Unwanted Blood (Harper) novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109

I stared at the name on the screen for several seconds. Breathed in. Breathed out. Breathed in

again.

Then I bent down. picked it up, and slid my finger across the glass.

Adrian’s face appeared.

He was sitting behind a desk. Behind him was an entire wall of glass-floor to ceiling-and beyond it, the night sky was thick with the scattered, blurred lights of a city. They broke into soft halos behind his shoulders, like someone had crushed a box of stars and sprinkled them on the

window.

His shirt collar was unbuttoned by two. His hair had grown out just enough to look different from when we’d last seen each other. There was a faint shadow under his eyes, which made him looked

exhausted.

And the moment I appeared on his screen, I saw the tension between his eyebrows ease a fraction. The corner of his mouth tilted up. My fingers tightened around the phone.

Before I could make sense of it, something tightened in my chest.

“Why are you calling at this hour?” I asked.

“Well, I just want to know, The necklace… do you like it?” He smiled.

I blinked. I glanced down at the nightstand beside my bed. The velvet box sat there, open just enough to let the sapphire catch the lamplight.

I looked back at the screen “Yeah. It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.”

Ilis smile widened. I could see it even through the grain of the video feed

My heartbeat picked up I ignored it and changed the subject.

“How are things on your end?”

He looked away for a moment-down at something on his desk, maybe a file-then back at the

screen

“Mostly handled About half the family elders have accepted the new arrangement. A few are still

10 04

Chapter 109

788 Vouchers

being stubborn.” He lifted his hand and rubbed his temple. “Probably need another month.”

I nodded. I couldn’t think of what to say next.

On the screen, Adrian suddenly smiled “Are you a little nervous?”

My cars went hot. I instinctively held the phone a few inches further from my face, like that would give me more room to breathe.

“…No. I was just thinking-if the Wilson family saw us on a video call, they might treat me like a spy.”

He paused. Then He laughed even harder.

“Hey!” I felt a little awkward.

“I’m sorry. But they won’t. In fact, I have a project I’m planning to run with Wilson Group. I’ve already made initial contact with Ryder.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What did he say?”

“Not very friendly.” He tilted his mouth. “But I offered to give up fifty percent of the profit.”

I nearly sat upright. “Fifty percent? Are you insane?”

“I’m not.” He added, “But I did attach a condition.”

He looked at me. “I want them allow me to see you normally.”

Heat rushed to my face, burning all the way to my ears. I lowered my gaze to the phone case in my hand and mumbled my reply. “You don’t need to do that. They can’t decide what I do.

Adrian was still watching me despite the screen between us. His eyes lingered on my lowered lashes, then the flush spreading across my cheeks.

“But they’re your family.” His voice was quiet. “I want them to accept me.

“O-Ok, fine.” I kept my eyes down. The heat in my cheeks refused to fade. Then I stood up quickly “I’m sleepy Going to sleep now.

Adrian didn’t call me out on it. “Alright. Goodnight. See you in a month.

My thumb hovered over the end-call button for a second. “…Goodnight.”

I ended the call The dark screen reflected my face, the corners of my mouth lifting into a smile I

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