From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 462

"What are you doing? Get off Adolphus right now!"

Adolphus let out a soft laugh when he saw Laurinda looking completely put out. He moved his head off her shoulder, straightened up, and grinned at her. "Weren't you the one who asked for this? I'm just giving you what you want."

Laurinda squeezed her eyes shut as the whole embarrassing scene came flooding back. She honestly wasn't sure what had gotten into her at the time.

Adolphus caught her trying to dodge the situation, and it just made him laugh more. He smirked, looking utterly mischievous, then leaned in and gave her pale neck a little nip. "What, you don’t like it?"

"Ugh, you're impossible!" Laurinda groaned, burying her face in his chest, wanting to hide from both him and her own embarrassment. How could he always catch her at her weakest? She just wanted a little harmless fun and now he had her completely flustered. Mortifying.

They fooled around like that for a bit in the bathroom, but eventually Laurinda changed and headed out into the main room.

Arrow had already set out lunch. Laurinda glanced at the specialists and Balaam, a little self-conscious. "Did you guys already eat?"

"We did. Go on, eat while it’s hot," Balaam said warmly. "It’s not good for your stomach if it gets cold."

Balaam gave Laurinda a kind look, eyes full of patient encouragement and a little smile that made it clear her mood was good.

Laurinda sat at the side table and started eating quietly. Across from her, Adolphus watched her with a soft look on his face. The sight of her sitting there so obediently suddenly made him want to have a daughter—he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to raise a little version of Laurinda.

Once Laurinda finished eating, one of the specialists brought a folder over and set it down in front of her. She picked it up and glanced at them, confused. "What’s this?"

"It’s Balaam’s travel pass for Stonehaven. We need your signature."

Laurinda recognized the permit, but the news that Balaam was going to Stonehaven took her by surprise.

"Balaam, are you sure about this?"

"I am. For the sake of medical progress, I want to connect with Stonehaven’s medical research institute—share all I know, exchange ideas. Of course, I’d like to bring a team along, so we can really work together."

Laurinda gave Balaam a thoughtful look, then turned to Adolphus. "And you're okay with this?"

Adolphus nodded. "We talked it over together. Balaam’s picked the whole team already. Just need your signature now."

Knowing this was something Adolphus was involved with calmed any worries Laurinda had about Balaam’s safety. She flipped open the folder, read through the documents, then signed her name at the bottom.

She rummaged in her bag, which she’d casually tossed on the sofa, hunting around until she found her personal seal. She stamped it right onto the permit.

"That’s really not necessary," another specialist said gently. "There’s a lot we need to wrap up before we leave. Laurinda, if there’s nothing urgent, we should get going."

They had to check over the credentials of the trainees Balaam was planning to take and couldn’t spare the time for a social meal.

They gathered their things and stood up to leave, and Laurinda stood as well to see them to the door.

Once the doctors had gone, Laurinda took care of Adolphus’s discharge papers. As she packed his things, she couldn’t help herself from checking one more time.

"Are you really sure you’re okay? You’re not feeling off or anything? We could stay a few more days just in case."

He smiled at her. "I’m really fine. I’m a doctor too, remember? I know my own body. I swear, I’m being honest with you this time. There’s nothing wrong with me."

Adolphus reached out, gently taking the bag from her hands. His voice was soft and sincere. "I promise, I’ll never put my health on the line like that again. I want to stick around with you... for a very long time."

Laurinda looked into his clear, steady eyes and saw that he meant every word. The last of her worries faded away, and she slipped her hand into his.

"Okay then. You can go sit down. I’ll finish packing everything up."