Chapter 372
Anna Ross opened her eyes.
Her head throbbed painfully.
She tried to recall last night's events.
Her memory stopped right before the drinking.
What happened after that.
She had no impression at all.
She got up and walked toward Sophia Roscente's room.
The door was slightly ajar.
It was empty inside.
The living room lights were on.
Lucas Evans lay on the sofa.
The light woke him.
He sat up squinting.
"Anna, you're awake?"
He found his glasses and put them on.
His gaze behind the lenses seemed evasive.
Anna stood where she was.
"What happened last night?"
Her voice was hoarse from sleep.
Lucas rubbed his temples.
"You and your best friend got drunk."
"Her friend took her home."
"So I brought you back."
He paused for a moment.
His tone turned cautious.
"Are you mad at me?"
"I just wanted to help."
Anna shook her head.
"It's not your fault."
"I drank too much."
She regretted it privately.
Her alcohol tolerance was poor.
Yet she had insisted on pushing her limits.
Lucas remembered last night's scene.
In her drunken haze.
She kept calling that name.
Adrian Sinclair.
I'm sorry.
Each word felt like a needle piercing his heart.
He clenched his fingers.
His nails dug into his palms.
"Anna."
He looked up suddenly.
"My friend opened a coffee shop."
"He invited me to try the new menu."
"Will you come with me?"
Anna instinctively refused.
"I don't really like coffee."
She averted her gaze.
Unable to meet his eyes.
Lucas didn't give up.
"They have other drinks too."
"All of them taste great."
"You should give it a try."
Anna tried to decline again.
"Lucas, I..."
He interrupted her.
"It's settled then."
Lucas picked up his jacket.
"I'll pick you up later."
He turned and left.
His retreating figure looked resolute.
Anna sat alone in the living room.
Her headache grew worse.
She had clearly refused.
But he was always this stubborn.
She couldn't give him what he wanted.
Once everything was over.
She would take her mother and leave.
After a quick wash.
She took a short nap.
Then got up for work.
Just as she reached the company entrance.
She ran into Adrian Sinclair.
She lowered her head to avoid him.
But then she saw Chloe Valentine behind him.
Chloe smiled brightly.
She quickly walked up to Anna.
"Executive Assistant Ross."
Her voice was sickly sweet.
"Adrian and I are getting engaged today."
She linked arms with Adrian.
The gesture was intimate.
Anna stood frozen in place.
As if turned to ice.
Her expression solidified.
A flash of triumph shone in Chloe's eyes.
"You're Adrian's cousin."
"Would you like to join us?"
Her smile widened.
The air seemed to stand still.
Adrian watched her silently.
His gaze was deep and unreadable.
A long time passed.
Anna finally regained her senses.
She forced a stiff smile.
"No, thank you."
She said softly.
"I have to work."