Unexpectedly Sweet Flash Marriage

Chapter 157 Black Stockings

Chapter 157 Black Stockings

"When I used to do business, I was injected with a virus by some bad guy, but it was later cured," Curtis explained casually, holding Adeline's hand. "But there's still a small amount of the virus in my body. The doctors said it doesn't affect my daily life. But my brother, all these years, hasn't given up."

Adeline rarely saw Curtis look so lonely. She thought it probably wasn't as easy as he made it sound, so she stood there and embraced him, allowing his face to rest against her soft abdomen, gently stroking his head.

"It must have been quite painful when you were injected with the virus, right?"

Curtis shivered, a memory of those dark days crossing his mind.

He rarely feared anything.

Except for that one thing.

He instinctively held Adeline tighter and nuzzled against her tender belly.

"Thankfully, I have you... It's all in the past now."

Adeline chuckled softly, taking Curtis's words as a form of comforting her.

Little did she know that she was his light during those dark days, his sole salvation. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

She was only sixteen then but had left a deep mark on his heart.

Adeline asked casually, "Is Leo treating you well?"

From how he had spoken to Curtis while crouching down earlier, it was clear that Leo cared about his younger brother.

Curtis nodded, "That's also why I've spared Victoria multiple times. She'll never understand our sibling bond. She doesn't understand anything and thinks I fear her family. But I don't want Leo to be in a difficult position."

"So, Leo never really intended to take over from you?"

Curtis chuckled lightly, "As you've seen, Leo cares more about the experiments than running the company. If he can cultivate a new type of cell or develop some antibodies, it makes him happier than holding power. In terms of their obsession with their respective fields, Leo's dedication to experiments is identical to Logan's passion for archaeology."

Adeline was surprised. She remembered Curtis mentioning earlier that Leo and Logan were similar in some ways. Now she understood what he meant.

"That means Leo never intended to take control, and it was always Victoria's wishful thinking? And you didn't have any competitors for the position?"

"Yes and no," Curtis explained with a warm smile. "Leo probably never had the ambition to take control. Although he is officially in charge of the company now, his focus is on the laboratory, and many business matters are delegated to professional managers.

Most of those managers are my people. But the Riley Family's business empire is vast, with several branches of the family involved and many outsiders as shareholders. Over the years, our equity has been continuously diluted, and quite a few non-Riley Family members are waiting in the shadows to replace us."

Adeline nodded and gently pushed Curtis away. She sensed his mood was still low and then said, "I'll make you something delicious. They say good food can heal a sad heart."

Curtis raised his eyes and asked, "Do you want to make me happy?"

Adeline nodded.

"Then how about wearing black stockings for me?" Curtis said without changing his expression. "Only that can lift my spirits."

In an instant, Adeline's face turned completely red.

She couldn't believe he still remembered the black stocking thing.

She gave Curtis an annoyed look and said, "In your dreams!"

Then she went to prepare lunch.

After lunch, Curtis was still feeling down, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window and gazing at the river. His brows were furrowed, clearly preoccupied with something.

Adeline returned to her room and took out the three pairs of black stockings Curtis had given her. She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip...

At that moment, Melissa, who was feeling bored, sent her a message on WhatsApp.