Your First Love is Pregnant? I'm Done Being Mrs. Hawthorne!

### Chapter 10: What Tricks Are You Playing Now?

Adrian Pemberton stood before the debt collector, his cool demeanor setting him apart. He was a full head taller.

The man, not wanting to lose face, tilted his head back and asked suspiciously, "Who are you? Her husband or her boyfriend?"

Adrian Pemberton glanced at Nina Wainwright, saw her frantically signaling him with her eyes, and said flatly, "Boyfriend. What about it?"

Disappointment flickered in Nina’s eyes.

"Boyfriend, huh? Her family owes our company two million, plus one million in interest. Three million total. If she doesn’t pay up today, I’m taking her to see our boss.

"And I can’t say what she’ll have to do to pay off the debt then!" the man said with a cold smirk.

Seeing the surprise on Adrian’s face, Nina felt utterly mortified.

"When was the loan taken out?" Adrian asked, his composure unshaken.

"Last month," the man answered.

Adrian let out a cold laugh.

"One million in interest in just one month? That’s against state regulations. And you just said you were going to use her to pay the debt? Perfect. Take me with you. I’d love to see who your boss is, acting so brazenly during a crackdown on illegal online lending!"

The man’s confidence wavered slightly, but he still retorted, "That bastard Raymond Wainwright knew the interest was this high. He agreed to it!"

"Him agreeing to it and you engaging in usury are two different things." As Adrian spoke, he took out his phone to call the police.

The man reached out to snatch his phone.

Seeing him let go of Nina, Adrian pulled her behind him and kicked the man squarely in the stomach.

While the man stumbled back a few steps, Adrian grabbed Nina’s hand and they made a break for it, ducking into the adjacent building to hide.

Nina leaned against the door, her heart pounding relentlessly.

"It’s a good thing I live here. Otherwise, who knows what you would have faced tonight," Adrian said, catching his breath with his hands on his knees.

"I’m so sorry. I got you involved in this." Nina was terribly embarrassed and felt humiliated.

’Cornered by debt collectors over my family’s debt, and my former neighbor had to see it all.’

Adrian looked up at her. "I chose to help you. How is that getting me involved? They’re acting this aggressively, so they must have some backing. You can’t go home for the time being."

Nina nodded.

’I was planning on finding a hotel for a few days anyway.’

She had seen this group of debt collectors before.

They were the ones who had put her father in the hospital, yet they showed no remorse or fear, continuing to demand payment as brazenly as ever.

"I don’t really use this apartment. Why don’t you stay here for now," Adrian offered.

After a moment of surprise, Nina immediately refused. "Thank you, but that wouldn’t be appropriate."

’We’re not divorced yet. I can’t do anything that crosses the line.’

’Zachary would be furious if he found out.’

She didn’t want to stir up any extra trouble while their divorce was being finalized.

After all, he was even harder to deal with than these debt collectors.

"Do you still see me as your big brother?" Adrian asked, straightening up. His tone softened.

Nina lowered her gaze and said softly, "Even if you are my brother, I can’t do this."

Adrian sighed. "Your friend is Catherine Grant, right? I asked her. Your financial situation is tight right now, and with your father in the hospital, new expenses are piling up every day. I’m only suggesting this because I see you as a little sister."

"Adrian, I’m really grateful, but it’s just not convenient for me..."

"I only came back today because the food in my fridge went bad. The truth is, I haven’t stayed here once since I bought the place.

"The hospital keeps me too busy. You really don’t need to worry. If it makes you feel better, just think of it as you helping me house-sit." After saying this, Adrian walked over to the refrigerator in the living area.

Now that Adrian mentioned it, Nina noticed a fine layer of dust on the floor.

It had clearly been a long time since anyone had lived here.

Adrian pulled some blackened food out of the fridge.

"See? I bought this last month. This place really needs someone in it." He held up the dark, spoiled groceries for Nina to see.

He had convinced her.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she said, "If you never come here, why do you even stock groceries?"

A faint smile touched Adrian’s lips as he put the groceries into the trash can. "So? Will you do your big brother this favor?"

"Since you put it that way, I can’t really refuse." Nina glanced around the apartment and said, "Should I help you clean up now?"

"Have you had dinner?" Adrian pulled the plastic cover off a chair and motioned for Nina to sit.

Nina thought of Zachary Hawthorne.

’He said we were having dinner, but he barely took a few bites before he started getting handsy. I ended up not eating anything at all.’

"I had a little, but I’m not full," she answered truthfully.

