Chapter 4
4.
Ethan choked on his words, stunned. Then he leaned against the doorframe, letting out a harsh laugh.
"Lily, are you doing this on purpose?"
"You blocked me because you were pissed off that I set you up, right? You're just throwing a tantrum."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You never even went to the address I gave you, did you?"
"You didn't even meet the guy, and now you're playing house, pretending to get married. Do you really think I'd buy that?"
I thought he was genuinely delusional. Instinctively, I took another step back, my shoulders hitting the entryway console.
"I did go."
I looked him dead in the eye.
"And I like him very much, and he likes me. We are getting married tomorrow."
"Ethan, I did exactly what you told me to do. I met the guy, and I decided to marry him. Now, stop coming to find me. Do you understand?"
The smirk finally slid off Ethan's face.
His brow twisted into a tight knot, a flash of genuine panic crossing his eyes.
"You went? Who is he? I never actually set up a blind date for you!"
He stepped over the threshold, reaching out to grab my arm.
Adrian instantly materialized from the hallway, stepping in front of me. He blocked Ethan's hand and slammed the security button by the door.
"Mr. Reed, step back into the hallway."
Adrian's voice was ice-cold.
"You are trespassing in a private residence. Leave."
Footsteps echoed from the corridor almost immediately as the building's security guards rushed to the door.
Adrian didn't get physical with Ethan. He simply shielded me and stated clearly to the guards,
"If he ever comes back, deny him entry."
The guards motioned for Ethan to step out and demanded he leave the floor.
Ethan stood there, completely paralyzed.
He stumbled a half-step back, his voice cracking.
"Adrian Sterling? What are you doing here?"
Adrian didn't answer. He just turned, putting himself firmly between Ethan and me, and pulled me to his side.
He lowered his head, gently pressing a kiss to my hair before looking back at Ethan.
"What business do you have with my fiancée?"
Ethan's face cycled through several shades of pale before he let out a harsh scoff.
His gaze darted between us, dripping with grating mockery.
"I'm looking for my ex-girlfriend. Is that a problem?"
"Since when does the heir to the Sterling Group pick up other people's leftovers?"
The words were violently ugly.
My fingers instinctively clamped down on the lapel of Adrian's shirt.
Adrian acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. His brow didn't even twitch.
He simply looked down at me, his gaze softening immensely, before raising his eyes back to Ethan.
"Lily is not someone you can dictate. She is her own person, and she is the woman I am marrying tomorrow."
He paused.
"Mr. Reed, see yourself out. Tomorrow is our wedding day. I do not want you interrupting it."
The security guards stood by, gesturing firmly for Ethan to leave.
Finally, with a livid expression, Ethan retreated to the elevators.
Only then did Adrian close the door.
The moment the heavy door clicked shut, the apartment fell silent.
Leaning against Adrian's chest, breathing in the faint, clean scent of his body wash, my heart hammered against my ribs.
I looked up at his jawline, finally voicing the question that had been nagging at me.
"Adrian... were you actually the guy I was supposed to be set up with?"
Adrian looked down at me, his dark eyes unreadable.
He was silent for a few seconds, then gently shook his head.
"No."