Chapter 352 The Confession

Claire froze. She opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. Adrian, noticing her hesitation, gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I know this might be out of the blue, but I had to say it. I’ve been holding it in for too long.” His voice was steady, but there was an edge of vulnerability beneath it. “I guess I just need to know… do you feel the same way?” Her mind was racing. She hadn’t expected this—at all. The warmth of the evening, the ease of their conversation, all of it seemed to blur into the background. She stared at Adrian, her mind frantically trying to process what he had just said. Her heart raced, but her thoughts were tangled. Did she feel the same way? Could she? There was so much history between them—so much friendship, loyalty—but romantic feelings? For the first time that evening, she found herself unsure of what to say, how to respond. The moment hung in the air between them, heavy with possibility, and Claire, usually so quick-witted and s