Chapter 6 Try Falling in Love

"Going once, going twice, sold for five hundred million!"

The auctioneer's gavel came down with finality, and the Nebula's Heart became Ronald's property.

During the handover process, Adeline was still in a daze.

What did he mean by "gift"?

Considering the astronomical price, Adeline kept reassuring herself—with such a high price, maybe he just meant to let her examine it?

As a jewelry designer, getting to see a legendary piece in person would be quite a gift in itself.

After figuring things out, Adeline visibly relaxed.

In the VIP lounge, staff delivered each purchased item one by one.

Ronald sat on the sofa drinking coffee while Adeline diligently performed her secretarial duties.

Ronald had purchased four pieces of jewelry, each incredibly valuable, and Adeline was carefully inspecting each one.

Watching her focused expression, Ronald's gaze softened.

When it came to the final necklace, Adeline unconsciously tensed up again.

She changed gloves once more and held her breath, afraid of missing any detail.

Ronald waved his hand, dismissing the auction house staff.

After inspecting for a while, Adeline finally relaxed. "Mr. Williams, all jewelry pieces have been checked. How shall we transport them back?"

"We'll wear this one back." Ronald stood up and moved beside her, taking the Nebula's Heart and placing it around her neck. "Beautiful."

His eyes were full of admiration, though it wasn't clear whether he was admiring the necklace or the woman wearing it.

Adeline froze, feeling as if her neck suddenly weighed a thousand pounds.

Five hundred million dollars hanging around her neck made her feel like she might suffocate at any moment.

Seeing her reaction, Ronald gently pinched her earlobe. "You don't like it?"

Adeline nodded frantically, then quickly shook her head.

What exactly did she like? The five hundred million or the necklace?

Before she could sort out her thoughts, Ronald had already pulled her to sit down. "I said it's a gift for you. Do you like it? I read in your thesis that you regretted never seeing it in person."

Adeline stared at him blankly as some emotion welled up in her chest, threatening to overflow.

He had read her thesis and remembered her words.

Queen Valorian XII's sapphire necklace was legendary.

It had been crafted by her beloved with his own hands. According to legend, each diamond had been personally found and polished by her lover before being set into the necklace.

This wasn't just an ordinary jewelry—it was a vessel carrying profound love.

While writing her thesis, Adeline had gone through countless documents, deeply moved by this love story.

She was an ordinary girl who dreamed of beautiful love.

She didn't consider herself obsessed with romance, but she had hoped that someday she and Allen could share a simple yet beautiful love.

Thinking of her tragic love life and chaotic one-night stand, she lowered her head, removed the necklace, and carefully placed it back in its box.

"Mr. Williams, I cannot accept this necklace."

"Why not?" Ronald frowned slightly, seemingly perplexed.

She liked it, he bought it—shouldn't she be happy?

Adeline gave him a complicated look. Five hundred million dollars—did Ronald expect her to accept it with a clear conscience?

Even if they weren't just one-night stand partners but actually in a relationship, she could never accept such an expensive gift.

"Mr. Williams, yesterday was just a misunderstanding. We both consented to physical pleasure—you don't need to compensate me for anything."

Ronald wanted to compensate her because of their previous one-night stand-or at least that was the only reason Adeline could think of. Why else would he act like he owed her something after what was, by all accounts, a mutual mistake?

She looked up at Ronald earnestly. "I told you from the beginning that I wouldn't take responsibility for you, and you don't need to take responsibility for me either. That's all."

She turned to place the jewelry in the portable safe.

"Mr. Williams, I need to contact—"

"Let's try." Ronald stood up behind her, placing his hands on the desk on either side of her, encircling her in his arms. "I want to try with you."

"Try what?" Adeline didn't immediately understand his meaning.

Remembering his intense performance yesterday, she quickly shook her head. "Mr. Williams, the doctor said I'm not suitable for... sex right now."

It wasn't just right now—she didn't want to have sex for quite some time, at least not with her direct boss.

Ronald moved closer, his eyes darkening with desire.

His hot breath fanned across Adeline's neck, making her shrink back instinctively.

Seeing her reddened ears, Ronald resisted the urge to bite them and straightened up.

As the pressure suddenly disappeared, Adeline quickly turned around. "Mr. Williams, I don't want a friends-with-benefits arrangement."

In her understanding, someone of Ronald's status surely had no shortage of women.

From yesterday's performance, Ronald seemed to have a strong sex drive. Feeling the dull ache in her lower body protesting, she repeated, "I don't do casual hookups. Yesterday was an accident."

If she had known Ronald's identity, if she had been slightly more sober yesterday, she would never have had a one-night stand with him.

Ronald sighed somewhat helplessly. "Adeline, I want to try dating you. I'll take responsibility."

Adeline's pupils dilated in disbelief.

Ronald repeated, "Let's try dating. Be my girlfriend—will you consider it?"

The moment he encountered Adeline at the company, Ronald had made his decision.

His family had been pressuring him to marry, and he had prepared to resist for a lifetime, but then Adeline appeared.

In the few minutes after returning to his office, Ronald had seriously reviewed everything from yesterday.

At first sight of Adeline, his heart had stirred—or perhaps he was just physically attracted.

Usually averse to others' touch and somewhat repelled by women, he didn't mind Adeline's contact and was even willing to drink for her.

Watching the sadness and love in her eyes, he couldn't help but be moved.

He didn't know if this counted as love at first sight, but since they had sex, he felt they needed to take responsibility for each another.

Seeing that Adeline still wasn't responding, Ronald tried another approach. "Or we could get married first, then date."

"No way!" Adeline finally reacted.

Her response was so strong that Ronald was startled.

Adeline looked at him hesitantly before finally deciding to come clean. "I'm sorry, but I have a boyfriend."

"I know," Ronald nodded seriously.

Originally, Ronald hadn't investigated this aspect, since he could tell that Adeline was still a virgin before they had sex. He had simply assumed she was single.

But his subordinates had informed him that Adeline had been in a relationship for several years.

Ronald's calmness left Adeline at a loss for words.

She didn't know how to explain her current relationship with Allen, much less bring herself to mention Allen's betrayal.

Her phone vibrated, and seeing Allen's incoming call, Adeline instinctively wanted to hang up.

But with Ronald standing there proposing they "try," she still answered the phone.

"Babe, where are you? I'm sorry I couldn't be with you on your birthday yesterday."

Allen's concerned yet guilty voice sounded particularly jarring in the quiet lounge.