Falling for the Goddess

He Stood in Front of Her

Sara Hart froze, loosening her grip on the empty bottle in her hand.

Her eyes landed on the person standing in front of her. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing a lean forearm. Following the line of his arm, her gaze fell upon a familiar profile.

Him?

What's he doing here?

The leader of the group, furious that his fun had been interrupted, spat out angrily, "Where the hell did this pretty boy come from? Think you can mess with me?"

Adrian Blake gave him a glance, saying nothing, but the sheer coldness in his eyes and his aura of authority made the man's words die in his throat.

"What are you staring at?" the man muttered, backing down.

At that moment, the bar manager rushed over, bowing and scraping in front of Adrian Blake. "Mr. Blake! What a surprise to see you here! It's truly an honor to have you at our humble establishment, hahaha..."

"Mr. Blake?" the leader stammered, suddenly unsure.

The manager shot a glare at the young man, gritting his teeth. "How many Blake's could there be in North Capital?"

This brat might raise hell here regularly, but of all nights, he had to provoke someone like him. The manager just hoped he wouldn't be dragged down with him.

Finally, the young man seemed to realize the gravity of the situation, his face turning pale. "Blake family..."

"Apologize to Mr. Blake right now!" the manager urged.

The young man, now trembling, stammered, "M-Mr. Blake... I didn't know... I didn't realize I was offending you. Please forgive me for my rudeness!"

He glanced up hesitantly, not even sure which one of the women Adrian Blake had been protecting. Desperately, he added, "It was just a misunderstanding! Please don't hold it against me!"

Before he could finish his groveling, a swift kick sent him stumbling forward, nearly crashing to the ground.

"You dared to mess with my brother? No sense of chivalry at all—what kind of man forces himself on a woman? They said no, and you still put your hands on them!" Kyle Thorne, emerging from behind, scolded self-righteously.

"Mr. Thorne..." The manager's legs nearly gave out. This day just kept getting worse. Of course, this troublemaker had to show up as well.

The name "Thorne" combined with Adrian Blake's presence made it all too clear who this was—none other than the young master of the Thorne family. Wasn't he supposed to be abroad? Why was he suddenly back?

Adrian Blake remained silent, casually adjusting his sleeves, his expression cold as ice.

Clearly, he wasn't pleased.

The manager's heart sank. He hurriedly whispered to the young man, "Apologize to the ladies, now!"

The young man hastily turned to Sara Hart and Ella Duvall, bowing repeatedly. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know who you were. Please, don't hold it against me."

Sara Hart watched his groveling, such a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance. Just another coward who only bowed to power. People like him never changed.

She didn't acknowledge him, instead focusing on Adrian Blake, who was still half-shielding her from view. She'd seen that profile so many times before, but this was the first time he had ever stood in front of her.

No one spoke for a moment. The young man, terrified of the consequences, hesitated for a beat before grabbing two bottles of liquor and downing them. "I was out of line earlier. Please accept these drinks as my apology."

Kyle Thorne glanced at Adrian Blake, and only then did he wave dismissively at the group. "Get lost."

The group didn't waste a second, stumbling over each other as they fled.

Sara Hart opened her mouth, her voice a little shaky. "Mr. Blake... thank you."

Adrian Blake turned to her, his eyes briefly scanning her outfit—a black, strappy top paired with a short skirt that revealed a slender waist and long, fair legs.

He looked away almost instantly, replying flatly, "It was nothing."

Kyle Thorne, standing nearby, was practically gaping. He had thought Adrian Blake was interested in Ella Duvall, but to his surprise, it was this younger girl. And judging by the way they interacted, they already knew each other.

Good thing he hadn't tried hitting on her himself.

Still, Adrian Blake standing up for a girl was a rare occurrence. This bit of gossip might be worth something, Kyle Thorne mused to himself.

By now, Ella Duvall was starting to sober up, and she, too, was curious, her gaze flicking between Adrian Blake and Sara Hart.

Everyone assumed that there was something special between Adrian Blake and her, but Sara Hart knew the truth: it was only because of a favor he owed her, nothing more.

---

Outside the bar, Ella Duvall thanked Adrian Blake and then gently nudged Sara Hart toward him. "Mr. Blake, would you mind taking A-Yi home for me? I'll be heading off."

Before Sara Hart could protest, Ella Duvall was already flagging down a taxi in her high heels and disappearing down the street.

For a moment, no one spoke. Kyle Thorne glanced back and forth between Sara Hart and Adrian Blake, scrutinizing the girl now that he could see her clearly under the streetlight.

Sara Hart had a classic oval face, with a smooth forehead and delicate, flowing features. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear, her small nose perfectly proportioned. Her skin, soft and white like porcelain, gave her a youthful yet distant aura—innocent and sweet, but somehow aloof.

The contrast between her baby-faced looks and her slightly provocative outfit only made her more striking.

So this is his type, Kyle Thorne thought, trying to draw out some information. With a friendly grin, he asked, "Hi, I'm Kyle Thorne. What's your name?"

"Sara Hart," she replied softly.

"Sara Hart..." He repeated the name to himself, storing it away.

Adrian Blake stayed silent, and Sara Hart, feeling awkward, lowered her head and stared at her shoes.

She was debating whether to call herself a cab when Adrian Blake finally spoke. "Get in."

The black Maybach parked nearby gave two soft beeps, signaling its presence.

Sara Hart looked up, unsure. Was he talking to her or Kyle Thorne?

"Miss Hart."

Adrian Blake's voice broke through her confusion. Clearly, the invitation was for her. He opened the car door and got into the driver's seat.

After a moment of hesitation, Sara Hart walked around the car and slipped into the passenger seat.

As soon as she buckled her seatbelt, the car began to pull away from the curb.

Back on the sidewalk, Kyle Thorne watched in disbelief as the sleek black car disappeared down the street. "Hey! What about me?" he shouted to no one in particular, grumbling under his breath.

Taking out his phone, he muttered to himself, "Well, watching this play out is way more interesting than partying... Don't blame me for spilling the tea later."

Inside the Maybach, Adrian Blake's long, elegant fingers rested on the steering wheel, his attention focused on the road ahead. Sara Hart, on the other hand, fidgeted with her seatbelt, unsure what to say.

Licking her dry lips, she whispered, "Thank you again for earlier."

At a red light, Adrian Blake turned his head slightly to look at her. Seated now, her outfit looked even shorter.

His voice turned cold, perhaps remembering her usual demure demeanor. "I always keep my promises. But remember, Miss Hart, don't let my grandmother down."