Chapter 384: Chapter 384: Number
She wanted Alex to have a good partner. Someone who is not only beautiful but also has a bright future.
And Adeline, who seemed to be studying medicine, was exactly that. A medical student had discipline, intelligence, and stability. Such a girl was rare. Mary felt it would be a waste to let her slip away.
Mary smiled and introduced her proudly.
"Her name is Adeline. She helped me today. There were some bullies in the library, and she stood up for me."
The word "bullies" made Alex frown instantly. His expression darkened, and he looked at Mary.
"What kind of bullies?" His tone carried a hint of inquiry, and his eyes moved away from Adeline to Mary. If someone looked closer, they would realize that a strom was brewing in his eyes.
Mary chuckled softly, trying to calm him down.
"It was nothing serious. Just a few students without any sense of decency. They made noise, passed rude comments, and disturbed everyone. But Adeline here helped me put them in their place."
Mary’s voice was calm, almost dismissive, but Alex was not convinced. His brows furrowed as he leaned forward slightly.
"Mother, you should not take such things lightly. If anyone dares to insult or bother you, it is not something small. Do you know their name? Or anything else with which they can be identified?"
Mary smiled at his seriousness.
Her son was truly overprotective... just like Lucas.
"It is fine," Mary said softly, shaking her head.
"Nothing happened that I cannot handle. And besides, I was not alone this time. Adeline helped me."
At the mention of Adeline, both Alex and Adeline turned to look at each other. The car suddenly felt much smaller.
Adeline’s cheeks warmed under Alex’s steady gaze.
His eyes were dark and deep, but there was no arrogance in them.
Instead, there was curiosity and a strange gentleness, as if he wanted to know everything about her.
Adeline quickly looked away, pretending to adjust the books in her lap, though her heart was beating faster.
She had not expected to meet him like this.
Who would have thought that the man haunting her dreams would appear like this in front of her again? And the woman she had casually helped would turn out to be his mother?
Her luck was truly...
Alex, on the other hand, did not look away.
He studied her quietly, noticing the fine details, the way her black hair framed her face, the slight nervousness in her fingers as they played with the corner of a book, the way her lips pressed together as if hiding words she could not say.
’So cute.’ He thought in his heart. He could hear his own heart thumping loudly.
Mary, sitting in the front, noticed everything through the mirror. Her lips curled into a secret smile.
"Adeline," she said, her voice breaking the silence. "Tell Alex about what you did today. It was very clever."
Adeline glanced up in surprise. "It... it was nothing," she said quickly.
"Nothing?" Mary chuckled. "Those people have been bothering me for weeks. You did more in a single moment than I could do in all this time."
Adeline shifted slightly, uncomfortable with the praise.
"I only did what anyone should do. They were being loud and disrespectful. So I just thought... it would be better if I record a video of them and threaten them."
Her words were simple, but there was strength in them.
Alex’s lips curved into a faint smile. "You recorded them?" he asked, his voice even, though his eyes carried a spark of amusement.
Adeline nodded. "Yes. They thought no one could stop them, but the moment a camera was on, they changed. People like that only understand fear when it is their own reputation at stake."
Alex leaned back in his seat, his smile deepening. "Smart," he said simply.
The compliment made Adeline’s heart skip. She had heard many people call her pretty, but very few had called her smart. For some reason, when Alex said it, it felt different.
Mary watched the exchange, and her smile grew wider. She folded her hands in her lap, pretending not to notice the quiet sparks between the two.
The driver kept his eyes on the road, but even he could feel the subtle change in the air.
Alex glanced at Adeline again. His eyes softened, and before he even realized it, the words left his lips.
"Since you helped my mother so much, I should treat you to dinner."
Adeline’s eyes widened in surprise.
She had not expected such an offer from him, not here, not like this. Her heart skipped as she shook her head quickly.
"No... no need. This ride itself is already enough. You don’t have to thank me more than this."
Her voice was soft, almost nervous, but Alex did not look convinced.
Before Adeline could continue, Mary chuckled, the sound filled with warmth. She turned slightly, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
"How can that be? You helped me so much today, Adeline. Dinner is the least you deserve. Think of it as a reward, not repayment."
’My son is truly smart! If he remains single even after such smartness, then no one deserves to be in a relationship.’
(A/n: That is why I am single! Sigh!)
Adeline’s lips parted, but she did not know how to respond. She could feel both mother and son’s gaze on herself, and she didn’t dare to reject for some unknown reason.
Alex sat silently now, but inside his heart, he wanted to raise his thumb in approval.
His mother truly knew him better than anyone else. It was as if she could see straight through his thoughts.
If Mary could hear his inner voice, she would have laughed.
She had been watching Alex from the moment he started staring at Adeline.
The way his eyes lingered on her, as if he wanted to keep her close, told her everything.
She understood her son too well. He liked this girl, maybe more than he realized himself.
Her son was usually calm and composed, rarely showing emotions. But the way he looked at Adeline... it was different. Mary knew it in her heart.
If she wanted her son’s happiness, she had to make sure this girl stayed in his life.