Adrianâs aircraft manufacturing workshop had been pouring in investments for years without much to show for it.
Adrian reached out to Michael, asking him to attend an industry conference in another city.
The room was filled with influential people, all leaders in the field.
Michael attended to learn about the industryâs direction and to explore ways he could assist Adrian in shaping the Miller Groupâs future.
But when he saw Dulce walk in with her mentor, his first instinct was to call Adrian immediately.
The conference stretched on for three hours, with no one leaving early. By the end, Michael was on edge, but the technicians he brought along were still taking meticulous notes.
During the ten-minute break, Michael stepped outside and dialed Adrianâs number. âDid you set this up on purpose?â Adrian pretended ignorance. âWhat do you mean?â
âYou knew Dulce would be here, didnât you?â
âWell, this could work out perfectly, right? She doesnât care about how old or stubborn you are. What more could you want?â
Michael sighed. âI know Iâm old, but Iâm not stubborn.â
Adrianâs voice was soft but firm, like a concerned father speaking to a son. âMichael, Laceyâs been gone a long time. Itâs time to move forward. Dulceâs not a bad person. Maybe giving her a chance wouldnât hurt.â
Michael remained silent, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window on the sixty-third floor of the convention center. The sunlight streamed in, yet his heart felt weighed down by an invisible chill. âI still canât forget Lacey.â
âIâm not asking you to forget her,â Adrian retorted, his tone a mix of practicality and care. âDulceâs mentor is a key figure in this industry. Weâre going to need her support moving forward. Sheâs been asking about your schedule everywhere, so I thought Iâd help her out.â
Michaelâs jaw tightened as frustration simmered inside him. âSo, you just betrayed me like that?â
âIf you donât want to date her, why are you so anxious about it?â
Michael was left speechless, the question hanging in the air like an unanswered challenge.
Michael couldnât quite pinpoint why he felt so unsettled.
It was only when Adrian confronted him that he had to face his emotions head-on.
Dulce often reminded him of Lacey, sparking a mix of happiness and regret. He believed he was a good manâhe didnât want to replace Lacey with another woman, nor did he want to use Dulce for his own benefit.
Gripping his phone tightly, Michael said, âDonât share my schedule with Dulce anymore. Thereâs no future between us.â
Adrian had just finished putting Molly to bed, gently settling her in her crib. After ensuring she wasnât crying, he made his way to the study. âThereâs something Iâve been meaning to ask. Are you planning to stay single forever?â
It was the same question Bobby had blurted out during their gathering a few days ago.
At the time, Michael dismissed it, saying, âWhy do you care whether Iâm dating or not?â
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