Chapter 20: Would You Fall For Me?
Riley was stunned by Adrian’s reply. She asked, “What?”
“You see, two weeks after my surgery, my grandfather informed me of a package from Japan that had arrived in Halliport. I remembered you,” Adrian recounted. His voice was calm, and he spoke unhurriedly. “So, when Brian called me next, I told him to give you one box of chocolate.”
“I told him the truth, that I rescued you from drowning,” Adrian revealed. “But I forbade Brian from telling you it was me. I wanted to tell you personally.”
“However.” Adrian sighed and explained, “Days later, I fully understood the gravity of my situation. I could no longer play basketball. I can’t join marathons and that – that I might be stuck in a wheelchair all my life.”
“I lost interest in everything, Riley. So, when Brian and I next talked to each other, I told him to stop giving you chocolates and never tell you how I saved you. I told him I did not know when I could return to Halliport,” Adrian informed. “Perhaps his actions were meant to cover for me – I don’t know, but it was wrong to make you believe he was the one who saved you.”
“It was!” Riley echoed angrily. “You have no idea, Adrian.”
Riley wanted to say that she had imagined who her savior was and how she had longed to meet him. Of course, Brian’s claim made her admire him!
“I’m sorry. It was partly my fault, to begin with. I should have told you it was me.” Adrian moved his wheelchair closer to Riley. He appealed, “Forgive me.”
“I” Riley was truly hurt learning of this, but she couldn’t bring herself to be mad at Adrian. “I really wished you had told me.”
“If I had known I would get injured, I would have just told you before I left for Sweden,” Adrian pointed out.
“Brian and I lost touch. Back then, he suddenly stopped calling.” Adrian frowned, narrating, “I tried calling Brian many times. All my calls went to voicemail, and all my messages were never seen.”
“I wanted to know what went on at the university, with my friends, with everybody. Sure, my grandfather often visited me, but I wanted my friends too. Everyone stopped calling me. Their lives moved on while I was stuck in a foreign country to recuperate. Brian was the last person I thought would ever ditch me,” Adrian described. “Because of what he did, I felt earnestly betrayed.”
“Is that the reason why you were angry at Brian?” Riley asked. “Because he stopped being your friend?”
“Partly,” Adrian replied.
“What?” Riley clarified. “There is more?”
“It’s like I said, Riley. He betrayed me. I asked him a favor, but instead, he took something important from me,” Adrian revealed.
“Took something from you?” Riley asked. “He couldn’t just pay it back or return it?”
“What he took was something money can’t buy,” Adrian revealed. “Return? It’s more complicated than that.”
Riley was bemused. All the more, she was curious about Adrian and Brian’s conflict. She wanted to pry further; however, Adrian looked at her and said, “Riley, our disagreement is between us, and I would rather move on from the past. But, for lying to you, I’ll see that he gets punished.”
“He should!” Riley exclaimed. “The fact that he lied to me and made me believe he was the one who saved me – it matters to me. I – I gave my heart to him because of that.”
Adrian’s body tensed, and Riley noticed it. He blinked a few times before asking, “Will you always fall for the person who saves you, Riley? Did that mean you would have fallen for me?”
“I – I.” The question took her aback. Her heart fluttered as she stared at Adrian’s serious expression. Silently, she asked herself, ‘Would I have fallen for Adrian?’
“I guess, maybe the old Adrian, not this Adrian sitting on a wheelchair?” Adrian suggested, his voice tinged with pain.
“What are you saying, Adrian?” Riley asked. “I’m not shallow.”
“Then, would you?” Adrian asked again. “Would you fall for me?”
This time, Riley felt heat crawling up to her cheeks. She responded, “Did you like me back then?”
“Are you fond of answering a question with a question?” Adrian reacted.
Riley felt more embarrassed than
ever. Yes, she was evading answering directly because who wouldn’t want to be in love with Adrian King? Regardless of whether he was in a wheelchair, he had all the qualities of a good man. He had saved her not just once but twice now. So far, Riley only had good things to say about Adrian.
Moreover, Adrian was very
handsome. To Riley, his sitting in a wheelchair did not reduce his good looks. Content belongs to NovelDrama.Org
“Never mind,” Adrian said. “You don’t need to answer -“
“Yes,” Riley said immediately. “I think.” Her heart was racing, and her hands were cold. She could not fathom the nervousness that was taking over her.
“I think you are not difficult to love, Adrian.” Riley found the courage to say, “Regardless of whether you are in a wheelchair. I think you are a very capable person – strong-willed.”
She chuckled and added, “I’d say you are better than any man who can use their legs just fine but has not been through any difficulties in life. I think you are perfectly molded.”
Silence stretched between them for
a few seconds. Adrian’s gray eyes kept staring into Riley’s green orbs Despite that, Riley found it very hard to read him. She wondered if her response satisfied him or not Thankfully, he eventually said,
“Thank you, Riley.” Content belongs
to NovelDrama.Org
Adrian’s face faintly smiled. He said, “You know, my own father considers my disability a hindrance, so for you to say that means a lot to me.”
‘What? His father looks down on him?’ Riley could not believe what she heard. She empathized, “I’m sorry to hear that, Adrian.”© NôvelDrama.Org – All rights reserved.
“It’s fine,” Adrian said. “I have accepted it. I have told you this. We have become estranged since he remarried, but going back to you, what made you bring up the incident seven years ago?”
“I will act on all my plans once your divorce is finalized. I don’t want my plans to get in the way of your divorce because that is what we want your freedom,” Adrian said.
With a nod, Riley acknowledged, “Very much. I hate him now, more than ever.”
“In due time, you will have your freedom,” Adrian remarked.
Yet again, silence fell upon them. Adrian suddenly looked around and then back to Riley, asking, “Have you eaten?”
“I wasn’t in the mood,” Riley admitted.
“Let’s eat together,” Adrian said. He maneuvered his wheelchair toward the kitchen, calling the housekeeper, “Rose? Please prepare dinner for Riley and me.”
As Adrian moved his wheelchair, Riley could not help but chase after him. She put her arms around him from behind and said, “Adrian, thank you so much for saving me, then and now. How can I ever repay you?”
Dead air fell upon them again. Adrian moved his wheelchair to face Riley. He declared, “Just be my loyal wife after we marry.”
