Three Years as His Kept Woman

Chapter 8 She Flies Away

When Martha told him Lucia had left, Adrian snorted coldly.

"Left? She's just putting on a show for me. Does she think I'll go after her and coax her back? Dream on. She'll come crawling back in three days at most, begging for forgiveness."

He paused before adding coldly, "Martha, even if Lucia comes back, you are not allowed to open the door for her."

After giving his orders, Adrian turned and went back inside.

Martha stayed behind to clean the ashes Adrian had burned in the yard the night before. As she swept them into a pile, she muttered under her breath, "You don't even care whether Lucy lives or dies. She'd have to be crazy to come back."

While sweeping, she suddenly noticed a small piece of paper that had not burned completely. Martha picked it up. It was written in a foreign language, which she could not read. Since it belonged to Lucia, she carefully put it away, planning to return it to her someday.

Over the next few days, Adrian spent almost all his time with Vivian. He took her shopping, accompanied her to banquets, and constantly tried to help her secure more runway opportunities.

Vivian was delighted. To thank him, she prepared a candlelight dinner at home.

They sat across from each other at the table while the dim candlelight cast a warm glow over the room, creating an intimate atmosphere. Adrian looked at Vivian. She looked almost exactly the same as she had three years ago, the image that had always stayed in his heart.

Vivian poured him a glass of wine and raised her own.

"Adrian, this toast is to us being together forever."

Adrian stared at the glass in silence. It should have been a tender moment with Vivian. Yet somehow he found himself thinking of Lucia.

Lucia had always warned him not to drink because of his stomach problems. Whenever she nagged him about it, he used to find her unbearably annoying. But now, for no reason at all, he found himself missing it.

"Adrian?"

Hearing Vivian's puzzled voice, Adrian snapped back to reality.

Holding her wine glass, Vivian slowly sat down on his lap and wrapped one arm around his neck.

"Adrian, shall we spend the night together today? Come to the bedroom later. I've prepared a surprise for you."

To her surprise, Adrian pushed her away.

"Another time."

Ignoring Vivian's embarrassment, he continued drinking alone.

By the time he woke up, it was already the next day.

He lay on the sofa, still half drunk, murmuring Lucia's name.

"Lucy… I feel awful. I want some soup…"

Martha walked over and said quietly, "Sir, Ms. Hart already left. Have you forgotten?"

Adrian opened his eyes. Only then did he remember what had happened over the past few days.

He looked at Martha in confusion. "How many days has she been gone? Why hasn't she come back yet?"

Martha hesitated before answering, "She took all her personal documents with her. I don't think she plans to return."

Adrian sat up, frowning slightly.

"She's getting bold now, isn't she? Viv was right. I spoiled her too much. That's why she's acting like this. Even if she kneels and begs me now, I won't even look at her."

As he spoke, Adrian noticed the photo album in Martha's hands. It looked familiar, as if it belonged to Lucia.

"What's that you're holding?"

Afraid Adrian might take out his anger on her, Martha quickly hid the album behind her back.

"T-this belongs to Ms. Hart. She forgot to take it with her. I was planning to mail it to her…"

Inside the album were Lucia's college graduation photos. She had left in such a hurry that she forgot it.

Adrian suddenly felt irritated. He sent Lucia a message.

[You should come get your own things.]

But when he looked at the screen, a glaring red exclamation mark appeared beside the message. Adrian stared at it in disbelief.

"She blocked me?"

At that moment, his assistant called.

"Mr. Cross, the apartment you purchased across the Rivermarch River has been sold. Ms. Hart just completed the ownership transfer."

Martha muttered quietly beside him, "Lucy really intends to leave for good."

Adrian stood up abruptly, anger flickering across his face.

"She sold the apartment just to provoke me? She really thinks she's something. For all these years, she's been nothing more than a pet I kept."

His expression darkened.

"I'd like to see what she can possibly do without me."