REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight

Chapter 176: If you don’t like it, we can leave.

Elara’s mouth snapped shut.

Adrian turned his head slightly to look at her before looking away again, offering no further explanation. Instead, his eyes drifted briefly to the watch on his wrist before returning to the road ahead.

Elara sank back into her seat.

If it wasn’t Voice, then where exactly was he taking her? It couldn’t be the Vale mansion or his house.

Well, maybe she shouldn’t start making unreasonable guesses. Acting like this would only make her look foolish.

As they entered the familiar roads of Starfall, Elara stared out the window, her heart tightening uncomfortably.

They drove for a long time until they reached a district she didn’t recognize despite how well she thought she knew Starfall. If not for the silver spires visible in the distance, a landmark every resident of Starfall would recognize, she might have thought they had entered another city entirely.

There were fewer towering buildings here. Surprisingly, several structures were still under construction.

As Adrian suddenly turned onto another road, the gate ahead began opening automatically. That alone told Elara the place belonged to him.

But why would he bring her somewhere that belonged to him?

The moment they entered, the sight before her made her breathing slow.

Steel beams and white marble structures rose into the air. Few partially completed buildings and stone pathways also came into her sight. Though it was obvious construction was still ongoing, there wasn’t a single worker in sight.

It didn’t look like a company, and it didn’t look like a residential estate either.

The car eventually came to a stop beneath a row of tall trees.

Elara didn’t want to ask any more questions, but she had grown genuinely confused. This place didn’t seem official. There was no one around, so it wasn’t as if he had brought her here to meet somebody.

"Where is this place?" she asked as Adrian removed his hand from the steering wheel and straightened the cuff of his blazer.

"Come with me."

That was all he said before opening the car and stepping out of it.

Elara closed her eyes to calm her raging emotions. She could only hope this wouldn’t become another terrible decision she’d made.

Opening the door, she stepped onto the smooth stone pavement. Forgetting about her injured leg, she put her weight down without thinking.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips instantly. She grabbed the roof of the car for support, taking slow breaths as she tried to adjust to the sudden pain. Looking up, she saw Adrian already several steps ahead.

Unbelievable. He brought her all the way here and wasn’t even waiting for her. Did he expect her to somehow know where she was supposed to go?

After a moment, Elara pushed herself away from the car and started walking toward him.

When Adrian reached the entrance, he finally stopped and looked back. The moment she noticed his eyes on her, Elara clenched her jaw and forced herself to walk more naturally.

She wasn’t about to let him think she was weak. And she definitely wasn’t going to let him think she wanted his attention.

When only a short distance remained between them, she slowed to a stop realizing he was still standing there without moving.

Her patience finally wore thin.

"Please," she said coldly. "Just say whatever you brought me here to say. I still have things to do back at my apartment."

Adrian’s lips pressed together. Then his gaze moved calmly from her leg back to her face. "Things to do." he asked in a mocking tone.

Elara frowned, clearly displeased.

To her, it was obvious. She was not someone with time to waste standing around doing nothing. She had important things waiting for her, things far more serious than whatever they were doing here.

"Yes," she said firmly.

Adrian paused for a long moment. Then a soft scoff left his lips. "And how exactly are you planning to do that?"

"Do what?" Elara asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Whatever it is a person with one functioning leg wants to do."

Elara’s face flushed slightly in embarrassment. She turned her head away and took a slow breath.

Adrian turned and started walking again, seeming not to be bothered about her reaction at all.

Elara snorted under her breath and followed him as well. But it seemed his words had affected her more than she wanted to admit. Because every step now felt heavier, like her leg was carrying extra weight.

She lowered her gaze.

God, this was not a good situation. Thankfully, there was no important event she needed to attend right now, or else, she would have been in serious trouble moving around like this.

"Do you want help?"

Adrian’s voice suddenly came from ahead. He had already turned slightly to look back at her, one hand casually extended forward.

Elara looked up quickly.

Help? That meant being carried. Of course she would not agree to that.

"No," she said immediately, shaking her head lightly.

He withdrew his hand at once and slid it back into his pocket. "Then keep up." he said coldly.

Soon, they reached a large door at the inner section of the building. Adrian stopped and pushed it open gently. Elara followed him as he went inside inside.

The moment she stepped in, her breath slowed, her eyes moving slowly around the space.

It was a very large hall, but definitely not what she had expected.

There were different kinds of musical instruments placed neatly around the room. Pianos, string instruments, and other equipment she could not even name at first glance.

This surely did not look like a place made for profit. But it also did not look like something someone like Adrian would normally care about.

Adrian walked calmly to the center of the hall. Then he turned back and looked at her. He said nothing for a long time.

Elara stood still, her fingers tightening slightly at her sides. She couldn’t even allow herself to finish the thought starting to form in her mind.

"What do you think?" His voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Think about what?" she blinked. Her brow lifted questioningly, but her heart was not as calm as her face looked.

Adrian stared at her for a while longer than necessary. Then finally, he spoke again.

"If you don’t like it, we can leave."