Edge of love and hate

Chapter 7

"You," Olivia finally reacted, asking softly after what seemed like an eternity.

"Yes," Adrian nodded.

"Justin said all the tickets were sold out. Did you... buy all of them yourself? Why?"

"Because I didn't want everyone to see you dance like this. But if you want to perform, to earn money, that's your freedom. I have no right to interfere."

Olivia was stunned. The stage lights came on, and the music began to play. They stood face to face, light and shadow falling on them, like a scene from an old romantic movie.

Olivia choked up, unsure what to do. "Adrian, I have nothing to repay you with. I was even your brother's girlfriend before, I..."

"You don't need to do anything for me. Just do what you want to do."

"Adrian," Olivia hesitated, "I can't just accept your help like this. I'm really grateful, but..."

"Not all relationships are about exchanging benefits. I'm different from my brother. I really care about you. Whatever you do, I'll be there for you. But I don't want you to hurt yourself."

The theater's air conditioning was strong, and the cold air made Olivia's nose turn red.

Adrian took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Olivia. "I'll take you home," he said, his voice gentle yet resolute.

Backstage, Justin peeked out from behind the curtain, choking back tears as he said, "It's so touching. This is love. I want to cry my eyes out, but there's no time."

The car drove slowly towards home. Adrian drove steadily.

Outside the window, the sky was dark, with streetlights occasionally leaving yellow streaks of light as they passed, as if entering a time tunnel.

Olivia turned her face to look at Adrian. His features were similar to his brother's, but his aura was completely different. When she first met him, she thought he was cold. As they got to know each other, she found him gentle and calm.

While waiting at a red light, Adrian turned his head and met her gaze, smiling softly.

Compared to Matthew, who appeared passionate but was cold-hearted inside, Adrian gave off an unapproachable feeling, yet his heart was so warm. It felt as if even if the universe collapsed, he would find a way to hold it up for you. Matthew, on the other hand, had the power to destroy your entire universe. Being with Matthew was like standing at the mouth of a volcano, walking on the edge of danger and madness. Adrian was like a quiet desert, with warm sand flowing silently.

Olivia gazed at his profile, the deep-set eyes, the perfectly poised nose, the tightly closed lips, and the impeccable jawline. He should be framed and displayed in a museum, not sitting in a car with her, driving her home.

"You're so gorgeous," Olivia blurted out.

"Hmm?" Adrian smiled warmly, like the sun. "You've just noticed?"

"I always thought you were handsome, in a 'wow, he's a good-looking guy' way. But now it's more like, 'Oh my God, how can someone be this handsome?'"

Adrian chuckled at Olivia's childish yet charming comparison.

"And your smile is beautiful. Why don't you smile more often?" Olivia asked.

"How can I smile when I've just lost two million dollars for no reason?" Adrian teased.

"I said I'd work hard to earn money and pay you back," Olivia protested.

Adrian suddenly turned the steering wheel sharply, making a U-turn. "Then I'll take you back to the strip club. Maybe we can still make it for the next show."

"Eh?" Olivia gasped in surprise. "Really?"

Adrian grinned mischievously and said nonchalantly, "Just kidding. I took a wrong turn."

Olivia laughed, "I knew it. You're so good to me, how could you bear to send me back to the club?" Her tone carried a hint of smugness.

"Oh? Are you getting spoiled?" Adrian glanced at Olivia's smug expression.

"No, you're the one who said you'd be good to me," Olivia's girlish smile appeared in the streetlight's glow

"That's right, I promised. I'll be good to you. From now on, your troubles are my troubles, and my troubles..."

"Are still your troubles," Olivia finished his sentence, sticking out her tongue at Adrian.

The red light came on, and the car stopped at an intersection.

The purple light on the dashboard flickered softly in the dark night.

Their eyes met in the silence.

"Thank you, really. Although I can't do much for you, not causing you more trouble is already good enough, but I will repay you," Olivia said sincerely

"You don't need to. Your presence in my world is already something I'm grateful for."

"That's too much," Olivia's eyes glistened with tears as she looked into Adrian's eyes

"From the first time I saw you at the hotel, I felt something special in my heart. I thought our connection would end that night, but fate brought us together again."

The idea that feelings can be cultivated is a false premise. If enough time and love could make anyone fall in love with you, then anyone could love anyone. The reason love drives people crazy is because the answer was written on the day they first met.

Adrian reached out his hand, intertwining his fingers with Olivia's. "Let me take care of you, for as long as I possibly can."

"Adrian," Olivia reached out to caress Adrian's cheek. Such a handsome face. The young nurses at the hospital sometimes secretly discussed this doctor, the director's second son. They said he was so handsome and gentle, a rich and charming gentleman, the dream prince charming of many girls.

Adrian turned his face to look at Olivia and softly asked, "May I kiss you, just once?

Is it a finger kiss? Olivia gently touched her lips with her index finger, then placed it on Adrian's soft, warm lips, feeling his faint body heat.

Adrian didn't speak. His gaze moved from Olivia's eyes to her nose, finally stopping at her lips, with an intense yet restrained look.

Olivia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Her lips parted slightly, a bit nervously. Just as Olivia lifted her head, Adrian pulled her close. One hand held her waist, the other cradled the back of her head as he kissed her.

Their lips and tongues intertwined as he aggressively explored her mouth, his tongue easily reaching every corner, sucking and licking her tongue tip, sweeping across the roof of her mouth. The tingling sensation made Olivia's tongue feel numb. She tilted her head slightly, trying her best to respond, immersed in this long, passionate kiss. The heat from his palm on her waist spread throughout her body.

Olivia squirmed a bit uncomfortably, but was held tightly, unable to move. When their lips parted slightly, a silver thread stretched between them, barely visible in the night. Her lips felt a bit numb from the kissing, and her already unclear mind completely lost the ability to think.

Adrian's kiss was like opium, irresistible and addictive. Olivia couldn't help but lean closer, unwilling to leave. Her arms unconsciously wrapped around his neck, her whole body pressing against him. As she slowly slid down, Adrian tightened his arms around her, holding her securely.

The heart in her chest, already beating rapidly, felt like it had been on a roller coaster, suddenly flying up and then plummeting down.

Olivia was still wearing the pink dress from her performance. The thin straps at the back of her neck had been undone at some point, the fabric on her chest barely covering the important areas. The zipper on her waist had long been pulled down by him, his warm, damp palm moving along her waist, igniting fires everywhere. Olivia melted in his arms, allowing him to take full advantage of her body.

"Beep beep!" The horn of the car behind them shattered the intimate moment.

Perhaps they had been too caught up in the moment, forgetting they were at a traffic light.

Olivia gently pushed Adrian away. A bright light from the headlights of the car behind them shone into Olivia's eyes.

She gathered her thoughts and saw a man and a woman sitting in the car behind them. The man looked stern, clearly annoyed by the scene before him. The woman, beautiful as a flower, sat in the passenger seat playing with her phone, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere.

The couple in the car was none other than Matthew and his fiancée, Dorothy.