Chapter 3 Did You Lose An Earring

• In her drowsy slumber, Celeste felt as if a pair of large hands were gently resting on her face.
• It was so big, so gentle, and gave such a sense of security.
• She briefly forgot her troubles and had a good night's sleep.
• In the early morning, the sunlight spilled onto the head of the bed, and Celeste slowly opened her eyes in the warm glow.
• Everything that met her eyes was unfamiliar...
• Celeste's thoughts drifted back to yesterday's events, her heart aflutter with apprehension. Only when she looked down to see her clothes intact did she let out a sigh of relief.
• She was simply covered in wounds, and the pain was unbearable.
• Celeste tried to push herself up from the bed, but the pain made her collapse back down.
• “Don't move around. You're not allowed to get out of bed yet!”
• Suddenly, a deep, frosty male voice echoed in her ears.
• Celeste was taken aback. Her gaze swept the room before finally landing on a tall man standing by the expansive floor-to-ceiling window.
• The man stood tall and upright, the warm light falling on him, casting a gentle hue over his figure.
• Hadrian turned around, slowly making his way toward Celeste.
• A profound gaze enveloped Celeste.
• “Sorry, my driver hit you. You should stay here to recover from your injuries for the time being.”
• As he drew nearer, Celeste gradually got a clear view of his face.
• The man had strikingly defined features, with sharp eyebrows and sparkling eyes. He carried himself with an air of grace and charm. His broad shoulders tapered down to a slender waist...
• His sun-kissed skin radiated a captivating allure, hinting at the toned abs subtly visible beneath his white shirt.
• In essence, this was a man whose entire being radiated irresistible charm.
• However, the man was enveloped by an icy, stern aura. It seemed as if a single frown from him could annihilate millions of enemies.
• Celeste was certain it was her first time seeing him, yet a profound sense of familiarity resonated within her.
• “You are...”
• “Hadrian Lloyd.”
• The man spoke in a clear, resonant voice.
• Celeste quietly repeated to herself, a profound stir coursing through her heart.
• Hadrian Lloyd! Is he the same Hadrian, the head of the wealthiest family in Yannopolis, the Lloyd family, and the CEO of the prestigious Lloyd Corporation and Regal Group?
• Rumors have it that he's cold and arrogant. His methods are ruthlessly extreme, almost like those of a bloodthirsty demon.
• But after his car accidentally hit me, he took me home to recover. He isn't all that bad!
• Celeste came to know about him through Shaun, who had mentioned him a few times. Shaun had spoken of a particularly formidable uncle, a man with ruthless strategies that struck fear into his heart.
• Later on, she had also spotted him in news from various countries.
• No wonder she found him familiar.
• “Don't move,” he ordered, “I've arranged for someone to help you freshen up and get dressed.”
• After he finished speaking, the man left. Subsequently, two housekeepers came in to attend to Celeste.
• “Ms. Xenos, you're truly fortunate. It's the first time Mr. Hadrian has brought a lady home. He spent the entire night by your bedside last night! He's extremely concerned about you!”
• “Indeed, Ms. Xenos. It was Mr. Hadrian who personally carried you back last night. You're the first woman he's ever carried!”
• “Last night, the way he treated you was as if he was afraid you'd break if he held you too tight...”
• Listening to the housekeepers' chatter, Celeste felt utterly bewildered.
• “Did you guys misunderstand... How could Mr. Lloyd and I have... when we first met?”
• “There's no misunderstanding!” The housekeepers exchanged glances, each breaking into a smile as if hinting at the joyful event on the horizon.
• After the housekeepers had helped Celeste freshen up, Hadrian entered the room once again.
• Just moments ago, he overheard those conversations right outside the door.
• Indeed, he had spent a night with Celeste, mainly to ascertain whether or not he truly had no aversion toward her.
• The truth was, to him, Celeste was indeed extraordinary.
• “Ms. Xenos, I have something to ask you.”
• The man emanated a natural aura of dominance, so powerful that it made Celeste unconsciously yield to him, even her demeanor becoming more subdued.
• She obediently nodded. “Go ahead.”
• Hadrian stood by the bed, his gaze cool and intense, deeply fixated on Celeste.
• “Did you go to Royal Inn yesterday?”
• Celeste was taken aback.
• Yesterday, she had lost herself in Royal Inn...
• Why would Hadrian ask this?
• Celeste's heart began to race uncontrollably.
• She subtly tightened her grip on her clothes, feigning nonchalance as she spoke. “I... I've never been there.”
• The man's gaze grew even more intense.
• “Have you ever lost an earring?”
• Celeste instinctively reached for her ears, only to discover that the earrings she had been wearing were missing.
• Her breathing became noticeably more rapid due to her anxiety.
• She felt a pang of sorrow deep within her. It was an incredibly precious gift from her mother on her eighteenth birthday.
• “I've never lost an earring before...” Celeste managed to say, stifling her heartache.
• “Why did you ask these questions?”
• With a serious expression, Hadrian responded, “I'm looking for a woman who visited Royal Inn yesterday and also lost an earring.”
• Before he finished, he added earnestly, “She means a lot to me!”
• Hadrian's face was frosty, instilling an unconscious fear in Celeste.
• She had indeed visited Royal Inn yesterday, and she had certainly lost her earring there...
• Was she going to admit it?
• Rumors had it that Hadrian was heartless and ruthless. He wouldn't seek out someone without a reason.
• Celeste's immediately thought he might be wanting to seek revenge...
• “I'm not sure. I've never been to Royal Inn.”
• Celeste's voice trembled with fear, her gaze nervously shifting toward the window.
• Upon hearing this, Hadrian deeply furrowed his brows.
• Last night, Yves had already investigated the guest records of Royal Inn. There was no sign of Celeste.
• Despite all odds, he refused to give up. He was convinced that his sense of familiarity with Celeste wasn't baseless, so he kept probing and questioning her repeatedly.
• Currently, Celeste was repeatedly denying.
• Hadrian's gaze fell upon the necklace resting on Celeste's collarbone.
• “Can I borrow your necklace for a few days?”
• Hadrian decided to consult a jewelry expert to determine whether the necklace and that earring were part of a set.
• “Uh...” Celeste stuttered nervously, “This is a counterfeit. It's not valuable.”
• The necklace was the only thing her mother had left her. On her eighteenth birthday, when her mother presented it to her as a gift, she was told that the necklace held the key to the mystery of her origins.
• Before she had the chance to ask further, her mother was involved in a car accident and fell into a vegetative state.
• With her father now gone, the mystery of her origins might forever remain unsolved.
• A hint of disappointment flashed across Hadrian's eyes.
• “Get some good rest.”
• With those words, he closed the door and left.
• After what felt like a brutal battle, Celeste's back was drenched in cold sweat.
• Luckily, she had managed to deceive Hadrian successfully.
• However... could she really be the one that Hadrian was looking for?
• When had she ever met Hadrian, and how had she become such an important person to him?