Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 205: Miss Jiang, I Really Like You (1)
Everyone looked at Adrienne as if she had lost her mind. They were puzzled as to why she let the opportunity of being betrothed to Alistair slip from her hands, while Reese and Abigail were both relieved upon hearing her answer.
Adrienne’s decision to reject the betrothal left everyone in disbelief, as they had expected her to eagerly accept such a noteworthy offer. Some whispered among themselves, wondering what could have possibly made her turn down such a promising alliance.
Alistair, who had yet to say anything, stiffened next to Prosecutor Ji and narrowed his eyes. Adrienne had turned him down before Abigail Li, which would make it hard for him to question her decision. He knew Adrienne was smart, but he hadn’t expected her to be this bold. It was as if she already knew how he would react.
With a smile on his lips, Prosecutor Ji regarded Adrienne. He only heard from Alistair that this woman had some smarts, but it was clear that she was also fearless and cunning. Despite being under everyone’s scrutiny, Adrienne Jiang remained calm and smiling. Her gaze seemed to be mocking them. She was trying to provoke them.
Alistair fell silent. A person like him wouldn’t easily give up when he set his eyes on something, and now, more than ever, he wanted no other woman but Adrienne Jiang, the very same woman who looked at him with dark, cold eyes.
Alistair had used Prosecutor Ji to reveal his intention to marry her, but he hadn’t expected Adrienne would reject him in front of everyone.
He hadn’t considered CEO Li’s influence yet. Adrienne purposefully dragged up the issue and didn’t dare answer Prosecutor Ji’s inquiries earlier because she knew Abigail Li was watching. Her future mother-in-law wanted to see if she would betray Lennox in favor of Alistair. However, as Abigail watched the scene before her, she was bound to be reminded of her past and how she was forced into a loveless marriage.
For this reason, Abigail was bound to sympathize with Adrienne, and at the same time, she wouldn’t allow Alistair to snatch her son’s bride. In this way, if Alistair dared to force Adrienne into marriage, Abigail would be the first to voice her objection.
"Miss Jiang is about to graduate from Chiangshi University and has yet to live her life. Yet Mr. Han is already voicing his intention to marry her. Mr. Han, if you wanted to pursue Miss Jiang, shouldn’t you have courted her first instead of forcing her into marriage at the first chance you get?" Abigail questioned Alistair with a cold look.
"Is this arranged marriage your idea or Prosecutor Ji’s?"
Adrienne cowered next to her Uncle Reese, hiding her sinister smile behind her hand. She then looked up at her uncle with misty eyes, seemingly aggrieved over the situation. It only made Reese more annoyed at the situation. How dare these men dared to bully Adrienne in his presence?
However, Reese was somewhat relieved to know his niece had no intention of marrying Alistair. He wouldn’t allow Adrienne to follow in the footsteps of her mother when it came to marriage. He had seen firsthand the consequences of a loveless and forced marriage, and he was determined to protect Adrienne from that fate.
Prosecutor Ji sighed softly. He never expected things to turn out like this and that Abigail Li would somehow be involved in it.
"What arranged marriage? If Alistair hadn’t sought my help, I wouldn’t be such a busybody poking into someone else’s affairs. Do you think it’s easy for this old man to get involved in this?"
The spectators were startled. They initially assumed that Alistair Han proposed a marriage because it would benefit him to have the Jiang family by his side, but who would have thought that he fancied Adrienne Jiang?
"Forgive me, CEO Li. I didn’t know that my intention looked frivolous to you." Alistair finally spoke for the first time. He then turned his pitch black eyes on Adrienne with interest, like a hunter who had found his prey.
"Miss Jiang, I really like you. Won’t you consider marrying me?"
Ayla, who was watching the scene before her, wanted to wake up from this nightmare. The next words Alistair spoke felt like sharp knives being stabbed in her chest. Alistair’s words cut through Ayla’s heart as he declared, "I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Miss Jiang, please give me a chance to prove my love for you."
Ayla’s hopes shattered as she realized that Alistair’s infatuation with Adrienne was genuine and not just a passing fancy. She repeatedly cursed Adrienne in her heart. She couldn’t figure out why such a man would want someone like Adrienne, who was not only vicious but cruel, to be his wife.
"Adrienne Jiang, I really like you. Would you be my wife? From the moment I met you at the gardens during your grandfather Jiang’s birthday banquet, I cannot stop thinking of you."
He then faced Cedric and Reese Zhao. "It’s not my intention to make Miss Jiang uncomfortable, but since my family is forcing me to take a bride, I’m willing to take Adrienne Jiang as my wife and court her forever to make up for it. May I have your permission to have her hand in marriage?"
–
Ayla’s heart sank further as she heard Alistair’s confession to Adrienne. It was clear that his feelings for her were deep, leaving Ayla feeling utterly defeated and invisible in comparison. Her heart was immediately filled with deep rooted hatred towards her cousin.
How dare Adrienne take what was hers?! Ayla almost went crazy when she thought about Alistair choosing Adrienne over her.
Seeing Ayla’s helplessness brought Adrienne a sense of satisfaction. Whether it was in her past life or this lifetime, Ayla was bound to live in Adrienne’s shadow when it came to Alistair.
Such a handsome man, showing such gentleness and affection for the first time in public, many couldn’t help but feel indignation that they weren’t in Adrienne’s place. However, what they didn’t know was that she was once his wife, and she had wasted a lifetime because of his obsession and possessiveness towards her.
