Chapter 111


    No sooner had the echo of his words faded, than the sound of rain intensified, heralding a deluge that


    made their umbre quiver above them.


    Rainwater traced a path down Matilda’s drenched forehead, dripping off her delicate nose, With a pale


    face, she gazed at the man who had just appeared before her.


    Sensing the escting storm, he tilted the umbre more over her, letting the rain assault him instead.


    As the rain beat down on him, she nced once more at the figure before her, drenched by the


    downpour, resembling a fleeting apparition from a surreal dream.


    Adrian had been holding the umbre for a while, now thoroughly soaked on one side. He stared at


    Matilda for a moment before breaking into a grin, his striking eyes gleaming with beauty, almost


    deserving thebel ‘exquisite.”


    He asked, “What are you doing out here in the rain? Looking for misery? Acting as if someone would


    actually miss you if you were gone.”


    It seemed that pain had a limit, and this kind of taunt didn’t even register anymore. Matilda managed a


    wry smile in response. “Yeah, as if anyone would care.”


    Adrian clicked his tongue and then, with a hand on her shoulder, nudged her forward, while using his


    other hand to push open the door of a café.


    The light from inside shone through like a hole scorched in the night, casting a warm, yellow glow


    across Matilda’s face. It was only then that she realized he had led her into the café.


    The ce was empty, which made sense–few people would venture out for coffee in such weather.


    Adrian stood by the door, closing his umbre to stow it in a stand, then hung up his coat and casually


    picked up a remote control to turn on the heating.


    It dawned on Matilda as she watched his movements. “You’re this coffee shop’s”


    “Owner.” Adrian filled in the missing word, then rolled up his shirt sleeves before approaching Matilda.


    His gaze briefly flickered over her, noting her drenched clothes that clung to her body, entuating her


    curves.


    Without a word, Adrian fetched a men’s shirt from the back andid it on the counter. “There’s a


    restroom straight ahead and to the left.”


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Implying that was where she could change.


    Matilda nced at the shirt and murmured a thank you. She took the shirt and stepped into the


    restroom.


    ___ __fa ha lot hir 370 fall away


    chuckling with a hint of intrigue.


    When Matilda emerged, her face still ashen, Adrian skillfully prepared a mocha, creating a design on


    top. “Here, on the house.”


    “Thank you,” Matilda said again, her voice soft. The warmth of the coffee started to revive her spirits


    slightly. She couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by the situation- rushing out in the middle of the night


    and finding herself in a stranger’s café were mortifying.


    “No need for thanks,” Adrian replied with a roguish smile. “But if you’re offering yourself in exchange, I


    wouldn’t mind.”


    He smirked at her. “Funny coincidence, no one was scheduled for the night shift, so I came to check on


    the ce. What brought you out in this mess?”


    Matilda looked at Adrian’s refined face, murmuring softly. “You run this ce all by yourself?”


    What was the heir of the Simpson family doing opening a quaint, anonymous coffee shop?


    “Just bored, I guess.” Adrian brought out a box of pudding, then sat down across from Matilda. Despite


    the raging storm outside, the café exuded a cozy atmosphere.


    The hum of the air conditioner filled the space with warmth, and as Matilda sipped her coffee. her mood


    began to settle. Reflecting on her earlier suicidal thoughts, she couldn’t help but let out a self–


    deprecating chuckle.