After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 119: This Isn’t Over

Adrian Sutton said, "Claire, you don’t have to thank me."

He was more than willing to do anything for her.

He didn’t need anything in return, and he certainly didn’t need her thanks.

Claire Mercer remained silent.

’If he hadn’t understood my message for help...’

’If he hadn’t shown up just in time to save me...’

’Something terrible would have already happened to me.’

’Ever since I met him, he’s helped me so much.’

’Every time, at a critical moment, he was the one who appeared and helped me escape my predicament, saving me from harm.’

’I owe him far, far too much.’

’To me, the words ’thank you’ feel far too inadequate.’

Adrian Sutton saw that her eyes were a little red and knew she was still shaken with fear. His heart ached for her.

"I was too careless today. I never should have let you go to the Mercer estate on your own."

"If I’d insisted on going with you to the Mercers’, none of this would have happened."

"You wouldn’t have ended up in such a dangerous situation."

He was truly blaming himself for what had happened.

’He questioned himself endlessly. Why did I let her go to that den of wolves—the Mercer estate—all by herself?’

’He knew perfectly well that the Mercers were bad news.’

’Every last one of them is a selfish, cold-blooded, heartless beast.’

’How could I have let her face that pack of ravenous beasts alone?’

’I can’t believe I made such a huge mistake.’

’If anything had actually happened to Claire, or if this incident left her with any trauma... I would never be able to forgive myself.’

"But thank God, you’re all right."

Claire Mercer was taken aback when she heard him.

’He was the one who showed up just in time to save me, yet here he was, mired in deep self-reproach.’

’Blaming his own carelessness for putting me in danger.’

’But how was it his fault?’

’I was the one who underestimated the Mercer family’s shamelessness.’

’I was the one who let my guard down around people in official-looking uniforms.’

’That’s how I fell right into their trap and nearly lost everything.’

’What happened today had nothing to do with him.’

’And yet, he was blaming himself...’

Claire Mercer couldn’t describe the feeling in her heart.

All she knew was that tears began to stream down her face, beyond her control.

She didn’t know why she was crying.

’She only knew that in all these years, no one had ever been like him...’

’...braving any danger to save me after understanding my call for help.’

’No one had ever gone to such lengths for me, so selflessly.’

The worry and concern in his eyes were always genuine.

Other than Roxanne Peyton and Stella Thorne, he was the kindest person in her life.

And the one who gave her the most warmth and sense of security.

’Perhaps it was the relief and lingering fear of her narrow escape, or perhaps she was simply moved.’

But when Adrian Sutton saw her crying, he completely panicked.

"Why are you crying?"

He shot to his feet, flustered, and wanted to reach out to wipe the tears from her eyes.

But he stopped, afraid the gesture would startle her.

He quickly grabbed a couple of tissues from the bedside table and handed them to her.

"Don’t cry. You’re safe now. I’ll protect you from now on."

"I’ll never let anything like this happen again. I promise."

Claire Mercer scrubbed at her tears with the back of her hand.

"Thank you, Adrian Sutton."

"But... why are you so good to me?"

"Because..."

’Because I love you!’

’I’ve loved you for ten whole years.’

But he didn’t dare say those words to her yet.

He blurted out a rather clumsy excuse.

"Because we’re husband and wife now, aren’t we?"

"Even though we got married for ulterior motives."

"But everyone knows we’re married; they just don’t know the real story behind it."

"And it’s a husband’s duty to protect his wife, right?"

"If something were to happen to you, people would think I’m useless."

"I’m just protecting my reputation, so you don’t need to feel burdened by it."

Claire Mercer looked at him, only half-convinced.

’Just to save face? He’d rush in to save me so recklessly for that?’

’Wasn’t he afraid of offending those powerful people?’

"We don’t have any power or influence right now."

"Aren’t you afraid of offending those so-called elite families by rushing to save me like this?"

Adrian Sutton shrugged, his expression nonchalant.

"Why should I be afraid of them?"

"So what if they have power and influence?"

"We live in a society governed by law. It’s not like I have to worry about them killing me, right?"

"Besides, they were the ones who hurt you first."

"They should be the ones worrying about getting into trouble for this."

Claire Mercer sighed. "You’re not wrong, but..."

"But these rich people usually have powerful connections protecting them."

"Even if what they did today was criminal, with those protectors in their corner, I doubt they’ll face any real punishment."

Adrian Sutton scoffed inwardly.

’Protectors?’

’They’re just a bunch of parasites preying on ordinary people.’

’Besides, what kind of protector would dare to go up against the government?’

’I’ll make sure anyone connected to Chester Lawton faces consequences they can’t handle.’

Of course, for now, his only option was to use the Rowan Family’s name.

"Have you forgotten that you are now the adopted daughter of the Rowan Family?"

"Setting aside Mr. and Mrs. Rowan, Silas Rowan is your adoptive older brother."

"You may not be in close contact with the Rowans right now, but they publicly acknowledged you as their adopted daughter. That was no joke."

"Silas Rowan is fiercely protective of his own. Do you think he’d stand by and watch someone bully you like this?"

"Anyone who dares to target you is slapping the Rowan Family in the face."

"The Rowan Family would never allow someone to bully you like this..."

"...and Silas himself would never let anyone push his sister around."

Claire Mercer had rarely seen Mrs. Rowan since her birthday banquet.

They kept in touch occasionally, but since they still didn’t know each other well, their conversations were often brief.

’Besides, she felt Mrs. Rowan had only publicly acknowledged her as an adopted daughter as a favor to Silas, just to give her some backing.’

Under the circumstances, she didn’t want to bother them with her problems.

"Let’s not tell them about this."

"I don’t want to trouble them with my problems."

Adrian Sutton said, "This isn’t just about you. What Chester Lawton and the Mercer family did constitutes a crime."

"We need to deal with these parasites who so brazenly disregard the law, to prevent more people from getting hurt."

Claire Mercer thought about it and realized he had a point.

"That’s true. I hope no other woman has to go through what I did."

"They might not be as lucky as I was."

"Exactly." Adrian Sutton gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"That’s why scum like Chester Lawton must be dealt with."

’And the Mercers... they’ve schemed against Claire time and time again.’

’Today they nearly caused an irreversible tragedy. I will absolutely not let this go.’