?Chapter 642:


    She survived on stale bread crusts and sheer determination as she continued her experiments.


    Adah had nothing scheduled for the day, so she indulged in sleeping until the sun climbed high in the sky, then spent the afternoon wandering through the meticulously maintained gardens. The hours slipped away unnoticed.


    As evening shadows lengthened, Damian appeared with news. “Adah, An has arrived. He says he’s here to escort you to the Shaw family dinner.” The appointment struck Adah like a lightning bolt—Raymond Shaw, An’s formidable grandfather, had arranged to introduce her to the Shaw family today. Just yesterday, she had agreed to terminate her engagement with An, and now she needed to exin the situation to Raymond.


    Once again, Adah transformed herself into an unappealing bumpkin before sliding into An’s luxury vehicle for the journey to the Shaw estate.


    Since their engagement had officially ended, An’s demeanor toward Adah had thawed considerably. During the drive, he broached the subject. “Have you thought about how to exin things to my grandfather?”


    Adah’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. An wanted to have his cake and eat it too—dissolve the engagement without provoking Raymond’s wrath. He expected her to shoulder the me for their breakup. Humph. He could fantasize all he wanted. She had no intention of bing his convenient scapegoat.


    “Naturally, I’ll present the unvarnished truth. Lying is an unforgivable transgression!” She nced at him, feigning naivety. “I’ll tell your grandfather that we’ve already executed the breakup agreement because you find me repulsive, and I was too intimidated by your influence to resist—essentially coerced intopliance.”


    An clicked his tongue in disapproval. He studied Adah’s profile, searching for an opening to negotiate. “Couldn’t we craft a more diplomatic version of events?”


    Adah met his gaze steadily. “What kind of creative storytelling did you have in mind?”


    An’s tone turned wheedling. “How about you tell my grandfather that you don’t fancy me? Is that okay with you?”


    Adah’s rejection was swift and final. “Absolutely not…”


    “Why not?” An’s brows furrowed, clearly annoyed by Adah’s refusal. “If we go with my version, my grandpa won’t have grounds to object to ending our engagement. It would spare us unnecessary drama—and more importantly, it would protect your reputation. Isn’t that what you want?”


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    Adah shot him a sideways nce and let out a dry chuckle. “No, it’ll only spare you the mess while making me the joke of the town. People would whisper, ‘How dare someone like her—in and ordinary—think she’s too good for the heir of the Shaw family? How delusional.’”


    An fell silent, momentarily at a loss. Behind the wheel, he nced at her—really looked—and for a split second, he couldn’t help but admire the sharp wit hidden beneath her gentle demeanor.


    Finding it amusing to banter with An, Adah continued, “You know, I can’t just lie for convenience. I actually think you’re not bad. I’m even willing to have a whole football team of children with you.”


    There it was again—that line. The memory ofst night’s absurd event shed through An’s mind, making his face twitch. He sighed and waved her off. “Alright, alright. Say whatever you like. Do as you wish.”


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