Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 138: Chapter 138

Alex glanced at the two holding hands across from him and then quickly looked away. He said with a warm smile, "Yeah, Adrian. We arrived the afternoon before yesterday."
Adrian hooked Elara's palm with his finger and said, "Oh, I thought you were busy decorating your marital home in Veritasiton."
Alex was momentarily stunned. Then he glanced at Elara, who was avoiding his gaze, and said, "It's just a house I bought before, not a marital home."
Adrian also looked at Elara. "Oh, so it's not a marital home."
Elara felt as if she was being grilled by their intense stares, and her whole body froze.
Adrian said, "I do have a marital home that needs decorating, right, Elara?"
Elara knew exactly what Adrian was teasing her about, and now that he'd called her out on the spot for lying, she could only nod along reluctantly.
Joseph, unaware of the details between them, glanced at the woman beside his son and said, "Adrian, come here for a moment. I need to talk to you privately."
Adrian gave Elara's hand a gentle squeeze and said, "You go on in, tell them to start serving, and you guys can start eating first."
Elara nodded. Joseph led Adrian to an empty private room, while Sadie went downstairs to settle the bill, leaving only Elara and Alex in the hallway.
Alex stood in the middle of the hallway, blocking Elara's path. She had to go around him to get in, but he showed no intention of moving aside.
After hesitating for a moment, Elara lowered her gaze and walked past him. Her left arm nearly rubbed against the wall as she tried to keep as much distance from Alex as possible.
As she walked past him, something suddenly occurred to her. Then she said, "Alex, let's transfer the house when you're free. Adrian will have someone reach out to you."
Alex, barely holding back his emotions, finally snapped. He turned to face Elara with frustration burning in his eyes and said, "You don't want it that much? Did Adrian offer you a fancier place, so now the one we picked isn't good enough for you?"
Elara kept her gaze down, and her cold and distant attitude made his heart sink even more.
Elara said, "Alex, is that really the reason? Stop lying to yourself."
Alex clenched his fists, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. "Are you two really dating now?"
Elara said, "Didn't you see it for yourself just now?"
Alex said, "Elara, I want to hear you say it yourself."
Elara said, "Alex, that's my own business. It has nothing to do with you."
Elara moved forward, but Alex suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. He held on so tightly, as if he didn't, something precious would slip right through his fingers.
Alex said, "Elara, my dad's in trouble again, but I'll take care of it soon. Can you wait-"
"I heard you're going to be a dad," Elara cut him off.
Alex's hand trembled before he could stop it. Her words stabbed right into his heart, and he just froze, unable to fight back at all.
Alex said, "You've known about it?"
Elara just smiled faintly. "Guess it's true, then."
Alex said, "Elara, it was an accident. I was drunk that night-"
Elara said, "Congratulations."
Hearing that, Alex finally lost control of the feelings he'd been holding back. "Elara, it was an accident. I'll have Nancy abort the baby."
Elara said, "Alex, do you even know what you are talking about? Accident or not, I don't care. Alex, we're over. We have been for a long time."
Elara let out a sigh and struggled to free her wrist, but Alex held on tight.
She continued, "Alex, you grew up in a single-parent family. You know better than anyone how hard that is. Don't let your kid go through what you did."
"Elara..." Alex's grip only tightened. "Don't-"
Elara cut him off. "Nancy's got a bad temper, her character's not great, and she can be bossy and unreasonable, but she truly loves you. And she always listens to you. Just try to live a good life with her, Alex."
She pried his fingers off one by one until she finally freed her hand. She slipped into the private room, leaving Alex's lonely figure behind in the hallway. His once-straight shoulders finally sagged.
He muttered, "I'm sorry, Elara. I can't do it. I just can't..."
In the luxurious private room, Justin, Lucas, and the other lawyer were playing a card game when Elara pushed the door open and walked in by herself.
Justin asked, "Where's Adrian?"
