The Heiress Is Back!

“Ehem… So you’re going to marry the country’s most eligible and hottest bachelor, huh?” Adrian teased Phoebe after he sipped on his wine.

It had been already half an hour since Amelia announced about the merging of the Thompson and Evans Corporation through Phoebe and Adrian’s marriage soon. And since then, Adrian did not stop bothering and teasing Phoebe about what she said after the bumping incident a while ago.

Phoebe blew out air as she glared at him in irritation. “Can you just shut up? I did not mean what I’ve said, okay?” She then hissed. “I never knew that you’re the man who I’m going to marry. If I'd known it earlier, then I would have immediately backed out,” she added, then she rolled her eyes at him.

Adrian chuckled for the young lady’s sassiness. It was his first time to encounter a woman who really did not have an interest in him. And it was also his first time to see a woman who was as simple yet elegant as her. He was not exaggerating though. Because living and socializing with elite people meant competing with everyone not only with business but also with their fashion sense.

He also knew that she was telling the truth. But she could not stop from teasing her. She looked so cute with that frown on her face.

He tried to offer her a toast, but the fierce lady immediately looked away. He shook his head with a smirk on his lips. He put his free hand inside his pocket, then leaned his back on the edge of the bar counter. “So, what do you think of me, Ms. Future Mrs. Evans?” he asked.

Phoebe, who wanted to leave the man’s side but was shy to embarrass her parents from the visitor’s eyes, secretly mocked him. “Can you just shut up? And don’t you ever dare mention that title again. I’m shivering,” she irritatedly said.

Adrian faked a worried face. “Oh, why are you shivering? Are you cold?” He then took off his coat, then handed it to her.

Phoebe brows furrowed at his gesture. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“C’mon, babe. Don’t be shy,” Adrian responded. He moved towards her and was going to let her wear the coat.

Phoebe was about to dodge him and move away, but Adrian carefully grabbed her wrist and whispered to her. “Don’t move away, everyone’s watching.”

Phoebe was electrified by his whisper, especially with his hot breath, causing her to widen her eyes and be stunned from her place. Her heart also started to beat rapidly.

Adrian took the opportunity to let her wear his coat. A curve appeared on his lips when he saw how she was dumbfounded with his actions. ‘So, I also have this effect on you, huh?’ he thought.

The guests, who were secretly watching the newly engaged couple, could not hide their admiration towards the two anymore.

“They looked so good together, didn't they?”

“I suddenly remembered how my husband and I were before.”

“I can see a bright future ahead of them.”

Those statements were just some of the comments of the guests towards Adrian and Phoebe.

“It looks like they are already getting along with each other,” Alfred commented happily.

“I think so, too,” Henry replied, watching her daughter together with Adrian.

“We should toast for this. A toast for the new start and fruitful merging of Thompson and Evans Corporation!” Janice Evans offered.

Amelia just smiled at them as she accepted the toast. After having a drink, her gaze returned to where their daughter was. She was really hoping that her unica hija did not feel forced into this arranged marriage. Because the last thing that she would do was to hurt her precious daughter’s feelings.

***

Finally, Phoebe already got home after her worst night ever!

That Adrian Evans really did not leave her side until the party ended. And that was what made her night the worst of all. She could not stand the boastfulness of that man. It was like he was made up of air because of his arrogance. She thought she did not have even a minute to roll her eyes for every line that he was saying.

And he was also too talkative for a man.

She could not help to stomp her feet in irritation when she reached the doorstep of Leah’s bedroom.

She only temporarily stopped thinking about Adrian when she heard loud coughs of her mom inside the room. “Mom, this is Phoebe. I’m going to enter now, okay?” she spoke from the outside.

She did not bother to wait for her to respond and immediately opened the door because of worry. She rushed to Leah and sat beside her. She had already stopped from coughing. “Mom, let me get you to the hospital,” she said.

But Leah weakly shook her head and just held Phoebe’s hand. “Mom’s fine. How about you? How did the party go? I’m sorry that I could not go and attend,” she voiced out, almost out of breath.

Phoebe’s eyes softened as she reached for Leah’s cheeks. She carefully caressed it.

Leah’s physical appearance had changed so much since she discovered her illness.

Her good physique before had now changed. She became skinny. And her hair also fell out because of chemotherapy.

She could not believe that the healthy woman, who used to design, sew, and sell clothes for them to live, was now in her weakest state.

“I love you so much, Phoebe. Always remember that,” Leah said, then coughed again.

“Mom, stop talking first please?” Phoebe stopped her. Her vision started to blur because of the tears in her eyes. Worry, sadness, and pity for her mom was mixing inside of her. If only she had a choice, she did not want to see her this weak.

Leah caressed her daughter’s cheek. “And please forgive me for taking you away from the original life that you should have had before. I am sorry for being so selfish, Phoebe,” she cried.

Phoebe’s heart was clenching in pain. Leah never forgot to ask for her forgiveness every time she visited her here. She would not deny that she was hurt for what she did because there were many what ifs that were coming into her mind that time. But whenever she remembered how Leah took care of her, all of those vanished in an instant. And she also never forgot to tell her that she had already forgiven her.

“Mom, the past is already in the past. Let’s move on and just think about what we have now and what we will have tomorrow, shall we?” she hardly said.

Leah wiped Phoebe’s tears as she smiled. “I’m sorry. I was just carried away. Thank you so much, Phoebe for all, especially for asking your parents to help with my medications.”

“That’s just a normal thing for me to do, mom. Please stop making me cry, can you?” she joked to ease the heaviness of the atmosphere.

Leah laughed, then wiped her tears, too. “Fine. Just tell me about how the party went then. I’m sure you’re the most beautiful there.”

“Of course, mom!” Phoebe confidently answered which made both of them laugh.

“So, have you already seen who’s your fiance? Is he handsome?”

Phoebe’s blood automatically raised to her head because of that question. Adrian’s annoying face immediately flashed in her mind. She hissed. “Yes, he is. But he’s too arrogant,” she complained, pouting her lips and rolling her eyes.

Leah laughed at her daughter’s reaction. “Why did you say that?”

Phoebe sighed. “Let’s just forget about him, mom. He’s nothing but a boastful man who thinks that every woman in the world has a crush on him. Like, eww! He’s not my type!” she grumbled. She was also fisting her hand. She did not know why she was so pissed off with him to the point that her eyebrow would automatically raise once she heard his name.

Leah’s stomach hurt because of laughing too much for Phoebe’s reactions. Somehow, she was already having a clue of how the relationship of the two would go in the future.

She was just hoping that her beloved daughter would not get hurt when the time came.

***

Meanwhile, inside Adrian’s bedroom, he was there, lying down on his bed, with his hands as his pillow, staring at the ceiling. If people would know, they might think that he was insane for seeing Phoebe’s face on his ceiling.

A bright smile on his lips was irremovable. He thought that he would just get engaged with a woman who had nothing else to worry but her appearance and status. But Phoebe proved him wrong. And now, he could not take her off his mind.

Her smiles and frown was all he could see. She was too cute and gorgeous at the same time whenever she had her face crumpled because of annoyance towards him.

“Hayyy…” He sighed as his smile widened more. “Phoebe Thompson…”

Now, he just wanted to know more about her.