Chapter 10: Amara Lyson Offers Herself!!

Uriah's voice stayed flat, his face unreadable. That very lack of emotion made Adeline feel worse than any shouting match ever could. How could someone change so fast? Ten years as husband and wife, and there was really nothing left to miss? At his answer, Alvin Yale and Amara Lyson both quietly exhaled in relief. "Do whatever you want." Adeline let out a cold snort. "Where you live isn't my business. But there's one thing you have to promise me." "What?" "Stop running around with people like Third Laureate Looske. It won't do you any good. If one day you get hauled in, you'll stain Cici's name. And if Cici ever wants to go into politics, if she can't pass the background check, you'll be a sinner for all time." Her warning came sharp and hard. "Don't worry," Uriah said. "Cici will only ever be proud of her father." "Uriah! How can you be this delusional? You really think that's possible?" Adeline's voice rose. "Just don't drag Cici down with you. Watch yourself." She couldn't stand the intimate air between Uriah and Amara. With a tight turn, she walked away. "Adeline," Alvin called after her, eyes flashing with a calculating glint. "It's late. Why don't I just make do in the study for one night? Don't worry, I won't cross any lines." If Uriah could move into Amara's villa, why couldn't he stay with the Scurr family? With Amara's temperament, even if she only wanted to get back at Uriah, she should agree to this. Once that precedent was set, Adeline would be his sooner or later. In the middle of the night, he could slip into Adeline's room… Adeline hadn't expected him to bring it up again. Thinking of how Uriah had deliberately tried to get under Alvin's skin, her resolve wavered. "Sis! You're back?" "Brother-in-law? You're here too? Did you and my sister make up?" Quinn Scurr stepped out just then, wearing a black strappy nightdress. A faint smile curved her lips, sweet and pure. "Quinn," Alvin barked, "Uriah did this just to humiliate your sister. He teamed up with Amara and shamelessly moved into her villa! Good thing your sister divorced that scum!" "Huh?" Quinn froze, mouth parting as her gaze flicked to Amara, taking her in twice over. After registering Amara's sultry charm, Quinn hurriedly tugged Adeline aside. "Sis, you need to apologize to brother-in-law. If another woman really steals him away, you won't even have time to regret it." Adeline's face darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about?" If she didn't want him, why would she care who took him? Besides, she never regretted anything. "Sis, why don't you get it?" Quinn pressed, anxious. "Think about it. You just signed the divorce agreement, and a woman like Amara immediately started circling. Brother-in-law's worth is something only you can't see." She gripped Adeline's arm tighter. "Sis, it's not too late to fix this. I know he still has feelings for you. But if you keep pushing him away, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!" "Amara's just putting on a show with Uriah to annoy me," Adeline snapped. "You don't actually think Amara would fall for Uriah, do you? It's so fake it's embarrassing." "Sis…" "Enough." Adeline cut her off, voice turning ice-cold. "I don't know what Uriah fed you to make you play messenger, but my mind is made up. He can live wherever he wants. He can be with whoever he wants. None of it has anything to do with me anymore." As for letting Alvin stay in the villa, she still couldn't decide. "Hey! What are you doing? Who said you could come into the villa?" Quinn shouted when she saw Alvin trying to follow Adeline inside. Alvin's expression chilled. His gaze slid over Quinn's delicate face and her curving figure, and a darker thought stirred. Once he controlled the Scurr family, he would take both sisters. On the surface, he kept his tone gentle. "It's hard to get a cab at this hour. Adeline said I could stay one night." "No." Quinn's refusal was absolute. "My brother-in-law already said strangers aren't allowed anywhere near Cici. You want to move into my house? Keep dreaming." She still wanted her sister and brother-in-law to get back together. If Alvin stayed the night, the crack between them would become a canyon. "Quinn, watch your attitude," Adeline said, forcing the words out. "Alvin is my… friend." "If he's a friend, then keep a friend's distance," Quinn shot back. "Sis, don't forget, you and brother-in-law aren't officially divorced yet." "Enough." Adeline's head throbbed. "Alvin, go back to a hotel." His plan fell apart. Alvin glared at Quinn with resentment, but he kept a gentleman's smile in place. "Fine. You've had a long day. I'll pick you up tomorrow. We'll go to the Registry Office together. After it's done, we'll find somewhere nice and celebrate." At the same time, Quinn jogged over to Uriah and lowered her voice. "Brother-in-law, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on my sister. I won't let anyone take advantage." Uriah looked at her innocent face and said nothing. Once his divorce with Adeline was truly settled, the girl would accept it, whether she wanted to or not. "Cici… is she asleep?" he asked. Quinn hesitated, then nodded. "She just cried a little while ago. But when I went in, she wiped her tears right away." Pain twisted in Uriah's chest. His daughter was his real little cotton-padded jacket, warm against the cold of the world. That was why he had endured Adeline again and again. But in the end… "Brother-in-law, don't worry too much," Quinn said softly. "Cici's really well-behaved. With me here, I won't let anyone bully her." "Thank you." Uriah's voice turned low. "Once I'm stable, I'll find a way to take Cici with me." Quinn's eyes dimmed. "Brother-in-law… actually, my sister-" "Quinn," Uriah interrupted calmly, "beginnings always arrive by chance, without warning. Endings always split like