章 24: Marry Me (2)
Adrienne laughed mockingly at herself. Until her last breath, her mother was unable to understand that regardless of what she did, she would never be able to win Lewis Jiang's affection. Even before they were married, the only one Lewis Jiang loved wasn't her, but rather his long time lover, Camilla Yan.
A smile spread on Lennox's lips as he regarded Adrienne. With her attitude, even his relatives would need to think twice if they wanted to offend her. At least some people wouldn't dare to bully her openly. She was also clear about what she wanted and expected from him.
"You don't find me repulsive? Wouldn't you be ashamed to have a husband like me?" He asked curiously.
"Am I marrying you because of your looks? Mr. Qin, you really don't have to degrade yourself like this. In the future, once you recover, I will help you collect the debts your relatives owe you with interest. In return, you should allow me to use you to destroy my enemies."
An amused glint appeared in his exposed eye, and he extended his hand.
"You got the deal, Miss Jiang. I'll be in your care now, wife."
-
Adrienne looked at his hand before giving it a firm handshake. She didn't expect to close this deal with him without a hitch.
Wife. the word rang in her mind. She never thought that she would become someone else's wife this early in life. However, knowing what awaits her in the future, Adrienne wanted to make sure she would not be sold away by her father to anyone, especially to Alistair Han.
Though there was still time before that happened, she would rather make the preparations now. There were certain matters that should be addressed now and not later. As someone who had passed away once, she could see things more clearly now. Adrienne would never place her hope for someone to save her. She wouldn't be the one who would meet a disastrous end this time.
She released his hand and straightened her back. "Is there anything you require from me other than collecting those children?"
Lennox considered her question. It was clear to him that Adrienne would push the discussion of their impending marriage for now. Perhaps she also wanted to give their arrangement a good thought, which he also needed at the moment.
"Keep this confidential and don't let the children know that their lives are in danger. You also need to be wary of who you speak to and where you go. The last thing I want happening is you getting hurt in the process, you understand?"
His words and aura were imposing, but Adrienne seemed to be immune to it as she tilted her head slightly and cupped her chin. Was Lennox trying to reduce his losses? He must be worried that she might commit a mistake and alarm his relatives.
"I understand. However, I'd also like to ask a wish on top of the two conditions I mentioned earlier."
Lennox raised a brow. "And that is?"
What could be so important that he could see unconcealed murderous intent in her eyes?
Instead of answering him, Adrienne moved, took a pen from her handbag and scribbled something on a paper. She then handed it over Gavin, who received it without a question.
"This is one of the nurses currently assigned to look after my mother. I suspect that she is being paid by my stepmother to harm my mother. I want to know everything about her. It would also be great if we could kick her out of this practice. A black hearted nurse like her shouldn't be allowed to tend to any patients."
Lennox's eyes darkened, while Gavin's jaw hardened upon hearing her words. Both men were close to their mothers and it was natural for them to feel rage at the thought of someone attempting to hurt those who gave birth to them.
"Then you can leave this task to me, Miss Jiang. I will make sure to deliver it as soon as possible." Gavin commented. He was also eager to see how Adrienne would deal with that nurse and her wicked family.
The three continued to discuss what to include to the contract for the next hour until they reached an agreement. As expected, Lennox Qin was really thorough with the contract and what he expected of her.
"The contract should cover the task of retrieving the children. As for our marriage, let's draft another one when it's time and after the terms and conditions are discussed." Lennox said which Adrienne easily agreed to.
She took a seat and propped her chin on her hand, smiling thinly.
"If everything is settled, then I guess we've reached an agreement. I will be waiting for the contract then."
Gavin left, leaving Lennox in Adrienne's company. Adrienne wasn't sure why Lennox stayed, but she didn't chase him off this time. Instead, she pulled a chair next to the window and started reading a book about investing and ignored him.
Lennox couldn't help but watch her, seeing how immersed she was in her reading. The sunlight shone on the side of her pretty face. He thought that this young lady possessed not only exquisite beauty, but also a cold heart.
"Aren't you going to return to your room?" She asked, as she flipped to the next page without looking at him.
"I'm curious about what kind of woman I'm marrying." He admitted, brushing off her question.
"Oh? You must be disappointed then." Adrienne replied. "I'm not a good person after all. I'm marrying you because I need resources."
"That's very reassuring to hear." Lennox chuckled amusedly.
She was a ruthless and a shrewd woman. He should find it repulsive, but he found it charismatic instead. She was the kind of woman many men would avoid to marry, but Lennox thought it was only natural for Adrienne Jiang to turn out like this with the family she had.
