Chapter 10

Chloe walked over, her face a picture of grievance, calling out softly, "Adrian."

Adrian’s expression became incredibly irritated. He spoke, suppressing his temper: "Go wait outside."

Chloe glared at me hatefully, but she left.

It had been years since Adrian and I had been alone, and my palm was already slick with sweat.

I couldn’t pull my hand free, so I lifted my gaze, trying to look at him calmly:

"I was just giving you some friendly advice. Believe it or not, it’s up to you."

Adrian’s face darkened. He yanked my arm, pulling me roughly back into the room.

Then he lifted his foot and kicked the door shut with unprecedented force.

*Bang!* The door automatically locked.

My heart hammered in my chest, and a sudden prickle of fear ran through me.

His large hand pressed onto my shoulder.

My back was against the door, and I felt his gaze on me, like a knife, seemingly trying to bore a hole straight through me.

"She’s not right for me. Then who is? *You*?"

"Iris Clarke, what have you meant all these years? Am I just some game to you?!"

His grip tightened, relentlessly, on my shoulder. A sharp ache shot through me.

I watched the intense resentment and stubborn bitterness surge in his eyes, no longer concealed.

I drew a shallow breath. "Adrian, it’s over between us. Please, calm down."

"If what I just said upset you, then I apologize. Pretend I never said it."

The anger on his face deepened, his ragged breaths seeming to carry a hint of hatred.

"What’s said is said, what’s done is done.

"Iris Clarke, why should I pretend it never happened just because you say so?"

I had never seen Adrian so relentless, so insistent.

Five years ago, when he gave up on me entirely and broke up, it was just one sentence.

I agreed, and then I left.

After that, we never spoke.

This kind of entanglement, it wasn't like him at all.

A sudden headache began to throb behind my eyes. "What exactly do you want from me?"