Chapter 59 TREMBLING HEART
.
.
.
AUTHOR’S POV
The morning air was filled with the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee, warm butter, and crisping bacon. Sunlight filtered through the large kitchen windows, casting golden hues across the marble counters. The atmosphere felt light, peaceful—almost as if, for once, everything was normal.
Adeline stood at the stove, humming softly as she flipped pancakes onto a plate. A rare, genuine smile curled on her lips. It had been so long since she had felt this—this warmth, this sense of home.
It wasn’t much, just breakfast, but it was hers. A moment of simplicity in a life filled with chaos.
She wanted to give a happy life to Vladimir and she could go to any extent to keep that smile on his face.
As she arranged the plates on the long dining table, she heard approaching footsteps. She turned just in time to see Vladimir entering the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair a mess from just waking up.
“Adeline,” he called, his voice groggy but laced with affection.
She turned, her face lighting up as she walked over to him.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she greeted, ruffling his hair before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
“Sit down. I’m making your favorite.”
Vladimir grumbled but obeyed, settling at the table while she quickly prepared his plate, piling it high with eggs, toast, and freshly cut fruit. A look of admiration in his eyes as he watched his sister.
Just as she was about to sit down beside him, another figure entered—Eva.
Adeline looked up and smiled at her warmly.
“Good morning, Eva,” she greeted.
Eva hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether she should be there, but Adeline’s welcoming smile eased her nerves.
“Good morning,” Eva responded softly, stepping forward to join them.
Before they could strike up a conversation, another presence made itself known.
Charles.
Adeline felt the shift in the room immediately. She was not pleased of his presence not because she did not like him but because he had a very wicked and brutal attitude and she just wanted to ignore him as long as she could.
The once lighthearted atmosphere turned heavy as soon as he stepped in. His golden hair was perfectly styled, his tailored suit looking effortlessly sharp, and his piercing green eyes held their usual mixture of amusement and calculation.
He paused near the entrance, inhaling deeply.
“The aroma is delicious,” he remarked, his voice smooth, laced with something unreadable.
“If the smell is anything to go by, the food must be just as good.”
Adeline didn’t respond. She remained composed and kept her focus on her brother who had eyes on the food.
She simply turned back to the stove, placing another batch of pancakes onto a plate and deliberately ignoring his presence.
Charles smirked, his sharp eyes watching her closely as he took a seat at the table. Eva nervously glanced between them, stunned by Adeline’s complete disregard for a man that most people feared to even look in the eye.
Still, Adeline moved with ease, serving plates to everyone but never once sparing Charles a glance.
“You don’t need to cook, you know,” Charles finally spoke again, his voice casual but laced with something else.
Again, Adeline ignored him, continuing to set the table with a serene expression, as if he weren’t even there.
Eva swallowed hard, her gaze flickering toward Charles, expecting to see anger in his expression. But instead of irritation, he was simply watching Adeline, intrigued. Vladimir also glanced at the two to know there was some kind of not likeliness between them.
Charles leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening.
“Adeline, let’s talk after breakfast,” he said, his tone calm but firm.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she replied flatly, finally breaking her silence but not sparing him a glance.
Charles raised an eyebrow.
“It’s about your father.”
Adeline stilled.
The plate she had been holding hovered just an inch above the table before she set it down with a soft clink.
Vladimir, who had been silent all this time, sighed heavily.
“I don’t want my sister involved in this,” he muttered, stabbing his fork into his eggs.
Charles turned his attention to him, his smirk never fading. “Don’t worry,” he said smoothly, his gaze flickering briefly to Adeline. “I’ll keep her safe.”
Adeline let out a small, humorless laugh, finally turning to face him fully. “I don’t need anyone’s protection,” she said coolly.
A flicker of something passed through Charles’ eyes at that—something dark, something dangerous.
He sighed as if disappointed, then slowly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor.
“I don’t like your attitude,” he murmured, his voice softer now, but laced with warning.
Before Adeline could react, his hand shot out, fingers wrapping around her wrist in a firm grip.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening slightly—not in fear, but in shock.
The entire kitchen seemed to freeze.
Eva’s breath hitched. Vladimir’s grip on his fork tightened.
Adeline tried to jerk her hand free, but Charles’ hold was unrelenting.
“Let me go,” she demanded, her voice low, controlled.
Charles’ expression remained unreadable, his grip tightening just slightly. “Not until we talk,” he said, his voice deceptively calm.
Her jaw clenched. “I told you—I don’t have anything to say to you.”
His green eyes burned into hers, amusement dancing beneath the surface of something much darker.
“That’s unfortunate,” he murmured. “Because I do have something to say to you.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel, dragging her with him.
“Charles,” Vladimir warned, his voice sharp.
Charles didn’t even spare him a glance.
“Eat your breakfast, Vladimir. Your sister and I won’t be long.”
Adeline struggled against his hold, but he was stronger, his grip unyielding as he pulled her out of the kitchen.
The moment they were alone, away from the others, she yanked at her wrist with more force. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed.
Charles finally stopped, turning to face her fully. He didn’t let go of her wrist just yet, his fingers pressing lightly against her pulse. “You have quite the attitude for someone who needs my help,” he mused.
She glared at him. Her eyes darkened which amazed Charles. She was a little feisty one and that’s what he really thought too.
“I don’t need your help.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured.
“You don’t even know how deep you’re in, do you?”
Her fists clenched. “Stop playing games and just say whatever it is you dragged me out here for.”
His smirk faded slightly, and for the first time, his expression turned serious.
“It’s about your father, Adeline,” he said quietly. “And you’re going to want to hear this.”
Despite herself, her pulse quickened.
Her father.
The man who had been stolen from her.
She should have walked away. Should have ignored him just like she had been doing all morning.
But she couldn’t.
Because if there was even one piece of truth buried in Charles’ words, she needed to know.
She had to know.