<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Chapter 1224 An idental Kiss</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Inside the hospital, Adrian’s cries of pain could be heard from the hallway.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Robert’s face tightened with concern as he waited for the doctors and nurses to finish their examination. When they finally left, he and Miranda entered the room together. Adriany there, hooked up to various medical equipment, looking frail and broken.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Adrian, it’s me,” Robert said, his voice softer than usual.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Adrian’s eyes fluttered open, and with great effort, he raised his hand slightly. “Dad</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tears welled in his eyes, the pain and suffering of the past few weeks etched across his face.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“It’s… Nathaniel… Adrian managed to croak.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Robert hadn’t expected that Nathaniel would go so far as to harm Adrian. His heart filled with rage. Turning to Miranda, he demanded. “Where did you find him?”</font></font>This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“In an abandoned dump,” Miranda said, wiping away her own tears. “If we had been anyter, he might have died.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">This is outrageous!” Robert growled, his fists clenching tightly. “Does Nathaniel still think he’s the same man who once ruled Tud? He’ll pay for this.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Dad, you have to get justice for Adrian,” Miranda pleaded. “Felix and I can’t go on like this. He’s in this condition because of Nathaniel.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Despite her anger at Adrian for his past betrayals, Miranda still feltpelled to seek revenge for him. After all, he was Felix’s father.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Adrian, barely able to speak, repeated, “Dad, it’s all Nathaniel and Cecilia… You have to get back at them.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Robert’s face darkened further, and he nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure justice is served.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Okay.” Relieved by his father’s words, Adrian finally closed his eyes and drifted into a fitful sleep.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Standing up, Robert beckoned Miranda to follow him. He needed to understand exactly what had transpired between Nathaniel and Cecilia over the past few weeks.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Miranda didn’t hold back, exaggerating her retelling of recent events, painting Nathanind Cecilia in the worst possible light.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“What a menace!” Robert spat after hearing her story.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Without wasting any more time, he pulled out his phone and made a call to his subordinates, ordering them to gather information on Nathaniel’s current activities. He wanted to ensure Nathaniel learned a painful lesson.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Later that day, Cecilia, having finished work, was about to head home as usual. But as she stepped out of the building, she noticed a familiar car parked near the entrance.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The window rolled down, revealing Nathaniel’s sharp profile. He turned to her and said, “Get in Nathaniel, with a serious expression, reminded her. “We agreed I would drive you to work, remember?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Cecilia got into the car. “There’s no need for all this fuss. I already have a driver picking me up and dropping me off.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Nathaniel’s face clouded with a hint of sadness. “Are you nning to cut all ties with me?”</font></font>
The question took Cecilia by surprise. She quicklyposed herself. “Of course not. We have a child together. There’s no way we can sever all ties.”
Relief flickered across Nathaniel’s face. He had feared she might want topletely distance herself from him.
As he raised his hand toward her, Cecilia instinctively flinched, causing Nathaniel to freeze mid–motion. “Are you afraid of me?”
“No,” Cecilia replied quickly. “It was just a reflex. What are you trying to do?”
Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned closer and, with gentle precision, fastened her seatbelt.
His proximity made Cecilia’s heart race as she caught sight of the faint stubble on his face. His skin was remarkably smooth, his scent reminding her of fresh earth and grass after rain.
Cecilia found herself staring for a moment, her breath quickening. She quickly turned her gaze towards the window, trying to shake off the strange feelings stirring within her.
Despite not looking at him, she was keenly aware of Nathaniel’s presence. His closeness made her feel unnervingly warm.
Why is it taking so long to fasten a seatbelt?
Nathaniel had already finished securing the belt, but he remained still, his gaze locked on her. “You’re running a fever?” he asked, concerned, noticing the redness of her face.
Without thinking, he reached out to feel her forehead. But at that moment, Cecilia turned toward him, and their lips identally brushed against each other.