Chapter 12 Christopher's Anger
Adeline stood by the roadside, watching the hypercar disappear into traffic. She couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration. Was Christopher actually jealous?
Just as she reached for her phone to call for a ride, the roar of an approaching engine grew louder. In an instant, the flashy Bugatti skidded to a halt right in front of her.
Christopher kicked open the passenger door.
"Get in!" he snapped, wearing a cold and stormy expression.
Seeing that he was truly upset, Adeline decided to stop teasing him. She didn't want to fan the flames any further, so she slipped into the car through the door he had kicked open.
The moment she sat down, Christopher's icy presence surrounded her.
"Adeline, are you trying to get yourself killed?" he growled.
Adeline wasn't fazed. She leaned closer with a sly smile, deliberately meeting his piercing gaze. "What's wrong? Are you mad?"
Before she could finish speaking, Christopher leaned in abruptly, pressing her firmly against the seat. He rested one hand on the backrest behind her, gripping her chin with the other.
"Chris—"
The word barely left her lips when Christopher's possessive kiss interrupted her, as though he were an enraged lion attacking its prey.
Adeline instinctively leaned back, but his hold on her chin only tightened. He drew her closer, intensifying the kiss.
Adeline panicked as she noticed the pedestrians outside. She mumbled muffled protests against his kiss, but Christopher didn't back off.
She pushed against his chest and tried to shift his shoulder, but he remained as immovable as a mountain.
Frustrated with her resistance, Christopher grabbed her wrists and pinned them down, forcing her hands against the seat.
When his hand brushed over the bandage wrapped around her right hand, his gaze froze for a moment. Then, his hand slid to her wrist, holding it securely in place.
With both hands restrained, Adeline was completely immobilized.
She opened her eyes slightly, only to meet Christopher's deep brown ones.
His gaze was as mysterious as ever.
Adeline realized that even after three years of marriage, she still couldn't unravel the emotions hidden behind his amber eyes.
At that moment, she had no idea what Christopher was truly angry about. It was as if he were a protective wolf cub, unwilling to let anyone touch what he considered his.
As her thoughts wandered, Christopher punished her with a sharp bite to her lip. Adeline winced in pain.
Seeing the pain in her expression, Christopher's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. He leaned in again, softly kissing her.
The faint scent of tobacco mixed with his cool fragrance was subtle but strangely appealing.
After three years of marriage, Christopher knew exactly how to kiss her. Soon enough, Adeline was breathless, and her legs were weak beneath her.
Just as she thought she might pass out, he finally pulled away.
Adeline breathed heavily, shooting him an angry look. Every kiss with him felt like he was trying to devour her. He claimed not to like her, but his kisses told a different story.
Christopher's mood seemed noticeably lighter after the kiss. He casually rested a hand on the wheel, tapping his fingers rhythmically. When he glanced at her, he noticed her lips glistening, and a dark desire flickered in his eyes.
"You should be thankful we're not at home right now," he said quietly.
Adeline understood exactly what he meant. If they were at home, she'd probably be stuck in bed all night, submitting to his dominance.
However, she wasn't going to let him off that easily. "You're shameless," she shot back.
Despite the busy streets outside, his mind was clearly still in a different place. He laughed darkly. "You've seen me act shameless before."
Adeline couldn't argue with that. When it came to shamelessness, he was the master.
With a smirk, Christopher glanced at the coffee shop outside. He slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the car surged forward like a rocket.
The sudden jolt threw Adeline back, and her bag slipped off her lap, tumbling to the floor.
Adeline's frustration flared up again. She was about to snap at him when she suddenly turned and noticed Christopher's sharp profile. For a moment, she found herself frozen, staring at him.
She hadn't really had time to take him in when she first got into the car, but now she saw that he looked different today.
His brown hair was styled into a sleek pompadour, highlighting his sharp features. His tall, straight frame was dressed in a black, custom suit with a traditional collar. The subtle embroidery on his chest added a touch of elegance. The look was simple but refined, making him undeniably handsome.
As he drove, the cuff of his sleeve slid up slightly, revealing his pale wrist. He had a Polo Newman watch that he rarely wore on his left wrist, and a black bead bracelet that he always kept with him on his right wrist.
The bracelet, which usually seemed out of place, now perfectly matched his entire look.
Adeline smiled to herself. He was exactly the type of man she had fallen for.
She suddenly remembered when she first felt drawn to him. It was probably because of his looks.
Her eyes fell back to his suit. After a moment of thinking, she laughed.
"Christopher, this suit looks really familiar," she said.
As he noticed the change in her mood, he smiled slightly without saying anything.
Adeline went on, "The designer must have sharp eyes and great taste."
Christopher smirked. "If you're trying to flatter yourself, just say it."
Adeline laughed. "So, you're the elusive buyer the reporters keep talking about?"
Christopher was wearing a limited-edition suit from the famous Kiera Toni brand in Ingerville. It was part of their spring collection for this year. Gee Maison, a leading fashion design company in the country, had collaborated with Kiera Toni on the line. Adeline was one of the lead designers on the project.
It was her idea to merge traditional elements with modern fashion, creating this modern-traditional high-collared suit.
After the fashion show, the suit was bought by a mysterious buyer for a seven-figure sum.
Adeline smiled and asked, "How come I've never seen you wear it since you bought it?"
Christopher glanced at her, his eyes meeting hers with a flicker of amusement. He turned his head away and chuckled, "It's too ugly. I didn't want to wear it."
It was a beautiful piece, but he had to go and ruin it with his words.
Adeline shot him a look. "Why did you buy it then?"
It was ridiculous that he just casually threw away seven figures.
Christopher shrugged. "Consider it a charitable donation."
At that point, Adeline almost wanted to strangle him.
She turned away and stared out the window, deciding not to engage further.
She couldn't really explain why, but her time with Christopher was always so limited. Most of it was spent in bed, and the few moments they actually had to talk were rare.
Whenever they met, it felt like they were always at odds.
She sighed heavily. Maybe she and Christopher just weren't meant to get along. If it weren't for the marriage agreement, Christopher might never have chosen her.