Elara sat down next to Justin, opened a bottle of water, and drank it in big gulps. She thought, 'Phew. It really is a bit warm in Namukitts.'
Seeing that Elara didn't look so good, Justin didn't even feel like playing the card game anymore. He asked, "Did you get into a fight with Adrian?"
Elena said, "No, we just ran into his dad. His dad called him over to another private room to talk about something."
Justin said, "Joseph's here, too? They barely see each other once a year. What could they possibly have to talk about? Don't tell me it's about calling off the engagement? Joseph definitely won't agree with that."
Elara froze for a second at Justin's words. She'd totally forgotten about that. Adrian was the only one who wanted to call off the engagement. If they really wanted to call it off, they would have to let Joseph agree with it first.
"Scared?" Justin asked, watching Elara's expression for a reaction as he tossed out a pair of cards.
Lucas said, "Bro, are you here to flirt or play cards?"
Seeing Justin's move, Elara said coolly, "Pay attention to his cards, Justin."
Justin glanced back at the table and then casually tossed out some other cards.
Lucas and Elara didn't know what to say.
"I'm asking you. Are you scared?" Justin pressed.
Elara looked confused. "Scared of what?"
Justin continued the game. "Are you scared this marriage won't get called off in the end?"
Lucas was already speechless.
Elara said, "Whatever happens, happens."
Lucas threw out a pair of cards, and then he won. Justin tossed his cards down and said, "Alright, I'm done."
Then he turned to Elara and asked, "So, if it doesn't get called off, are you still going to be with Adrian?"
But Elara ignored him and turned to Lucas and the lawyer. "I'll join you guys. He quit. Let me in!"
Elara hadn't played card games since she went abroad, and now she was itching to try it again.
Justin was speechless. He thought, 'Wait, I stopped playing to comfort you, and now you wanna play it?'
He had no choice but to sit on the side and coach her. Elara drew the dealer card and got to play first. "You should start with these ones," said Justin.
But Elara deliberately ignored him and used something else. She said, "You lost it, okay? Don't try to coach me."
Justin didn't know what to say. When Adrian walked in, he saw Elara sitting next to a guy who was clinging to her like a big dog.
He walked over and sat down on Elara's other side. "Justin, get me some water, will you?"
Justin glanced at the coffee table in front of him, feeling a bit speechless. He said, "Adrian, isn't there bottled water right in front of you?"
Adrian said, "Then make me a cup of coffee."
Justin said, "Seriously? Right before dinner?"
Adrian said, "I just want it."
Justin reluctantly dragged himself up to boil some water, but before leaving, he reminded Elara, "There's still a Joker out there."
Elara directly chose other cards and then won. She thought, 'Who cares about the Joker? Justin's such a rookie.'
Adrian gave a cold chuckle. "You're pretty bold, teaming up with Justin at card games."
Elara smiled. "It's fine. He's good for emotional value."
Adrian reached around from behind Elara, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gave it a little squeeze as punishment. "I see. Emotional value, huh?"
Noticing there were still others around, Elara shrank back a bit and said, "They're serving the dishes."
Adrian's deep, predatory gaze fixed on her, and his smile was tinged with a hint of menace. "We'll settle all our scores tonight."
Elara played dumb and quickly got up, making a beeline for the dining table. Just then, a few more people walked into the private room. Jade trailed behind, carrying a bottle of wine.
Adrian recognized the three original partners of J&A Wines, along with two young guys who were running errands for the case.
Jade greeted everyone. "Alright, the dishes are all here. Let's all take our seats."
The large table could seat twenty-five, and with only about ten people there, there was plenty of room.
Adrian was the first to sit down, and then he waved Elara over. Just as Elara was about to move, she saw Jade casually take the seat next to him.
Not wanting to go over there anymore, Elara pulled out a chair across the table and sat down. Then Justin quickly joined her.
There was still an empty seat next to Adrian, and he shot her a look, but Elara deliberately ignored him, absently scrolling through her phone.