Chapter 15: 15. Irreplaceable
"I'll show it to Olivia. Marie and her both love places like this."
Her happy face immediately went away. She tried so hard to distract herself. She glanced around the area of the garden that wasn't too crowded. Then her eyes fell on the live music performance at the gazebo in the middle of the garden.
"Let's move on to another place."
Adrian didn't get any response from her.
"Nadine?"
Finally Nadine turned to Adrian but was still reluctant to respond.
"Would you like to see over there?"
Adrian pointed at the gazebo and because of his question, Nadine focused on Adrian again.
"Oh no. I was just thinking that outdoor life music would be great in Miller's resort."
Adrian looked like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What do you say?"
Nadine looked excited this time.
"The part of your backyard which is also used for an outdoor restaurant would be more interesting if we could add live music there."
Adrian couldn't believe the girl in front of him was still talking about work at that time.
"Nadine... We'd better move somewhere else."
Adrian tried to pull her hand and move to another place. But Nadine still explains the meaning of her idea earlier.
"Your backyard is not large but it has a good placement, we can add a gazebo in the middle. And some..."
Because Adrian didn't want to listen to her explanation, he pushed Nadine's back slowly and went away from the show.
"Ouch."
Nadine limped slightly when Adrian pushed her a little hard.
"Huh!"
Adrian immediately stopped pushing her. Nadine then flinched slightly while looking at her heels.
"Are your feet blistered?"
Adrian, who already knew that it would happen, looked seriously at Nadine's shoes.
"Haaaaah..... As expected... We better head home..."
His serious face seemed like he was annoyed in Nadine's eyes. Not wanting to ruin Adrian's plan, Nadine immediately follows his advice.
"Huh.... No need..... Just a little scratch."
Adrian still looked at Nadine's shoes sharply.
"We can continue our plan.... Where do we go next?"
Adrian sighed and didn't argue with Nadine.
"On the lake there is a boat that is usually used to go around to enjoy the view of the lake. We will ride it."
Hearing the 'boat' word, her face immediately turned pale and looked at her shoes again. Adrian who saw the change in her expression knew what she was thinking.
"It will be difficult to walk there if you wear heels."
Nadine heard the disappointed tone in Adrian's words.
"Oh.. You can go by yourself then.... I'll be waiting for you here."
Adrian sighed again.
"Haaaah... Let's go home.... Aunt Marie will definitely ask where you are if I go there by myself."
Nadine can only obey his request. They both finally went home and on the way home Nadine looked more and more uncomfortable. She was more limped than before and Adrian even had to walk slowly to keep up with Nadine.
Until finally at home Nadine rushed to the sofa in her living room. And threw her body there and straightened her legs.
"Take off your shoes...."
Nadine was just stunned and didn't immediately carry out his order.
Adrian, who felt impatient, approached Nadine and squatted in front of her.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
Adrian didn't say anything and rushed to take off her shoes. When Adrian took off his shoes, Nadine flinched a little in pain.
"Tsk.... Look... Your feet are blistered..."
Adrian opened Nadine's other shoe, this time he slowly opened it because previously Nadine flinched when he was in a hurry to take off her shoes.
Seeing Adrian's attention, Nadine smiled happily. And again she admired the attention of the man in front of him. She was enjoying the moment so much that she finally realized something.
"Wait!!!"
Nadine's scream made Adrian, who was still examining her wound, immediately look up at Nadine.
"Oh... Did I press too hard?"
Adrian slowly lowered Nadine's legs and then stood up.
"I'll get some medicine. Do you know where the medicine box is?"
Nadine panicked.
"Wait! No need.... I'll treat it myself."
Adrian sighed again.
"Okay... I'll get the medicine box then."
Nadine immediately stood up and prepared to leave Adrian.
"No need.... I'll find it myself..."
Then she left Adrian who was shocked because she suddenly stand up and left him while still limping.
"Ouch.... Ow....."
Adrian shook his head at Nadine's strange attitude.
"Hey! Your shoes!"
