Black Pearl in Raging Fire

8. That man really worth investigating

Liam felt uneasy. He turned on his phone and it rang crazily from the incoming notifications.

Most of them were incoming messages and calls. Jena and Isabel were one of them, but what caught his attention even more was the call from Adriel. The man didn't send any texts, everything was just incoming calls.

He closed his eyes at the memory of Shari's words. She said that Adriel's accident was not serious and asked him not to worry. Liam knew himself, he's not worried at all, the accident was none of his business. It's just that he didn't know why he thought about what made Adriel not come back soon if the problem wasn't serious?

Then he wondered if this accident had something to do with him? Because he refused Adriel's invitation to go, it made him angry and had an accident?

Suppressing his curiosity, he directly contacted Adriel.

"Hello, Mr. Liam." Jonas answered the phone.

"Where's Adriel?"

There was a moment of silence before Jonas replied, "Boss is still at the police station, reporting."

Liam narrowed his eyes and asked calmly, "What happened? You said he had an accident, is he okay?"

Jonas sighed, not knowing why his voice sounded tired. "For now the situation is fine. We can handle it here. We will probably go home in two or three days, once the work is done. The meeting with the foreign investors was postponed due to the Boss's accident, but he cannot cancel it because the project is very important to him."

Liam didn't know Jonas' motive for breaking the news, but his brow furrows in confusion.

"Then ... is he injured?"

"Yes, he hit his head."

Hearing this, Liam was even more confused. Why did Adriel still need to work so hard if he was injured like that? No matter how important the project was, he was a Boss, he could pass tasks on to his subordinates, he could at least drop anything that didn't really need his signature. After all the other party would accept Adriel's reason for not being able to attend was because he had a calamity, right?

Liam could only guess that this client must be very important.

"How did this happen? Did he hit anyone else at the time? Why did he have to be at the police station?" he asked.

"Sir, I can't explain it in detail over the phone. In three days, we will return after the meeting has reached an agreement and the lawyers provide bail and compensation for boss's accident. However, you don't need to worry because boss is currently fine."

Jonas just kept reassuring that Adriel was fine, but didn't answer what he asked.

"So how did he crash in the first place? Was he speeding on the street? Was it a single accident?" Liam pressed him.

"That ..."

"I can't wait three days for an explanation. Can't you tell me what happened? Did he have an episode?" Liam cut him off.

Liam wanted to say something more, but Jonas's voice came rushed, "Sir, Boss is done with the reports. I'll go drive him to the hotel and call you back to explain."

Before Liam could answer, the call ended. An hour later, Jonas actually got in touch with him and this time he didn't hesitate to explain everything that happened. Jonas said carefully and he chose words that wouldn't make Liam nervous. Luckily Liam had expected it, so he wasn't worried.

Right after Liam refused Adriel's invitation to go to Macau, Adriel was furious and made a scene to return home to drag Liam away. On the way he had an episode while driving his car in a fit of rage. As a result he crashed his car into a traffic light and caused a severe traffic jam.

Jonas said that he was lucky because he hit his head at that moment and lost consciousness.

"Does he always hurt himself when he has episodes?" Liam couldn't help but ask this.

"Yes. Even though it looked like he didn't remember anything from the episode, I feel like there's still a bit of consciousness left in his mind. And self-injury was a way to help him come back."

Liam was surprised that Jonas said this. Seeing how clever Jonas was, he thought he was right. "Does it always work?"

Liam wasn't very clear about Adriel's emotional outburst. Twice he witnessed how Adriel would break things in front of him while he was in episodes.

Shari told him, he had to leave when Adriel was going through this. And he was quite cooperative.

"Not really. If injuring himself doesn't work, he'll only stop when his body is exhausted." Jonas said.

Before Liam could answer he heard someone's annoyed voice on the phone,

"Who are you talking to?"

Jonas seemed to hang up the microphone because after that the sound from the phone was not clear. Moments later he heard a unknown voice, "So you're Liam, huh?"

Liam, "..."

"You must have been clear about what happened. So did you know that this was all your fault? Did you deliberately find out the reason just to satisfy yourself?" The unknown voice sounded irritated.

Liam didn't answer. To suddenly be accused like that, was enough to shock him.

"Why are you silent? Do you still feel that Adriel is unreasonable and think his actions are disgusting that he f*****g deserves it?" The man said in a scornful tone, “Oh. I know, could it be possible for you to contact him just to see if he's dead? Too bad, he's not going to die that easily. Did you feel disappointed there?"

Liam didn't like the man's words, which seemed to be made to hurt his pride.

"That fool guy is being too gentle with you. If he finds out I'm telling you this, he'll probably kill me. What good are you anyway? A cold, heartless man ..."

Liam clutched his phone tightly.

The man continued, "Dude, life doesn't just revolve around you. He has helped your family out of misfortune. Even though you don't like marrying him, you two have come to an agreement for this contract marriage. At least you can pretend to play with him as a form of your thanks for his help. Why so arrogant?"

Contract marriage?

At hearing these words, Liam's eyes darken.

Finally Liam couldn't take it anymore and said coldly, "Did I ask him to help me?"

Perhaps Liam's answer was not expected by the other side, as there was no response for several seconds after.

"Then would you prefer to see your family fall down?" The man asked again a moment later.

The gloom in Liam's eyes deepens. Every word he said was low, "There's always another way to solve my family's problems. It's not my fault if he came to my door to offer help."

The man burst out laughing. "If that's the case, why didn't you reject his proposal to marry you in the first place? Why didn't you say you didn't need one because your 'there's always another way' you were?"

Liam couldn't argue.

"You said it wasn't your fault that he offered to help. So it wouldn't be his fault either if he played husband and wife with you, right? Since you didn't refuse to marry him, that means you guys already have a tacit understanding. Was what I said wrong?" said the man.

