CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 93. Adrian’s change

Adrian lay in bed, staring at the ornate ceiling of the room in Xelt Manor, the faint moonlight casting silver patterns through the large windows. His thoughts were heavy, tangled with the remnants of the dream he had shared with Ethan. Ethan’s presence had been so vivid, his touch so real, yet it was all just a dream—a dream that left Adrian with an unsettling feeling in his chest.

As he replayed the dream in his mind, Adrian sat up, rubbing his face with his hands. Ethan’s kisses... his warmth... it felt like he was calling out to me, Adrian thought, his silver eyes reflecting the moonlight. But something about the dream gnawed at him. It wasn’t just a longing to be with Ethan—it was a sense of urgency. A feeling that Ethan was stuck somewhere, unable to reach him.

Adrian swung his legs over the side of the bed, his bare feet brushing against the cool wooden floor. He glanced around the dimly lit room, its grandeur and safety feeling almost suffocating now. Despite the luxurious surroundings of the Xelt Manor, he felt a pang of emptiness. If Ethan knew about everything Adrian had been through—the kidnapping, the threats, and now his strange, dream-induced state—he would have arrived here by now. He would have been by Adrian’s side, shielding him as always. But Ethan wasn’t here.

Adrian clutched his hands together, his nails digging into his palms as a wave of guilt washed over him. What if something has happened to him? he thought, his chest tightening. Ever since Adrian had met Ethan, it felt like he had done nothing but rely on him. Ethan had always been his protector, his strength. But what had Adrian done in return? He was always the one needing to be saved, the one creating problems for Ethan to solve.

His mind spiraled with self-doubt. I’m just a burden to him, aren’t I? Adrian thought, his heart sinking. He looked at his reflection in the tall mirror across the room, his delicate features marred by a furrowed brow. "Since we’ve been together, I’ve done nothing but depend on him," he muttered under his breath. "I can’t keep living like this. I’m a parent now. Seraphina and Aurelius deserve a strong mother, not someone who hides behind their father every time things go wrong."

Adrian stood up, determination hardening his resolve. He moved toward the wardrobe, quickly pulling out a simple outfit. The house was silent as he dressed, his movements quiet and deliberate. His mind raced with thoughts of Ethan. I can’t just sit here and wait for him to rescue me again. I need to find out what’s going on. I need to help him this time.

When he was ready, Adrian approached the door to the room, hesitating for a moment. He knew Augustin would be furious if he left without telling anyone, but he also couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the door open and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. The soft glow of wall sconces illuminated the grand interior of Xelt Manor as he made his way toward the main entrance.

However, as Adrian reached the grand staircase leading to the main hall, a figure stepped out of the shadows. It was the housekeeper of Xelt Manor, a kind yet vigilant man in his fifties. He bowed politely, his expression calm but firm. "Master Adrian, may I ask where you are heading at this hour?"

Adrian froze, caught off guard by the housekeeper’s presence. For a moment, he considered brushing him off, but the man’s concerned gaze stopped him. He sighed, realizing that sneaking out wasn’t an option. "I need to find Ethan," Adrian admitted quietly. "I have this feeling... something’s wrong."

The housekeeper’s brows furrowed in concern, but his tone remained gentle. "Master Augustin would be deeply worried if you left without informing him. Perhaps it would be best to wait until morning to discuss this with him. He cares for you and would surely want to help."

Adrian hesitated, his hands clenched at his sides. The man’s words were reasonable, and Adrian couldn’t deny that Augustin would be upset if he disappeared in the middle of the night. Finally, he nodded, his shoulders sagging slightly. "You’re right," he said reluctantly. "I’ll wait until morning."

The housekeeper smiled kindly and gestured toward the sitting room near the staircase. "Would you like some tea to help you relax? It might be difficult to rest with so much on your mind."

Adrian shook his head. "No, thank you. I’ll just... go back to my room." He turned and began walking back toward the guest room, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet manor. Once inside, he closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling deeply.

His heart was still racing, his mind a whirlwind of worry and determination. As much as he hated to wait, he knew the housekeeper was right. Morning would bring clarity, and he could talk to Augustin then. For now, he needed to calm his racing thoughts and gather his strength.

Adrian moved back to the bed, sitting on the edge as he stared out the window at the moonlit gardens. His fingers brushed against the wedding ring on his finger—a symbol of his bond with Ethan, a reminder of the love and protection Ethan had always offered him. But tonight, it was also a reminder that he needed to be stronger, not just for himself but for their family.

"I’ll find you, Ethan," Adrian whispered into the quiet night, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his heart. "No matter what it takes,I’ll bring you back."

--

Augustin pushed open the door, expecting to see Adrian resting after the turmoil of the previous day. Instead, he was met with a curious sight—Adrian sat by the window sill, his back straight, his delicate hand gliding smoothly across a piece of paper. He seemed engrossed in whatever he was writing, oblivious to the world around him.

