Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 132: No One but You (2)
Adrienne could feel her heart racing. She opened her mouth to say something but found herself speechless. She could only stare at Lennox in a daze as she scolded herself inwardly.
’No... Lennox didn’t mean it that way...’ She tried to convince herself that Lennox was merely trying to make their arrangement smoother with less distractions and complications. However, as she met his eyes, Adrienne could see that he was serious. It would insult him if she treated it like a joke.
She didn’t know what Lennox expected her to say, so she remained silent. It wasn’t easy for her to react, considering that the man before her was the one she was about to marry and the other person was her husband from her past life. Now that Alistair had offended Lennox, he had become their mutual enemy now.
Of course, Adrienne wouldn’t allow Lennox to lose to Alistair, but she didn’t want Lennox to get involved with her revenge. It had nothing to do with Lennox anyway, so she would rather do it alone than rely on his help.
"I know, Len. You don’t have to tell me, but I appreciate your honesty." She replied after a long silence between them, sensing the growing uneasiness in Lennox.
"But... you can’t possibly fall in love with me. I’ve told you I’m not marrying for love."
It’s not like she was oblivious to what Lennox was trying to imply with his words and actions. Of course, she found him attractive as a woman, but she wouldn’t dare to hope for more because of what she had suffered and experienced before.
Lennox also deserved someone who could be fully committed to him, and Adrienne knew she couldn’t be that woman. She was too broken to accept him as her lover. Adrienne was content being his friend.
"I’m aware, Addie, but how could you marry someone you don’t love?" Lennox’s face fell and it pained Adrienne to reject him like this. If only she had met him in her past life, she probably wouldn’t have married Alistair. But there were no ’what-ifs’. What happened had already happened. She could only avoid taking the same path again.
"Are you unwilling to marry me now? If that’s the case, we can end our deal here."
It would surely derail her plans, but the last thing she wanted was for Lennox to suffer or get hurt because of her. The ones who should suffer were those who wronged her, not him.
Lennox was filled with bitterness. He was aggrieved. The beautiful woman before him was so close, but he felt thousands of mountains and oceans separating them. He felt like he would never be able to reach her whatever he did.
"It’s not that I don’t want to marry you, Addie, but..."
"Thank you for your kindness, Len," Adrienne interrupted, "but I’m aware of our situation. How could I return your affection when I know there are things we need to settle on our respective sides? We’re no longer young, Len. You should know by now that everything comes with a cost. Is it worth it for you to marry someone like me? You already know that you’ll be the one getting the shorter end of the stick once we marry. This favor you are willing to give me by marrying me, I will cherish it for the rest of my life. However, I do not wish to complicate things between us like this. I cannot give you what you desire right now."
Adrienne’s words rendered Lennox speechless. He never thought she could see past his words and was aware of his growing affections, and yet... she rejected him even before he could voice out his intentions. He didn’t want to end things between them like this. He’s unwilling to admit defeat.
Lennox felt himself turn numb. He laughed inwardly, thinking he had never been this bitter when his father and his prospective clients rejected him. He’d never expected to experience it with a young woman like Adrienne Jiang.
He laughed bitterly. "Would you consider accompanying me for the rest of our lives once you got your revenge then? What do you want, Addie? Tell me and allow me to lessen the burden in your heart until there would be no one other than me. Tell me what you require for me to win your heart because, just so you know, I’m not giving up on you."
Adrienne was stunned while Lennox gave her a long look. The man before her could get any woman he wanted, but he still likes her? Why?
Adrienne couldn’t understand. She wasn’t the woman many mothers would want for their sons. They would want a submissive woman as gentle as a flower, something Adrienne could never be.
"I want the lives of those who harmed me and my family. I want them to experience pain and hell on earth that they would wish they were dead instead. When they look at me, I want them to cower in fear. When they hear my name, I want them to wish they never knew me and regret everything they’d done to me. Len, I continue living only because of my desire for revenge. Do you think I’ll be able to continue once I have it?"
Lennox fixed his gaze on the young woman in front of him. This was the first time Adrienne had openly expressed hostility towards her family and those who had wronged her. He always knew that Adrienne was harboring a secret, as her actions and the reports he received had some loopholes. Each word she just uttered was filled with hostility and pain.
Just what did Adrienne experience for her to utter such strong words? She couldn’t keep her tears at bay as they rolled down her cheeks. The Adrienne, who was always wearing a cold mask, was now crying before him. How could Lennox not be bothered by it?
She was usually calm and aloof, which Lennox sometimes found cute, but now, after hearing what she just said, he could sense her vulnerability and despair.
Lennox moved his wheelchair to lessen the distance between them. He stretched his right arm to touch her face, but Adrienne moved away. He could only sigh and said. "Then I will give you a reason to continue living, Addie. I will not allow you to lose yourself in your quest for vengeance. You want revenge? If this makes you happy, then allow me to indulge you. Allow me to assist you. You don’t have to face everything on your own, Addie. Why do you hurt yourself like this?"
Adrienne smiled bitterly. She begged anyone to help her in her past life, but look what happened? She lost everything because she was powerless. She would not allow herself to suffer the same fate in this life. She would do her best to protect her mother and elder brother. As for her heart...
"I cannot make you happy..."
"I don’t care. Happiness is subjective, Addie. It’s for me to decide if I’m happy being with you." Lennox countered.
Adrienne lifted her head and let out a laugh. "You won’t regret it?"
Lennox scoffed and patted her hand. "Get as much revenge as you want, Addie. I don’t mind waiting for you. It doesn’t matter if it takes years, as long as in the end, you’ll be with me. The ’Madam Qin’ position of my household would be yours alone. No one would have it but you."
Adrienne lowered her gaze and looked at his bigger hand covering hers. She could feel its warmth spreading from her hand, reaching her heart. His words managed to shake her resolve. It was like rain, drenching the drought and washing away the bitterness in her heart.
"Do you agree?" Lennox asked, forcing Adrienne to look at him. His tone sounded cold yet affectionate to her ears, while his dark eyes held a hint of doting that even Lennox wasn’t aware of. He twined his hands with hers and Adrienne felt like she had fallen under his spell when she looked at it.
"But you aren’t obliged to do this for me," Adrienne said after a long silence between them. "It would be best if you stay out of my business. You should focus on your recovery instead."
However, Adrienne knew it was too late to say now. There was no way she could make Lennox change his mind. Even now, she didn’t know how to respond to his domineering words.
"You’re right. It would be hard for me to protect you like this. I also didn’t want to marry you while seated in this accursed wheelchair. I want to stand next to you, Addie. I want everyone to see that while I’m yours, you’re also mine. Once I recover and we’re married, no one will dare to look down on you again. My Madam Qin isn’t someone they can easily bully."
Once he said this, a call from his laptop broke the mood between them. Lennox cursed inwardly as he was reminded of his earlier dilemma. Adrienne stood up, intending to leave. But before that, she leaned down to Lennox and gently kissed his lips, stunning him.
"Then, Mr. Qin, don’t forget today’s promises when the time comes."
