Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 551: Protection

Golden light slowly spread across the sky, chasing away the darkness.

The image created a powerful contrast.

It felt as if the girl was leaving the shadows behind... and slowly walking toward the light.

Adeline felt her chest tighten slightly.

’This... feels like me.’

It perfectly reflected the stage of life she was currently in.

She liked it so much that she unconsciously stepped closer, her fingers gently brushing against the edge of the frame before she quickly pulled her hand back.

’I shouldn’t touch it.’

Before leaving, she glanced at the small name plate below the painting. "Olivia."

Adeline quietly repeated the name in her mind. ’I’ll remember it.’

She smiled faintly.

’One day... when I have enough money... I’ll come back and buy a painting from here.’

With that silent promise, she left the gallery.

Meanwhile, in another room hidden behind the studio walls, Olivia watched everything through the surveillance cameras.

She leaned slightly back in her chair, raising an eyebrow.

She hadn’t paid much attention to visitors before.

However, seeing someone admire her favorite painting for so long caught her interest.

Many people had visited the studio before.

But almost none of them had paid attention to that particular painting.

It was Olivia’s personal favorite.

And this was the first visitor who truly seemed to understand it.

Because of that, Olivia quietly remembered Adeline.

Meanwhile, Adeline continued strolling through the city streets.

Soon she came across a luxurious clothing store.

The display window showed several elegant dresses that immediately caught her attention.

Unable to resist, she entered the shop.

After a while, she suddenly heard a somewhat familiar voice somewhere nearby.

However, since she wasn’t in the best mood, she decided to ignore it and focus on shopping instead.

Just as she was browsing through the dresses, one particular dress caught her eye.

She reached out to take it. But suddenly... A hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

Adeline frowned and turned around. Standing behind her was a man.

His gaze swept across her body with an unmistakably lewd expression.

Adeline’s frown deepened.

She tried to pull her hand away, but the man tightened his grip slightly, continuing to stare at her as if she were some fascinating toy.

Adeline’s patience finally snapped.

Without warning, she lifted her leg and kicked him hard in the calf.

"Ah!" The man cried out as the burning pain shot up his leg.

He immediately stepped back, clutching his leg before glaring at her furiously.

"You bitch! How dare you kick me?!"

Adeline stared at him coldly. "You were the one crossing the line first. You grabbed my hand."

What was he even thinking when he grabbed her hand without her permission?

The man slowly straightened his posture, rubbing the spot where she had kicked him. His expression twisted into something between annoyance and mockery.

He looked at her carefully before speaking.

"You... really don’t recognize me?"

Adeline frowned and shook her head.

"No."

The man suddenly let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing slightly through the quiet clothing store.

"How interesting."

He crossed his arms and stared at her with a sneer.

"Just a few months ago, you were desperately begging for jobs and internships."

Adeline froze.

"You went from company to company," he continued with obvious amusement. "Sending messages to HR staff and interviewers... hoping someone would give you another chance."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "I was one of those HR managers."

Adeline’s eyes widened. Fragments of memories flashed through her mind.

Before she met Miss Dawn... before she had the chance to pursue her studies to become a doctor... she had been nothing more than a struggling college student forced to drop out.

At that time, she had been desperate. She needed money. She needed a way out.

She had searched endlessly for corporate jobs, messaging countless recruiters, hoping one of them would at least grant her another interview opportunity.

It seemed... This man had been one of them.

But even after realizing that, Adeline’s expression quickly hardened again.

"So what?" she replied coldly.

"Even if that’s true, it still doesn’t give you the right to touch me like that."

The man chuckled again. His name was Liam.

"I wasn’t touching you," Liam replied casually. "I was just trying to shake your hand."

His tone grew mocking. "But it seems like you’ve suddenly developed quite the attitude."

He stepped forward again, reaching toward her wrist once more.

"This is really unfair, you know..."

But before his hand could reach her... Another hand suddenly grabbed his arm.

Liam was violently shoved aside.

Adeline was stunned. For a brief moment her mind went blank.

