Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 458: Trouble in Paradise (2)

Lennox looked guilty, and Adrienne couldn’t help but feel upset with her husband. She wondered what he had done this time to make her feel so betrayed.

Lennox faced her and tried to touch her arm, but Adrienne pulled away and gave him a scathing glare.

"Addie..."

"Don’t you Addie me, Lennox! Tell me what you’ve done this time!" She demanded. "I trusted you with everything, and now..."

Adrienne didn’t know what to think or feel anymore. She felt a mixture of betrayal, anger, and disappointment all at once. She trusted her husband and understood his overprotective tendencies towards her, but Adrienne feared he would do something drastic and irreversible.

"It’s not your fault, Addie." Lennox whispered, trying to comfort her. "Don’t blame yourself for my actions."

"How can I not blame myself, Len?" Her eyes shone with tears as she looked at her husband in frustration. "I love you too much, Len. I could never be at ease knowing you’ve done something horrible because of me."

Lennox looked at her and gently reached out to hold her hand.

"Please believe me when I say that you are not responsible for my actions. As your husband, do you really think I could easily let your father off after what he’d done to you? "Lennox asked, his voice filled with sincerity.

Lewis Jiang hurt Adrienne more than anyone else ever could. In Lennox’s books, Lewis Jiang was unforgivable. He was even more annoyed that the old man didn’t show any remorse for the pain he caused Adrienne. Lennox didn’t think there was someone who could compete with his father for being the worst person in the world until he met his father-in-law.

"Do you think this is the right solution to the problem, Len?" Adrienne questioned him, "I do not want you to become like Alistair. You promised me before. Does that even matter to you anymore?"

Lennox was taken aback and fell silent, but he couldn’t tell Adrienne he didn’t regret what he’d done to her father. He understood her concern and her fear of him crossing a line that he could never come back from. Lennox couldn’t forgive his father-in-law, and he couldn’t deny the rage that burned within him whenever he thought of Lewis and the pain he had inflicted on Adrienne.

He had planned every detail meticulously, ensuring no traces would lead back to him. Lennox knew the consequences of his actions but believed it was the only way to protect Adrienne from further harm. But as he looked into Adrienne’s tear-filled eyes and saw the fear and uncertainty there, he realized that he had failed her. He had promised to be different from his father, to rise above the darkness that consumed their family. And yet, here he was, hurting the person he wanted to protect.

"Addie, I know I promised you I wouldn’t cross the line and speak with you about my future plans," Lennox finally said, his voice filled with regret. "But seeing the way your father treated you awakened something inside me. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt anymore."

Adrienne’s anger softened slightly as she looked into his eyes, searching for the truth. She knew how deeply Lennox loved her, and she understood the pain he carried from his own past.

"I know you love me, Len," she said softly, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "And I understand your need to protect me, but you need to respect my choices, Len. I let my father go for a reason. Couldn’t you just let me be?"

Lennox nodded, his fingers intertwining with hers. He knew Adrienne was right, though it pained him to admit it. The path he had chosen was a dangerous one, one that threatened to consume him entirely.

"I don’t want to lose myself in this darkness," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But when I saw how your father was still unapologetic for what he did... I couldn’t let him get away with it. If you were in my shoes, Addie, you would understand how painful it was for me to see you suffering, and I couldn’t do anything to help."

Adrienne shook her head. She understood his point but wouldn’t overstep her boundaries, especially when they had an agreement.

Lennox then knew he had to choose his words carefully. It seemed to him that Adrienne wouldn’t budge on her decision.

"Addie, I want you to understand that what I did was not an act of vengeance or a desire to become like Alistair. You know I wouldn’t hurt you like that." He began. "It was my way of protecting you, protecting our future."

"Is that so?" Adrienne let out a mocking laugh despite the pain in her eyes. "Protecting me? Or was it your ego speaking right now?"

Lennox winced at her words, realizing that his attempt to justify his actions had only driven a deeper wedge between them.

