Chapter 3
1166 Words
"The time will come when I'll handle it. Goodbye." Adrian's brow furrowed slightly, his face remaining as cold as ever. He didn't say another word and hung up immediately, a typical Adrian move, never wasting time.
Lillian wrapped herself in a sheet and walked over, jumping onto Adrian's back. "You didn't perform well today; your punishment is to help me take a bath."
Adrian turned around, yanked the sheet off Lillian, grabbed her waist, and kissed her lips, carrying her to the bathroom for another round of steamy passion.
On the other end of the phone, the old man started cursing. "That brat! Every time, it's like this. Would it kill him to say one more sentence?"
"Henry, that's your grandson. Show some mercy," Adrian's grandmother, Nancy, poured tea for Adrian's grandfather, Henry Chambers, not pleased with him cursing their grandson. "That boy has always been like this. You know that. If he says one sentence, he won't say a second. What did Adrian say on the phone?"
Henry took a sip of tea and, dodging the question, said, "Since he won't bring her here, I'll have to go see for myself."
"What are you planning? "
"That's none of your concern."
Henry smiled mysteriously, his mind working on something. But he didn't expect that before he could act, Adrian would shock him.
The next morning, when Henry received his daily newspaper, the front page announced Adrian's engagement, nearly giving him a heart attack.
"Outrageous! "
He slammed the table and stood up, hands behind his back, cursing as he paced around the room. Nancy hurried to console him, and Adrian's parents came upstairs upon hearing the commotion.
"Father, what's the matter? Why are you so angry?"
"What happened?" Henry shouted, "Your son announced to the media that he's getting engaged to that girl from the Turner family. Such a big decision, and he didn't discuss it with the family first. This is all your fault for how you raised him."
"Father, please calm down. Don't make yourself ill. The boy is indeed too much,” Adrian’s father Paul Chambers agreed.
Nancy sighed, "The child still holds a grudge against us."
"I'll go find him and make him explain. Please, calm down," Paul said, turning to leave.
Henry called out, "Enough. It's too late. Talking to him won't change anything now. I'll handle this."
The once-calm Chambers household was thrown into turmoil by Adrian's unexpected engagement announcement.
The driver had to comply with Henry's stubbornness. Henry was a former military man, still very spirited despite his age and health issues, always optimistic and never admitting defeat.
Henry had come from hard times, so despite his son and grandson owning a large corporation, he lived frugally, dressed simply, and stayed low-key. Even in his seventies, he often rode his bicycle, preferring it to cars unless traveling far. The driver fetched the bicycle as instructed.
Henry still rode his bicycle with ease. As he rode away, the driver, an old hand at his job, discreetly followed in a car, not wanting to leave Henry alone. He suspected that Henry was heading to meet the future granddaughter-in-law after receiving Lillian's information.
Melina had just returned from a business trip, granted a day off before returning to work. She slept until ten in the morning and was just waking up when she received a call. Seeing Lillian's name on the screen, she hesitated before answering.
"Melina, I heard you were on a business trip?"
Melina frowned slightly. "What's up?"
"Why so distant all of a sudden? It's been a while since we last met. Are you free for lunch today? Let's catch up," Lillian said nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened between them.
"Sorry, I'm busy," Melina said, about to hang up when Lillian's tone turned sinister. "Melina, we need to talk about that day. I'll be waiting at the café near my office at noon."
Early in the morning, Henry was ready to go out. The driver hurriedly asked, "Sir, where are you going? I'll drive you."
Henry waved him off, saying, "No need. I need some exercise. Bring my bicycle; I want to go for a ride."
The driver had to comply with Henry's stubbornness. Henry was a former military man, still very spirited despite his age and health issues, always optimistic and never admitting defeat.
Henry had come from hard times, so despite his son and grandson owning a large corporation, he lived frugally, dressed simply, and stayed low-key. Even in his seventies, he often rode his bicycle, preferring it to cars unless traveling far. The driver fetched the bicycle as instructed.
Henry still rode his bicycle with ease. As he rode away, the driver, an old hand at his job, discreetly followed in a car, not wanting to leave Henry alone. He suspected that Henry was heading to meet the future granddaughter-in-law after receiving Lillian's information.
Melina had just returned from a business trip, granted a day off before returning to work. She slept until ten in the morning and was just waking up when she received a call. Seeing Lillian's name on the screen, she hesitated before answering.
"Melina, I heard you were on a business trip?"
Melina frowned slightly. "What's up?"
"Why so distant all of a sudden? It's been a while since we last met. Are you free for lunch today? Let's catch up," Lillian said nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened between them.
"Sorry, I'm busy," Melina said, about to hang up when Lillian's tone turned sinister. "Melina, we need to talk about that day. I'll be waiting at the café near my office at noon."
Lillian hung up, leaving Melina no choice but to get up. Frustration welled up inside her again. Was Lillian trying to flaunt something? Fine, she would face it head-on.
Melina got ready and headed out, driving toward Lillian's office with mixed feelings.
Friends can stab you in the back when you least expect it. She knew that all too well. Not all friends were worth sacrificing for, but some were. She wasn't extreme in her view.
At the intersection, Melina waited for the red light. Just as it turned green, she saw a motorcycle knock down an elderly cyclist. Her heart skipped a beat; an old man falling could be serious.
Melina drove forward and saw the elderly man sitting on the ground, seemingly unable to move. The young, long-haired motorcyclist who hit him was shouting obscenities.
Melina parked her car, got out, and heard the man swearing even more loudly. "Hey, stop cursing, or I'll tear your mouth off," she shouted, pushing the man aside. She approached the elderly man and asked, "Are you okay? Where does it hurt? Do you need an ambulance?"
Hearing the word "ambulance," the young man panicked, realizing he might have to pay for it. He quickly got on his motorcycle and tried to flee. Melina, seeing him run, chased after him, her high heels clicking sharply on the ground.
- Writer
