Adrian followed Anna to the quiet lounge area adjacent to the ballroom. The distant hum of music and chatter softened behind them, creating an air of intimacy that Anna had carefully orchestrated.
She turned to face him, her red silk dress catching the dim light, her expression carefully arranged into one of concern.
"Adrian," she began, her voice gentle but trembling slightly, as though she were carrying a burden only he could help lift. "I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now, but… I didn't know how you'd react."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, his posture stiff as he crossed his arms over his chest. "If this is another game, Anna, I don't have the patience."
Her face fell, and she looked away, as though wounded by his cold dismissal. She stepped closer, close enough for him to catch the faint scent of her perfume.
"It's not a game," she said softly. "I just… I want you to know that I've always cared about you. And I can see that you're under a lot of pressure lately. I thought maybe I could help."
Adrian raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze cutting through her carefully chosen words. "Help with what, exactly?"
Anna faltered, but only for a second. She reached out, her hand lightly grazing his forearm. "With everything. The business, the stress… the loneliness."
Adrian stepped back, breaking the physical connection as easily as one might swat away an insect. His expression hardened into something glacial, his gaze piercing through Anna's carefully constructed facade.
"I'm not lonely," he said flatly.
Anna's confidence wavered for the first time, but she quickly rallied, her voice softening even further. "Adrian, I know you've been through so much. I just want to be there for you, like I always have."
"You've always been there for yourself," he countered, his tone clipped. "Don't confuse your motives with mine."
Her eyes widened, the sting of his words evident despite her best efforts to hide it. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Adrian had already turned his back on her, his steps measured and purposeful as he left her standing alone in the quiet room.
Back in the ballroom, Joi felt suffocated. The laughter and clinking glasses around her blurred into a meaningless din as she found herself retreating further into her thoughts. Shane's words from earlier lingered in her mind, the promise of a different kind of life both tempting and terrifying.
She spotted Ruby by the dessert table and made her way over, grateful for the comforting presence of the small dog. Picking Ruby up, Joi held her close, finding solace in the steady rhythm of the puppy's breathing.
"Are you alright?" Shane's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Joi turned to see him standing a few steps away, his expression warm and concerned. She nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Just needed some air."
"Let's step outside, then," he offered, motioning toward the terrace.
Joi hesitated but eventually followed him, grateful for the escape. The cool night air was a welcome relief as they stepped out onto the terrace, the city lights twinkling below them.
Shane leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on her. "You seem… distant tonight."
"It's just been a lot," Joi admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shane's expression softened. "You don't have to go through it alone, Joi. You know I'm here for you."
Her heart ached at the sincerity in his words, and for a moment, she allowed herself to lean into the comfort he offered. But just as she began to respond, the sound of footsteps behind her made her stiffen.
Adrian's presence was undeniable, his cold energy sweeping over the terrace like a storm. Joi turned to see him standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable but his eyes locked on her.
"Am I interrupting something?" Adrian's voice was deceptively calm, but there was an edge to it that made Joi's stomach twist.
Shane straightened, his easygoing demeanor fading slightly under Adrian's intense gaze. "Not at all. Joi and I were just talking."
Adrian's eyes flickered to Joi, his gaze piercing. "You've been smiling a lot lately."
Joi felt her cheeks flush, her grip tightening on Ruby. "Is that a problem?"
Adrian's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Depends on the reason."
Shane stepped forward, his posture subtly protective. "I don't think that's any of your concern, Adrian."
Adrian's cold gaze shifted to Shane, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. "It is when she's under my roof."
Joi's frustration bubbled over. "I'm not property, Adrian. You don't get to dictate who I talk to or why."
For a moment, the three of them stood in a tense standoff, the unspoken emotions between them threatening to boil over. Finally, Adrian turned on his heel, retreating back inside without another word.
Adrian's seemingly casual comment, "You've been smiling a lot lately," is far from innocent. Beneath his composed and distant demeanor, it's a probing statement wrapped in subtle possessiveness.
For someone as emotionally reserved as Adrian, these words carry layers of meaning, hinting at an internal struggle he cannot articulate.
Every time Joi smiles during her conversations with Shane, Adrian finds himself increasingly unsettled. He doesn't understand why it bothers him so much, but the sight of her warmth directed at someone else—especially his business rival—sparks a disquiet he can't ignore.
The comment becomes his way of breaking his silence without fully admitting the jealousy simmering beneath the surface. It's his cold, indirect attempt to assert his presence in her life, a reminder that he's watching, even if he won't explain why.
For Joi, however, Adrian's words feel more like a critique than an expression of care. Having resolved to distance herself emotionally, she brushes off the remark, often responding with polite indifference.
To her, Adrian's coldness feels like an unscalable wall, and she assumes his jealousy stems from a need for control rather than affection.
The depth of her pain—knowing Sophia is the woman he loves—makes her unwilling to believe his concern runs deeper than appearances.
This recurring exchange subtly shifts the tension between them. Joi's apparent detachment frustrates Adrian further, deepening his internal conflict.
Her reluctance to engage emotionally, combined with her growing warmth toward Shane, forces Adrian to confront feelings he has always buried. Yet true to his nature, he never voices his thoughts directly.
Instead, his sharp, understated comments serve as a mirror of his inner turmoil, signaling that despite his aloofness, Joi's actions affect him more than he'd like to admit.
Meanwhile, Anna watched the scene unfold from a distance, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. She had returned to the ballroom just in time to witness the exchange on the terrace, and the sight of Adrian's lingering gaze on Joi made her blood boil.
Her parents' plan to ensnare Adrian seemed more distant than ever, but Anna refused to give up. As her mother's words echoed in her mind—seduce him, pin a pregnancy on him, make him yours—Anna resolved to double down on her efforts.
She would find a way to break Joi's hold on Adrian, no matter what it took.