CEO loves me with all his soul.
Chapter 33. Third Party

Chapter 33: 33. Third Party

Suddenly, a groan.

It was faint, barely audible, but Ethan’s heart leaped at the sound. He leaned closer, his eyes wide with hope. "Adrian?"

Another groan, followed by a weak cough.

Adrian’s eyes fluttered open, unfocused and hazy.

His mind was sluggish, trying to catch up with what had happened.

But now, as his vision slowly focused, he saw a familiar face hovering above him.

"E-Ethan..." His voice was hoarse, barely audible. But the relief in his heart surged as he whispered his husband’s name.

Ethan, who had been holding his breath in panic, exhaled shakily, his trembling hands cradling Adrian’s face. "I’m here, Adrian. I’m right here," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Adrian blinked slowly, his silver eyes locking onto Ethan’s face, which was pale with worry. Ethan’s usual calm demeanor had cracked, replaced by fear and desperation. Adrian could feel his husband’s hands trembling as they cupped his cheeks, and that sent a surge of strength through his weak body. He had to calm him down.

"Ethan..." Adrian’s voice was still fragile, but a soft smile touched his lips as he gazed up at the man he loved. Behind Ethan, he noticed Leclair sitting in his wheelchair, looking equally worried and confused.

Ethan’s grip on Adrian tightened slightly as if afraid he would slip away again. "Are you okay? I—" His voice broke, unable to finish the sentence. The sight of Adrian in such a state, covered in blood and unconscious, had shaken him to his core.

Adrian, despite the exhaustion that clung to his every muscle, slowly raised a hand and touched Ethan’s cheek. "I’m fine," he whispered. "I’m right here, Ethan."

Seeing Ethan so vulnerable made Adrian’s heart ache, but it also gave him courage. Without thinking, he leaned up, though his body protested the movement, and gently pressed a kiss to the corner of Ethan’s mouth. It was soft, tentative, but enough to still Ethan’s trembling.

"Calm down," Adrian said with a small smile, his lips still lingering close to Ethan’s. "I’m okay now... because of you."

Ethan blinked in surprise, his body stiffening momentarily before the tension melted away. His breath hitched, and he could only stare at Adrian, his heart pounding for a completely different reason now. He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat, but the worry in his eyes remained. "I thought I’d lost you..."

Adrian brushed his fingers through Ethan’s hair, soothing him with gentle touches. "You didn’t lose me. I’m right here."

For a moment, they stayed like that, wrapped in the warmth of each other’s presence, blocking out the rest of the world.

However, the quiet moment was interrupted by a polite but firm cough.

Leclair, who had been sitting nearby and witnessing the exchange, cleared his throat to get their attention. "As much as I hate to interrupt this touching moment," he said dryly, "I think we all need to know what happened, Adrian."

Adrian shifted slightly, breaking away from the intimate moment with Ethan to focus on Leclair, who looked concerned yet composed. He glanced at Ethan, who was still holding him protectively, and nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Adrian began to explain. "After I woke up in the factory, I was... confused. My head was pounding, and everything felt blurry." He paused, recalling the terrifying details. "I saw Lady Sachel and Anshi standing over me. They didn’t look surprised that I had woken up. In fact, they seemed ready for it."

Ethan’s hands tightened slightly around Adrian’s as he listened, his jaw clenched in anger at the mention of those two names.

"They threatened me," Adrian continued, his voice a little quieter. "Lady Sachel... she said that they were going to make sure I never caused any more problems for their family. Anshi was there, too. I could tell they meant it. They were going to kill me."

Ethan’s face darkened, and Leclair’s eyes narrowed as they both took in the gravity of Adrian’s words.

"I was terrified," Adrian admitted, his voice shaking slightly as the memory flooded back. "I thought... I thought it was the end."

Ethan’s hand moved to hold Adrian’s more firmly, his silent promise that he would never let anything like that happen again.

Adrian swallowed, his eyes distant as he remembered the crucial moment. "But then, something strange happened. Just as Lady Sachel was about to pull the trigger, the factory doors burst open."

Leclair leaned forward in his wheelchair, his interest piqued. "Burst open?"

Adrian nodded slowly. "A man came in. I don’t know who he was, but he didn’t seem like he was there for me. He... He handled them, effortlessly. It was like something out of a movie. He took down everyone, including Anshi, with ease. I barely had time to process it."

Ethan’s brows furrowed. "A man? Who was he?"

Adrian shook his head. "I don’t know. I’d never seen him before. But... he didn’t even look at me. After dealing with Anshi and Lady Sachel’s men, he walked to the corner of the room and picked up someone."

Leclair’s gaze sharpened. "Someone else was there?"

"Yes," Adrian said, nodding again. "There was another person, someone unconscious in the shadows. I couldn’t see their face, but the man seemed desperate to get them out. He carried the person and left, without a word."

Ethan exchanged a glance with Leclair, both of them now deep in thought. "So, he wasn’t there to save you," Leclair mused, his fingers tapping the armrest of his wheelchair. "He was there for someone else."

Adrian looked down at the bloodstains on his clothes, his expression growing somber. "That’s where the blood came from. The kidnapper... the one who was shot by the man... his blood splattered on me when he fell."

Ethan’s eyes softened with concern as he touched Adrian’s shoulder gently. "You weren’t hurt, though?"

Adrian shook his head. "No. I was just in shock. Seeing all that blood... I fainted. That’s all I remember."

Leclair hummed thoughtfully, his mind working quickly to piece together the puzzle. "So, it wasn’t just a simple kidnapping. There were multiple people involved, and this man... he was likely there to rescue someone else."

Ethan had grim expression. "I still don’t know what’s the reason behind this kidnapping of mot--Lady Sachel."

Leclair’s lips curled into a small, humorless smile. "I think we both know the answer to that, Ethan. This wasn’t a random act. Lady Sachel and Anshi wanted Adrian gone for good. They’ve been trying to get rid of him since the beginning. This was just their latest attempt."

Adrian looked down at his hands, which were still trembling slightly. "But why now? Why so suddenly?"

Leclair’s eyes gleamed with a cold calculation. "Because they’re desperate. You’re a threat to them, Adrian. You’re married to Ethan, and they can’t control him as long as you’re by his side. That makes you a target."

Ethan’s grip on Adrian’s hand tightened, his voice low and protective. "They won’t touch you again. I’ll make sure of that."

Adrian looked up at him, his heart swelling with warmth and gratitude. Despite the fear and confusion that still lingered, Ethan’s presence made him feel safe. Like nothing in the world could harm him as long as Ethan was by his side.

Leclair watched the two of them quietly for a moment before letting out a slow breath. "We’ll figure this out. I’ll have my men look into this mystery savior, and we’ll find out who else was in that factory."

Ethan nodded, his expression hardening. "And I’ll deal with Lady Sachel and Anshi. They won’t get away with this."

Leclair smirked slightly. "I’ve already got people keeping tabs on them. We’ll know their every move."

Adrian leaned back against Ethan’s chest, feeling the tension in his body finally begin to ease.