Falling for the Goddess

Yes, I Do Like Him

The next morning, when Sara Hart woke up, Adrian Blake had already left for work.

In truth, she had been awake for a while. She hadn't slept well that night - her back throbbed painfully, and her heart felt heavy. Lying on her stomach was uncomfortable, so she only managed to doze off here and there for a few hours.

Even though Adrian Blake's movements were quiet, she knew the moment he got out of bed. She heard him turn over, get up, walk into the bathroom, and then go to the walk-in closet to change. Every small sound seemed amplified in the stillness, and she could easily imagine what he looked like, what his expression was.

She just didn't know how to face him.

How do you deepen a relationship that's maintained by money? Adrian Blake must think she married him for wealth or status.

But, in reality, Adrian Blake had been more than fair. He was polite, never harsh or unkind. He helped her when needed, took her to the hospital, and made sure she was cared for.

It was just that he always kept a certain distance, like there was an invisible barrier around him, making him cold and aloof.

After witnessing the way Adrian Blake and his father interacted yesterday, Sara Hart felt like she had glimpsed a hidden corner of his heart, and everything began to make sense.

With that realization, Sara Hart finally got up.

She glanced at the card Adrian Blake had left on her nightstand and tucked it away. She would return it to him later.

Since her back injury was still fresh, Sara Hart decided not to go to school. She sent a message to her professor, asking for a day off.

Just as she finished getting ready, Ella Duvall sent her a message, inviting her out. After telling Alice Miller where she was going, Sara Hart left the house.

---

The corner café had a vintage vibe. The decor was reminiscent of another era—old-fashioned tablecloths, retro cups, and a creaky phonograph playing songs from the past.

Sitting by the window, Ella Duvall took one look at the burns on Sara Hart's neck and immediately asked, concerned, "How did you get burned so badly? Have you been to the hospital?"

Sara Hart smiled, trying to reassure her. "I've already had it checked. It looks worse than it is. I'll be fine in a few days."

Ella Duvall sighed, exasperated. "You're always like this, downplaying it when you're the one who's hurt."

Sara Hart briefly recounted what had happened at Adrian Blake's family home. Ella Duvall's brows furrowed as she listened. After a pause, she hesitated, unsure if she should bring something up.

"Actually... there are some rumors about Adrian Blake's family..."

"What kind of rumors?" Sara Hart asked.

"Well, some say Adrian Blake is an illegitimate child, and others claim his mother was unstable and abused him when he was young. Some even say she was taken by force and later ran away with another man..." Ella Duvall spoke carefully, watching Sara Hart's expression for a reaction.

But seeing that Sara Hart wasn't angry or upset, she relaxed a bit. "These are just things I've heard, though. I don't know if any of them are true."

Stories about the previous generation were murky at best. Their generation didn't know much, except for what they overheard from their elders or from gossip.

Sara Hart thought for a moment. Adrian Blake was certainly not an illegitimate child, but he had never spoken about his mother. His family seemed to avoid the topic altogether, so there might be some truth buried in there.