Chapter 412

Adrian approached quietly, shrugging off his tailored suit jacket. He grabbed a cashmere throw from the nearby armchair and settled beside Vivian. With careful movements, he draped the soft fabric over her sleeping form and gently pried her phone from her fingers.

Vivian stirred instantly, her lashes fluttering open. Recognizing Adrian, her body relaxed as she discarded the pillow and curled into his embrace. "You're home?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

Adrian's gaze flickered to the unread notifications on her screen. A tender smile curved his lips. "I texted you hours ago. You shouldn't wait up for me here - you'll get chilled."

"How's Serena?" Vivian asked, brushing past his concern as she sat up straighter. "Everything went smoothly?"

"Perfectly. I accompanied her to the appointment, and Miranda's with her now," Adrian reassured her, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. The drowsy haze in Vivian's emerald eyes couldn't mask their luminous quality, making her even more mesmerizing than usual.

He'd encountered countless beautiful women in his life, yet none had ever stirred his soul.

To him, physical beauty was as disposable as last season's fashion.

But Vivian? She made his pulse race with just a glance.

He couldn't deny that even before love took root, her beauty had always affected him profoundly.

That memory surfaced - Vivian approaching him with tears glistening on her porcelain cheeks, determination blazing in her eyes. His defenses had crumbled instantly.

Rising smoothly, he scooped her into his arms.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking," she protested weakly, her cheeks flushing pink.

"I enjoy carrying you," Adrian teased, giving her a playful bounce that made her gasp. "You weigh less than my gym bag."

Her arms flew around his neck instinctively.

When she realized their faces were mere inches apart, she impulsively brushed her lips against his before burying her face in his chest.

Adrian wasn't lying - holding her required no effort at all.

He carried her to their bedroom and deposited her gently on the king-sized bed.

Any remnants of sleep had vanished from Vivian's eyes, replaced by sparkling awareness.

"Awake now?" Adrian asked with a roguish grin, noting her flushed cheeks.

Before she could retort, his fingers made quick work of her silk blouse, revealing delicate lace beneath. The fabric hinted tantalizingly at the creamy skin it concealed.

In stark contrast, Adrian's dress shirt remained impeccably fastened, every button secured up to his throat.

He leaned in, his fingertips tracing hypnotic patterns along her collarbone. With a deft motion, he tugged the lace aside, pressing his lips to the exposed skin.

Vivian gasped, her body arching instinctively toward his touch.