Adrian stood frozen in the hallway, watching Emilia walk away with Ava as if she didn't just faint earlier.
"She is something else, really." He muttered to himself.
He thought back to Emilia's cold demeanor, her complete disregard for the fact that he had carried her unconscious body to the hospital.
"I haven't misjudged her then. I was right about her." Adrian said bitterly.
"Well, maybe this is for the better then. I wouldn't have any reason to act kindly to anyone in that house during my stay, or pretend to be happy and be smiling around anybody." He scoffed and clenched his fists. Then he began to walk away.
"But shouldn't she at least know what the doctor says about her?" Adrian contemplated.
"No, it is not my business. She has made it clear that she has no regards for me." He thought and scoffed again.
~~~~~~~~~
Back at the mansion, Emilia stepped out of the car just as Victor's car pulled into the driveway.
"Oh, I couldn't arrive before him! How do I get out of this situation before it gets messy, dear Lord?" She mumbled under her breath as she watched Victor parked his car.
After a moment, Victor stepped out, his piercing gaze locking on her immediately. His expression was a mix of suspicion and irritation.
"Welcome, sir." Ava greeted politely.
"You went out without informing me? Where were you?" Victor asked sharply, not bothering to reply to the greeting from the maid.
Emilia forced a smile, as she ransacked her brain for a witty excuse.
"Your son surprised me with his arrival earlier today..." She began, although she managed to keep her voice steady, her insides trembling.
"So?" Victor asked flatly, narrowing his eyes on her, as if the news of Adrian's arrival was nothing to him.
Emilia swallowed hard as she wasn't expecting him to take it that way. She had thought the news of his son's arrival would mean a thing to him and probably made him a bit happy.
"Well, I thought it would be nice to make a good first impression since it is our first time meeting." She stated, grateful that the lie came out immediately.
Victor didn't respond, instead, he was scrutinizing her with his eyes.
"So I told Ava to come with me to get some baking ingredients for a welcome dessert." Emilia added quickly.
"And you were too much in a hurry to let me know you were going out, when I have specifically instructed so? That you can't go out without my knowledge?" Victor asked, his tone sharp.
"I apologize for that, Honey. I thought I would be able to run it sharply but when I realized halfway there that you would be home soon, I turned back immediately." She told him, intentionally adding the endearing term and that worked the purpose she meant it for.
Victor's gaze softened slightly at that, but his voice was still stern.
"Did you at least have the sense to arrange my meal before you went off for your little... trip?" He demanded.
"Yes, the table is set. Everything is ready." Emilia replied with a small smile.
Victor grunted, seemingly satisfied.
"Good." He said then turned toward the house.
Emilia let out a small, silent sigh of relief as she followed him inside.
~~~~~~~~~~
The atmosphere at the dinning room was tense and quiet except for the sounds of utensils. Adrian had returned from the hospital and joined them for dinner reluctantly because his father had insisted.
Victor sat at the head of the table, Adrian to his right, and Emilia to his left.
Adrian poked at his food, his expression blank.
"You have been gone for a year." Victor began, breaking the silence, his tone casual but loaded.
"Yeah." Adrian replied, not looking up.
"That is all you have to say?" Victor demanded, furrowing his eyebrows.
"What do you want me to say?" Adrian sighed, putting his fork down.
Victor scoffed but pressed on:
"You could start by explaining why it took you this long to come back. You are not a child anymore, Adrian."
"Well, I have been busy with school." Adrian said, tightening his jaw.
"Busy. Right." Victor's tone dripped with sarcasm.
Adrian clenched his fists under the table, but he didn't respond.
Victor turned to Emilia, who had been silently and slowly eating her food, a faint smirk on his face.
"Don't you think, Emilia, that it's a bit disrespectful for a son to avoid his father for so long?"
Emilia smiled weakly, feeling Victor's eyes on her.
"Well, I'm sure Adrian had his reasons." She said carefully, trying to keep her voice neutral.
Victor chuckled dryly, clearly unimpressed.
"You are too kind, Emilia, but that is not how we raise children in this house." He said, his voice slightly rising and Emilia knew the peaceful dinner could turn to something bitter if she didn't say what he would like to hear.
"He is just being like every other young man. I am sure he is going to learn at the right time, Honey." She said softly.
Adrian shot her a sharp glance, noticing her smile.
"Really?" He thought bitterly.
Victor smirked at Adrian, noticing that he seemed angry at Emilia's statement and he loved that.
"You look like you have something to say, son."
Adrian's fingers dug into his palm. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Victor's phone buzzed.
Victor glanced at the screen, and his expression changed immediately.
"I need to take this." He said and stood, leaving the room without another word.
Adrian exhaled angrily.
~~~~~~~~~
Victor stepped into his study, closing the door behind him.
"What do you mean?" He asked the caller.
The voice on the other end spoke quickly and Victor's expression hardened.
"Why didn't you get rid of the evidence along with the body neatly, like I told you to?" He gritted out.
"Fix it. Now." He snapped.
Meanwhile, outside the door, Emilia's hands trembled around Victor's second phone that she had wanted to give to him, after overhearing Victor's words.
"Evidence and body?" She gasped then the door yanked open and Victor seethed.