Adrian shouted at Nadine when he saw Nadine's shoes that were left under his feet. Nadine didn't hear him and was still walking straight to the study room and closed the door.
"Is there any medicine box in the study room?"
***
Nadine limply lay down on the sofa in that study room. She slowly raised her legs on the sofa and straightened them.
"Haaah..... If you pay attention to me like that. How can I stick to my plan?"
Nadine thought back to Adrian's attitude in the living room earlier.
"Haaaah!!!! How can you smile happily with that Nadine?"
She cupped her face and looked a little frustrated because her heart was wavering again.
"One little attention from him, ruined your determination that you have strongly built."
Then she opened her hand and looked at the ceiling of the villa above her.
"You can't waver anymore.... It's just a very normal form of sympathy Nadine..... Remember what your goal is."
Nadine closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Reuniting Adrian with Olivia, helping him get his resort back. And avoiding your own death in three years."
The calm atmosphere and tired feeling from walking around since the morning made Nadine a little sleepy.
Knock Knock
A knock on the door made Nadine only slightly open her eyes.
"Yes Adrian...."
Nadine, who was almost asleep in a sleepy tone, asked Adrian.
"I will go out..."
She didn't really hear what Adrian said next, because she was half asleep.
"Kay...."
And only answered briefly without knowing what Adrian actually said to her.
It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
"Mom? Let's go to the lake... Dad is waiting...."
In front of Nadine, there was a boy who was smiling happily and behind him Adrian was waving to both of them.
"My baby... Come here I want to hug you for a bit..."
The chubby boy immediately ran toward Nadine. But when Nadine was about to hug him from behind, a hand grabbed her leg.
"Let go of me.... I just wanna hug my son."
Nadine kicked repeatedly the hand that was pulling her leg, until it released her leg. And finally she was able to hug the adorable boy in front of her.
"Mom.... Your leg is hurt... We'll go next time."
Nadine immediately refused the boy's word. But unexpectedly he hugged Nadine back and kissed her cheek passionately.
"See you later Mom. Love you...."
Nadine heavily let go of the boy's hand and smiled when she saw him running happily toward Adrian.
"Ugh... Nadine!"
A loud voice from in front of Nadine made her slowly open her eyes. Under the sofa where she was sleeping, Nadine saw Adrian in pain clutching his chest.
"Adrian? Didn't you say you wanted to go?"
While still rubbing her eyes Nadine sat down. She still felt pain in her leg but it's much better.
"You really can't stay still when you sleep!"
Adrian immediately turned around and leaned his back on the sofa that Nadine was sleeping on, while continuing to hold his chest.
"Um I don't know what you mean?"
Nadine is still curious about Adrian who looks in pain and is still holding his breath.
"You kicked me in the chest when I put a bandaid on your leg."
Adrian grumbled while pointing at Nadine's leg. But instead of happy Nadine looked annoyed.
"So you're the monster that pulled my leg?"
Adrian turned and immediately glared at Nadine.
"Monster? I've knocked many times on your door and didn't get any answer. Then I saw that your wound was rubbing against the sofa because you kept moving your leg.... I put that band aid on the wound so it wouldn't hurt but instead saying thank you, you called me a monster!"
Adrian looked very annoyed and continued to nag. Nadine is a little bit surprised and then feels guilty.
"Ehmm sorry... I had a good dream just now and a monster pulled me..."
Adrian took a deep breath and looked at Nadine.
"Haaah... That's fine... This is for you."
Adrian gave a bag to Nadine. Nadine looked so happy because she thought it was cheesecake. But when she found out what it was her face was a little disappointed.
"Haaaah.... Not a cheesecake."
Adrian was stunned for a moment and chuckled when he saw her disappointed expression when she saw what was in the bag.
"I bought sneakers for you. They're cheap though but wear them to take a stroll tomorrow."
Nadine, who just woke up, couldn't believe what Adrian said.
"Sorry I didn't tell you beforehand about my trip plans. So you weren't prepared."
Nadine just blinked her eyes many times, still surprised.
Growl Growl...
The sound of Nadine's stomach brought her back to her senses. Again Adrian chuckled.
