The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 156

Seeing Maria open the door, Adrian froze on the spot.

"Maria?"

Maria's displeasure was written all over her face, but out of sheer habit, she muttered, "Mr. Lowell."

"What are you doing here?" Adrian asked, his eyes dropping to her sling. "And what happened to your arm?"

Maria stuck to the script Jocelyn had drilled into her.

"I had a nasty fall and broke my arm. Jocelyn felt sorry for me. She said since I've practically watched you grow up, she wanted to bring me here to recover and at least make sure I had hot meals to eat."

The lie hit Adrian like a ton of bricks. He felt a sharp wave of guilt, followed immediately by overwhelming gratitude.

Guilt, because he had stood by and watched Maria get fired without saying a word.

Gratitude, because of what Jocelyn had done for her behind his back.

So, when Adrian walked into the living room and saw Jocelyn's bruised and swollen face, his heart absolutely broke for her.

He sat down right next to her, his voice impossibly gentle.

"Why didn't you tell me you brought Maria here?"

Jocelyn wasn't the least bit surprised to see him. She kept her face completely blank.

"I just did what needed to be done. I wasn't looking for a gold star."

"I know you did it for me. Jo... I see everything you do for me. I really do."

Jocelyn wanted to laugh in his face.

Did he really see it?

If he saw it, how could he be so incredibly cruel and soulless?

Or did he see it, and just actively choose to ignore it?

Because at the end of the day, Adrian only ever cared about calculating his own return on investment.

Adrian reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her cheek.

"Does it hurt?"

"Caleb Preston hit me like he was trying to take my head off. What do you think?"

Adrian pulled his hand back, his eyes lingering on her beautiful, battered face for a long time.

"I've told you a million times not to pick fights you can't win. Why won't you ever just listen to me?"

She shoved him back with everything she had, leaning over the edge of the couch as a wave of nausea forced a violent gag from her throat.

Hearing the commotion, Maria rushed into the room.

Seeing Jocelyn gagging, Maria was frantic but completely helpless. She wanted to yell at him, but she forced herself to bite her tongue.

Thank God she remembered Adrian didn't know Jocelyn was pregnant, otherwise the whole secret would have been blown.

Maria let out a loud, dramatic sigh and stepped back.

For once, Adrian didn't jump to the conclusion that she was pregnant.

Instead, he looked incredibly hurt.

"You're this repulsed by me now? Just a single kiss makes you sick to your stomach?"

Maria, who had been hovering just out of sight, seized the opportunity and ran back in.

"Mr. Lowell, she hasn't just been throwing up now! She threw up the second she walked through the door. The doctor said it's a severe symptom of a concussion!"

Maria practically yelled the next part to make sure it sank in.

"That Preston monster slapped her so hard he gave her a massive concussion!"