"Adrian?" Augustin called out softly, his voice laced with concern.

Adrian didn’t respond. He didn’t even flinch, as though he hadn’t heard him at all. Augustin frowned, stepping further into the room. Behind him, Lucas followed, carrying his medical bag. The doctor glanced at Augustin and then at Adrian, his professional instincts kicking in immediately.

"Adrian," Lucas tried, his tone gentle yet firm.

Again, no reaction. Adrian continued writing, the soft scratching of the pen against paper the only sound in the room. Augustin and Lucas exchanged worried glances before walking closer.

When they reached Adrian, they saw the papers sprawled across the desk. They were covered in intricate formulas and equations, each one more complex than the last. Lucas’s eyes widened as he scanned the unfamiliar symbols and calculations. "What is this?" he murmured, more to himself than to Augustin.

But Augustin’s focus was entirely on Adrian. His heart sank as he leaned in to examine his brother-in-law’s face more closely. Something wasn’t right. Adrian’s usually vibrant silver eyes had a strange green tint to them now—a faint, glowing hue that seemed almost unnatural.

"Lucas," Augustin whispered, pinching his companion’s arm to grab his attention. He motioned toward Adrian’s eyes, his own expression a mixture of shock and apprehension.

Lucas turned his gaze to Adrian’s face and froze. His medical training had taught him to expect the unexpected, but this—this was beyond anything he had encountered. "His eyes..." Lucas whispered. "What’s happening to him?"

Augustin, now visibly worried, gently placed a hand on Adrian’s shoulder. "Adrian," he said softly, his voice almost pleading. "Can you hear me?"

But Adrian didn’t acknowledge him. His pen moved steadily, as if guided by some invisible force, his hand never hesitating. The glow in his eyes seemed to pulse faintly with every stroke of the pen.

Unknown to them, Ethan’s soul stood silently beside Adrian, watching the scene with growing distress. Though he couldn’t physically intervene, his connection to Adrian was still strong. Ethan leaned forward, his translucent form shimmering faintly in the morning light. He pressed a ghostly kiss to Adrian’s eyes, desperate to comfort him, even if Adrian couldn’t fully feel it.

For a brief moment, Adrian’s hand faltered. He paused, his head tilting slightly as though sensing something. His lips parted, and his free hand reached out tentatively into the empty space beside him, as if trying to grasp something unseen.

Ethan’s gaze softened, his ethereal form radiating warmth. "Adrian," he whispered, though his voice couldn’t reach the physical world.

But before Adrian could make sense of the sensation, his body stiffened. A second later, his eyes fluttered closed, and he slumped forward, collapsing onto the desk. The pen fell from his hand, rolling across the papers.

"Adrian!" Augustin shouted, his usual composure shattering as he caught Adrian before he fell to the floor. His gentle but panicked hands cradled Adrian’s limp form, his worry etched deeply into his face.

Lucas was already by his side, his fingers checking Adrian’s pulse and vitals with practiced efficiency. "He’s breathing," Lucas said quickly, though his voice carried an edge of urgency. "But his pulse is weak. We need to figure out what’s going on, and fast."

Augustin carefully laid Adrian on the nearby chaise lounge, his hands trembling slightly. His piercing eyes darted back to the papers on the desk, the formulas glowing faintly in the sunlight. "Do you recognize any of this?" he asked Lucas, his voice tight.

Lucas shook his head. "No, but this... this isn’t normal. These equations—they’re not something an average person would know. Adrian has no background in advanced sciences or mathematics, does he?"

"No," Augustin confirmed, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked down at Adrian’s pale face, the green tint in his eyes now fading as he remained unconscious. "He’s never shown any interest in these things before. This isn’t him."

Lucas frowned, his mind racing. "This could be a result of the trauma he’s been through recently. But those eyes..." He shook his head. "There’s something else at play here. Something we don’t understand."

Meanwhile, Ethan’s soul lingered, his form flickering as he knelt beside Adrian. He brushed an incorporeal hand against Adrian’s cheek, frustration and sorrow etched into his ghostly features. He was so close, yet so powerless to protect the man he loved.

"Stay strong, Adrian," Ethan murmured, his voice laced with determination. "I’ll find a way to reach you. Just hold on."

Unaware of Ethan’s presence, Augustin and Lucas continued to work. Augustin’s usually gentle demeanor was replaced with a sharp focus as he wrapped Adrian in a warm blanket. "We can’t leave him like this," he said firmly. "I’ll call Leclair and Isaac. They need to know what’s happening."

Lucas nodded, his expression grim. "I’ll monitor his condition and see if I can figure out what triggered this. But we need answers, and we need them soon."

Augustin stood and pulled out his phone, his fingers dialing swiftly. As he waited for the call to connect, he glanced back at Adrian, his heart heavy. Whatever was happening to him, it was clear that this was only the beginning of something much larger—and far more dangerous.

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