The weight in Lucas's chest finally lifted.
But just as quickly, he watched Riley pack up and prepare to leave.
His heart sank. "Rye… you're leaving already? Can't you stay a little longer?"
Riley shot him a glance. "I have class. I already missed part of my entrance exams."
She had only sat for two papers and she hadn't been able to make it to the rest.
She wasn't sure if IU would still let her stay.
Lucas's expression dimmed, but he still walked her out. Then he went back inside, changed his clothes, and drove straight to Clearbrooke Estate.
***
Back at Clearbrooke Estate, Adrian finally woke after two full days in a coma-like sleep.
Zachary—who hadn't showered or changed clothes for days—almost jumped in excitement.
"Bro, you're finally awake! Do you have any idea how worried you had us this time?!"
Adrian frowned slightly, pulling the IV needle out of his hand.
The scent in the room was strange.
Beyond the sharp smell of medicine, there was something else lingering in the sheets—
A faint, familiar fragrance.
The scent of that woman.
For some reason, it calmed the restlessness in his chest.
"What happened?" he asked.
His mind was blank.
He searched his memory and only found one thing—
Going to IU to look for Riley.
"Riley…"
"Did you find her?"
Zachary, who had been ready to complain, suddenly choked on his words. After a long pause, he said hoarsely, "Not yet."
BANG!
Adrian kicked over the bedside cabinet.
Zachary flinched instantly, afraid he would lose control again.
Adrian pressed his fingers to his aching temples. "Have Derek continue the search. Prepare everything—we're going abroad."
"What? Already?" Zachary frowned. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I won't die. Book the tickets."
Zachary opened his mouth, then closed it again. "...Fine."
Once Adrian made a decision, no one could change his mind.
***
"What? You're leaving so soon?"
The tightly shut door suddenly swung open, and a head popped in.
It was Lucas, grinning shamelessly.
Whoosh—
A pillow flew straight at him.
Luckily, he ducked.
Zachary snapped, "You finally show up? Where the heck were you when we needed you? At a critical moment, you were worse than a woman!"
Thinking back to that chaotic night, he still felt shaken.
If not for the mysterious doctor, Sheena, Clearbrooke Estate would have been in serious trouble.
To him, she was practically an angel sent from above. Beautiful, brilliant, glowing.
"A woman? Sheena came?" Adrian's brows knit together.
A vague memory surfaced—
He had grabbed someone.
A woman.
But… at the time, he had thought it was Riley.
Adrian's expression darkened.
Lucas picked up the pillow and tossed it aside. "I know, I know—I messed up. But I'm here to make up for it! Look—this is the medicine Sheena and I made together."
He deliberately emphasized his "contribution".
Zachary scoffed, too tired to argue.
Adrian took the bottle.
Something stirred faintly in his chest, though his face remained unreadable.
At that moment—
Knock, knock.
Martha's voice came from outside.
"Master, Madam has returned."
"What?!" Zachary and Lucas's eyes widened. "Where is she?!"
Martha blinked, confused by their reaction.
Then she turned to Adrian, whose entire body had gone tense.
"Madam has already gone to class. Our men confirmed it—it's definitely her. There's no mistake."