"Mr. Alvarez, you must have accidentally inhaled traces of aphrodisiac lingering in the room!" Celine gasped.

Adun pressed his lips together. He had already sensed something was wrong with his body. When the two of them hid behind the curtain, her body lightly pressed against his, and her soft palm covered his mouth. He couldn't help but feel a surge of heat course through him, igniting an uncontrollable fire within. It was definitely the aphrodisiac.

Adam grabbed Celine's arm and pulled her with him as they exited the room. As they left, the room was still in chaos. The guests were too focused on the fight between the two families to notice them.

He helped Celine out of Tate Manor and into his Rolls-Royce.

"Where are we going, Mr. Alvarez?" Leo asked.

This was the first time Adam had brought Celine to Westwood Villa—his private residence. She had never been allowed inside before. Ironically, it took an unexpected turn of events for him to bring her here.

Adam brought her to the master bedroom and instructed, "Stay here; don't wander around."

Celine nodded. "Okay."

Adam then went to the study. Inside, he removed his blazer, hoping it would cool him down.

Leo entered. In a low voice, he said, "Mr. Alvarez, I've investigated. Lucy was the one who set up the aphrodisiac at the banquet today. She planned for her nephew, Hansel Garcia, to ruin Mrs. Alvarez's reputation. But somehow, Tracy mistakenly fell into her trap instead."

Adam's lips curled into a knowing smile. "It wasn't a mistake—it was Celine who arranged for Tracy to fall into the trap. This was all part of her plan."

Leo immediately understood. "Mrs. Alvarez is truly remarkable!"

Indeed, she was. She single-handedly orchestrated her revenge and turned the Tate family against each other. Adam also recalled how Celine had effortlessly exposed Tracy's schemes just a few days ago. Furthermore, there was the incident at the bar where she exposed the fake friendship between Tracy and Carly with just a few words. And tonight, she had turned Sonia's birthday celebration into a night no one would ever forget.

Adam couldn't help but see her in a new light. Though she appeared delicate, she possessed incredible resilience. She had a way of turning every setback into an opportunity, never letting anything or anyone bring her down. Initially, he had dismissed her as a simple woman whose entire world revolved around him. However, he slowly began to see different sides of her—each more captivating than the last, drawing him closer.

Leo's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Mr. Alvarez, I can't believe that Mrs. Alvarez's own mother would do that to her! I feel bad for her"

Leo's words stirred something unfamiliar within him. He felt a sense of pity for her, something he hadn't expected.

Celine stayed in the room the entire time; she dared not venture outside. She curiously wandered around Adam's room. The interior was sleek and modern, yet it gave off a cold, impersonal vibe—much like its owner. Suddenly, a deep, magnetic voice echoed from behind her. "What are you looking at?"

Celine turned around instinctively and saw Adam standing behind her. She wasn't sure when he had returned. She froze; she felt guilty for being caught snooping. It was clear he had seen her wandering around his room. Flustered, she took a step backward, but accidentally bumped her knee on the edge of the bed. She lost her balance and fell onto the bed.

Her face flushed with embarrassment. She desperately wanted to crawl into a corner and hide. Just as she was about to get up, Adam was already standing next to the bed, towering over her.

Seated on the bed, Celine looked up at him. With his towering six-foot-three-inch frame, he made her feel small.

"Um, have you taken anything for the aphrodisiac? I could help if you'd like," Celine said, attempting to ease the tension. Adam continued to stare at her. The corner of his lips tugged upwards into a teasing smile. "You want to help me?"