Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Cream Allergy
"What’s wrong?"
Adrian Preston asked nervously, seeing her furrowed brow.
"It looks pretty unique. I’ll give it a try."
Mia Kane smiled and took it out of the fridge. She tried a bite. It was mediocre—the cake base was a bit dense and dry, making it hard to swallow.
’To be honest... it wasn’t very good.’
But she noticed the hopeful look in Adrian Preston’s eyes and wondered, ’Did he buy this? Don’t tell me he made it himself?’
"It’s delicious. So delicious. I’ve never had such a good strawberry cake before."
The worry in Adrian Preston’s eyes vanished, and he smiled along with her. "I’m glad you like it."
"You try some, too."
She scooped up a bite with her own spoon and offered it to him, and Adrian ate it without hesitation.
He wasn’t picky about food and didn’t eat many sweets, so he couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.
He thought it was pretty tasty.
They finished it together, feeding each other one bite at a time.
"If you like it, there’ll be more next time."
"I do like it, but we can’t eat too many sweets. How about once a week, okay?"
Adrian Preston nodded.
He took a call and had to go to his study to handle some work. After he left, she asked the cook, "Where did this cake come from?"
"Sir made it. He said you like strawberry cake, Ma’am."
Mia Kane understood instantly. ’Looks like I guessed right. Adrian made it himself.’
’He clearly could have just said so, but he’s just used to keeping his mouth shut.’
Some men are skilled with sweet words.
Other men are skilled at doing tangible things.
Adrian Preston wasn’t good with words; he was the type to let his actions speak for him. But he never opened his mouth, never brought up what he did behind the scenes, and never sought credit.
’A person like that... how could anyone ever understand his painstaking efforts?’
’He was like a stubborn child, making you happy and making your heart ache all at once.’
’If he wouldn’t say it, then she would work hard to discover it. He had already taken so many steps toward her; for the years to come, she would be the one to approach him, to open that door in his heart guarded by insecurity and sensitivity.’
Theo Thorne arrived soon after, rushing into the study in a hurry.
Seeing his frantic state, Mia Kane thought there must be an emergency at the company.
She immediately had the kitchen brew a pot of tea to be sent over.
"I’ll take it." She was worried a servant might overhear some business secrets, so it was safest to take it herself.
She stood at the study door, just about to knock, when she heard Theo Thorne’s muffled voice from inside.
"Sir, you know you’re allergic to cream. Why did you eat so much of it?"
"It just gives me a few rashes. It’s not like it’s going to kill me," Adrian Preston said nonchalantly.
"You call this not going to kill you? You’re red all over!"
Theo Thorne was both angry and anxious.
"You don’t get it. She fed it to me."
Adrian Preston’s voice was light, as if it were no big deal. There was even an undercurrent of unstoppable joy in his tone.
"So if Mia fed you poison, you’d eat that too?"
"Yes, as long as she’s the one feeding me."
"Adrian, how come I never realized you were so love-struck?" Theo Thorne said helplessly.
Adrian Preston didn’t say anything.
"Alright, I’ve covered up your neck with foundation. A big guy like me having to do your makeup... it’s not easy, you know."
"Yeah. Don’t let it slip when you see Mia."
"Adrian, you could just tell Mia that you’re allergic to cream! It might not be fatal shock, but it’s incredibly itchy and uncomfortable!"
"What if she stops feeding me in the future?" Adrian Preston said unhappily.
"You’re a lost cause. This is the oral medication, and this is the topical cream. You can apply it yourself."
Theo Thorne dropped the items and left.
Mia Kane emerged from another room, her hands gripping the tray tightly.
She went to the study and knocked on the door.
Adrian Preston immediately straightened his clothes, then checked his reflection in the glass to make sure the rash on his neck wasn’t visible before telling her to come in.
"Theo Thorne left so soon? I even prepared some tea."
"He just came to pick up a file."
Adrian Preston was itching all over and desperately wanted to scratch, but with Mia Kane there, he restrained himself.
He had extraordinary self-control; this was nothing to him.
Mia Kane opened her mouth, wanting to ask, but she held back.
’Everyone has their own strange pride. There’s no need to call him out on it. I’ll just be more careful next time and never let him eat cream again.’
"Well, you get back to work. I’ll head out."
For some reason, Mia Kane felt a sting in her nose.
She fought it back, left quickly, and only dared to let the tears fall once she had rushed back to her room.
The more she understood Adrian Preston’s awkwardness, the more she realized he was a real, living person. He didn’t have a body of steel like she’d imagined; he could get hurt and feel sad, too. He had just learned to hide it, and he hid it so well that no one could tell.
’Adrian Preston... he made her heart ache.’
She wiped her tears and called Theo Thorne, wanting to learn a little more about Adrian Preston.
’What does he like? What can’t he eat? As his girlfriend, she should know these things.’
"Mia, why the sudden questions?"
"I just want to understand him better. He’s used to burying everything in his heart and never saying a word. If I have to wait to figure it all out on my own, it’ll take forever. You two have been together for a long time; you must know him best."
Theo Thorne told her that Adrian Preston couldn’t handle spicy food at all; it always upset his stomach.
Mia Kane thought back to their meals together. She couldn’t eat a meal without spice, and he had never once said he couldn’t eat it, even joining her.
He also couldn’t drink alcohol, which she already knew.
"Adrian is often alone, but he doesn’t like being lonely. The first time he killed someone, he was terrified. He saw a therapist and eventually overcame it. He also zones out sometimes, and when he does, I think he’s probably thinking about you."
"Adrian hates slippery things like snakes. He was even bitten by one once, but thankfully it wasn’t venomous."
"Adrian doesn’t like cilantro."
"Adrian..."
"Why is it all things he dislikes? What does he actually like?" Mia Kane interrupted Theo Thorne’s stream of information.
"I’ve never really seen Adrian like anything in particular. He’s not picky about food or living conditions; after all, he was an undercover cop and has lived through all sorts of hardships. He doesn’t care for power or wealth, and he seems uninterested in everyone."
"Wait, but he likes you, doesn’t he? Isn’t that enough?"
Mia Kane was momentarily unable to refute Theo Thorne’s point.
"You have a point. Okay, keep going. What else doesn’t he like? What other foods should he avoid?"
Theo Thorne listed off a number of things, but he never told her that Adrian Preston couldn’t eat cream.
’She didn’t press the issue. Let them think she didn’t know anything.’
After hanging up, Mia Kane decided to spend more time with Adrian Preston.
’He’s lonely and needs company.’
’Humans are social creatures. No one wants to be born to be all alone.’
She went to find Adrian Preston.
"Adrian, do you need absolute quiet when you work? If someone is next to you, would you feel uncomfortable? Would it affect your work?"
"No. I had a desk at the police station with people on either side of me, and it never affected me."
"Oh, I see. In that case, how about we share the study? I think it’s pretty boring staying in the art studio by myself. What if I move my things in here?"
"Look, your bookshelf is so big, you can’t possibly use it all yourself. Let’s put my books on it, too. I like to read magazines, so just giving me a third of the space would be enough."
"How about I work in here? We could even move my chaise lounge over. Then I can lie down for a bit when I’m tired."
"Why aren’t you saying anything? Do you disagree?"
"No..."
Adrian Preston snapped back to his senses. "It would be my honor."
