Falling for the Goddess

Why Are You Here?

Adrian Blake looked up at the Chemistry Lab Building. His dark eyes were shadowed with regret.

All along, he had been too prejudiced against her, accustomed to judging her with suspicion. That's why, in the heat of the moment, he hadn't given her a chance to explain, choosing instead to condemn her right away.

Remembering his grandmother's words, Adrian's brows furrowed. Why had she agreed to marry him in the first place? He realized now how little he knew about her. With that thought, he called his grandmother.

"Grandma, do you know where Sara used to live before the wedding?" His voice was low and subdued.

After a brief pause, Madam Blake replied, "I'm afraid I don't."

...

In the garden, Alice Miller looked at Madam Blake with curiosity. "Don't you know where Madam Jing lives? Why not tell Master Blake?"

Madam Blake carefully snipped away a wilted flower and straightened up. "With his abilities, he can find her if he puts his mind to it."

She knew her grandson well. Adrian would feel remorse, and finding Sara alone would be a step toward understanding her better. It would mean more than simply hearing her address from someone else.

Meanwhile, Adrian left the campus and called Lucas Graves.

"Hey, Adrian...?"

"Do you have a way to reach Sara's friend?"

Lucas Graves removed his gloves, signaled to his assistant to take away the tray, and walked to the window. "You mean Ella Duvall?"

"Yeah."

Wondering why he needed her contact info, Lucas Graves didn't ask further and quickly shared her number. "This is her phone number."

"Thanks."

"Wait—" But Adrian had already hung up. Just then, a patient knocked on his door, leaving Lucas Graves to shelve his curiosity for the time being.

—

In his car, Adrian glanced at the address Ella Duvall had sent him. The apartment complex was close by. He parked at the gate but couldn't get past security.

He walked over to the security booth and knocked on the window. It slid open, revealing a young guard.

"Hello. Could you open the gate for me?"

The guard looked him up and down, then asked, "You're not a resident here, are you? I don't think I've seen you before."

"I'm here to see someone."

"Sorry, we can't let non-residents in. You'll need to contact the tenant to open it."

Adrian's lips pressed into a thin line. He wasn't used to this type of obstruction, and Sara's phone was still off.

"I can't reach her."

There was an unmistakable air of authority around Adrian that suggested he wasn't up to no good, but the guard's instructions were clear.

Seeing the guard's hesitation, Adrian's gaze sharpened. "I'm only here to see someone. My car is out front; I'll even leave the keys with you as collateral."

The guard looked out at the luxury car parked nearby. The man was undoubtedly wealthy. Under Adrian's piercing gaze, he wavered.

"Alright, but I'll need you to sign in with your ID and the tenant's information." The guard handed him a ledger. "And remember, the entire complex is under surveillance."

Adrian took the pen and jotted down his details.

The guard glanced at the apartment number and commented, "Oh, you're here to see that young lady?"

Adrian looked up. "You know her?"

"Yeah, I see her almost every day, morning and night - always leaving and coming back simultaneously. She's polite, too."

The guard glanced at him curiously. "What's your relation to her?"

"Thank you." Adrian handed back the ledger without answering, and the guard buzzed him in.

Watching him go, the guard muttered to himself, "Adrian? That name sounds familiar..."

—

Adrian took the elevator straight to Sara's floor. He found her door and raised his hand to knock, hesitating for a second before pressing the doorbell.

The chime rang out, and Adrian's heart tightened.

He heard the lock click a moment later, and the door opened.

Sara's eyes widened in shock when she saw him standing there. Her gaze dropped, and her voice was quiet. "Why are you here?"