Liam gritted his teeth. What the man said was indeed true. Even though he was also at fault in this matter, but he still wouldn't accept it. He accepted Adriel's proposal only because he thought of his family. Despite his reluctance, he didn't think about what price Adriel had paid to help his family and only thought that the man was using underhanded means to ensnare him.

Just as he was about to say something more, he only realized the other party had cut the connection.

He stared blankly at his phone for a few moments before letting out a sigh.

Who is that man? Is he Adriel's friend?

Suddenly his memory went to the man who drove Adriel when he was drunk a week ago. That night, he actually didn't sleep. When he heard the door of the house being opened, he only became alert and peeked from the second floor. He remembered seeing Adriel being carried by a thin and tall man, because it was dark he didn't see the man's face, but he heard the man grumbling as he laid Adriel down on the sofa in their house.

How could he forget? The voice of the man who had scolded him on the phone was similar to the voice of the man who had sent Adriel off!

The reason Liam didn't come down when the man brought Adriel who was drunk was because he was too lazy to deal with strangers. Now that he thought about it, he felt relieved that he didn't see him. He really wanted nothing to do with that person.

At the hotel, Adriel who was exhausted could still stare at Riza coldly. "Where's my phone? You hid it, right?"

Riza gave an innocent look. "Why are you accusing me? Your phone broke in your accident. Buy a new one."

Adriel ignored Riza and looked at his assistant. "Jonas, have you contacted Liam?"

Under Riza's silent intimidation, Jonas said calmly "He asked if you were okay or not. I told him not to worry."

Adriel nodded and closed her eyes. "Good. No need to tell him unnecessary things."

Riza snorted hearing that, while Jonas swallowed nervously because he had already revealed everything to his boss' little wife.

"Boss, then how about the reservation in Macau?" Jonas asked cautiously, afraid that this question would upset his boss again.

Adriel pinched the bridge of his nose without opening his eyes. "Cancel."

"Understood."

Jonas left Adriel's room. Riza waited until the assistant had completely left before tapping the person next to him on the shoulder. "You okay, dude?"

Adriel winced because Riza tapped him right on his injured arm and looked at Riza coldly "Why are you still here?"

"I want to cheer you up. Aren't you heartbroken?" Riza smiled innocently.

Adriel ignored him and leaned his tired body on the couch. It was actually good that Riza was here because the foreign investor was actually one of the man's acquaintances. Adriel could ask him to apologize on his behalf, because this accident delayed his agreement with the other party. He had to get help from these investors, considering how he was already heavily in debt to help the Hale Group. He must start again this work like the beginning he built his company.

"Have you eaten something?" Riza saw Adriel's white face like paper and looked tired, feeling unhappy. The bandage on his forehead showed a little seeping blood. "I'll order light porridge for you."

"No need." Adriel prevented. "I am sleepy."

"Eat something first to fill your stomach."

Adriel lowered his voice as if he had no strength left, "I want to sleep."

Riza relented. "Come on, sleep in your bed. I'll help you."

After Riza helped him lie down on the bed, he saw that the bandage on Adriel's forehead was really bothering him. He who thought about leaving finally couldn't stand it and took the medicine box.

"At least the bandage on your head should be changed. I will do it for you. Don't mind me and just sleep," he said.

Adriel let out a soft approval and didn't open his eyes.

Maybe because of his wound, Adriel was very docile and easy to deal with. Riza found this funny. He began to peel off the bandage on Adriel's forehead, saw that the wound was not deep but wide enough and still wet. There was some bruising around it. He wasn't disgusted as he wiped the blood with alcohol before bandaging it back up.

"How about your arm?"

There was no response from the other side, but Riza knew Adriel wasn't sleeping. He didn't force him to answer.

"Let me deal with Mr. Belleth. Rest for two days until the bail from the police station is finalized and go home." Riza tidied up the medicine box, sighed. "Why are you trying so hard, huh? You can ask me a favor, y'know."

Adriel opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "This is my own problem. Don't need your help."

Seeing how the man was still able to fight against him, Riza was relieved. "All right, all right. Turns out you really do love that little guy, so you would do any hard work for him. But does he return your feelings?"

Adriel heard the ridicule of the question, as if implying something. "Don't bully him. Even if we've been friends for a while, I won't hesitate to punch you."

"Ow. I'm scared." Riza smiled, contrasting the meaning of his own words. "So, what's with this reservation in Macau? Did he refuse you to come and make you, this big shot, angry?"

Even though Riza knew the reason, he still wanted to ask and test his reaction.

Unlike other people who always want to keep Adriel in a good mood so that his emotions are always stable, Riza is different. He really liked seeing Adriel in an episode and deliberately wanted to research it to find out if there was a weakness behind his illness.

He didn't experience much of Adriel's outburst episode first hand. Sometimes he regretted because while it was happening, he was on the other end of the world. Even when they were in the same country, he still missed it.

"Shut up." Adriel answered after a while.

Riza burst out laughing. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."

Once outside the door of Adriel's room, Riza called someone, "Please investigate someone for me."

Hearing the positive answer on the other hand, he smiled. Previously he had been curious about Liam Halsey, but it had never occurred to him to investigate this person. At Adriel's wedding, he didn't come for some reason, even when driving Adriel who was drunk, he also didn't see Liam at their house at that time.

Because of the things that happened with Adriel related to that man, Riza became curious now. Unlike Adriel's previous girlfriends or boyfriends, none of them overwhelm him. It seems that this Liam is a very interesting man.

To make Adriel, who has been ignorant about romance all this time, fall from head to toe, isn't that man really worth investigating?

... to be continued ...