Then she saw the man who had stepped in front of her.

He looked familiar... yet unfamiliar at the same time.

His tall figure stood firmly between her and Liam.

Without hesitation, he had pushed the other man away as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Just then, another figure walked up beside him.

Adeline’s eyes widened slightly.

She immediately recognized the woman. "Adriana...?"

Adriana stood beside the man with a calm but serious expression.

The man looked very similar to her.

They both had striking black hair and sharp facial features.

For a moment, Adeline was slightly mesmerized by his appearance.

But she quickly shook her head. ’What am I even thinking? Alex is already in my life.’

She pushed the thought aside.

Meanwhile, Lucas stared at Liam with a cold, furious expression.

And strangely enough, that made Adeline feel a small sense of reassurance.

Lucas spoke calmly. "What exactly were you trying to do?"

Liam scoffed and looked between Lucas and Adeline.

"And who exactly are you?" he snapped.

"What right do you have to interfere in our conversation?"

Lucas chuckled softly. "Officially," he replied, "this store belongs to my sister."

He gestured slightly toward Adriana.

"So I think I have every right to question a customer who seems to have questionable intentions toward another customer."

Adeline’s eyes widened slightly. ’Her brother...?’

Meanwhile, Adriana had already turned her full attention toward Adeline.

She walked closer.

"Are you alright?" she asked gently.

Adeline quickly nodded. "I’m fine."

A soft smile appeared on her face.

Adriana seemed relieved.

She gently guided Adeline toward the back of the store through a side door.

Adriana led her to a chair and gestured for her to sit.

Then she grabbed a glass of water and handed it to her. "Here."

Adeline took it gratefully.

Adriana lightly patted her back in a comforting gesture.

"Don’t worry," she said softly. "Everything will be alright."

Hearing those words, Adeline felt a warm sensation spread quietly through her chest.

The Adriana she had known before had been broken... conflicted... even suspicious of her.

But the Adriana standing in front of her now felt completely different.

When Adeline thought about how Adriana had apologized to her previously and even tried to make peace, everything started to make sense.

’She really doesn’t hate me anymore.’

Adeline smiled softly. "You’ve grown a lot, Adriana."

Adriana glanced around the room before smiling slightly. "I guess I have."

After a brief pause, she asked, "How have you been?"

Adeline’s smile grew brighter. "My life has been going really well."

Adriana’s eyes lit up with genuine happiness. "That’s good."

She nodded sincerely. "I really hope you find a good man and settle down happily."

There was a hint of guilt in her eyes.

After all, Adeline had once suffered because of her.

Deep down, Adriana still felt responsible.

Knowing that Adeline was doing better now brought her a sense of relief.

Then Adriana glanced toward the shop floor.

"If you like anything here," she said warmly, "just tell me."

"I’ll make sure you get a very good discount."

Adeline laughed softly.

"The designs here are really unique."

She glanced toward the rows of clothes.

"Honestly, I don’t understand why this brand isn’t famous yet."

She tilted her head slightly.

"But I feel like one day this brand will definitely become huge."

Adriana smiled. "The reason it’s so empty right now..."

She chuckled. "...is because we literally opened the store this morning. We haven’t even started marketing yet."

She pointed around playfully. "So technically... you’re our first customer."

Adeline blinked. Then she laughed.

"Then I guess I’m really lucky."

Just then, Lucas walked into the room.

The moment he saw Adeline, his expression softened.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently.

Adeline nodded. "I’m fine."

Lucas didn’t linger. Instead, he glanced toward Adriana and spoke calmly.

"I’ll stay out front in case there’s any trouble. If you need anything, just call me."

Adriana nodded. "Alright."

Lucas quietly returned to the store.

Adeline couldn’t help but chuckle. "You have a very good brother."

She tilted her head playfully. "Other sisters would be jealous."

Adriana pouted slightly. "He’s not that great."

She crossed her arms. "I don’t even know what goes through his head sometimes."

Then she stood up and clapped her hands lightly.

"Anyway. I’ll help you pick out some clothes."