Back to Adrian Sterling

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

No one at the table looked happy to see me.

On the day I returned, Adrian Sterling was smiling—but it was the kind of smile that belonged beside another woman, not me. The woman next to him wore a fitted dress, young and pretty, her hand resting possessively at his side.

So that was why everyone thought I had come back to throw myself at him again.

Only I knew better.

Six years ago, I had already been the one abandoned.

The day I came back, Grandfather Sterling had personally arranged a welcome dinner for me.

But Adrian, the guest of honor in all but name, showed up late.

My half brother glanced at me with open disdain and said loudly enough for everyone to hear, “You’ve been away all these years, and the first thing you do after coming back is latch onto Adrian again. Claire, have you no shame at all?”

The room went still.

I sat there without moving, forcing a small smile. “If that’s what you think, then keep thinking it.”

Just then, someone at the door announced Adrian’s arrival, and every eye turned at once.

He walked in wearing a dark gray suit, tall and composed, the very picture of effortless control. The woman beside him clung to his arm. She was dressed in pale colors, delicate and soft-looking, like she had every right to stand there.

Their seats had been arranged together.

As Adrian pulled out his chair, the collar of his shirt shifted just enough for everyone to catch the faint red mark at the base of his neck.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Grandfather Sterling’s eyes lit up. He looked from Adrian to the woman at his side, clearly pleased. “You’re not getting any younger, either. Since things have already come this far, when are you planning to make it legal?”

My fingers tightened beneath the table.

Adrian let out a low laugh. “Grandfather, you’ve misunderstood. This young lady beside me is pregnant. We’re only here to discuss the matter. If word gets out carelessly, it could damage her reputation.”

Grandfather Sterling’s expression shifted at once. “Pregnant?”

The woman lowered her head shyly and glanced at Adrian, her face full of timid dependence.

“I… I’m carrying his child.”

For a moment, the room went dead silent.

Then, almost as if they’d rehearsed it, every eye turned toward me. A few people even smiled, like they were waiting to watch a joke land.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I opened my mouth, but before I could say a word, Grandfather Sterling’s expression softened with relief. It was as if, in that instant, he had finally let go of the last of his worries. He seemed convinced now that there was no chance Adrian and I would ever get back together.

I honestly hadn’t expected things to spiral this far.

After all, a woman willing to throw away her dignity for Adrian Sterling was something I had never imagined.

Bang—

A glass hit the floor near my feet and shattered.

The sharp crack made my whole body flinch.

Blood drained from Adrian’s face in an instant.

A long while later, I finally noticed that the group chat had exploded.

Claire, what’s going on with you and Adrian? Are you two seriously back together? Congratulations!

The messages were coming so fast they made my eyes blur.

I knew it, one of them wrote. I knew you two would end up getting back together.

Only then did I belatedly tap into the chat history and see what had set everyone off.

Adrian had posted a photo of our hands clasped together.

On my ring finger sat a diamond engagement ring, clear and brilliant under the light—beautiful enough to make any woman stop and stare.

I looked at it for a long moment before finally typing a reply.

We’re not back together.

The second my message went through, the chat erupted even harder.

Come on, what do you mean not back together? You two even have a kid.

I lost interest in responding.

A few others jumped in right away.

Exactly. We all know what’s going on. Don’t even try to deny it.

Then one of our more reckless friends suddenly sent a voice message. “Claire, stop being so stubborn. Adrian’s already lowered himself this much. Why are you still—”

Before he could finish, a woman’s voice cut in from the other side, soft and smiling. “Don’t listen to him ramble. They’ve been drinking.”

I froze for a second.

That voice—

It was the woman beside Adrian.

Then I had no idea which troublemaker in the chat directly tagged Adrian and asked: Adrian, if Claire really marries someone else, what are you going to do?

He answered almost immediately.

Then I’ll crash the wedding and steal her back.

Adrian, they teased, if you put it like that, maybe she really will run.

He didn’t reply again. The chat dissolved into laughter and chaos.

I was just about to put my phone down when another message from him appeared.

If anyone dares sink their teeth into what’s mine, I’ll make them spit it back out.

The whole group instantly went dead silent.

A moment later, Adrian added, calm and casual:

I’m not joking.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Everyone at the table had already started egging Adrian on, insisting he pick someone and drink with them.

That was when I realized the woman sitting beside him was here too.

The friend who had dragged me into this tonight looked embarrassed and leaned in to whisper, “Claire, I really didn’t know she was coming. If I had, I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me.”

I just gave a faint smile. “It’s fine.”

But apparently the woman beside Adrian didn’t think it was fine at all. She looked me over, then smiled at Adrian with deliberate sweetness.

“Adrian, now that Claire’s finally here, you should at least have a drink with her too.”

She turned to me again, all faux warmth. “After all, for someone to come all this way just to see you, that kind of sincerity is hard to come by.”

I hadn’t expected her to smile so prettily while every word she said came edged with a blade.

Someone nearby immediately picked up on it and joined in. “Seriously, Adrian, you’re usually so hard to get near. If she managed to come all the way here for you, that means she’s special, right?”

Another one laughed. “Exactly. Since she’s already here, don’t be so cold. At least drink with her.”

“I’m staying out of it,” someone else said with a grin. “But I’ve heard Claire and Adrian used to be really close.”

“So close that everyone knew,” another added.

What happened when they were younger had never really been a secret.

After all these years, though, standing here again under everyone’s eyes, I felt a tension I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Someone shoved a drink toward me. “Come on, don’t chicken out. It’s just one glass.”

Then another glass was passed into Adrian’s hand.

The moment it happened, my scalp prickled.

I instinctively wanted to refuse, but before I could speak, someone cut in with a laugh, “What? Claire, don’t tell me you’re scared.”

The woman at Adrian’s side smiled too. “Don’t make things awkward. It’s just a drink.”

“If she drinks, I’ll drink too,” Adrian said flatly.

I hurried to my feet. “No, that’s not necessary—”

But the room had already gone quiet.

Then Adrian lifted his gaze and said in a calm, even voice, “If anyone here can outdrink me, I’ll drink.”

The entire room froze.

A beat later, somebody burst out laughing. “Come on, Adrian, stop messing with us. Who here doesn’t know your tolerance is insane? You drink like it’s nothing. You’re obviously just trying to protect her.”

A few others laughed too.