CEO loves me with all his soul.
Chapter 46. Another Attempt.

Chapter 46: 46. Another Attempt.

Adrian sat in the garden, basking in the warm sunlight. His hand instinctively rested on his small, round belly.

It was a peaceful afternoon, the gentle breeze ruffling through his long black hair. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling completely at ease.

But then, a sharp cry pierced the quiet. Adrian’s eyes snapped open, his senses immediately alert. He listened intently, and again he heard it—a child’s cry, faint but clear, coming from just outside the garden wall.

"Someone’s in trouble," he murmured to himself, worry tugging at his heart.

Adrian stood up, cradling his stomach protectively as he called out to the guards stationed at the entrance. "Could you please open the gate? I think there’s a child in need of help."

One of the guards, a tall, serious-looking man, hesitated. "Sir, we should check first. It could be a trap."

Adrian shook his head, his compassionate nature taking over. "No, I heard a child. I have to help."

The guard nodded reluctantly and ordered the gate to be opened. As the heavy iron gate swung open, Adrian stepped forward, his eyes scanning the area outside. Sure enough, there was a small boy sitting on the ground, his face streaked with tears, clutching his knee where a nasty scrape had started to bleed.

Without thinking twice, Adrian approached the boy carefully, mindful of his pregnant belly. "Hey there, are you alright?" he asked softly, his voice gentle and full of concern.

The boy looked up, his tear-streaked face turning bright red as he saw Adrian. His eyes widened, and he blurted out in a soft, awe-filled voice, "You... you’re an angel."

Adrian chuckled softly, touched by the innocent compliment. "I’m not an angel, but thank you. What happened to you?"

"I fell...," the boy said, sniffling. "It hurts."

Adrian crouched down carefully, his hand reaching out to examine the wound. "It’s not too bad. Let me help you get back home, alright?"

The boy nodded, still staring at Adrian as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. With the help of one of the guards, Adrian gently assisted the child, making sure not to strain himself too much. The boy’s home was just a street away, and with the guard by his side, Adrian made sure the child got back safely.

"Thank you, mister," the boy said, his eyes still wide with admiration as they reached the house.

Adrian smiled warmly. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

But as Adrian turned to head back, a sudden unease washed over him. His instincts kicked in—something wasn’t right. Just as he was about to tell the guard that they should leave quickly, a hand clamped over his mouth, the sickly-sweet smell of anesthetic on a cloth pressing against his nose.

Adrian’s heart raced in panic, but he knew better than to breathe in. Instead, he twisted his body, his primary instinct to protect the baby. He elbowed the assailant hard in the eyes, causing the man to grunt in pain and loosen his grip. Adrian stumbled forward, gasping for air, only to see the guard locked in a struggle with another man nearby.

A dark car came roaring down the street toward them, its intentions clear. Adrian’s stomach twisted in fear. They’re trying to kidnap me!

The men were closing in fast, and Adrian, still dazed from the attack, could feel his options running out. His pulse thundered in his ears as the car drew closer, and he braced himself, his mind racing for a way to protect himself and his unborn child.

Just as the fear threatened to overwhelm him, a strong hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. Adrian looked up, his heart pounding in his chest, and was shocked to see a man standing in front of him, shielding him from the oncoming car.

It was him—the same man who had saved him once before.

The car screeched to a halt, but the man who had pulled Adrian out of danger remained calm and collected, his expression unreadable. Adrian stared at him, his breath coming in shallow gasps, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

The man—Isaac—looked down at Adrian, and for a brief moment, his usually hardened features softened. His eyes widened slightly as he took in Adrian’s face. He looks... like me.

Isaac felt his chest tighten as he studied the boy’s delicate features—features that resembled his own, as though he were staring at a younger version of himself. Adrian, however, was too shaken to notice the intensity of Isaac’s gaze. He only felt confusion mixed with a strange sense of familiarity.

Before Adrian could say anything, Isaac leaned closer, his movements gentle. "Are you okay?" His voice was low, calm, but with a strange undertone that Adrian couldn’t quite place.

"I... I’m fine," Adrian stammered, still catching his breath.

Isaac’s eyes lingered on Adrian for another heartbeat before he quickly and discreetly plucked a strand of Adrian’s hair, pocketing it with a practiced motion that Adrian didn’t notice.

By the time Adrian had gathered himself enough to stand, Isaac had already stepped away, his expression back to its usual stoic mask. He glanced at the approaching security guards, who had finally managed to subdue the other attackers, and gave Adrian one last look before disappearing into the shadows as quickly as he had come.

The guards swarmed around Adrian, offering their apologies for not being quicker. Adrian waved them off, his mind too preoccupied with the strange encounter. Who was that man?

