Chapter 368

Anna Ross felt her wrist tighten, forced to stop.

The person behind her stepped in front, sharp eyes scanning her pale face. "Stay away from him. We're getting engaged soon."

"You wouldn't want people talking behind your back, would you? If I see you near him again, you'll face the consequences." Chloe Valentine's voice lowered, laced with an undisguised threat.

Anna shook off her hand calmly, meeting her gaze. "I think you're mistaken. I'm not the one who needs to keep my distance."

"You!" Chloe's fingertips trembled with anger, a sharp pain piercing her heart.

Adrian Sinclair treated this woman differently—she had sensed it from their first meeting. This threat needed to be eliminated quickly.

As Anna turned to leave, Chloe suddenly burst into tears. "Miss Ross, if you have any grievances, take them out on me. Why take it out on Adrian? It was my fault for accidentally mentioning you and Lucas..."

Anna froze for a moment, then caught sight of a familiar figure at the end of the hallway.

Her heart tightened abruptly.

Chloe had already run toward the man, clinging intimately to his arm. Adrian stood still, his gaze heavy and unreadable.

Only he knew the storm raging inside him. From the moment he saw her, countless questions swirled in his mind.

Was she really with Lucas? Was she with him at the bar last night? The thought felt like an invisible hand squeezing his chest, suffocating him with pain.

Anna lowered her eyes and walked past them in silence.

"Stop." Adrian's voice was cold as ice.

She pretended not to hear and continued walking. He quickly caught up, blocking her path. Left behind, Chloe dug her nails deep into her palms, eyes blazing with fury.

Anna frowned and looked up. "It's work hours. I have things to do."

"I'll compensate you for the time." Adrian stared at her distant expression, his throat moving slightly, voice tense.

After a brief silence, his tone softened slightly. "I'm getting engaged. Don't you have anything to say?"

Or do you just not care?

He watched her deep eyes closely, searching for any flicker of emotion.

Anna's face paled instantly, her fingertips trembling slightly. So he stopped her just to say this.

She forced down the bitterness in her chest, keeping her voice steady. "I forgot to congratulate you. Happy engagement."

The last trace of light in Adrian's eyes vanished.

As expected, it had always been his one-sided desire to keep her by his side. She never cared.

"Go," he said, stepping aside, his voice detached.