two blossoms, each facing a different sky. The moment I signed the divorce agreement, everything between your sister and me turned the page." He had loved deeply, or he never would have given up everything just to stay by Adeline's side. But he was decisive, too. He would never cling and hesitate. "No matter what," Quinn said, voice thick, "you'll always be my brother-in-law." "And you'll always be family," Uriah replied. Seeing how close they were, Adeline's brows lifted. "Uriah. Tomorrow at nine. Don't be late. I don't have time to wait." With that, she grabbed Quinn and pulled her into the villa. Inside, Adeline's thoughts churned. Too much had happened in one day, and none of it had settled. "Sis…" "Don't start," Adeline said, already moving. "I'm going to check on Cici." She knew exactly what Quinn wanted to say. That everything Adeline had was backed by Uriah. That Uriah was exceptional. That Adeline couldn't see her own heart. She'd heard it all enough. And she refused to admit any of it. In her eyes, Uriah had held her back. "Cici…" Adeline gently pushed open the door to Cici's room. No answer came. She sat beside her five-year-old daughter and stared at the tear tracks that still hadn't dried at the corners of her eyes. A pang of tenderness rose, followed immediately by resentment toward Uriah. If Uriah had just accepted the dignity she offered, would their daughter have ended up like this? "Cici," Adeline murmured, smoothing the blanket, "Mom knows you're blaming me. But Mom has her own happiness, her own freedom. What I'll give you in the future will be an even stronger business empire." "One day you'll understand how good Mom is to you…" She tucked the blanket in and turned to leave quietly. "Mom…" Adeline stopped. Aurora Greaves didn't turn around. In the dark, her childish voice sounded small and steady. "Dad is the best dad. It's wrong for you to divorce Dad." Adeline's heart clenched. Why didn't even her own daughter understand her? Was it because she hadn't spent enough time with her? But she wasn't Uriah, with a career going nowhere, wasting life just to chase some warm little family dream. She wanted something higher. "Mom," Cici pleaded, finally looking at her. Tears still clung to her lashes. "Can you not divorce Dad?" Adeline's throat tightened. In the end, she still shook her head. "Cici, you're still little. You don't understand. My marriage with your dad has already reached the end…" Cici's eyes dulled. She lowered her head. Adeline forced gentleness into her voice. "Cici, how about Mom sleeps with you tonight?" "I don't want that!" "I miss Dad…" "But Cici can't be a crybaby. Cici promised Dad…" Aurora Greaves buried her face in the blanket. No matter what Adeline said after that, the child didn't speak again. Adeline sighed helplessly and left the room. "Was I really wrong?" She shook her head, eyes hardening. "I wasn't wrong. I already repaid what I owed Uriah. My first love is back by my side. My career is taking off. I'm going to live my life, not be trapped by Uriah!" "Uriah, I won't let you take Cici from me. She's my daughter. I'll make her a Hostess in a palace, not a child who wanders and suffers with you. Don't force my hand…" Elsewhere. Uriah followed Amara into the neighboring villa. "Uriah," Amara said brightly, leading him in, "there are four floors. You can stay wherever you want. Oh, and I'm in the first room on the left on the third floor. No lock. You can push the door open anytime." Her smile was too eager, her eyes already painting a private world for the two of them. She even wondered if she should be bolder. Should she offer herself? In just a few seconds, her thoughts drifted far away, countless scenes looping through her mind. "Any small room is fine," Uriah said. "When I take back Child Custody of Cici, I'll leave." He kept a measured distance from her as he spoke. Amara's expression fell for a heartbeat, then she recovered, turning alluring again as she slipped off her heels. "Then sleep on the second floor. There's only one room up there." Uriah didn't think much of it. He nodded. The night pressed close, thick with temptation. In the second-floor bedroom, Uriah washed up, then sat cross-legged on the bed. With each slow breath, he circulated the Breath Method, pushing his realm and strength higher. After the divorce, the sky was wide for birds to fly, the sea vast for fish to roam. Uriah was about to begin a new life. And strength was the foundation of everything. Knock, knock. A rap sounded at the door. Uriah paused. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Come in." The door creaked open. In an instant, heat surged through his veins, his body flaring hot. Amara stood in the doorway in a black V-neck slip dress. Her dark hair fell over her left shoulder, lace edging half-hidden, half-revealed. A swath of pale skin lay exposed to his gaze. Her long, straight legs looked impossibly white in the dim light. She lightly licked her red lips, a look that could seduce a saint. A sweet, enticing fragrance drifted from her with the air. Uriah hadn't expected that the very first night in her villa, she would pull something like this. "Uriah," Amara asked, her voice soft, "am I beautiful?" Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she stepped closer in her heels. Slender fingers slid up to rest at his neck. Her eyes turned languid, offering, like a peach ripe enough to bruise. "Beautiful," Uriah said. His body and his heart both told the truth. In looks, Amara didn't lose to Adeline at all. But Adeline's beauty was cold and distant, while Amara burned hot, as if she meant to set him on fire. "Then…" Amara breathed, close enough that her warmth brushed his skin. "Give me a chance. Okay?" She didn't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment. She had waited far too long for it. The brave got to enjoy the world first.