Chapter 344
“Adrian?” I breathe, shock rooting me to the chair.
“Yes,” she says. “Now it makes sense how they were able to get evidence even we couldn’t get our hands on p>
Everything starts replaying in my head.
There was always something about the way Adrian carried himself. It gave off old-money energy but it never truly clicked that he was old money.
The confidence. The authority. The effortless way he moved through the world like he owned it now made sense.
He wore expensive, understated brands. He had a couple of sports cars and the way he bought a brand-new Cadillac like it was nothing, without a second thought.
I always assumed he was just rich but now I’m starting to realize Adrian isn’t just rich. He comes from money. He comes from one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the country.
“Oh my God…” I whisper. “No wonder Mom thought he looked like the hospital director’s nephew… I thought she was imagining things, but she wasn’t p>
Lilly nods, her eyes fixed on me. “That would also explain how he was able to drop a hundred thousand dollars on a bracelet p>
I lean back in the chair, my hands resting on my belly, gently caressing it.
Honestly… I never imagined this. Not once did it cross my mind that Adrian could be a freaking Whitmore. Even in his clinic bio, his last name wasn’t Whitmore; it was Scott. So how was I supposed to believe Mom when she suggested he might be one of them?
But then, I suddenly sit up straighter, my eyes narrowing as suspicion creeps in.
“What?” Lilly asks, watching me carefully.
“Do you think he intentionally hid who he is?” I ask, the doubt settling deep in my chest.
Her brows pull together. “Why would you even think that p>
“Think about it, Lilly,” I press. “Why would he hide something that important? Why wasn’t he honest from the beginning? He let me believe he was just a doctor p>
“Maybe p>
I cut her off before she could finish.
“Maybe he thought I wasn’t good enough for him,” I continue, the words tumbling out faster now. “Maybe he wasn’t serious about us. Maybe he just wanted the thrill of being with a pregnant woman and never planned for things to go anywhere p>
“Stop, Sierra,” Lilly says firmly. “You’re overthinking this. There could be a million reasons why he didn’t tell you p>
“Yeah,” I scoff, my thoughts spiraling. “Like maybe he thought I was a gold digger, or better yet, he never wanted a future with me. He was playing me all along p>
By now, my hands are flying everywhere, my thoughts crashing into each other like a tidal wave. Lilly reaches out and grabs them, stilling me.
“You’re doing the exact same thing he did,” she says calmly. “Jumping to conclusions and letting doubt cloud your judgment p>
“But he lied to me p>
“Did he?” she counters gently. “Or did he just withhold the truth p>
“That’s basically the same thing,” I snap.
She sighs, guiding my hands down between us.
“Look at it this way,” she says. “If you came from a family like ours, wouldn’t you be careful about who you let into your life p>
“But p>
“Listen,” she cuts in softly. “You’ve seen it your whole life. People trying to get close to Noah, to Gunner, and to me because of our families’ wealth. Hell, people have even tried getting close to you just because you’re my best friend and you’re close to my family. It must have been the same for Adrian. He probably learned to be cautious just like all of us p>
I hear what she’s saying. I really do… but my mind refuses to let go of that one detail… That he let me believe something entirely different.
“He was probably going to tell you eventually,” Lilly continues gently. “And technically, he didn’t hide that he was wealthy… just his family background p>
I sigh, leaning back slightly.
Maybe I’m just searching for something to hold on to. Something to be angry about. Something to justify this ache in my chest the same way Adrian is clinging to the situation with Noah.
Silence settles between us as I try to make sense of everything.
“How about p>
Before she can finish, a soft knock sounds at the door, making my heart leap as hope surges through me so fast it almost hurts…. Finally, he has come to his senses.