Chapter 50 HURT ONCE AGAIN
.
.
AUTHOR’S POV
The front door swung open, and Adeline and Aurora stepped inside, their laughter echoing through the quiet house. They carried shopping bags, their arms brushing as they walked, lost in a lighthearted conversation about a couple they had seen at the mall.
“I mean, seriously,” Aurora giggled, nudging Adeline.
“Who slow-dances in the middle of a food court? It was so over-the-top!”
Adeline laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“And the way they kept feeding each other? I thought I was going to die of secondhand embarrassment!”
Their shared laughter filled the living room as they entered, but it died in an instant when they noticed the atmosphere. They had gone out on aurora’s request as they were bored and also Adeline wanted some fresh air so aurora insisted.
As soon as they entered the living room, the silence startled them. The entire family was gathered there, the air thick with tension. Luciano stood at the center, his posture rigid, his dark eyes blazing.
Before they both could comprehend what had happened or what was going on,
“Where were you two?” Luciano’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and angry.
Adeline and Aurora froze, exchanging startled glances.
“We… we went to the mall,” Aurora stammered, clutching her shopping bags tightly.the both girls were taken aback. It was not the first time they had gone to the mall.
Luciano’s jaw clenched as he stormed toward them, his gaze shifting between the two.
“Who told you to go?” he demanded, his voice rising.
Aurora’s face paled as she struggled to respond.
“We were bored, so we decided to—”
“Bored?” Luciano roared, his voice echoing off the walls. Adeline jumped hearing Luciano’s fierce voice and frowned not knowing why it was a big deal To go to the mall.
“You decided to go out on your own, without telling anyone, when I’ve made it clear how dangerous things are right now?”
Aurora shrank back, wide-eyed, but Adeline lifted her chin slightly, even as her heart raced.
“Why are you being like this?” Leonardo interjected, his voice calm but firm. He rose from his seat, stepping between Luciano and the girls.
“They’re home safe. What’s the problem?”
Luciano’s glare didn’t waver. His focus was locked on Adeline, who now looked away, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“The problem,” he said through gritted teeth, “is that Asher hasn’t been caught yet. He’s still out there, and you two are freely roaming around, making yourselves targets.”
Adeline finally looked up at him, her eyes flashing with defiance. “We were just shopping, Luciano. You’re overreacting.”
“Overreacting?” Luciano’s voice rose again, his frustration spilling over.
“You don’t understand the risk you’re taking. From now on, no one leaves this house without reporting to me. And no girl is allowed to go out alone—especially you, Adeline.”
Adeline’s eyes widened in disbelief, the weight of his words hitting her like a slap.
“Especially me?” she repeated, her voice low but laced with anger.
“Yes, especially you,” Luciano snapped, his tone unyielding.
Adeline stared at him, stunned by his behavior. Her hands tightened around the shopping bags before she let them fall to the floor with a loud thud.
“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered, her voice trembling with both anger and hurt.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and marched up the stairs, her footsteps echoing as she disappeared down the hallway.
Luciano stood there, his chest heaving, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to rein in the storm of emotions threatening to consume him.
Around him, the family exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to intervene or stay silent.
Aurora shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the bags now scattered on the floor.
“I… I didn’t think—”
“Enough,” Luciano said sharply, cutting her off. He turned away, his expression hardening as he tried to regain control of his composure.
The room fell silent once more, the tension lingering like an unwelcome shadow.
Luciano paced the living room, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The tension in the room remained heavy after Adeline’s stormy exit.
The bags she had dropped still lay scattered on the floor, an unspoken reminder of the argument.
His mother, Alessandra, sat calmly on the couch, her expression soft but disapproving. She waited a moment, watching her son wrestle with his emotions before speaking.
“Luciano,” she began, her voice gentle yet firm, “you shouldn’t have shouted at them like that.”
Luciano stopped pacing and turned to face her, his eyes filled with frustration.
“They shouldn’t have gone out alone, Mamma. I’ve told them before how dangerous it is. Asher is still out there, and he’s watching us. They need to understand—”
“Adeline is still recovering,” Alessandra interrupted, her tone unwavering.
“She’s been through so much already, and she’s trying to heal. Maybe she needed to clear her head. Maybe going out was her way of finding a little peace, a little normalcy. Did you ever think about that before you started shouting?”
Luciano opened his mouth to respond but faltered. His shoulders slumped slightly, and he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
From his seat by the fireplace, Francesco leaned forward.
“Luciano,” he said calmly,
“you need to understand that we can’t just cage them inside like prisoners. This isn’t living—it’s surviving. You’re right to be cautious, but fear shouldn’t dictate everything. We need to protect them, yes, but also trust them. They’re strong.”
Luciano shook his head, still struggling with the weight of responsibility.
“You don’t understand, Francesco. If anything happens to them—”
“Christian was with them,” Francesco interjected, his voice steady.
“They weren’t alone. They’re smart enough to know how to stay safe. You’re acting like they don’t know the risks.”
Luciano exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s not about them knowing the risks. It’s about the fact that there are people out there who don’t care how smart or careful they are. Asher isn’t playing by the rules.”
“That’s exactly why we can’t live in fear,” Francesco countered.
“We can’t let him control us like this, Luciano. What kind of life would that be? For Adeline? For Aurora? For any of us? And how could they know that their friend could do such thing but now,they are aware. ”
Before Luciano could reply, a soft sound broke the tension. Aurora, who had been quietly sitting on the edge of the couch, suddenly stood and ran to her father, wrapping her small arms tightly around him.
“Papà,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset anyone. I just wanted to go out… I didn’t think it would make everyone so mad.”
Francesco’s gaze softened as he placed a reassuring hand on his daughter’s back. Alessandra’s expression mirrored his, her eyes filled with maternal warmth.
Luciano’s stern demeanor faltered as he looked at aurora clinging to Francesco. The thought of Adeline having no one to hug and cry, ached his heart as he cursed at himself.
“Aurora,” he murmured, his voice quieter now.
“I’m not mad at you. I just… I worry. You and Adeline mean the world to me. I can’t lose you.”
“ I think we should get Adeline married. Ask Valentino about this matter “