Chapter 18

Valerie froze for a second before quickly chasing after him. "Adi, let me help Grace—" Before she could finish, the door slammed shut with a resounding bang. Behind her, the air grew heavy with the sound of deep, ragged breaths, charged with frustration. "Sorry to trouble you, manager." Grace casually swept her long, loose hair over one shoulder. Her skin was as fair as snow, her back smooth and delicate. But it was the slender curve of her waist—so effortlessly graspable—that sent Adrian's thoughts spiraling. His breathing grew unsteady, the chill in his dark eyes sharpening. If he hadn't come in, another man would have been standing here, seeing her like this. The mere thought sent an unexplainable fire within him, surging wildly and uncontrollably. But what right did he have to be angry? She had made it clear. Even if every man in the world disappeared, she would never love him. Just like now—he had been sitting right outside, yet she had called for the store manager inste