Three Years as His Kept Woman

Chapter 3 The Favorite Returns

Adrian disappeared for three days straight, and Lucia did not mind at all.

During that time, she met with friends and classmates to say goodbye and even prepared small gifts for each of them. She also made an extra one for Martha, the housekeeper. Both of them worked under Adrian to earn a living, so they understood each other well and had always gotten along.

When Martha heard that Lucia was going abroad to study, she was genuinely happy for her and congratulated her while wiping away tears.

Just then, Adrian called.

Lucia hesitated for a moment, but since their arrangement had not yet expired, she answered.

"Lucy, Viv doesn't have any appetite in the hospital. I remember you're good at making stomach-soothing soup. Bring some over right away."

Before Lucia could say anything, Adrian had already hung up.

Martha looked indignant on Lucia's behalf. "This is too much. How could he ask you to cook for another woman?"

Lucia only smiled, not angry at all.

She was Adrian's kept woman. Whatever her patron asked for, she had to do.

She wanted to leave as soon as possible too, but Adrian had already paid her for this month. When they first signed the arrangement contract, Lucia had decided she would fulfill it properly.

After all, a deal was a deal.

Lucia went to the supermarket to buy fresh ingredients. When she returned, she simmered the soup for more than three hours before carefully pouring it into a thermal container.

Back then, she had learned to cook it for Adrian. When they first met, he drank constantly, and she only wanted him to feel better after sobering up.

When Lucia arrived at the hospital and pushed open the ward door, she saw Vivian lying in bed while Adrian carefully tucked the blanket around her.

There was a shallow cut on Vivian's wrist. Even someone like Lucia, who knew nothing about medicine, could tell the wound was far from deep enough to reach any arteries.

Lucia had just set the container down when Vivian woke up.

She leaned naturally into Adrian's arms and looked at Lucia. "Thank you."

Lucia froze. She did not understand what Vivian was thanking her for. The soup?

Seeing the confusion on her face, Vivian smiled softly.

"Thank you for taking care of Adrian for me. While I was away these past three years, you must have worked hard."

Lucia's hand trembled slightly as she placed the container on the table.

She glanced toward Adrian, but he seemed not to have heard anything at all and ignored the comment completely.

Adrian poured a bowl of soup and blew on it before feeding it to Vivian.

Vivian took a small sip, then frowned and spat it out.

"It tastes awful, Adrian. I can't drink it."

Adrian immediately turned to Lucia with displeasure.

"What's wrong with you? Did you do that on purpose? Isn't this supposed to be your specialty?"

Without giving Lucia a chance to explain, he picked up the container and walked outside to pour the soup away.

The moment Adrian left, Vivian's expression changed.

"Why are you still standing here?" she said coldly. "Get out."

Her words sounded as if she were asking why Lucia had not left the hospital, but they also carried another meaning. Why had Lucia not left Adrian?

"Even someone as slow as you should understand by now. From beginning to end, the only person Adrian has ever loved is me. The moment I came back, he completely lost his composure. You're just a bird he keeps in a cage. You'll never compete with me."

Lucia smiled faintly.

"If he loves you so much, why did he find a substitute?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Vivian's face twisted visibly.

In the next second, she slapped herself hard across the face, then covered her cheek as tears quickly filled her eyes.

Adrian returned just in time to see the aftermath.

Without knowing what had happened, he rushed to the bedside. "Viv, what happened?"

Vivian glanced toward Lucia as if by accident, then quickly looked away. "I… I'm fine."

Adrian's brows knitted tightly as he stared at Lucia.

"Did you hit her?"

Lucia felt speechless. "No. She did it herself…"

Before she could finish, Adrian waved his hand sharply.

"I don't want to hear your excuses. I know you're jealous of Viv, but I didn't expect you to be this vicious."

As he grew more agitated, Adrian straightened and clenched his fists. For a moment, Lucia even thought he might hit her.

Vivian tugged gently at his sleeve.

"I'm fine. It was just a slap. Don't scold her because of me…"

Her words only made Adrian angrier.

"If Viv weren't so reasonable, I wouldn't let this go today. Go back home and clear out your room. Viv needs a place to recover."