Adrian took out his phone and scrolled through the screen. "I’ll order something, then. We can clean while we wait for the food."

"Okay," Nina agreed without a second thought.

After Adrian placed the takeout order, he started cleaning up with Nina.

Nina rolled up her sleeves and told him, "You take out the trash, I’ll handle the inside."

Reunited after so many years, there was a slight awkwardness between them at first, but it slowly faded as they cleaned together.

After dinner, Adrian rushed off to the hospital.

Nina brought some clothes over from her place, took a shower in the bathroom, and rested in the guest room.

The next morning, she planned to go look for a job, but as soon as she went downstairs, she saw Adrian.

He had his car pulled up, his arm resting on the open window. "Come on, I’ll give you a ride to the hospital."

"No, it’s okay. I have something to do..." Nina felt awkward telling him she was going job hunting.

Adrian sighed, his tone tinged with mock grievance. "I made a special trip to come this way. Are you really going to make me come all this way for nothing? Even if you have something else to do, I can still give you a lift."

"Aren’t you busy with work?" Nina didn’t want to trouble him.

"I’m not in that much of a rush. Come on, hurry up," Adrian said, looking ahead.

Nina opened the car door and got in.

As Adrian drove out of the complex, he suddenly asked, "Are you looking for a job?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Nina looked surprised.

"You’re short on money, so of course you need to find a job. Isn’t that common sense?" Adrian glanced at her, a faint, fond smile on his face.

Nina lowered her head, looking a little embarrassed. "You’re right... I’ve just had so much on my mind lately, I can’t think straight."

"Don’t bother looking. I know of a job that might be suitable for you. After I get off work this afternoon, I’ll take you to check it out," Adrian said, his expression calm and detached, as if he were discussing something mundane.

Since Nina was desperate for money, she dropped her pretense of not needing help and said immediately, "Okay, thank you, Adrian."

"It’s only natural for a big brother to look after his little sister," Adrian said, then focused on driving.

The car stopped in front of a restaurant.

Nina got out of the car with him, only to run into Zachary Hawthorne, who was having breakfast with Luna Sterling.

She glanced at them, then quickly looked away.

Adrian hadn’t seen Zachary and was standing close to her shoulder.

"Be careful, don’t bump into anything."

He lowered his eyes, the concern hidden deep in his pupils almost impossible to detect.

But Zachary noticed the unusual dynamic between them.

Seeing him staring at Adrian and Nina, Luna Sterling couldn’t help but turn her head.

Her bright eyes studied the pair for a long moment before she asked Zachary, "Zach, who are you looking at?"

Zachary pulled his gaze away, the coldness on his face melting into a gentle expression. "No one. Is the breakfast not to your liking?"

"No, it’s not that! It’s just that you ordered so much. I can’t finish it all, and it feels like such a waste. What should I do?" Luna said, looking troubled.

"If you can’t finish it, then don’t," Zachary said distractedly.

When he looked up again, Nina and Adrian were gone.

Sitting in the private room, Nina felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach.

She was terrified that Zachary would come find her and corner her mercilessly, just like last time.

And right now, she was in no position to fight back.

’It wouldn’t matter if I were the only one to offend Zachary.’

’But I can’t drag Adrian down with me.’

’If Zachary gets angry, he’ll definitely blacklist Adrian.’

"What are you thinking about?" Adrian’s hand waved in front of her face.

Nina snapped back to reality. "Nothing. I’m going to the restroom. Just order whatever you think is good for me."

"Alright. You should ask a waiter where the restroom is and have them show you. The layout here is a bit complicated, so it’s hard to describe," Adrian said politely.

Nina acknowledged with a sound and got up to leave.

A waiter led her to the restroom.

Nina looked at her reflection in the mirror and felt utterly pathetic.

’We’re about to get a divorce, yet I’m still living in Zachary’s shadow.’

’Now, whenever I see him, I worry that I’ve done something wrong and will drag the people around me down.’

’But he was the one who cheated. He’s the one in the wrong. What am I so afraid of?’

’There’s nothing going on between Adrian and me.’

"How long do you plan on playing these games?"

Zachary’s voice came from behind her.

Nina lifted her pale face.

Through the mirror, she saw him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

The sneer on his lips was unmistakable.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Nina said, her voice frosty, and turned to enter the women’s restroom.

"Finding the same man, showing up at the restaurant where I happen to be... Nina, aren’t you just trying to get my attention?" Zachary asked with a cold laugh.