Chapter 5

Lydia POV

Hearing this, Damien looked at Adrian with shock and surprise in his eyes,

"You two... Adrian, you and her... how is that possible?"

Adrian's lips curved slightly.

"Mr. Cross, if you've set your sights on someone I care about, you'd better watch yourself."

Damien naturally understood that Adrian was someone he couldn't afford to provoke, yet he was unwilling to accept it.

"Adrian, this woman... being with you isn't appropriate. Everyone knows how rotten and promiscuous she is."

How disgusting, Damien-could I really be worse than him!

Adrian still held me close, their proximity intimate, yet his words carried a sharper edge,

"Don't provoke her."

Immediately, Adrian led me away. My tightly wound heart finally relaxed somewhat.

Once out of Damien's line of sight, I expressed my gratitude.

"Mr. Knight, thank you for earlier."

At close range, Adrian's gaze seemed particularly sharp.

Adrian's words carried a hint of anger.

"Are you very familiar with Damien Cross?"

Familiar enough to let yourself be pressed under him like that?

I could tell Adrian seemed angry.

"Not really familiar, just acquainted."

"Just acquainted, and you'll throw yourself at him?"

I was speechless.

After a moment of silence, I continued.

"There was something I needed his help with."

Adrian's steady gaze fixed on me.

"As long as someone can help you, you'll do anything they ask?"

This unexpected encounter today had left Adrian somewhat displeased.

I clearly caught his displeasure.

"Actually, Mr. Knight, you want to ask if I'm as everyone says-if I'll sleep with anyone, right?"

I simply admitted it.

"That's right. I am that kind of loose woman."

"So now you're blaming me for ruining your good time just now?"

Adrian's words involuntarily gained an edge of irritation.

Hearing his words, I understood that in Adrian's mind, I was a very casual woman.

At a moment like this, denial was meaningless.

I smiled.

"Mr. Knight, you helped me out of that situation just now... could it be you're interested in me?"

Adrian didn't answer, remaining somewhat calm, watching Lydia as if enjoying a show.

With Adrian's silence, I cautiously moved closer to him.

At my approach, Adrian didn't immediately refuse. Instead, his eyes seemed to spark with deeper meaning.

We leaned very close together, like intimate lovers.

"Sir, if others saw us this close together, they'd definitely misunderstand our relationship..."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't that what you want?"

"So clever-you guessed right. What woman in New York wouldn't want to be connected with you?"

"Including you?"

"Of course. I'm one of them."

I was increasingly undisguised about my ambition regarding this man, desperate to attach myself to him.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed Marcus Reed approaching with Clara Reed in the distance.

When Clara saw me so intimately close to Adrian, jealousy was obvious on her face.

"Dad, how can Lydia be with Mr. Knight? They look very close."

Clara was quite agitated.

They quickly came over, interrupting our eye contact.

"Hello, Mr. Knight."

Adrian and I turned around simultaneously. I happened to see my father Marcus right in front of me, with Clara behind him.

Marcus directly ignored me, fawning over Adrian in greeting,

"Mr. Knight, I'm Marcus Reed. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Adrian nodded slightly in acknowledgment, their greeting exchanged. His manner remained elegantly composed, thoroughly gentlemanly.

Marcus seized this opportunity to introduce Clara to Adrian.

"Mr. Knight, this is my daughter, Clara Reed. She's about to graduate from university. Clara, come here and greet Mr. Knight."

Clara took happy little steps forward, joyfully greeting Adrian,

"Mr. Knight, hello. I'm so happy to meet you."

Clara's brief words couldn't conceal her excitement. Her alluring eyes stared straight at Adrian, never looking away.

I was ignored, completely disregarded by Marcus. In Marcus's eyes, Clara was his only daughter.

Adrian didn't resist the introduction to Clara. At least from my perspective, even though he knew Marcus and Clara had ulterior motives, he still indulged them.

My mood immediately plummeted, and I walked away alone.