"Addie, I never meant to undermine your strength or disregard your wishes. I only wanted to shield you from the pain and danger that your father posed. But I see now that I’ve made a terrible mistake, and for that, I am truly sorry," he said, his voice filled with remorse.

Adrienne crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. The tension in the room was palpable as they sat there, each grappling with their own emotions.

"You can’t just go around taking matters into your own hands, Lennox," she finally said, her voice laced with frustration. "We’re a team, remember? We face our battles together."

Lennox nodded, feeling the weight of his actions bearing down on him. He knew he had let his anger and desire for justice cloud his judgment, forgetting the strength they drew from one another.

"You’re right, Addie. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to be blinded by my rage," he admitted, his voice filled with regret. "I promise, from this moment on, I will respect your decisions and support you in whatever path you choose."

Adrienne studied him for a moment, her eyes searching his face for sincerity. The anger in her expression began to soften as she saw the genuine remorse etched across his features.

"I need time," she finally said softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I appreciate your honesty."

Her words saddened Lennox, but he recognized that he had to give her the space she requested. He and Adrienne rarely had disagreements and didn’t want to jeopardize their relationship by pressuring her.

The next day, Adrienne took matters into her own hands and arranged Elise’s funeral. She held a ceremony for her sister for three days, but not many people showed up to offer their condolences, which revealed much about how other people felt about Elise.

Myrtle was with her throughout it, helping Adrienne as much as she could. She also knew Adrienne had a recent fight with her husband, though Adrienne wouldn’t tell her the details. Adrienne temporarily moved to the Zhao family estate along with Noah and Scarlett, using the excuse of Lennox’s upcoming major event as a cover for her sudden departure.

Lennox wasn’t willing to let Adrienne go, but he didn’t want to force Adrienne into staying against her will. He wouldn’t be any different with Alistair if he decided to keep her wife at home. Knowing that she was staying with the Zhao family would also allow him to focus on his work without worrying about her well-being and safety.

The launch day of the newest car model from Qin Motors arrived. Many people gathered at the dealership to witness the unveiling. Media personnel and photographers kept clicking their cameras and recording every moment of the event.

Chairman Qin and Lennox arrived together, while the three remaining Qin siblings had been at the venue an hour earlier. Everyone wondered if this would even cement Lennox’s position within the Qin family’s business empire and regain his position as the heir of the family.

Some people noticed Adrienne’s absence from the event. Even Jacob had teased Lennox about the absence of his wife, but Lennox brushed off the comments and reassured everyone that Adrienne had a prior engagement.

"There must be trouble in paradise." Jacob kept jabbing at Lennox, trying to get a reaction. "She must have thought it was more important to attend the other event than give you some face as your wife. Is Adrienne planning to divorce you?"

Lennox shot him a scathing glare. He knew his cousin was trying to provoke him, but he refused to take the bait. However, the thought of Adrienne not forgiving him for his mistake weighed heavily on his mind. What if she decided to divorce him instead?

Lennox was so distracted with these thoughts that he didn’t notice the sudden change in the atmosphere around him. People were murmuring to each other as Adrienne, dressed in a stunning beige dress, made her way towards him with Noah and Scarlett by her side.

"I’m sorry we are late, Grandfather." Adrienne greeted Lennox’s grandfather with a warm smile and a gentle hug.

"I’m glad you made it in time, Adrienne." Chairman Qin said before glancing at Noah and Scarlett, who were obviously nervous. "And who are these two?" Chairman Qin inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.

Adrienne beamed proudly, introducing them as Noah and Scarlett. The old man merely nodded before turning his gaze back to the stage before them, seemingly uninterested in their presence.

Noah and Scarlett sighed in relief. They both knew the Qin family wouldn’t consider them part of the Qin family, but that was fine. They discussed this topic with the rest of their siblings long ago, and they mutually agreed not to get involved with the Qin family affairs unless it directly affected their well-being.

What mattered to them was Lennox and Adrienne, as they were their top priorities. The couple was the reason they had a family they could call their own, and they were determined to protect them.