Falling for the Goddess

All She Wanted Was to Be There for Him

On the third floor of the exclusive lounge at Meisi, the private suite was already occupied. Lucas Graves paced back and forth, muttering to himself like a restless fly trapped in a jar.

"What the hell happened? Could Uncle Blake really be this ruthless?"

"I thought they were just at odds, but how did it escalate to this?"

"Why isn't he here yet? Do you think something happened to him?"

Eric Thorne and Noah Ashford sat calmly on the sofa, contrasting Lucas Graves's frantic energy.

Noah Ashford idly spun the glass in his hand, his tone measured and detached. "Adrian always has his reasons."

Under Adrian Blake's leadership, the Blake Corporation had soared to new heights in just a few years, surpassing its previous glory under Thomas Blake. He had already taken a back seat in recent years, while Jimmy Blake was still just a child. Despite any familial tension, no one could have imagined the corporation changing hands—unless Adrian himself had made the decision.

Among the four of them, Lucas Graves was undoubtedly the most carefree. His older brother, Xenia Graves, handled his family business, allowing Lucas to focus solely on his medical career. On the other hand, Noah Ashford had to contend with his sprawling family and their constant scheming. Eric Thorne bore the weight of the entire Thorne family. But Adrian... his burdens were different. He carried the weight of a past he could never escape.

And now, Adrian Blake was finally cutting ties with it all.

Noah Ashford sipped his drink. "Lucas, sit down. You're making me dizzy."

Lucas Graves reluctantly plopped onto the couch, his eyes darting toward the door.

After a few minutes, the door finally opened, and Adrian walked in.

All eyes turned to him as he shrugged off his coat, handing it to a waiting attendant, and strode toward the sofa.

Lucas Graves was the first to break the silence. "Adrian, what's going on? The Blake Corporation announcement—was that for real?"

Adrian's expression was cold, his presence exuding an air of detachment. "I had it released."

"You... why?" Lucas Graves looked utterly baffled.

Eric Thorne, however, understood immediately. He studied Adrian closely. "You're certain about this?"

Adrian's response was firm. "I've made up my mind. I'm done with him."

He spoke with the calm finality of someone discussing trivial matters, as though severing ties with his father was just another item on his to-do list.

Noah Ashford swirled the amber liquid in his glass and chuckled dryly. "People are so different. I've spent my life fighting for something you've just decided to throw away."

Adrian cast him a sidelong glance. "We're not the same."

It was true. Noah Ashford had grown up in a cutthroat environment, his mother teaching him to fight tooth and nail for every opportunity. Adrian, on the other hand, had no one to fight for—or to fight for him—except his grandmother. The Blake family was less of a sanctuary and more of a cage.

Eric Thorne leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "What about the old lady? What did she say?"

Adrian's gaze softened slightly. "I'll make time to visit her."

The name "Blake family" was a bitter reminder of humiliation and pain for him. Severing ties wasn't a rash decision—he had been planning for a long time.

Seeing Adrian's resolve, his friends refrained from trying to dissuade him.

Noah Ashford raised his glass. "If you ever need anything, just say the word."

Adrian lifted his own glass, clinking it against Noah Ashford's in silent acknowledgment.

Lucas Graves, however, was less composed. "That's it? You're just going to let this slide?"

His friends' calm acceptance made him feel even more agitated. "Are you all seriously okay with this?"

"Lucas," Noah Ashford said, his tone steady, "this isn't about us. It's about Adrian. He's made his choice."

Deflated, Lucas Graves sank back into his seat, glancing at Adrian. If even Noah Ashford and Eric Thorne weren't pushing back, what could he—a younger brother figure—do?

The announcement of Adrian Blake's resignation shook North Capital's elite circles. The Blake Corporation was one of the city's top four conglomerates, and its every move was scrutinized.

Adrian, long seen as the company's rightful heir, had brought unprecedented success during his tenure. His decision to resign and cut ties with the family sent shockwaves through the community, sparking endless speculation and gossip.

Why would a golden heir walk away from everything? What secrets lay hidden within the Blake family?

As whispers spread, Ella Duvall called Sara, who was sitting outside Adrian's study.

"I heard about what happened. Are you okay?" Ella asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Sara hugged her knees, leaning against the wall. "We went to the old estate today. Adrian and his father got into a fight—it was bad. They argued about his mother, and then..." She paused, her voice trembling. "He said he's done with the Blake family."

She felt powerless, unable to do anything but watch as Adrian bore the weight of his pain alone.

Ella hesitated before speaking. "Sara, I've heard some rumors about the Blake family—about his mother. I don't know if they're true, but they might help you understand."

Sara listened intently.

"You know his father remarried. But no one ever talks about Adrian's mother. From what I've heard, she... betrayed his father. It caused a huge scandal. After her death, her family took her back, and Thomas Blake never acknowledged her again. The whole thing was covered up, so hardly anyone knows the details."

Sara remained silent, piecing together the fragments of information with what she had witnessed earlier that day.

"What are you going to do?" Ella asked gently.

Sara's gaze drifted to the empty house around her. "I love him for who he is, not because he's a Blake. I just want to be by his side."

Her voice was soft but resolute. "Unless he asks me to leave, I won't go anywhere."

Sara waited for hours, but Adrian didn't come home. As the clock ticked past nine, she finally called Lucas Graves.

"Hello? Sara?" Lucas Graves answered, stepping out of the suite to take the call.

"Is Adrian with you?"

He glanced back at the lounge, where Adrian was nursing his drink. "Yeah, he's here. Drinking alone, though."

"Is he okay?" Sara's voice was laced with worry.

Lucas Graves sighed. "He's not saying much, but he's drinking like it's the end of the world. We're at Meisi. You should come pick him up."