Chapter 378

Evelyn felt the man's powerful arm tighten around her waist, her back pressed against his scorching chest. The heavy curtains completely concealed their figures.

She instinctively tried to break free but froze at the sound of approaching footsteps outside.

His hot breath brushed against her ear.

Adrian rested his chin on her shoulder, his gaze lingering on the porcelain skin of her neck. The faint scent of jasmine filled his senses, setting his blood ablaze.

He closed his eyes, greedily savoring this fleeting intimacy.

Evelyn trembled under his scorching presence, every muscle in her body tense.

This bastard was too close.

Last night had been stormy, but tonight was eerily silent. The slightest misstep would give them away.

So why was he clinging to her like this?

"Dominic is insane, using this kind of photo as his lock screen," a woman's furious whisper cut through the silence. "How many secrets has that old man hidden? If this gets out, we're finished."

Evelyn and Adrian both held their breath.

They didn’t need to look to know—it was the woman from the screen.

"Damn it! What’s the password? His birthday?"

The frantic tapping of keys was followed by an exasperated sigh.

After failing to unlock it, hurried footsteps retreated.

The confined space grew thick with tension.

The moment the lock clicked, Evelyn drove her elbow hard into the man’s chest. "Let go!"

Adrian grunted in pain, but amusement flickered in his eyes. "You hit hard, Ms. Roland."

Evelyn stiffened.

He recognized her.

"Mr. Valentine, keep your distance," she said coldly, wrenching free. "If not for the circumstances, you’d be lying in the courtyard right now."

Adrian chuckled, following closely behind her.

"You’re investigating Dominic?"

"None of your business."

The computer screen lit up as Evelyn’s fingers flew across the keyboard. The encryption system crumbled before her.

Adrian’s gaze darkened.

"I didn’t know you had such skills, Ms. Roland."

His voice was rough, edged with anger.

Evelyn focused entirely on searching the files, running a global scan for the name "Alexander Durand."

No results.

Her fists clenched.

The air behind her turned icy.

After swiftly copying the critical data, she stood to leave.

Adrian yanked the power cord.

"Send me a copy," he said, waving his phone. "Resource sharing."

"Do it yourself." She didn’t look back as she pulled open the door.

Adrian wiped down all traces of their activity with a damp cloth. When he caught up, she was standing at the basement entrance.

"Don’t go," he said, seizing her wrist.