"I'll see who has the guts to lay a finger on her," Adrian declared firmly.
Pearl Wright never expected that her new and relatively unknown husband would step up to protect her, especially since their marriage had been rushed.
They had met in a rather unremarkable way, like a scene from a clichéd old movie, yet it felt like destiny had a hand in it.
After her mother fell ill, Pearl returned from New York and met Adrian Cliff. He was renting one of their rooms and had been a great help to her mother.
Handsome, quiet, but poor. Adrian was an enigma to Pearl.
When Pearl's mother passed away, her family was immediately faced with the threat of acquisition. Surrounded by a group of ruthless relatives who seemed like vampires, Pearl saw Adrian arrive home late on the day of her mother's memorial. Two lonely souls met, and she suddenly found herself yearning to start a family with this man. At the same time, she hoped that he could protect her from those who were harassing her.
Although Pearl came up with this on a whim, Adrian agreed without hesitation.
She thought that it was just a marriage of convenience, but these days, she always felt that this man was different from what she had expected...
"Pearl, what are you staring at? Haven't you heard what I said clearly?"
A group of fierce-looking men and women stood at the door.
Adrian remained still, blocking their way, but glanced back at Pearl. She had regained her composure and wore a calm expression.
"Hank, my mother has just passed away..." Pearl began.
Hank interrupted in a loud voice.
"We're not here to listen to your excuses. How much did the acquisition company pay you? The three families should split that money equally. The house was left by your grandma, who's also my mother. Why should you get it all to yourself?" His thin face twisted with greed. "As the only son of the Wright family, I deserve the biggest share."
Pearl had expected them to come for the money.
In the past, she would have been afraid of their threats and troublemaking. But now, she had nothing to fear.
Her delicate features betrayed no emotion, only indifference and coldness.
"I don't have the money. If you want to cause trouble, I'll be happy to accompany you. I'm not afraid of any lawsuit, so don't even think about getting a penny from me."
"You little bitch..."
Hank's son, Jeffery, stepped forward, ready to attack Pearl, but Adrian quickly grabbed his wrist, causing him to scream in pain.
"Ah ah ah ah..."
Adrian's cold eyes scanned the group, warning them not to interfere.
"Let me make this clear, Pearl is my wife now, and I have a share in her property. If any of you have a problem with that, you can try and take it up with me."
Icy and ruthless.
His words were sending shivers down everyone's spine, including Pearl's.
The Wrights were immediately intimidated. Hank glanced at Adrian, then gritted his teeth and decided to come next time when Adrian was not around.
He spat at Pearl and Adrian. "I'll be back." Then he left while cursing.
Adrian closed the door and walked to the sofa, followed by Pearl. The two of them sat opposite each other.
She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact.
"Are you afraid?" Adrian asked in a deep voice.
"... No." Pearl replied stiffly, looking at him hesitantly.
Adrian lit a cigarette, his fingers looking surprisingly delicate for a construction worker.
Pearl had never paid much attention to his hands before, but now, as she looked at them, she couldn't help but notice how they seemed out of place for someone who worked in construction. They were slender with smooth, unblemished skin and long fingers with well-manicured nails. It was difficult to imagine that these hands had ever held a hammer or carried heavy materials on a job site.
And also the cigarette. It smelled different, not pungent, but almost refreshing. Pearl never saw this brand in any shops.
While Pearl was in a daze, he heard Adrian speak again.
"Before we got married, I had a pre-wedding notary. I won't take any of your property. If you doubt me, trust the law," he said, taking a drag.
Pearl nodded, feeling a little awkward. "Yes, I know. I believe you."
Although there was indeed a moment of doubt in her heart.
Adrian didn't care whether she believed it or not. He got up and was ready to go out.
Pearl also hurriedly got up and followed him to the door. Only then did she say in a low voice, "Thank you... for everything you did today."
Adrian looked back with no expression on his face. The cigarette in his hand had not been burned out yet.
He bit down on the cigarette butt, and his voice dropped to a magnetic whisper. "If you really want to thank me, thank me at night."
As Adrian headed for the door, his cell phone rang.
Pearl watched as he took out an old-fashioned mobile phone from his pants pocket.
It looked like her grandma's phone, which only had the function of calling and texting.
She wondered if he couldn't afford a newer one, but her curiosity was piqued when she saw the number.
With a quick glance, she found that the number was from the New York District.
"How could he know someone from New York when he's a native of Phoenix?" she wondered.
Adrian nodded at her and went downstairs without explaining. Pearl had no intention to know his privacy, so she also returned to her room.
It wasn't until he was outside the door that Adrian answered the phone.
His voice was cold and emotionless.
"Say it."
"Mr. Cliff, it's time for the re-check."
"I know."
The voice on the phone was full of caution. "Then... Mr. Cliff, when will you come back?"
"I'll talk to you later."
