The boy''s dislike for him was instinctive, almost primal.
With Adrian, things were always ck or white: either they didn''t talk at all, or every word was charged with intensity. There was never a middle ground.
Still, Forrest consoled himself—at least the kid was smart.
"You know where your mother''s been going every day, don''t you?" Forrest tossed a used napkin into the trash, trying to ignore the sticky residue clinging to his fingers as he sat down across from Adrian.
Adrian didn''t reply, but he didn''t tell Forrest to leave, either.
Of course he knew.
The very first night his mom came home, he''d noticed it-the faint, sterile scent of rubbing alcohol and hospital-grade antiseptic clinging to her. Every evening since, that smell had followed her inside.
And as for who she was visiting at the hospital-he knew better than anyone.
He wanted to ask, but he never did.
Forrest didn''t need an answer; just reading the boy''s face was enough. He continued, "You''re a smart kid. I think we can keep this conversation simple, can''t we?"
Adrian gritted his teeth, silent.
"To be honest, I don''t really like you. But I don''t hate you, either." Forrest smiled, his tone easy, almost casual. "You probably don''t know what your father once did to me. You''re almost a carbon copy of him. The fact that I don''t hate you is more than generous."
He kept a polite smile on his lips. "But that''s not the point. I love your mother. And because of that, I''ll love you too—even more than a real father might."
Adrian sneered. "You think you can treat me badly and get away with it?"
Forrest chuckled. "Not in a million years."
"But Adrian, you must have figured it out by now-your mother''s decisions aren''t so easy to sway anymore. When she makes up her mind, do you really want to keep fighting her, making everyone miserable in the process?"
That trip to Ennd had put everything into perspective.
If there was anyone left in this world who could truly influence M''s decisions, seal them beyond doubt, it was Jade. Even Adrian couldn''tpare-Jade''s ce in M''s heart was that important.
Even this engagement party-
It wasn''t just about cutting ties with the Montgomery family. It was also about letting Jade finally rx, to stop worrying so much and enjoy her life.
Forrest was just lucky to be along for the ride.
He still believed that choosing to go abroad with M to meet Jade had been the smartest move of his life.
As long as Jade didn''t openly reject him, he''d basically won. M had never been that opposed to him; as long as Jade gave even the slightest nod, everything else would fall into ce.
Adrian''s opinion-
It mattered, but it wasn''t decisive. If Adrian liked him, it was a bonus. If not, well, it wouldn''t derail things, but it would certainly disappoint M—and Forrest couldn''t let that happen.
Besides, he didn''t want M worrying about the two of them.
He wanted her to be happy, to savor this new chapter-
Not regret it.
Anything less would be a defeat.
Adrian red at the man in front of him, unblinking.
He wasn''t stupid.
He knew Forrest wasn''t lying.
But he still hated him.
Abruptly, Adrian stood up and walked to the door, gripping the handle, ready to
leave. "If I tell my mom everything you said, she''ll—”
"Go ahead."
Forrest stayed
where he was, only
Pet
speaking up as Adrian pulled the door open. "Adrian, you know my secrets, and I know yours. You don''t want to ept me as family? Fine. But who says we can''t be friends? It''s just an engagement, after all. Isn''t it better to have one more person on your side? Why not give it a try?"
Adrian paused, hesitating at the
door. Forrest pressed on, "Your
mother chose me. If the two people
she cares about most can''t get
along do you really want to spoil
what should be the happiest time of
her life?"
"You''ve already made her sad enough times."
"Do you really want to keep doing that?"
Adrian''s grip tightened on the doorknob. After a long moment, he turned back,
eyes red. "I''m the most important person in her life."
"Of course you are."
Forrest smiled warmly. "You''re her son-nothing in this world could evere
between you. No one could ever rece you."
Adrian said nothing, but Forrest raised his brows slightly. "So, truce?”
"I''ll never ept you."
Adrian''s re was defiant.
"That''s alright." Forrest picked up thest ss of juice from the table, swirling it—
the ice had long since melted, leaving only a faint clink. He offered it patiently. "Want to try? It''s pretty good."
"Hmph. Who''d want to drink something so sickly sweet?" Adrian turned away, nose in the air.
Forrest just smiled, letting it go.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Adrian pped the door handle, hesitated, then gritted his teeth and shot Forrest a re. "Hey. How''d you even unlock the door?"
"Want to know?"
"...Whatever. Forget I asked."
"Impatient little brat."
Forrest shook his head,ughing, ignoring Adrian''s re as he walked to the door
and pressed the juice into the boy''s hand. "Hold this. Wait a second."
He ducked into the bathroom to finally wash the sticky juice from his hands. When he came back, he knelt by the door and started fiddling with the lock. "Watch closely. I''m only showing you once. You''re smart-this should be a piece of cake."
"As if I couldn''t figure it out!" Adrian shot back, crowding in curiously, his lips
finding the straw by habit.
Huh?
This vor...
He took another sip.
Well... it wasn''t bad.