Chapter 327 What's Going on Between you Two?
The driver started the car and pulled away from the curb.
David frowned at his phone from the driver's seat, then put it away and glanced at Adeline in the rearview mirror. "If you're tired, get some rest. The doctor said Linda's stable for now." He chuckled. "My team and I practically had to hold her down to keep her in that hospital bed."
"She wouldn't listen to you guys?" Adeline asked.
"Not a bit," David said. "But as soon as she heard you were coming, she calmed right down."
Adeline smirked. "Well, none of you are women. You wouldn't get it."
David shrugged. "Fair enough. You two have been friends for over a decade, after all."
"Over a decade?"
Jasper, who had been silent in the back seat, suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp. The car's atmosphere turned icy. Adeline felt a chill. She hadn't expected Linda to tell David about their supposed decade-long friendship. Her current identity didn't match that history.
Jasper turned to Adeline, eyes boring into her. "You've known Linda for over a decade?"
Adeline looked down, her fingers twisting nervously. "Yes." Denying it now would be pointless. Jasper would just ask Linda directly. Better to answer herself and spare Linda the grilling.
She looked out the window. "Linda and I were online friends... over a decade ago."
David raised an eyebrow. "Online friends?"
"Yes." Adeline took a deep breath and met his gaze. "We played a game called 'Shadowgate: Echoes of Destiny.' We met online and became friends." She figured Linda had only mentioned the duration of their friendship to David, not the details. Revealing their true connection would expose Adeline's real identity. So, she chose a game they played during school as a cover story.
David looked surprised. "Neither of you seem like gamers."
Adeline chuckled. "Appearances can be deceiving." She yawned and turned back to the window. "We were close in the game. I knew what she looked like in real life, but she didn't know me. When I first got to Neon City, she didn't recognize me and wasn't too fond of me. But once she found out who I really was, we got close again." Using the game as a bridge, Adeline smoothed over the initial friction between her and Linda.
Jasper played with the ring on his finger, his expression unreadable. "I see."
Adeline bit her lip, unsure if he believed her. Either way, she needed to clear this up with Linda after their visit.
"As it happens," Jasper said after a long pause, his gaze cold as he fixed it on Adeline, "I played 'Shadowgate: Echoes of Destiny' too."
Adeline froze. "You did?"
"On Server One," he added, a hint of a smirk. His eyes seemed to pierce through her. "What a coincidence."
Guilt gnawed at Adeline. Everyone who knew them in the game also knew they were friends in real life. If Jasper dug deeper, her facade would crumble. Her hands balled into fists in her lap. Maybe using the game as a cover story wasn't the best idea.
Forcing a smile, she yawned. "David, how much longer until we reach Neon City?"
"About four hours," David replied, glancing at the time. "Seriously, get some rest if you're tired. We'll be there before noon."
Adeline nodded and turned to Jasper, offering an apologetic smile. "Mr. Foster, since you played 'Shadowgate: Echoes of Destiny' too, maybe we crossed paths online all those years ago. We can reminisce when I wake up." With another exaggerated yawn, she leaned back and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
In truth, sleep was the last thing on her mind. She peeked at Jasper through her lashes. He was staring at her, his gaze intense and unreadable. Adeline didn't dare react, afraid he'd see through her act. This silent exchange continued until the car merged onto the highway.
Exhaustion finally overtook her. She hadn't slept well, worried about Linda and the turmoil Sebastian had caused. As the car hummed along the highway, she drifted off.
Through the haze of sleep, she thought she heard David's teasing voice. "You've been staring at her the entire trip. Is she really that interesting?"
Jasper murmured something in response, but Adeline couldn't make it out before she drifted back into unconsciousness.
When she woke again, the car was parked.
"Awake already?" David's voice came from the front.
Adeline frowned, opening her eyes slowly. The car was quiet. The driver was outside for a smoke break, and David was in the passenger seat, fiddling with his phone.
She instinctively glanced at the seat beside her. "Where's...?"
"He's gone," David said before she could finish. "Headed straight to the company for a meeting as soon as we arrived." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What's going on between you two?"
Jasper had initially refused to be in the same car as Adeline. It took considerable effort on David's part to convince him otherwise. Yet, he'd spent the entire trip watching her sleep. And while Adeline seemed distant towards him, the first thing she did upon waking was look for him. They were acting like a bickering couple, if David ever saw one.
"There's nothing going on between us," Adeline said, looking away. She checked the time. It was already noon. "When are we going to see Linda?"
David pressed a button, lowering the car windows. "We're here."
As the windows slid down, Adeline realized they were parked in front of the hospital. "You were waiting for me to wake up?"
David smirked. "Jasper mentioned you looked exhausted and probably hadn't slept well. He said if I wanted you to be any help to Linda, I should let you sleep in." He shrugged. "Mr. Foster gave the order, who am I to say no?"
Adeline felt a strange mix of emotions. She took a deep breath and was about to get out of the car when her phone rang. It was Sebastian.
"Adeline," he said without preamble, his voice tight. "Did you go to Neon City with Jasper?"
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