Each movement of his hips made her whimper softly against him, her breath becoming shallow.
The world outside no longer seemed to matter.
The air grew thicker with every tangled breath they took between kisses.
His lips trailed down her neck, licking and nipping the sensitive skin just below her ear, and Ella shuddered against him.
"Adrian..." she whispered, barely able to form the word as her head tipped back, her chest heaving, "Someone... Someone might see us..."
"They won’t dare." He pulled back just enough to look at her.
Her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, the way her pupils were blown wide, it made something dark flicker in his gaze.
Nobody... nobody would ever live to see her .
As the thought crossed his mind, something possessive curled inside him. He kissed her again. Slower now, almost reverent, as if he was worshipping her.
And Ella melted under his ministrations, barely able to control herself as she inched closer.
But after setting her body ablaze, the man just stopped.
Her eyes went wide, in disbelief and disappointment. But the heartless man acted like he did not see it.
Ella: "_" Forget it, I will have the upper hand next time, hmph!
By the time he finally let her down, her feet touched the ground—
And her knees gave out.
"Ah—" she stumbled slightly, her legs wobbling.
Adrian caught her with lightning-fast reflexes, arms circling her waist.
And then wordlessly, he scooped her up in his arms, bridal-style, with his usual ease that never ceased to surprise her.
"I-I can walk!" she protested, burying her face into his shoulder to hide the heat blooming on her cheeks when they walked past all the stores they had played games today.
"You call that walking?" he asked flatly, but there was a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.
"_" Was... Adrian being smug?
Pouting, she wrapped her arms around his neck automatically, and she buried her face deeper.
The sleek and usually clean black sedan was filled with rabbits, sharks, other soft toys, and accessories.
Once they settled in the backseat, Ji Yan started the car.
Ella opened her mouth to speak but Adrian’s voice cut through the air.
Ella blinked. Her head turned sharply toward him. He was actually taking the initiative to let her go?
The shock on Ji Yan’s face mirrored Ella’s. He very well remembered how both the people had given each other cold treatment because his second master was unwilling to let Ella visit her parents for some reason.
Yet, in one day, the world seemed to have taken a good turn, huh? What exactly happened in that amusement park that made his Second Master so... agreeable?
Ji Yan regretted running off to the car to be responsible for the prizes he had carried back!
When Ji Yan stepped on the accelerator, Ella snapped out of her shock.
"Head back to the Eve Mansion."
Adrian glanced at her but he did not ask any questions.
Ella fell silent for a while, but after a while, she turned toward him. She opened her mouth and then closed it.
"Ask," Adrian spoke without lifting his head.
She cleared her throat, "How do you know I want to ask something?"
Adrian met her gaze, and quirked a provocative brow, "What do you think?"
Translation: What makes you assume I will be clueless about things when it comes to you?
Ella gulped, "Actually, baby, i-it’s about yesterday..."
"Mommy, Daddy, I don’t think we should keep waiting... I doubt sis would come over today," Esther mumbled as she walked around the L-shaped couch and came to sit between her parents, pouting slightly.
Mrs. Yu sighed, "I thought that girl had matured after staying away but it seems like..."
Mr. Yu remained silent, his face slightly frigid.
Mrs. Yu turned to Esther, "Sweetheart, be honest with mom. You have been in touch with Ella all these years, haven’t you?"
Esther stiffened and glanced at Mo Jun who was sitting on the single couch.
Mrs. Yu continued with a soft sigh, "Everytime we asked you about her, you said you both are not as close but yesterday, the both of you did not act like she was seeing each other after a long time."
Esther lowered her head.
Mr. Yu turned to Mrs. Yu, "If little princess hid it deliberately from us, then she must have her own reasons."
"Of course, I am not blaming you, dear. Mom just wants to get to the bottom of it."
"Back then, sis was different from who she used to be. She had become resentful and she... she hated you..." Esther’s eyes teared up, "She resorted to... d-different ways to stay relevant... I just did not want to hurt mom and dad."
Mrs. Yu pulled Esther into her arms, "My poor child, you have suffered in silence all these years."
Mr. Yu pushed himself to his feet, "No need to wait for her anymore. I doubt she has any intention to come here and meet us today."
A hint of glee flickered in Esther’s eyes.
"Wait!’’ A voice suddenly cut through the living room when Mr. Yu turned to leave.
Mo Jun looked up, "A lot of things happened yesterday. We still don’t know if Ella is fine or not. Maybe... she is on her way here?"
Esther turned to him, her brows tugging together.
At this moment, a maid came rushing inside, "Master, Madam, the First Miss is here."
Mrs. Yu stood up, "Escort her inside."
After a few minutes, Ella entered the mansion. She was dressed with a simple oversized black hoodie and leggings and had a bag swung over her shoulder.
"I am sorry... I was..."
"Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?" Mr. Yu cut her off.
Ella stilled. Her fingers curled slightly around the strap of her bag as she lifted her gaze to meet Mr. Yu’s.
Despite the dull ache in her chest, she looked at him unapologetically this time, "Dad, what are you talking about?"
Mr. Yu snapped, ignoring his wife who tugged at his sleeve, "A dead body was reclaimed from the party yesterday and a man carried you out of there! You have nothing to say?!"