Spoiled Sweetness

Chapter 6: A Little Jealousy

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The next morning, Lily Mei lounged on the couch in her family's massive living room, flipping through a fashion magazine without much interest. She wore a silky white dress, her dark brown hair spilling over her shoulders like a waterfall. Adrian hadn't shown up yet today, which annoyed her. He usually came over without fail, finding any excuse to see her. Be it business meetings with her dad, casual drop-ins, or simply because he missed her.

And she loved it. Adrian's attention was like a drug, something she needed more and more.

But today, he hadn't texted or called. Not even a simple, Good morning, baby.

Her pout deepened as she stared blankly at the pages. Just then, her brother Leon strode into the room, wearing a smug grin.

"Hey, guess who's visiting Dad in his office right now?" Leon teased.

Lily glanced up, a flicker of hope crossing her face. "Adrian?"

Leon plopped down next to her and gave her a sly look. "Yep. But guess what? He didn't come alone."

Lily's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"

Leon's grin widened. "He brought some woman with him. I think it's someone he works with. Pretty, too."

The magazine slipped from Lily's hands and hit the floor. Her chest tightened, an unfamiliar sting spreading through her. Adrian... with another woman? Why?

She tried to mask her feelings with a huff. "I don't care. He can bring whoever he wants."

Leon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her reaction. "Sure, you don't care. You're just gripping that pillow like it owes you money."

Lily glared at him, tossing the pillow in his face. "Shut up, Leon!"

He laughed, dodging the pillow as he stood up. "I'm just saying, Lily. Maybe you aren't the center of Adrian's universe after all."

But that was the thing. She was the center of Adrian's universe. He always made her feel like she was the only person that mattered. The thought of him giving attention to someone else made her stomach churn with an ugly, bitter emotion she couldn't quite name.

Lily sat up abruptly, determination flashing in her brown eyes. "I'm going to see what's going on."

Leon chuckled. "Now this will be fun."

Lily stormed through the hallways, her little fists clenched as she made her way to her dad's office. The sound of voices drifted from the slightly open door. Her father's deep laugh, Adrian's steady voice, and... a woman's giggle.

Lily peeked through the crack, her heart squeezing painfully at what she saw.

Adrian was sitting casually on the couch, his long legs crossed. Beside him sat a beautiful woman. Tall, elegant, with blonde shiny hair and a confident smile. She wore a tight red dress. Showing her mature figure. She leaned in close to Adrian, her hand brushing his arm as they talked.

Something sharp twisted inside Lily's chest.

Without thinking, she pushed the door open and marched inside, her small figure brimming with unearned confidence.

"Adrian!" she called out, her voice sharp and demanding.

Everyone turned to look at her. Her father, the woman, and finally Adrian. His stormy gray eyes softened the moment they landed on her.

She stomped over to him, ignoring the curious stares. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? And who's she?"

The woman blinked in surprise, her polite smile faltering. Adrian's lips curved in amusement, though his eyes remained gentle.