Chapter 171: He still has gray hair

The cab continued along the unfamiliar road, taking one turn after another. At first, Thomas assumed the driver was simply trying to avoid the traffic. But when the buildings gradually disappeared and dense trees began to surround them, uneasiness crept into his chest.

He glanced out the window, then turned toward the driver.

"Why are we heading toward the forest?"

The driver remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road.

Thomas frowned. "I asked you a question."

Still, the man said nothing.

Thomas’s uneasiness quickly turned into panic. This was not the route to the venue. Even if the driver had chosen a shortcut, there was no reason for him to be heading into such a deserted area.

"Hey, stop the car," Thomas demanded, sitting up straighter. "This isn’t the way to the venue."

The driver’s hands remained steady on the steering wheel.

Thomas’s heartbeat quickened. He glanced at the door, then back at the man.

"Listen, I don’t know what kind of shortcut you’re taking, but I’m already late. If you don’t turn around now, I’m not paying you."

The driver didn’t even bother to respond.

A cold shiver ran down Thomas’s spine.

Something is wrong.

Before he could say anything else, the cab suddenly screeched to a stop.

Thomas didn’t waste a second.

He pushed the door open and jumped out, immediately breaking into a run.

He had no idea who the driver was or where the man intended to take him. All he knew was that staying inside the car was no longer an option.

Unfortunately, he barely managed to take a few steps before a sharp kick struck him from behind.

"Ah!"

Thomas fell forward, landing heavily on the ground. Pain shot through his palms and knees.

Before he could recover, the man grabbed him by the collar and yanked him backward, forcing him to look up.

Thomas’s face drained of color when he met the stranger’s dark, merciless gaze.

"W-Who are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

The man stared at him for a moment, saying nothing.

That silence frightened Thomas more than any threat could have.

Then, finally, the man spoke.

"Busted."

Thomas’s eyes widened.

"..."

***

Meanwhile, Clara watched Dominic excuse himself from the group, and her annoyance finally began to settle.

However, her thoughts soon returned to what Silvia and Lily had told her—Julianna’s sudden act of generosity.

Clara knew her sister better than she knew herself at this point, and she was certain Julianna’s acceptance of her mother’s mistake had not been a genuine gesture. It was a strategic move.

First, Julianna had apologized for her mother’s behavior. Then, she had confronted Clara without bothering to maintain her usual act. That was not something Clara could simply ignore.

Something doesn’t feel right.

Clara tried to figure out what Julianna was planning, but no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find an answer.

Just when she felt as though her brain had gone completely silent, the announcement of Adrian Graham’s arrival echoed through the venue.

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward the man responsible for the charity event.

"Holy shit! Is that Adrian Graham?" Lily gasped, staring at the man who, despite being in his late fifties, looked incredibly handsome. "He’s aging like fine wine!"

Silvia, who was seeing Adrian in person for the first time since they had signed the contract with him, was equally stunned.

She knew the man was nearing sixty, but who would have thought he had maintained himself so well? Even now, he looked like the kind of man whose appearance would make mothers line up their daughters to marry him.

"Are you sure he doesn’t have a wife?" Silvia whispered.

Clara turned toward her, confused. "Why are you asking?"

"What? I just want to make sure," Silvia replied with a shrug, though the look in her eyes suggested otherwise.

"And look at his assistant!" Lily added, her attention shifting toward Logan. "Goodness, he’s too handsome!"

While the two women openly admired men decades older than themselves—and Logan, who was considerably younger—the rest of the crowd seemed equally fascinated.

Adrian had always kept his identity private, preferring to work behind the scenes while quietly building an empire that had grown far beyond anyone’s expectations. Because of that, seeing him in person for the first time felt like witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event.

***

"I never knew Adrian Graham was this handsome," Grace remarked, momentarily forgetting that her husband was standing right beside her.

Jonathan felt as though someone had slapped him across the face. And that someone was none other than Grace—his only wife of more than thirty years.

"What’s so great about him?" Jonathan muttered, casting an irritated glance at Adrian. "He still has gray hair."

He paused, narrowing his eyes.

"And possibly a bald patch on his crown."

Grace slowly turned toward him, noticing the way he was glaring at Adrian, who had effortlessly captured the attention of nearly everyone in the hall.

"Are you jealous, husband?" she asked, barely suppressing her amusement.

"No," Jonathan replied immediately.

Grace raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?"

Jonathan shot her a look.

For a moment, he said nothing. Then, as if he had suddenly come up with the perfect argument, his gloomy expression brightened.

"You’re thinking too much. That man doesn’t stand a chance against me. You’ve already been married to me for over thirty years."

Grace blinked. "That’s your argument?"

"Of course." Jonathan lifted his chin proudly. "Besides, he doesn’t even have a wife."

Grace’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "Don’t you think that’s a huge advantage for him?"

Jonathan’s expression stiffened.

"What?"

"An unmarried man can have as many admirers as he wants," Grace explained innocently. "And judging by the way everyone is looking at him, he seems to have plenty."

Jonathan’s face darkened.

"Grace."

"What?" she asked, pretending not to understand. "I’m only stating the facts."

"You’re enjoying this."

"Very much."

Jonathan sighed, looking deeply offended. "After all these years, you still don’t know how loyal I am?"

Grace chuckled and slipped her arm through his.

"I know exactly how loyal you are, darling. That’s why I’m not worried."

Jonathan relaxed slightly.

Then Grace added, "Though I suppose you should start exercising more. Just in case Adrian decides to compete."

Jonathan’s expression fell again.

"Grace!"

She burst into laughter, thoroughly entertained by her husband’s jealousy.