heart. I explained everything to her later, and she apologized to me.] If Wennie was right again, this green tea would definitely excel at manipulating a man’s heart. Sophie threw a public tantrum and drenched him with hot cocoa, and for such a shameful excessive act, he could still be appeased. I looked at the WeChat message and laughed out loud. It turned out Adrian had a penchant for abuse. [You need money for life outside, I’ll transfer the money to you first, and we can handle the transfer procedures when we have time.] He sent three WeChat messages in a row, and I didn’t reply to any of them. A moment later, my phone buzzed, and my account received ten million. Did Adrian love Sophie or me? Or was he enjoying playing both sides, dancing between us? I couldn’t figure it out, so I returned two million and replied with two words: Thank you. Adrian sent me a few more WeChat messages, but I had no mind to read them either. After tidying up, I still had to deal with the Carter family’s big order. I’d scheduled a preliminary checkup for this weekend to let Mrs. Carter take a look. I’d make revisions if needed. Early Saturday morning, that Hongqi L5 came to pick me up again. I’d been feeling restless and had poor sleep lately, relying on sleeping pills to get through last night. Sitting in the Carter family’s prestigious custom Hongqi L5, cruising smoothly and comfortably, I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up, I arose to find the car quietly parked in front of Carter Manor, not knowing for how long it had been there.