"Riley! What are you doing? Put Echo down right now!"
Arthur's face flushed red with anger as he stared at the upside-down parrot in distress.
The servants panicked. "Madam, that's not a toy! Please, let go of Echo!"
But Riley didn't stop.
Just as Arthur was about to order someone to snatch the parrot away, Echo suddenly spat something out.
Riley released her grip at once.
The parrot flapped wildly, circling above them twice before landing back in its cage—alive, alert, and completely restored.
"What did it spit out?" Arthur asked, stunned.
A servant bent down to pick it up.
"A black pearl…"
It gleamed faintly in their palm.
No wonder Echo had been in such distress. It couldn't digest that. Everyone had assumed it was overeating, but it had swallowed something it never should have.
Arthur glared at the parrot. "Am I not feeding you enough? Why are you eating random things?"
Echo chirped as if nothing had happened.
Relief flooded Arthur's face. He scolded it a few more times, then quickly returned to doting on it.
But no one noticed the shift in Adrian's gaze.
Just now, Riley's actions looked reckless.
But they weren't.
Every movement was precise. She struck the exact right spot on the bird's abdomen.
More importantly… she knew.
She knew Echo had swallowed something indigestible.
But how?
She's supposed to be a fool.
How does she know any of this?
The thought lingered, faint but persistent.
With Echo fully recovered, Arthur's attitude toward Riley softened noticeably.
Especially since the parrot seemed to enjoy bantering with her.
Holding the cage, he chatted cheerfully with it all the way back, a rare smile lingering on his face.
At lunch, he even brought Echo to the table.
What shocked Riley the most, the parrot was eating fatty meat.
She stared.
Is this thing… evolving?
A servant explained with a smile.
"This parrot was found by Master Adrian during a business trip. After he saved it, it refused to leave. It followed him everywhere, eating what he ate. Over time, it picked up the habit."
"Later, Master Adrian sent it back here for Master Arthur. He loves it so much—treats it like a younger version of Master Adrian."
That made sense.
Loneliness came with age.
A lively bird like this could brighten anyone's days.
Riley found herself softening slightly toward Echo.
"Fool! Eat fatty meat! Eat fatty meat!"
The bird squawked impatiently.
Riley's expression stiffened.
Never mind.
I take it back.
It's still annoying.
She picked up a large piece of fatty meat and dropped it into the cage. "Finish this, and that's it. You're already fat enough. Aren't you afraid of turning into a ball?"
Echo pecked at the meat, then puffed up proudly.
"Fat ball cute!"
Riley couldn't help but laugh.
It really knows how to talk back.
After lunch, a servant came rushing in with good news. Mrs. Hales had woken up.
She had even managed half a bowl of porridge and looked much better.
Arthur was overjoyed. He had Echo taken back to the loft and immediately went to check on her.
Meanwhile, Adrian led Riley back to their room to change.
Earlier, Echo had flung greasy scraps at her after she called it a "stupid bird".
By the time they finished changing and headed over, Arthur had just left.
Riley hugged the stuffed bunny in her arms, standing obediently by the door.
"Hubby, I'll wait outside," she said sweetly. "You can go in."
Adrian frowned.
"Why aren't you coming with me?"
Riley froze.
Of course I can't go in.
I already treated Mrs. Hales earlier. Even though I wore a mask, and she was drifting in and out of consciousness… women are perceptive. What if she recognizes me?
That would expose everything.
And even if she doesn't, any small inconsistency could raise suspicion. Especially from someone like Adrian, with those sharp, watchful eyes.
What if he realizes I'm not actually a fool… and decides not to divorce me?
Riley spun her thoughts quickly, then blinked innocently.
"My bunny sheds a lot," she said. "There might be bacteria. It's not good for Mrs Hales's wound."
That made sense.
Adrian's expression relaxed. "Then leave it outside. You can come in."
Riley immediately shook her head. "No. I don't want my bunny to be lonely."
"Suit yourself. Wait here, then."
"Okay!" she replied, nodding earnestly as she hugged the stuffed bunny and sat in the downstairs living room.
***
Inside the room, when Adrian entered, Mrs Hales was taking her medicine.
"Mrs Hales, how are you feeling?"
His voice was still cold, but the concern beneath it was unmistakable.
Mrs Hales nodded, smiling faintly when she saw him.
"Much better. I know you brought in many doctors for me. Thank you."
"It's nothing. As long as you're okay."
A faint smile touched his lips.
Three years ago, Adrian had been set up in a car accident.
If Mrs Hales hadn't risked her life to protect him, he wouldn't have survived.
But ever since that day, her health had declined. Her vision had also worsened.
The doctors had found a fragment lodged in her brain.
It couldn't be removed.
The brain was too complex—any attempt to extract it might cause fatal damage.
Back then, Mrs Hales had been conscious. After discussing it, she refused surgery, saying it didn't affect her daily life.
But this year, her condition had worsened.
She had mentioned frequent headaches. Sometimes, she even lost her sight.
Adrian knew what it meant.
The fragment had shifted.
It was likely pressing against her optic nerve, causing intermittent blindness.
Adrian lowered his gaze, his expression tightening.
"Mrs Hales… your eyes…"
She shook her head gently, reassuring him.
"I'm fine now. I've lived most of my life already. Whether I can see or not doesn't matter much."
She smiled softly.
"Don't worry about me. Honestly, I thought I wouldn't make it this time… but I didn't expect…"
Her voice trailed off with a quiet chuckle.
Then she seemed to remember something.
"By the way, I haven't met your wife yet. Is she at the estate?"
At the mention of Riley, Adrian paused.
A flicker of something complicated passed through his eyes.
"No," he said. "She's away on a business trip."
Mrs Hales didn't know he had married Riley.
She still believed it was Felicia.
Every time this came up, a sense of helplessness settled in his chest.
He didn't want her to worry.
So he lied.
Mrs Hales simply nodded, not pressing further. They chatted for a while longer, until fatigue crept in.
Seeing this, Adrian told her to rest and turned to leave.
But just as he reached the door, Mrs Hales suddenly called out.
"Master Adrian… the girl who performed my surgery earlier… is she your friend?"
Adrian turned back and shook his head.
"Not really. She's my doctor."
"I see…"
A hint of disappointment crossed Mrs Hales's face.
Out of the corner of her eye, she had caught a glimpse of the girl's phone earlier. On the lock screen was a close-up photo of her and the young master.
She had assumed they were close.
She sighed softly.
"What a pity… such a lovely girl."