Adam couldn't fathom why Miss Genus Chad called him annoying, but he chose not to dwell on it. Setting his phone aside, he returned to his work. By the time he finished, it was late at night.
Rising from his seat, he poured himself a glass of water and glanced at Celine, who was sound asleep. Before he turned to head back to the couch, a notification tone broke the silence, drawing his attention to Celine's phone. Its screen lit up with a new message.
Adam's eyes inadvertently caught her profile picture. His cold gaze narrowed in suspicion—it was identical to Miss Genius C's. He strode to the bedside to reach for the phone. But before he could grab it, Celine shifted in her sleep, her beautiful face pressing against his hand. He froze, momentarily stunned by his own actions. What was he even doing? The idea that Celine could be his genius junior at Haffard University was absurd. She was just a brainless beauty, nothing more.
He shook off the thought, convincing himself he must have been mistaken. Just then, Adam felt a soft sensation on his palm. In her sleep, Celine was nuzzling his hand like a kitten, completely unaware.
Adam's gaze lingered on her delicate face, illuminated by the warm glow of the bedside lamp. Strands of her hair curled softly around her neck, with a few brushing against her rosy lips. Her captivating features held his attention longer than he intended. There were times when a woman's beauty could be utterly disarming—especially for men. Adam found himself momentarily entranced but quickly shook off the thought. He pulled his hand away and straightened, walking back with unwavering confidence. After all, he had encountered countless beauties in his life. He wasn't the kind of man to be seduced by mere looks.
Settling back onto the couch, Adam closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
When Celine woke up the next morning, Adam was already gone. A quick glance at the clock sent her into a panic—she was running late! Recalling Adam's cold, displeased expression from the previous night, she knew the consequences of missing their 9 a.m. appointment at Haven Hospital would be dire.
After hurriedly freshening up, she darted downstairs, only to be stopped by Mary. "Oh, you're up. Adam's already left. Come have breakfast with me, dear," Mary called out warmly.
"Sorry, Grandma! I'm in a rush! Bye!" Celine shouted over her shoulder as she bolted out the door. Mary watched her leave with concern. "She really shouldn't skip breakfast."
At that moment, Alfred approached with an envelope. "Mrs. Alvarez Senior, someone just delivered this. They said it's for your hands only."
"What is it?" Mary asked, accepting the envelope. As she opened it, a photo slipped out.
Celine arrived at the hospital just in time and spotted a few familiar faces—Adam, Carly, and Melody.
"Adam, is Dr. Crally coming today?" Carly's face lit up with joy. Born with a congenital heart condition, Carly had two lifelong wishes—to be healthy and to marry Adam, becoming Mrs. Alvarez. She was determined to achieve both. Adam gave a firm nod. "She'll be here."