Chapter 4

Five days later, Meredith returned home with Nicholas. Adonis' gaze was drawn to the dazzling necklace around Nicholas' neck as soon as they walked in. Adonis looked at it briefly before lowering his eyes. He hadn't been wrong about the necklace being meant for Nicholas. This piqued Adonis' curiosity. What exactly did Meredith want to say in a moment of hesitation after Adonis asked if the necklace was a gift for Nicholas? In front of Meredith, Nicholas always acted warmly toward Adonis. He stepped forward to pat his shoulder and say, "Adonis, you must've been so bored being home alone these past few days. I bought a bunch of stuff. Come take a look and see if there's anything you like." As Nicholas spoke, he took off his coat and led Adonis over to the pile of boxes. Adonis shook his head to decline, but Nicholas shot him a playful look and said meaningfully, "Oh, stop acting coy. Just consider it a gift from your future brother-in-law, okay?" Upon hearing Nicholas referring to himself as his brother-in-law, Adonis looked up reflexively and spotted the hickeys on Nicholas' neck and shoulders. His heart clenched at the sight of that. One of the photos Nicholas had previously sent him was of a large bed. At that time, Nicholas didn't understand why he would send him a photo of that. But as he looked at those intimate marks now, he instantly understood its meaning. He lowered his gaze and fell silent. Nicholas, meanwhile, was busy unwrapping the boxes and chatting about tonight's event. "Meredith, it's Danny Shaw's coming-of-age party tonight. Why don't we take Adonis along? They're around the same age, so they should get along well." The moment Adonis heard about the banquet, he froze. Ever since he moved into Irving Villa after his parents' death, Meredith had never taken him to any social events. This was mostly because some people liked to gossip behind his back and call him a parasite. Once again, Meredith shook her head and didn't agree to let him go. Nicholas didn't give up and persisted. Finally, Meredith relented, giving in with a helpless yet indulgent smile. Adonis observed their intimate interactions for a while. Then, he lowered his head as a faint smile tugged at his lips. Nicholas was indeed a special presence in Meredith's world. She was willing to let go of all her previous boundaries for him. It seemed that she truly loved Nicholas. But as long as she was happy, Adonis could leave without regrets, even if the one standing beside her wasn't him. The banquet hall was bustling, full of toasts and laughter. Adonis stood alone in a corner, watching Meredith down countless glasses of wine for Nicholas. He quietly sipped on his fruit juice. A few girls, who were giggling as they walked by, accidentally spilled their red wine all over Adonis. They apologized profusely for the mess they'd made. Adonis didn't make a big deal out of it and simply headed to the restroom to clean up. He handed his phone and bag to Meredith for safekeeping. When he returned ten minutes later, he found Meredith frowning at him with an odd expression. She said, "Your Aunt Rosalind called just now and asked if you were free. I told her you were busy, so she said she'd call back later." Adonis tensed up when he heard this. Fortunately, Rosalind hadn't mentioned anything about his moving abroad, so he quickly relaxed. Meredith noticed his unusual reaction and couldn't help but ask, "When did you get back in touch with your Aunt Rosalind?" "Two weeks ago. She asked me to send some pictures of Grandpa and Grandma," Adonis lied, making something up on the spot. Meredith let out a subtle sigh of relief, dropping the matter as she turned to fix Nicholas' messy hair. Adonis retrieved his phone and bag. Then, he turned to head back to the corner he'd been standing in since earlier. The next second, a tall champagne tower was knocked over. It toppled straight down toward Adonis and Nicholas. "Watch out!" Meredith was the closest to them. She instinctively pulled Nicholas out of harm's way, shielding him by her side. The tower came tumbling down with a deafening crash, knocking Adonis to the ground before he could react. Shards of glass flew everywhere. Adonis lay on the ground as blood gushed out. Redness soaked through his white shirt instantly, making for a terrifying sight. The sudden accident left everyone at the scene stunned. Although Nicholas wasn't injured, he burst into tears out of shock. Meredith looked at Adonis, who was lying on the floor with blood all over him. Then, she looked at Nicholas, who was sobbing in her arms. It took only a moment for her to make a decision. "You, take him to the hospital," she instructed a nearby bodyguard. After that, she helped Nicholas up and led him away. It wasn't until the two of them were out of sight that Adonis, under the pitying gaze of the crowd, managed to stagger to his feet. By the time Adonis had his wounds treated and made it back home, it was already 1:00 am. The doctor had given him over a dozen stitches and recommended he be admitted to the hospital, but he refused and went home with just some medication. Meredith still hadn't returned. Adonis turned off the lights and lay on his bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The burning pain radiating from his body made it impossible for him to sleep. He tossed and turned until 3:00 am before he finally drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, the lights in the living room came on. Meredith, reeking of alcohol, stumbled up the stairs. Instead of going back to her bedroom, she headed to the room at the end of the hallway—the one that used to be her study—and quietly pushed the door open. Adonis didn't sleep well. As he shifted, he tugged at his wounds and let out a soft groan in his sleep. Meredith caught that faint sound. She followed the sound and walked to the bedside. Then, she leaned down and curled up against Adonis. One of her hands slid under his shirt and reached for his firm waist. With her other hand, she lifted his chin and planted a kiss on his lips.