CHAPTER 64: ADRIAN’S PAST

"Sorry," Bianca murmured as they drove to Adrian’s father’s brownstone. After leaving the steakhouse, Adrian had suggested stopping by to see his father and grandfather.

Adrian glanced at her briefly, then looked back at the road. "You don’t have to apologize. I’m not angry. I know you had your reasons for not telling me about your meeting with Rafael earlier."

"You’re really not angry with me?" Bianca asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I’m not angry. I trust you. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be angry if you ever met another man in secret without telling me first," Adrian replied seriously.

The corners of Bianca’s lips lifted into a sweet smile. She turned to the side and asked, "Are you jealous?"

"Yes, I’m jealous. And I don’t want you being alone with any other man besides me. You’re not allowed to meet any guy one-on-one, whether it’s Raf or Zak, I won’t permit it. Do you hear me, Bianca?"

Bianca’s smile grew wider, her face glowing with happiness. Quickly, she leaned over and kissed Adrian’s cheek.

"Don’t do that again," Adrian said suddenly.

Bianca’s lips instantly pouted at his words. "Why? You don’t want me to kiss you?"

"That’s not it."

"Then why are you stopping me from kissing you?" Bianca asked in confusion.

"Because I’m afraid we’ll get into an accident. Your kisses mess with my concentration. My brain doesn’t work properly when you’re near me, especially when you kiss me."

Bianca let out a playful scoff. "Tch, smooth talker."

"Seriously, Bianca, your kiss makes me feel like I’ve got butterflies in my stomach."

"So dramatic," Bianca rolled her eyes, though her smile betrayed her.

"Only with you, baby." Adrian muttered with a playful grin.

"Baby?" Bianca repeated with doubt, raising one brow.

"Yes, baby," Adrian teased smoothly.

"Please, stop..." Bianca muttered, her cheeks warming.

"Why stop, baby?" he leaned in closer, obviously enjoying her reaction.

Bianca looked away, pretending to be annoyed.

"Darling, honey, dear, my queen, my wife, my love, my soulmate," Adrian listed in a mock-serious tone, dragging it out on purpose.

"Enough. Seriously, enough," Bianca cut him off, her voice half-pleading, half-laughing.

Adrian chuckled, his eyes soft on her.

He smiled warmly. Ah, my wife really is the most fun to tease, he thought.

So caught up in their conversation, Bianca didn’t realize the car had already stopped in front of Adrian’s childhood home.

"Here we are..." Adrian said as he turned off the engine.

"So we’ve arrived," Bianca replied, glancing out the window before unfastening her seatbelt.

They stepped out of the car almost at the same time. Adrian reached for Bianca’s hand, holding it firmly as they walked together toward the main entrance, its sturdy wooden door standing tall.

"Dad... Grandpa!" Adrian called out in a clear voice.

His voice made Mr. Parker, the family’s head butler who happened to be in the back garden, stop his work and come forward to greet them. A wide smile spread across his face.

"Young Master Adrian. It’s been quite a while since your last visit," he said warmly.

"I just got back from Japan, so this is the first chance I had to drop by, Mr. Parker. Are Dad and Grandpa home?"

"They are, but they’re resting at the moment." Mr. Parker then turned his gaze to Bianca. "Miss Bianca. You’ve grown even more radiant."

Bianca offered a gentle smile. "Thank you, Mr. Parker. You’re too kind."

Adrian chuckled softly and added, "That’s just how he is, Mr. Parker. Anyway, I’ll head to my room for now. Please let me know once Dad and Grandpa wake up, alright?"

"Of course, Young Master."

Adrian took Bianca’s hand and led her into the room filled with old memories.

Bianca had never been inside Adrian’s room before. She had visited his father’s house a few times, but this was her first time stepping into Adrian’s personal space. Her eyes wandered curiously, taking in every corner. The atmosphere reminded her of their apartment, his bedroom here carried the same style and feeling as the one they shared in the city.

Once inside, he told her to sit at the edge of the bed while he went to get something.

It was a wooden box. Since it hadn’t been opened for a long time, dust had built up on it. He wiped the top with his hand, blowing away some of the dust.

With a feeling that was hard to put into words, Adrian carried the box over to Bianca.

"My past," Adrian said quietly. "There’s something I need to tell you."

Adrian’s past?

Other than being confused, Bianca also didn’t quite understand what Adrian meant when he said the box was his past.

With curiosity in her eyes, she asked, "Your past? What do you mean?"

"This box holds my past," Adrian said quietly, his gaze lingering on the box now in his hands.

The box he once guarded so carefully, once so precious to him, now looked neglected and worn. His chest ached. The truth was, it carried so many happy memories that had turned into his most painful ones. With a heavy feeling, Adrian brushed the dust off its surface again.

"Do you remember what I told you before?" Adrian asked as he sat down beside her.

Bianca frowned. His question was too broad. Adrian had said many things to her in the past. Then, suddenly, something clicked in her mind. That must be what he meant.

Half guessing, half certain, she turned to him and said, "About your heart being numb? How you said you couldn’t feel love anymore? Is this box connected to that?"

Adrian fell silent for a moment, his head lowered. He neither corrected nor confirmed what Bianca had just said. He just kept staring at the box for a long while. Bianca let him be, not interrupting. She knew whatever he wanted to say wasn’t easy to put into words.

"This box was a birthday gift from my mom," Adrian said quietly, still keeping his eyes on it.

***