Chapter 180: Did I come too late...

Adrian folded his arms and pointed toward the cookies. "Just give me one. I promise I won’t ask for another."

Logan scoffed. "That’s what you said ten minutes ago."

"And I meant it ten minutes ago."

Lily pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

"Sir, you can have one," she finally said, reaching for a cookie. "But please don’t fight over it."

Adrian accepted the cookie with a satisfied smile. "See? She understands me."

Logan sighed. "Unfortunately, she does."

Adrian wasted no time accepting the cookie Lily handed him.

"This is so good," he declared after taking a bite. "I can finally be at peace."

He looked as though he had just tasted the finest delicacy in the world and continued savoring the cookie with exaggerated satisfaction.

"Sir, would you like one?" Lily asked Logan politely.

Logan smiled and shook his head.

"I’m fine, Miss."

Lily nodded, not thinking much of it, while Adrian finished his cookie in record time.

"Can I have another one?" he asked.

Lily smiled. "Of course."

"You asked for one," Logan pointed out. "Why are you eating two?"

"Because they’re delicious, and you’re bothersome," Adrian replied, pointing at him.

Logan closed his eyes in defeat.

"I was only trying to make you behave responsibly."

"Then try doing something useful instead."

Lily watched the two men bicker, unsure whether she should laugh or pretend not to hear them. However, despite their amusing argument, Lily’s thoughts kept returning to Silvia.

Where is she?

Silvia had been gone for quite some time. Had she found the manager? Had something happened while she was discussing the matter with him?

And then there was Clara.

Her madam was still nowhere to be seen.

A familiar sense of anxiety began to settle in Lily’s chest. She tried to hide it, but Logan noticed the subtle change in her expression.

"Is everything all right, Miss?" he asked. "Did my boss make you worried?"

Lily paused.

Adrian, who had been halfway through his second cookie, also stopped chewing and looked at her.

For a moment, Lily simply stared at them. She had never relied on her expressions because she knew how to conceal her emotions when necessary. But this time, her worry was becoming increasingly difficult to hide.

She quickly forced a small smile.

"No, nothing is wrong. I was just wondering where my companions are."

"Your companions?" Logan asked.

"Yes. Miss Silvia went to speak with the manager, and Miss Clara stepped away to answer a call. But neither of them has returned yet."

Adrian lowered the cookie slightly. "How long have they been gone?"

Lily glanced toward the direction Silvia had walked.

"Longer than they should have been."

The playful atmosphere around the stall faded.

Logan exchanged a serious look with Adrian before turning back to Lily.

"The manager wanted to discuss a few important matters, which was why he sent someone to call Madam. But since Madam was attending a call somewhere, my teammate Silvia went in her place," Lily explained.

Adrian frowned when he heard her mention the manager. His eyes then shifted toward a man standing some distance away.

"But the manager is over there," he said, pointing in that direction. "Then whom is your teammate meeting?"

Lily immediately followed his gaze.

"I-Is he the manager?" she asked in disbelief.

She had no idea who the man was. Since Adrian had recognized him so easily, however, she suddenly felt confused.

"Yes," Adrian replied.

Logan’s expression grew serious. "And there was nothing left to discuss. Miss Clara had already been informed about everything."

Lily fell silent.

A strange uneasiness began to spread through her chest as she replayed their words in her mind.

If the man standing nearby was the manager, then who had Silvia gone to meet?

And why had that stranger claimed that the manager wanted to speak with Clara?

Before Lily could make sense of it, a sudden clatter broke through the silence.

The plate in Adrian’s hand slipped from his fingers and crashed onto the floor.

Lily’s eyes widened as she turned toward him.

The playful expression he had worn moments ago had vanished completely. His face had suddenly gone pale, and his breathing appeared strained.

"Mr. Adrian?" Logan asked, immediately stepping closer.

Adrian pressed a hand against his chest, his brows drawing together as he struggled to breathe.

"L-Logan..." he rasped.

Logan’s expression changed. "Sir?"

"I-I can’t breathe."

Lily froze. For a moment, she could only stare at Adrian, her mind unable to process what was happening. Then panic surged through her.

"Someone call a doctor!" she cried, looking around desperately.

Logan caught Adrian before he could stumble.

"Sir, stay with me. Take slow breaths."

But Adrian’s breathing grew more labored, and Lily’s gaze darted toward the man standing in the distance.

A terrible thought suddenly crossed her mind.

Could this have something to do with Clara and Silvia?

Just when Lily felt that everything was slipping out of her control, a familiar voice rang through the crowd.

"What happened to Mr. Graham?" Julianna asked loudly.

Her voice immediately attracted the attention of the nearby guests. One by one, they turned toward the commotion and began gathering around Adrian, Logan, and Lily.

Lily’s eyes were filled with tears as she looked at the man struggling to breathe.

"He was eating a cookie, and then he suddenly couldn’t breathe," she explained, her voice trembling. "I don’t know what happened."

She hoped her words would help someone understand the situation, but she failed to notice the strange glint that flashed across Julianna’s eyes.

"Oh my God!" Julianna exclaimed, pressing a hand to her chest. "Are you saying he collapsed after eating one of the cookies?"

"I-I don’t know," Lily stammered. "He was perfectly fine a moment ago."

Julianna’s gaze shifted toward the tray of cookies before returning to Adrian.

"This is terrible! Someone should call the police. What if the cookie is poisoned?"

Everyone stared at Julianna in shock. Even Lily, who had never considered the possibility of someone bringing poison to the stall, was left speechless.

"Miss, what are you saying?" Lily asked, trying to defend herself.

But Julianna gave her no chance to explain.

"Mr. Graham fell ill after eating one of your cookies, and now you’re asking me what I’m saying?" she exclaimed. "Everyone, please don’t touch anything on this stall!"

As Julianna played her cards one by one, her eyes suddenly caught sight of Clara walking through the crowd.

Her expression changed instantly.

"She..." Julianna pointed toward Clara, her voice trembling with feigned fear. "She’s the one handling this stall."

Clara stopped when everyone turned toward her with suspicious and hostile looks. However, their accusing gazes were not what caught her attention.

Her eyes immediately fell on Adrian.

He looked pale, his body slumped against Logan as he struggled to breathe.

Did I come too late? Clara wondered, her heart tightening as she took in the scene.