"I'll buy lunch. Because I told the staff to come over for dinner."
Nadine quickly rejected Adrian's offer.
"Wait..... Let's just continue our stroll.... There's still time right?"
Adrian just stared at Nadine who had now opened the shoe box on her lap and was wearing the shoes.
"Huh? It's fit... Thank you Adi..."
Adrian chuckled and casually answered Nadine.
"I used the shoes that you left for an example."
Nadine immediately stood up and grabbed Adrian's hand.
"Let's go... I want to try on my new shoes."
Adrian could only follow and continue their delayed plan.
Arriving at the lake, Adrian immediately bought the tickets for the two of them. While waiting for Adrian she looked at the plain pink sneakers that Adrian had given to her which didn't match her clothes at all.
Not an annoyed face that plastered on her face but Nadine continued to smile widely. And again, her expression changed to one of shock and confusion.
"No... No... Big No... Nadine focus!"
She hit her cheek to focus.
"Focus on your goal!!!"
Adrian who walked up to Nadine looked confused.
"Turn your attention to work Nadine!"
She looked at Adrian and smiled at him then continued their activities.
"Wow... If we had a hotel here it would be a good destination. This place has good prospects. I should ask the villa owner if there are any property sales here."
Adrian just shook his head hearing Nadine's business plan. Do not stop there. The rest of their activities were filled by Nadine's business talk about hotel and resort development plans.
Nadine felt that she had managed to reaffirm her intentions. Even on the second day of their trip, she would only discuss work issues while talking to Adrian.
"Heemm....the village atmosphere is pretty good too, maybe I'll be really serious about growing my business here."
Adrian just shook his head and focused on driving to their destination, a gifts shop on the second day.
"Marie.... What souvenir do you want? I'll bring it for you."
Nadine, who was on a call with Marie, showed her inside the shop.
"Find me a local recipe book."
Benjamin suddenly interrupted Nadine and Marie's conversation.
"Okay... I'll find it for you."
Adrian just sighed seeing the closeness of Nadine and her family. Then he wandered around that shop and stopped at a jewelry and accessories display rack. He was looking at the accessories for a long time.
Then his gaze fell on a flower-shaped hairpin. Until he realized that Nadine had approached him carrying several large bags containing her souvenirs.
"Hairpins are great.... I'm going to buy them for Anna and want to pick out something for Marie."
Adrian was shocked and immediately turned around.
"Nadine? What did you buy?"
Adrian looks surprised by the amount of Nadine bags.
"Oh... It's for the maid in the house and Jim. Maybe I'll give some to my father."
Nadine then put down her bag and stood beside Adrian.
"Does Marie like hairpin? I prefer ribbon or scarf."
Adrian still looked at the flower hairpin in front of him seriously. Knowing that Adrian was still so serious observing the hairpin in front of him, Nadine then commented.
"Just pick that... The design isn't too flashy.... It would be good to use it on various occasions. Don't pick beside it, it's too flashy."
Adrian nodded and then decided to buy it. And asked the shopkeeper to wrap it up.
"Thanks for the advice. I hope Olivia likes it. She always does her hair while teaching so..."
Nadine, who had made up her mind, still felt a little disappointed with Adrian's attention to Olivia. Not wanting to listen to Adrian's story further, she immediately cut Adrian's word.
"Ah yes.... Good choice... Ha ha ha... Sir please wrap this hairpin."
Nadine tried to be as neutral as possible, responding to Adrian and distracting him by ordering something for Anna.
"You're made a good choice. Oh yes to Aunt Marie wil-..."
Again, Nadine cut Adrian's word.
"Ah... I'll just buy a scarf... I'll take a look there."
Nadine left Adrian and hurriedly picked up her shopping bags. In her hurry she dropped some of her bags. Adrian, who saw Nadine a little panicked, suddenly helped her carry it.
"Adrian... You really don't need to help me."
Adrian just chuckled and walked away towards the scarf stall. Nadine looked back at the hairpin rack.
"Haaaah... Olivia is irreplaceable in your heart."
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