Chapter 285

"Are you concerned about me?"

"Huh?"

Anna Ross was caught off guard by his question.

She quickly composed herself and replied calmly, "No, you misunderstood."

Adrian Sinclair chuckled softly. "Just asking. Don't take it seriously."

Anna fell silent. The car was unusually quiet, yet she felt restless.

Since their last argument, an indescribable distance had lingered between them.

"What's on your mind?" Adrian leaned back lazily against the seat.

Anna looked ahead. The red light had sixty seconds remaining.

She whispered, "Nothing."

She was still debating whether to reveal Howard Lowell's plan. Her mother's safety was paramount.

But she couldn't bear to hurt Adrian again.

"Still worried about my uncle joining the company?" Adrian glanced at the red light before turning his gaze to her.

Anna felt the air grow thin. She turned to look out the window.

She asked softly, "You're so capable. No one can really harm you, right?"

Adrian paused briefly, a self-mocking smile forming. "Who said that? Haven't you hurt me?"

......

Anna bit her lower lip and lowered her head.

She always carried guilt toward him. No matter how he treated her, she could endure it.

"I..." She looked up, meeting his deep, intense gaze.

Time seemed to freeze. Their eyes locked, burning with the same honesty and passion as before.

Anna was momentarily lost. She watched him lean closer, his handsome face magnifying before her. His warm breath brushed her cheek.

At the critical moment, she noticed the light turn green and hastily pointed ahead. "The light's green!"

She quickly averted her gaze, her heart racing.

That was close...

Adrian gave her a long look before driving through the intersection.

Anna pulled out her phone to distract herself, but found it unusually quiet.

He noticed her small movements. A faint smile touched Adrian's lips.

Anna regretted her decision. She shouldn't have let him pick her up. She put her phone away and turned back to the window.

New York's late autumn remained warm. The streets were crowded with people. She spotted a couple walking by—a girl holding a bouquet, smiling brightly as she clung to her boyfriend's arm.

Anna felt a pang. She had known such happiness once.

Back then, Adrian had used his part-time earnings to buy her first-ever bouquet. The flutter of joy from that moment remained vivid in her memory.

Adrian glanced sideways, catching her profile tinged with melancholy.