Edwin was sure: Shane had locked her.
[From early childhood, he watched him display morbid obsession and pathological possessiveness. And, to tell the truth, he understood him. If he were Shane, he would have done the same.]
But now Edwin knew differently.
[Adaline is not one to sit quietly in captivity.]
[If she managed to come to an agreement with such a madman as Lucian Cole, then who knows what else she is capable of? It requires a special approach.]
[To prevent her from running away again, we must use space against her.]
“Well, do as you please.” - Edwin slowly clapped his hands. This was the signal: the conversation was over. [But it looks like Genevieve will be in danger again.]
Shane stood up first and extended his hand to Adaline, but she ignored the gesture and stood up herself.
Edwin lightly touched her shoulder and said:
"Glad to have you back, Adaline."
"You shouldn't lie with a smile like that."
“I'm serious. Frankly, Shane is too much to handle."
"..."
[No matter how calm he acted, the morning really shocked him.]
[Adaline did not die on the battlefield - she was pierced by a blade when she covered the Saint right in front of many witnesses, including Shane Blanchard.]
[She deceived everyone. She faked her death and escaped. And now Edwin looked at her completely differently.]
[The ability to recognize talents and use them is something that, according to Edwin, every ruler should be able to do.]
"Looks like I'll have to rely on you a lot from now on."
He watched as her face darkened and chuckled discreetly.
[Adaline hasn't changed one bit.]
[Although everyone around her has changed beyond recognition during her absence.]
[Но с этим ей предстояло справляться самой.]
---[Shane, we need to talk.]
[If she continues to just lie there, as if in a coma, she will really turn into a “resurrected woman who has received centuries-old love,” and in the finale she will marry the main character.]
[She could still endure tales of a miraculous resurrection and a hundred-year love. But the wedding is not. This needs to stop.]
[Meeting Emma delayed her plans, but now she is determined, she will beg if she has to. Since it was not possible to escape physically, we will have to deal with emotions.]
Well, then, somewhere in the newspapers, the following title will do: [The resurrected daughter of the marquis suddenly died, could not stand the new life. The country is in mourning!]
As soon as she got into the carriage, she was about to start talking, but Shane beat her to it, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"No. The betrothal will not be broken."
“Well, I actually wanted to say something else...But...”
“Did you want to apologize?”
“Yes, but...”
"I don't need any apology."
“...So are we really going to get married?”
Shane looked up at her. There was confidence in him, he knew that this question would be asked.
“I told you from the very beginning.”
"..."
“Don’t do anything stupid, Adaline. I don't want to resort to harsh measures."
What a noble tone, Adaline thought, gritting her teeth in anger.
“Isn’t this tough? Threats, coercion, force marriage, isn’t that enough for you?”
“Believe me, I still behave very reservedly. Especially since you're still hoping to escape."
“...Do you read minds?”
"No need. You always think about only one thing, how to escape from me.”
"..."
[Ever since she realized she was living inside an affair at age nine, Adaline has constantly tried to stay away from Shane.]
[She knew she was hurting him. But she consoled herself that it would be better for him in the long run.]
[He was kind. And someday he will definitely meet someone he truly loves. And then...it will be painful for him to betray Adaline.]
[It’s better now, before their connection has yet become something inextricable.]
“It’s late, Adaline. All of Delmez knows that you are back."
“And what is the meaning of such a marriage?”
She grabbed her head and hunched over. My stomach was cramping, and now my head was hurting.
[Shane is one of the main characters of this world. Even if his romance with Genevieve never took off, happiness was still destined for him.]
[If it weren’t for her, the two of them would have been happy long ago.]
[Marriage to a fugitive villainess who deceived him will not bring joy to anyone.]
"Even if you insist on it...it won't make you happy."
Shane reached out and gently touched her cheek.
“But you will be unhappy.”
"..."
“Because you will marry a man you hate so much that you would die to avoid falling into his hands.”
A cold smile flashed in his blue eyes.
“Did you hate me that much?”
"..."
“So much so that you were ready to cry?”
[Did you really hate me that much?]
[In fact, there was not a single tear.]
She never cried.
But even with that, Adaline couldn't answer.