Chapter 48

Adrian Boucher's gaze lingered on Liam's face. A strange sense of familiarity washed over him.

"You remind me of someone who suddenly pretends not to know me," he murmured.

It was exactly how Nathan behaved.

Sophia Hill gasped. "Adrian, you don’t recognize us anymore?"

Adrian smirked. "The kids are adorable. Since Royal Crown signed them, and I have a magazine shoot coming up, I’ll take them along."

At the manager’s office…

"You want them on the magazine cover?" Ethan Lynch, Adrian’s manager, stared at the two children in disbelief.

Adrian nodded. "They’re photogenic. It’ll elevate the shoot."

Ethan rubbed his temples. "How do we explain this to the publishers?"

"Leave that to me. I’ll handle it."

Ethan sighed. Adrian was a megastar, far above A-listers, and Royal Crown had signed these kids. If Adrian wanted to mentor them, the agency wouldn’t object.

But the fans—that was another story.

Adrian’s fandom was notoriously protective. The last time he worked with a newcomer, they tore them apart. Now, with children involved, Ethan worried about the backlash.

When the photos dropped…

The magazine’s official Twitter post exploded.

Trending.

400 million retweets.

80 thousand mentions.

@AngelsOnEarth: "This is a glimpse of Adrian as a father. I can’t breathe."

@ForeverAdrian: "I volunteer as tribute to babysit these angels!"

@SunshineLover: "Who are these little stars? I need them wrapped in bubble wrap."

@AdrianNation: "Adrian, share the babies! Don’t hog them!"

@BouchersBabe: "Move over, I’m claiming the top comment. #SobbingUncontrollably"

Adrian’s fans were notoriously ruthless toward newcomers—unless they were these two.

At Goldmann Group…

Oliver Lawson burst into Nathan’s office. "The kids are trending—with Adrian Boucher!"

Nathan looked up sharply. "Show me."

Oliver handed him the tablet. Nathan’s jaw tightened as he scrolled. "Why are they with him?"

"Apparently, Adrian invited them to his magazine shoot."

Nathan’s expression darkened.

Adrian never worked with newcomers. He was selective, busy—how had the kids even crossed paths with him?

"Find out who introduced them."

Oliver stepped out to call Royal Crown.

When he returned, his voice was careful. "It was Ms. Hill."

Nathan’s eyes turned glacial.

Ms. Hill? The woman with Evelyn?

Does she know my children?