AGAINST ALL ODDS

Lingering Thoughts

Chapter Two

The market was alive again the next day, buzzing with movement and chatter as the morning sun painted the sky in soft strokes of gold and pink. The scent of roasting groundnuts and freshly fried akara drifted through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of ripe fruit. Audrey adjusted the crates in her stall, her hands working on instinct, but her mind was elsewhere.

She had barely slept the night before.

Not because of the heat or the distant sound of generators humming through the neighborhood. But because of him.

Adrian.

It was ridiculous. She had no reason to think about him. He had been nothing more than an unusual customer—a passing moment, a fleeting encounter. He would not return.

And yet…

Her fingers hesitated over a basket of oranges as she stole a glance at the road.

Blessing, who had been watching her for the past few minutes, smirked. "You're looking for him, aren't you?"

Audrey scoffed, turning back to her work. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Blessing leaned against the stall, arms folded. "You don’t?"

"No."

Blessing laughed. "Then why have you been checking the road every five minutes since you got here?"

Audrey groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I hate you."

"No, you don’t." Blessing grinned. "You just don’t want to admit that a fine rich man got you thinking."

Audrey picked up a mango and pointed it at her. "I will throw this at you."

Blessing only laughed harder. "Oya, let’s bet. If he comes back today, you owe me suya."

Audrey rolled her eyes. "You’re wasting your money. He’s not coming back."

"We’ll see."

The morning rolled into afternoon. Customers came and went. The sun climbed higher, its heat settling over the market like a heavy blanket. Audrey kept herself busy, shaking off the strange, restless feeling that had settled in her stomach.

Until a familiar black car pulled up to the market entrance.

Audrey froze.

Blessing’s gasp was loud enough to be heard three stalls away.

"Jesu! He came back!"

Audrey’s heart did an odd little flip in her chest. She quickly turned away, pretending to be occupied with the papaya basket.

She wouldn’t look.

She wouldn’t care.

She wouldn’t—

"Good afternoon, Audrey."

His voice was smooth, like melted chocolate, warm yet effortlessly confident.

Audrey swallowed before finally turning to face him. Adrian stood there, dressed casually in a navy-blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his eyes—clear, sharp, and amused—studied her reaction with interest.

"You’re back," she said before she could stop herself.

His lips twitched. "I am."

Blessing, who was very clearly eavesdropping, let out a quiet squeal and turned away, fanning herself.

Audrey sighed. "What do you want this time?"

Adrian tilted his head slightly. "Bananas. Maybe some mangoes."

Audrey folded her arms. "You drove all the way here for bananas and mangoes?"

He shrugged, his gaze never leaving hers. "Maybe."

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you following me?"

Adrian let out a soft laugh. "I don’t think it counts as following if I show up at a public market."

She shook her head, trying to ignore the ridiculous warmth spreading through her chest. "Fine. How many mangoes?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced around the stall, his gaze thoughtful. "Which ones are your favorite?"

Audrey blinked. "What?"

He gestured to the neat stacks of fruit. "If you had to choose, which ones would you eat?"

She hesitated before pointing to the smaller, reddish mangoes. "These."

Adrian smiled. "Then I’ll take those."

Audrey quickly bagged them, feeling strangely self-conscious under his watchful gaze. When she handed him the bag, he paid—again, giving more than the price.

She sighed. "You still don’t like carrying change?"

"Not really."

Audrey shook her head, pocketing the extra cash before handing him the bag. "You’re a strange man, Adrian."

He grinned. "I’ve been told."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The market carried on around them—traders bargaining, children running between stalls, the distant honk of a danfo—but in the small space between them, there was a quiet, unspoken energy.

Adrian tilted his head slightly. "Are you always here?"

Audrey raised a brow. "Why?"

"Just curious."

She studied him, unsure of what to make of him. Finally, she answered, "Every day except Sundays."

His smile deepened. "Good to know."

Then, just as easily as he had appeared, he turned and walked back to his car.

Audrey stared after him, confused, intrigued, and—if she was honest—just a little bit annoyed.

Blessing practically pounced on her the moment he was out of sight.

"He came back for you!"

Audrey scoffed. "He came for fruit."

Blessing wiggled her eyebrows. "He came for you."

Audrey groaned. "I owe you suya, don’t I?"

Blessing smirked. "Oh, absolutely."

---

At the Estate

Adrian stepped into the grand dining hall, where the long mahogany table was set with gleaming silverware and perfectly arranged dishes. The chandeliers cast a warm, golden light over everything, but the room still felt cold.

His father, King Alexander, sat at the head of the table, regal and imposing. His mother, Empress Vivienne, sat beside him, her gaze sharp as always. Across from them, Princess Isabella of the Delacroix family sat with practiced elegance, her golden-brown hair cascading over her shoulders, her posture impeccable.

"Adrian," his mother said smoothly, "Isabella was just telling us about her travels through Europe."

Adrian barely glanced at her. "I’m sure it was fascinating."

Isabella gave him a polite smile. "Paris was lovely, as always. But you should visit Greece sometime. The islands are breathtaking."

Adrian hummed noncommittally, reaching for his glass of wine.

His father cleared his throat. "We were discussing the future, Adrian."

Adrian’s grip on the glass tightened slightly. "Were we?"

The king nodded. "You’re not getting any younger. It’s time to start considering your position. Your responsibilities."

Empress Vivienne’s voice was softer but no less firm. "We have always envisioned a strong alliance with the Delacroix family. A union would be… beneficial."

Adrian set his glass down. "A union?"

Isabella smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "An engagement, eventually."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening.

His mother’s voice was gentle but unwavering. "It is your duty, Adrian. Your future is not just about you—it is about the kingdom."

Adrian exhaled slowly, his mind suddenly flashing back to the market. To Audrey. To the way she had looked at him—not as a prince, not as a duty, but as a person.

For the first time in a long time, he found himself thinking—

What if I don’t want this future?