Adrian’s existence was his greatest threat.

This day, Adrian brought fresh ingredients to the house. His tone was doting: "Celine, you said last time that British food was awful. This time I’ll make it for you personally; I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."

Celine couldn't bear for him to cook.

"Your hands are meant for playing the piano."

"It’s fine. For you, they can also cook," Adrian looked at her with focused eyes, seeing only her. "You are more important than the piano."

Celine’s heart skipped a beat.

Julian, watching from the side, felt his jealousy flare up, his teeth gritted: "It’s just cooking? I can do that too, Celine. Wait for me to make it for you."

He insisted on entering the kitchen for a culinary showdown with Adrian.

Celine wanted to kick him out, but Adrian shook his head at her: "Do you trust me? I’ll make him retreat in the face of difficulties."

At that moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief and let him do it.

Smoke began to rise in the kitchen. Two tall men, wearing expensive clothes but wrapped in the most ordinary aprons, busied themselves by the stove.

Adrian calmly washed the vegetables, prepared the ingredients, and heated the pan; everything was orderly. He looked earnest and relaxed, occasionally turning back to meet Celine’s eyes, both of them seeing deep love in each other’s eyes.

Looking at Julian, it was clear that cooking was not his forte. He was flustered, having to keep an eye on the other two from time to time. By the time the meal was done, he was already drenched in sweat.

Adrian was sweating too. Celine took a tissue and came forward to gently wipe him, and Adrian turned his hand to hold hers.

"What are you two doing?!" Julian walked angrily between them.

"Can’t you tell?" Celine said coldly. "Mr. Sterling, didn't you love doing this kind of thing in front of others in the past? Naturally, it’s an irresistible impulse."

Julian’s face went pale in an instant, remembering how he and Sienna would be all over each other in the villa, often entangled right in front of Celine.

He had been far more excessive back then than she was now.

He had never once thought that Celine would also be hurt. If he couldn't even stand to see them holding hands, how must she have felt when she saw them entangled?

She must have been in thousands of times more pain then than he was now.

"I’m sorry, Celine," Julian said with a look of desolation. "But don't be with other men just to spite me."

"Julian Sterling, aren't you being too narcissistic?"

Celine looked at Adrian, her attachment in her eyes unconcealed.

"I truly love Adrian. He is talented, modest, and kind, and most importantly, he treats me very, very well. I want to be with him forever."

Adrian felt the same.

Julian could no longer stand it, his chest heaving violently. With red eyes, he questioned Celine: "You once said you only loved me. Is your affection all a joke?!"

Compared to his rage, Celine appeared light and airy: "People change. I liked you before, but I don't like you now. Is that so hard to understand?"

It wasn't that it was hard to understand; it was that it was hard to accept.

Julian couldn't accept the fact. He just stared at Celine, stubbornly repeating: "Impossible, impossible. A person cannot just stop loving someone like that."

Faced with his insanity, Celine’s eyes were as calm as if watching a joke.

"Julian Sterling, get this straight: I’m not saying one just stops loving. My love was worn away by you bit by bit."

"It was when you skipped my birthday dinner to be inseparable from Sienna, staying out all night."

"It was when you lied to me about having azoospermia but accompanied Sienna to the hospital for prenatal checkups."

"It was when you brought Sienna home and let her splash sulfuric acid on my hand."

"It was when you knew I had a fear of heights but tied me to the roof without food or water."

"It was when you let Sienna destroy my parents’ legacy, and when you falsely accused me and made me cut my wrists to bleed."

"Julian Sterling, my love was emptied out by you just like that."

Item by item, every finger pointed toward Julian, reminding him of what exactly he had done wrong.

Chapter 18

Julian’s fingernails dug deep into his palms. Beyond apologizing, he insisted obsessively, "The fact that you remember these things shows that you still have me in your heart. You’re only blaming me out of temporary resentment. I will make you come back to me."

Celine shook her head. Realizing she was casting pearls before swine, she had no more words to say.

She and Adrian left the kitchen hand in hand and went upstairs.

In the room, Adrian gently took her hand, his fingers stroking the skin scarred by sulfuric acid, inch by inch, while his heart swelled with a dense, agonizing ache.

"You know? When you said those things just now, I really wanted to beat Julian Sterling to a pulp. To think you suffered so much. Forgive my late arrival."

"It's not your fault," Celine shook her head.

It was she who had harbored fantasies in the past, unable to see Julian’s true face clearly.

Back then, her heart was entirely set on him; how could she have made room for anyone else?

"You arrived exactly when you were needed."

After they went upstairs, Julian remained standing where he was for a long time, until the sky outside gradually turned dark, and a lone lamp stretched his lonely shadow very long.

He picked up his phone and called his assistant: "No matter the cost, get the piano repaired and send it to me."

Just then, Adrian came down from upstairs. Gone was the gentle, refined demeanor he showed Celine; he looked at Julian with a cold face: "Why haven't you left yet?"

"Why would I dare leave while you’re still here? Who knows what you might do?" Julian provoked him without reserve.

"We are a couple; we do whatever we please. Unlike you, I don't enjoy 'eating out' behind someone's back."

Julian’s face turned livid, and he clenched his fists.

Adrian was not afraid in the slightest, merely glancing upstairs: "She just fell asleep. If you want to go crazy, do it elsewhere; don't disturb her."

Julian held back, let out a cold snort, and then left.

The next day, as soon as Celine opened the door, she saw Julian standing there.

He stood in a white suit, looking nothing like the wretched figure of the day before, his coldness透着 (permeated with) an inherent nobility.

He looked exactly as he had the first time Celine ever saw him.

But Celine would no longer be moved by him. She looked at him with a heart entirely devoid of ripples.

"Celine, I want to give you a gift."

As he spoke, he stepped aside, revealing the gift behind him.

It was the piano.

"Celine, I’ve had someone repair your piano. It’s as good as new."

Julian looked at her with full expectation, even appearing a bit cautious.

Celine’s gaze fixed on the instrument. She remained silent for a few seconds before speaking very calmly: "Julian, I hope you understand: no matter what you do, it is impossible for us to go back to the past."

Her attitude was calm and resolute.

It was as if a dull knife were slicing through Julian’s heart; he would have preferred for her to curse him out severely than to see this.

His eyes were desolate yet stubborn: "I didn't mean to go back to the past. We can start over; if the piano can be repaired, so can our relationship."

Celine didn't want to engage with him anymore and prepared to close the door, but at that moment, Adrian walked over to her with long strides, saying firmly: "The old one can’t be repaired, but she can have a new one."

He walked to Celine’s side and bowed his head to whisper: "Celine, I’ve had a new piano customized for you. From this day forward, it belongs only to you."

Celine’s eyes lit up, and she embraced him in surprise: "Really? Thank you!"

"Don't be so polite with your boyfriend." Adrian doted on her in return.

Watching the vastly different ways Celine treated the two of them, Julian’s face sank. He went up and frantically tried to pull them apart, his whole body trembling with rage:

"Celine, you loved me for so many years, and now you’ve only known this man for a few days, yet you’re already with him? He’s just after the novelty; he won't truly love you. You’ve been deceived, don't you see!"

"He’s not." Celine’s tone left no room for doubt.

"I am a man. I understand men best."

Hearing this, Celine suddenly laughed: "You think we’ve only known each other for a few days? No, actually, we’ve known each other for a long time—longer than you."