Chapter 303
Sophia Roscente felt a surge of happiness unlike any she had ever known.
She silently vowed to hold onto this hard-won warmth.
Buzz buzz buzz—
Her phone's vibration shattered the cozy atmosphere.
Sophia frantically searched through her handbag.
It was a call from her mother.
She gasped suddenly. "Oh no! Mom asked me to come home and keep her company today. I completely forgot!"
She hurriedly grabbed Marcus Hill's hand. "We have to go, now."
The door closed softly behind them.
The room fell into a silence broken only by the sound of their breathing.
Anna Ross averted her gaze, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt.
Silence stretched between them.
She finally spoke in a soft voice. "Don't you need to return to the office?"
Adrian Sinclair stood by the window.
Sunlight cast his tall, straight silhouette onto the floor.
"I'll leave once I know you're home safely." His voice was calm and even.
Anna looked up at him.
Three years had polished him into a more mature and steady man.
The boy he once was had long since transformed into a compelling man.
His features were still handsome, but now carried a deeper intensity.
After the IV drip finished, Adrian insisted on driving her home.
The moment the car stopped, his phone rang urgently.
There was an emergency at the company requiring his immediate attention.
He frowned, ending the call. "I have to go."
Anna stood outside her building, watching the car disappear.
She watched until the black sedan vanished around the corner.
It wasn't that no one had shown interest in her these past three years.
But her heart had already been claimed by that one person.
There was simply no room for anyone else.
Back in her apartment, she saw a message from the bar owner.
The bar was closed for the night.
She put her phone down and walked into the bedroom.
From the very bottom of a pile of books, she pulled out a photo album.
The cover read, "As Wished By The Mountains And Rivers."
Her fingertips gently traced the gold-embossed letters.
The album was filled with sweet memories.
Every photo captured a moment of past happiness.
Now, only she remained to cherish them.
Tears blurred her vision.
She wiped them away hurriedly, but they only fell faster.
She had never dared to open this album after their breakup.
She was terrified of completely falling apart.
Her phone rang suddenly.
She took a deep breath and answered.
"Anna, can you have dinner with me tonight?" Mia Lawrence's voice was full of anticipation.
Anna tried to keep her voice steady. "Actually, I have the night off."
But her choked voice betrayed her.
Mia noticed immediately. "Have you been crying?"
The sound of rustling papers came through the phone.
Anna explained softly. "It's just a bit of a cold."
Mia became instantly concerned. "You're sick? Why didn't you tell me? I'm coming over right now!"
"Don't," Anna said quickly. "I already went to the hospital."
She thought of her friend's strict attendance policy after her promotion.
Mia was skeptical. "Who went with you to the hospital?"
Anna lowered her eyes, her voice almost a whisper.
"Adrian Sinclair."