章 25: I’m Not a Good Person (1)
Having gone through a contract marriage in the past, Adrienne knew better now. She had foolishly married Alistair Han before without setting up limitations and not giving it a good thought. She thought that sacrificing herself would be worth it as long as everything turned for the better.
Honestly, it shouldn't be considered a contract marriage because she practically sold herself to him and was treated worse than a pet for entertainment. Alistair might have taken away her mother to safety, but he could not find a cure for her and had allowed her to perish without Adrienne knowing.
"And you think I am?" Lennox eyed her blankly. "You said you wanted protection, but don't you know you will only invite trouble by being with me? If you've heard about the Qin family, you've probably heard things about me too."
"I'm aware," Adrienne did not bother to look at him and continued to read. "However, as long as your relatives don't offend me, they won't face my retaliation."
As for her marrying Lennox Qin in the future, she knew she could keep him at bay if she established limitations and conditions between them. She didn't think Lennox Qin would like to possess her or would become obsessed with her as Alistair did. She didn't want to attract trouble getting stuck with another obsessed person.
"Indeed, you aren't a good person. No one in their sane mind would dare to take advantage of me like this." She heard Lennox say, but she didn't care whether it was a compliment or an insult. How can Adrienne not know how dangerous he could be? Even if he were like this, he was still a Qin, and it wouldn't be hard to crush her if he wanted to.
The only thing that mattered was that they were in the same boat, willing to work together for their goals, no matter how dangerous it would be. Adrienne wouldn't stop until she got her revenge, no matter how difficult it could be or how long it would take.
She wasn't coveting the fortune he could grant her as his wife. She had previously lived in luxury and elegance, but even then she had always felt as if she was lacking something. Contentment was something she had only heard of. Adrienne had no one to love, no relatives or family could rely on, and she even lost Myrtle and Dylan in the end.
Though she was married to Alistair before, his love for her was an obsession. Besides, with Lennox Qin, she only needed to be cautious as to not become a pawn in his family's internal war, or if she had to, she would ensure she would gain some sort of compensation.
Since this was the case, Adrienne decided not to tell Myrtle the truth about her rebirth or her plans. In her best friend's eyes, she was a helpless daughter abandoned by her father in favor of his mistress. If Myrtle knew what was waiting for her in the future, it would only make her worry. She would also never understand that Adrienne's hatred had corrupted her heart.
"Is there something else you want to discuss with me?" Adrienne snapped her book close and finally looked at the man seated in the wheelchair. It had been six weeks since the accident occurred, yet his recovery was still a long way away.
"Don't worry. Let's bide our time." Lennox answered, shaking his head gently. "Since you aren't in a hurry to marry, I assume things haven't gotten out of your hands yet. It would be best if you worried whether you'd be able to retrieve those children instead."
Adrienne hummed in agreement. She eyed the freshly brewed tea Lennox's caretaker had brought them earlier. She took the teapot and poured it into the two empty cups before handing one to Lennox. She wasn't hurrying to drink hers, only caressing the edge of her teacup.
"You are waging war against your father. Aren't you afraid to be disowned in the end?" Lennox accepted the tea, allowing the steam to dissipate before him.
He couldn't tear his eyes off the woman in front of him. She was a picturesque beauty. Adrienne's allure was so captivating that someone like him couldn't help but direct his gaze at her. Adrienne Jiang was an exciting person. She had no sign of inferiority and had an unyielding character.
This young lady before him was younger than him, but her actions and mannerisms didn't carry any hint of immaturity. Lennox was put in a trance when she poured him a cup of tea. Her movements were fluid, and her posture was elegant, as if she'd been doing this for a long time.
Lennox couldn't decide whether she was a black widow, a woman with a stunning appearance and a venomous heart, or a raging phoenix that wanted to burn everything around her. She looked at him with a smile, yet it didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes resembled a dark abyss, bearing a sense of indifference.
She was a poisonous flower, but he liked her even more. Lennox was pleased she wasn't pretending before him, showing him how vicious and conniving she could be. He must have hit his head hard in the accident to view her like this.
"I haven't reached the dead end yet. I do wonder, though, how they would proceed this time. My father is a prideful man. Being cornered by his daughter, he would surely not let this matter slide off easily." Adrienne let out a small smile.
From her past life until now, the indifferent, cold eyes her father had given her were imprinted clearly in her mind. That moment when she begged him to save her mother, Adrienne knew he didn't see her as his flesh and blood. In his eyes, Elise was his only daughter.
Even if she had to die again, she would never seek her father's help. Furthermore, chasing them out was only the start of her revenge. In the future, she would ensure he would regret having her as his daughter.
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