The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 356

Michelle plastered on the most forced smile imaginable.

The second she turned away, her expression curdled into pure loathing.

She went upstairs and knocked on Adrian's door.

The moment she stepped inside, a heavy, suffocating cloud of cigarette smoke assaulted her senses.

She immediately hurried over to throw open the window.

"You didn't even crack a window? Are you trying to suffocate yourself in here?"

Adrian lay sprawled on the chaise lounge, a lit cigarette pinched between his fingers. He looked utterly drained.

Since he was her own son, Michelle's heart softened. She walked over, plucked the cigarette from his hand, and crushed it out in the ashtray.

The tray was practically overflowing.

Just how much had he been smoking?

"Your grandmother wants you downstairs. Go on down, and just speak to her calmly. Whether she hits you or curses at you, just take it. Grit your teeth, and it'll be over soon."

"And honestly, what were you thinking? Why would you go messing around with some sketchy woman at a critical time like this? And if you absolutely had to do it, couldn't you have been more discreet? How did you let someone catch you?"

Adrian rubbed his temples, his voice low and freezing cold.

"Because I'm suffocating in this house! I just wanted to find someone I could talk to—someone who actually talks back to me and tells me the truth! Do you understand that?"

Michelle recoiled in surprise.

"Don't vent your frustrations on me! If you've got so much fire in you, go scream at your grandmother!"

Adrian closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh.

"Mom, aren't you exhausted?"

Michelle frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"After all these years of being completely crushed under Grandmother's thumb, having to swallow your pride and bow down to her every single day. Aren't you tired of it?"

Michelle stood in stunned silence for a long time.

Over the years, the distance between her and her son had grown vast; they rarely had any real conversations anymore.

Hearing him ask such a raw question left a bitter, heavy taste in her mouth.

She let out a long, heavy sigh.

Adrian fell silent for a long moment.

"I did love her back then. It's just that now..."

Being forced and pushed into this marriage at every turn had drained every ounce of passion he once felt, leaving the relationship entirely tasteless.

"Now what?" Michelle pressed. "You don't love her anymore?"

Adrian didn't say a word.

Michelle thought it over, her mind racing through the possibilities.

"Adrian, don't tell me you're hung up on that other woman!"

Adrian slowly rose from the chaise lounge, straightening his shirt.

"You actually hit the nail on the head."

Michelle jolted in shock.

"What is wrong with you? We went through hell to finally get rid of that woman, and now you're pining for her? Have you lost your damn mind?"

"Mom," Adrian said, his predatory gaze locking onto hers, his voice turning to ice. "From now on, when you speak to me, watch your tone."