Three Years as His Kept Woman

Chapter 10 She Really Left

In less than a second, Adrian dismissed the thought. He glanced at the burned scrap of paper with contempt. To him, it was nothing more than a few vague Westorian words. What could it possibly prove? He crumpled it casually and threw it into the trash, then warned Martha, "Don't bring this kind of unclear nonsense to me again." Martha nodded awkwardly.

After Lucia left, Vivian was eager to show herself off in front of Adrian's friends. She did not want anyone still thinking Adrian was with someone else. She suggested the idea, and Adrian immediately arranged a gathering at one of Harborfell's most exclusive entertainment clubs.

That evening, Vivian dressed up carefully. The moment she entered the private room with Adrian's arm linked through hers, everyone's attention shifted toward them.

"Well, look who's here. Adrian's girlfriend came too."

The lighting inside the room was dim, but once they got close enough to see Vivian's face clearly, several men who had stood up to greet Adrian froze. One of them spoke bluntly.

"Adrian, we haven't seen Lucia for quite a while. Did you two have a fight?"

At the mention of Lucia's name, Adrian's brows tightened slightly. Several people behind the man quickly tugged him and gestured toward Vivian. The man immediately understood, slapping his own mouth dramatically.

"My mistake. I didn't realize Viv had returned. Of course, the substitute had to step aside."

Vivian was clearly pleased with that remark. She pulled Adrian toward the central seat in the room, which had been reserved for him. After a few rounds of drinks, she leaned closer and closer against him, making sure everyone could see how intimate they were.

Someone who had been friendly with Lucia could not stand it anymore.

"Adrian, Lucy treated you well. We all saw that. Isn't it a bit harsh to drop her so quickly?"

Vivian shot the speaker a glare. "Adrian didn't wrong her at all. She's the one who left. She was only with Adrian for money anyway. A gold digger like that probably slept with who knows how many men. Disgusting—"

Adrian cut her off sharply. "That's enough."

Vivian froze, her hand tightening around her wine glass, her expression darkening. Adrian turned to the man across from him.

"Have you been in contact with Lucia recently?"

The man pulled out his phone. "Not really. But I saw her recent posts online. Looks like she went traveling."

Adrian's pupils widened instantly. He grabbed the phone and began scrolling quickly. Lucia had posted many selfies after arriving in Westoria. She was smiling brightly among unfamiliar landscapes and lush greenery. When he saw the scenery behind her, Adrian's tense expression relaxed slightly.

Graduate school? That must have been a lie. She had simply gone traveling, disappearing on purpose to make him worry and coax her back. Adrian crossed one leg over the other, a hint of disdain curling at the corner of his lips. So, she wanted to test his patience. As the president of Cross Group, he certainly would not bow first.

Suddenly, someone sitting beside Adrian exclaimed, "This looks like overseas. All the signs are in Westorian. Why does this place look so familiar… Wait, I remember now. This is the Northbridge Institute of Technology campus. I've been there before."

Someone turned toward Adrian in confusion. "What is Lucia doing there?" Then his tone shifted teasingly. "Don't tell me… she went there to study? Ha!"

The entire room burst into laughter. Only Adrian remained silent, his expression cold. The legs he had casually crossed earlier now looked stiff.

At that moment, his assistant suddenly pushed open the door and walked in. "Mr. Cross, Ms. Hart has been admitted to Northbridge Institute of Technology. According to the school's records, she completed her study abroad registration three months ago. She has already left the country."

As soon as the assistant finished speaking, the room fell completely silent. Adrian could no longer remain calm. He could not believe it. A woman who had willingly been his kept pet had actually been accepted into one of the world's top universities.

He lowered his gaze to the smiling photos Lucia had posted, his brows tightening. "She's only doing this to get my attention," he muttered. "She's just throwing a tantrum. Yes… that must be it."