Chapter 2
With my craft behind him, in just three years Adrian’s company grew from a small firm to one of the top in the nation.
In those three years we supported and accomplished each other, grew feelings, and loved each other deeply.
Maybe lately I’d had a girlish heart—starting to hope he’d marry me.
But even when he spoke the sweetest words, he never mentioned marriage.
And I kept my promise. No matter how much I wanted to know his inner thoughts, I never considered hypnotizing him to lower his guard. Love and caution aren’t mutually exclusive.
A man at the top, with someone like me at his side, would never believe blindly—even if that someone was the woman he loved most. I knew this when I first fell for him.
I thought that aside from his guarded heart, our relationship was still rock solid—until that girl appeared.
I wanted to know more about her—to what extent things had gone—so I could clear obstacles from my love path.
To my surprise, Mia Adams wasn’t some rich heiress and had nothing to her name—just a three‑thousand‑a‑month salary, an ordinary girl you could pull five of off any street.
How could I possibly lose to her? What did the three years I’d fought shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Adrian mean? Was I really no match for an ordinary girl he’d known for only a month?
When Mia and I came face‑to‑face, panic flashed across her features. I’d arrived too suddenly for her to hide. A moment later she adjusted, putting on a soft look at me. She was sizing me up too—everyone in the company knew I was the de facto future Mrs. Carter.
Soon, Adrian hurried in. He sounded indulgent as he said, “What brings you here?” but he positioned his body to block Mia, protective gesture.
Before I could answer, he turned to Mia and murmured, “You head out.” She nodded and left.
He and I looked at each other, awkward; neither of us spoke first.
After a moment, I smiled like nothing had happened and lifted the thermos in my hand. “Your favorite—chicken soup. You’ve been so busy not coming home that I brought it for you.”
Relief flashed through his face—fleeting, but I caught it.
“You’ve worked hard,” he said. “Come on—let’s have some together.” He took my hand and gently led me into his office.
I asked casually, as if in passing, “That girl—I haven’t seen her before. New?”
His hands paused on the lid. “New secretary,” he said coolly.
He poured the soup into the inset bowl and handed it to me, gentle as always. “You first.” Then, “Simmering soup takes time and energy. Let Mrs. Brown handle this kind of thing next time. Don’t wear yourself out.”
I smiled. “It’s fine. I’m idle now. The company’s stable; you don’t need me like before. I might as well be a housewife.”
Then I joked, “If I don’t lock down your stomach, one day you’ll think I’m useless and fall for someone else—what will I do then?”
His brows knit for a beat, then he dipped his head with a smile and clasped my hands.
Looking into my eyes, tender and firm, he said, “Grace, no matter what the future like, there will only ever be you beside me.”
I asked lightly, “Then tell me, Mr. Carter—when will you marry me?”
He froze, as if not expecting the question. “Grace, it wasn’t easy for us to get here. We’re just one step from the summit. When we reach it, two joys at once will be the perfect timing. You understand me, right?”
“Even if I haven’t married you yet, we already live together. There’s only you by my side. It’s no different from marriage—just no paper.”
Love blinds mind. If I hadn’t hypnotized his assistant and heard the truth, his earnest look would have fooled me again.
I gently pulled back my hands, patted the backs of his, and smiled flawlessly. “No one understands you better than I do. I can wait.”
He breathed out and smiled. Lifting the spoon to my lips, he said, “Grace, you are decent and sensible—that’s what I love most.”
Hearing his heartfelt words, I also felt how his love could be fervent yet guarded. For a moment I wanted to hypnotize him to learn what he truly felt for me.
But I couldn’t. If I love him, I trust him—and I keep my promise.
Now what I wanted more was to know how far things with Mia had gone.
I drifted, lost in thought. Warm soup touched my lips. Seeing I hadn’t sipped, he took some into his own mouth and sealed my lips with his. As the broth slid down, his tongue pressed in, wild and relentless.
His breathing grew heavy; I could feel the heat of his desire. And I knew with perfect clarity that next I would wait—wait for the right moment. If he betrayed us, I would make him lose everything—including me.