Back at the office, Ethan was in the middle of signing another batch of papers when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and froze. It was a call from one of the head security guards at home.

"What is it?" Ethan answered immediately, his voice sharp with concern.

"Sir, there was... an attempted attack on Mr. Adrian," the guard said hesitantly. "He’s safe now, but—"

Ethan didn’t hear the rest. His heart dropped into his stomach, and he shot up from his chair, his mind racing. Without wasting another second, he grabbed his car keys and bolted from the office, his only thought being Adrian’s safety.

By the time Ethan arrived home, his heart was pounding in his chest, his worry making his hands shake. He burst through the front door, calling out for Adrian. "Adrian! Where are you?"

Adrian, who had been resting on the couch after the incident, looked up in surprise at Ethan’s frantic entrance. "Ethan, I’m here."

Ethan rushed over, immediately kneeling in front of Adrian and scanning him for any signs of injury. His hands shook as he gently touched Adrian’s arms, his eyes wild with panic. "Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?"

Adrian placed his hands over Ethan’s, trying to calm him. "I’m fine, Ethan. I’m okay, I promise."

Ethan’s breathing was ragged as he pulled Adrian into a tight embrace, holding him as if he would disappear if he let go. "I was so scared," he whispered into Adrian’s hair. "When I heard..."

Adrian rested his head on Ethan’s shoulder, feeling his husband’s fear as if it were his own. "I’m alright. I’m safe, thanks to that man who helped me."

Ethan pulled back, his brow furrowed. "That man... again?"

Adrian nodded, his expression confused. "Yes. He saved me... but there’s something strange about him. He looked... familiar, somehow."

Ethan spent the entire evening with his heart racing, the panic from earlier still clinging to him like a thick fog. After dinner, Adrian had tried to soothe him, assuring him that he was fine, but Ethan couldn’t shake the image of his beloved nearly being taken away from him.

As the night wore on, they both went to bed, but Ethan’s mind refused to rest. His body felt tense, his nerves frayed from the fear that had seeped into him since the attack. He lay next to Adrian, watching him as he slept peacefully, his chest rising and falling steadily with each breath.

But Ethan’s eyes wouldn’t close. Every time he tried to relax, a flash of the day’s events played out in his head—the thought of Adrian being kidnapped, hurt, or worse. His heart would race again, and the calm he had fought so hard to find would disappear, replaced by a gnawing anxiety.

After what felt like an hour of tossing and turning, Ethan carefully shifted onto his side, turning to face Adrian. His eyes softened as they traced the outline of Adrian’s delicate features—his long black hair spilled across the pillow, his soft lips slightly parted, and his hand resting gently on his stomach where their baby grew.

Unable to resist, Ethan leaned forward and kissed Adrian’s forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment longer than usual. "I’m sorry I wasn’t there," he whispered, more to himself than to the sleeping Adrian. "I should’ve been there to protect you."

Adrian stirred slightly in his sleep, but didn’t wake. Ethan let out a shaky breath, pulling back just enough to slide his hand into Adrian’s. The warmth of Adrian’s skin against his own was the only thing that brought Ethan any comfort. He held his hand tightly, like it was a lifeline, and eventually, he managed to drift off into an uneasy sleep.

But the night offered him no peace.

Barely an hour later, Ethan jolted awake, his heart thudding in his chest as if he’d been running a marathon. His first instinct was to check on Adrian. He turned his head to find Adrian still fast asleep beside him, his expression peaceful and untroubled.

Ethan sighed, feeling a small wave of relief wash over him, but the fear lingered. He couldn’t stop imagining all the things that could have gone wrong today, the what-ifs that haunted him. What if that man hadn’t shown up in time? What if Adrian had been hurt—or worse?

He couldn’t bear the thought.

Slowly, as if afraid to wake Adrian, Ethan scooted closer to him. He wrapped an arm around Adrian’s waist, pulling him gently into his embrace. Adrian stirred slightly, making a soft noise in his sleep, but didn’t wake. Ethan kissed his temple, burying his face in Adrian’s hair as he held him close, the warmth of Adrian’s body against his easing some of his anxiety.

Yet, sleep still evaded him.

For the rest of the night, Ethan would wake up every hour, his body on high alert. Each time, he would glance over to check on Adrian, his gaze lingering on his sleeping face. Sometimes he would kiss him softly, other times he would just hold his hand tightly, needing to feel that connection, that assurance that Adrian was still there, safe and sound.

As the early hours of the morning approached, Ethan lay there, exhausted but unable to fully relax. He knew that he wouldn’t rest until the threat hanging over them was dealt with. Until then, the only thing keeping him grounded was Adrian—his calm, his warmth, his love.