âAbel?â Adrienâs sobs came to a halt. âYouâre back alive, thatâs good news! So why do you look like that when youâre with Abel? Donât you want him to see you happy?â
Emmelineâs expression darkened and she shook her head. âItâs not that simple,â she replied.
âWhat do you mean?â Adrien asked, confusion etched on his face. âAm I missing something?â
âAbel might not be pleased to see me,â Emmeline said. âHe was given a drug that made him lose his feelings for me.â
âThatâs ridiculous!â Adrien exclaimed. âThereâs no such drug, itâs like something out of a cheesy romance novel!â
âItâs not impossible,â Emmeline countered. âSuch drugs do exist in the real world.â
Adrien began to believe her. âWho would do such a cruel thing to him?â he demanded. âTaking away his love for you, thatâs unforgivable.â
âThey did it to save him,â Emmeline explained. âI was on the brink of death, but Abel refused treatment.
They were afraid he would die with me, soâ¦â
âWell, thatâs understandable,â Adrien nodded. âBut what if Abel doesnât accept you now that youâre back safe and sound?â
âIâll have to make him fall in love with me again,â Emmeline said. âBut I donât have a foolproof plan right now, so Iâll just have to stay by his side.â
âI refuse to believe that Abel could be so heartless,â Adrien reassured her, patting her shoulder. âDonât worry, little sister, Iâll help you figure this out.â
Emmeline, her eyes glistening with tears, couldnât believe that Adrien, the notorious playboy, was actually being kind for once.
âIâll think of something,â Adrien promised. âIâll let you know as soon as I do.â
Emmeline nodded and said, âAlright, Iâll go to the CEOâs office first. If Iâm late, Abel will come looking for me.â
âOkay,â Adrien nodded. âYou should go now.â
Emmeline wiped her eyes and tidied up her appearance before leaving the restroom.
As she left, Luca arrived from the assistant room to use the restroom.
Adrien, who had just come out of the stall, reached out to grab Luca.
Without hesitation, Luca turned around and threw a punch.
âBang!â It landed squarely on Adrienâs eye socket.
âGulp!â Adrien was knocked down to the ground.
Just as Luca came out of the assistant room and saw the person on the ground, he realized with horror that it was Adrien.
âMr. Adrien, how did I hit you? Iâm so sorry!â Luca quickly squatted down to check on him.
âYou really have no control over your strength, Luca. You hit me so hard,â Adrien said, his eye already turning black and blue, resembling a panda.
âWell, since you didnât do it on purpose, Iâll let it slide this time,â Adrien said, trying to keep his composure with one eye open.
âThanks, Mr. Adrien,â Luca helped Adrien up while muttering under his breath, âMr. Adrien, why did you have to pick a fight with the bodyguard? Do you think Mr. Abelâs bodyguards are pushovers? Look at your black eye now, how am I supposed to explain if Mr. Abel asks?â
âDonât tell him it was you who did it!â Adrien said, âI need to talk to you about something, and if Abel finds out, weâre both in trouble.â
âWhat do you need to talk to me about, Mr. Adrien?â
âWell,â Adrien turned on the faucet and splashed water on his face, glancing outside the restroom, âletâs go to your assistant room before Abel catches us.â
âSure thing, Mr. Adrien.â
The two of them quickly made their way to Lucaâs assistant room.
Luca poured a glass of water for Adrien.
âIâll pass on the water,â Adrien said. âLetâs get down to business.â
âIâm all ears, Mr. Adrien.â Luca leaned against the corner of the desk.
âI mean, Luca,â Adrien began, âare you really that clueless, or are you just pretending?â
âWhat do you mean, Mr. Adrien?â Luca was confused. âHow could I be clueless? I donât understand.â
âYou didnât realize that Emmett was actually Emma in disguise?â Adrien asked.
Luca paused. He was definitely clueless.
âThatâs impossible,â Luca said. âI had no idea.â
âThink about it,â Adrien urged him. âRemember when Emma took you to the Imperial Palace to beat me up? It was all part of the same scheme.â
Luca murmured, âI did have my suspicions, but I didnât think it was possible. I saw Ms. Louise lying there, and they said she was gone for goodâ¦â
âWhat nonsense!â Adrien snapped. âSheâs alive and well, and right here in this very building!â