Chapter 76 Salt in the Wound

Chapter 76 Salt in the Wound
Selene

Recovery is a strange word. It implies progress. Movement. Hope.

But every morning I wake up, it’s still there—the aching emptiness in my belly, the phantom flutter of what should have been. My body is healing faster than my heart, and I hate it for that.

I pad barefoot through the kitchen in Adrian’s oversized sweatshirt. The house is too quiet, too clean, too suffocating. The coffee tastes like cardboard. The silence tastes like grief.

I pass the hallway without meaning to. My eyes flick to the nursery door before I can stop myself.

It’s closed.

But not locked.

Just waiting.

I hesitate. Then turn the knob.

The scent hits me first—soft baby powder, lavender, the faintest whiff of fresh paint. The walls are still the warm cream we chose together. The custom crib still has the little lion mobile I picked out in a moment of joy that feels like it belonged to another life.

The rocking chairs creaks when I touch it.

And I break.

Not loudly. Not with sobs. Just a quiet collapse onto the rug as tears stream down my face.

I curl up beside the crib and let the ache consume me for a while.

Later, when I finally emerge from the room, Adrian is in the living room. He stands when he sees me, eyes filled with pain.

“I shouldn’t have let them start the nursery,” I say softly. “It’s like a graveyard now.”

He walks toward me but stops when I shake my head. “I’m okay. I just… I can’t stay here. Not right now.”

John walks in from the patio, catching the tail end of the conversation. “You want to go somewhere?”

I nod. “I need air. Space. Somewhere that isn’t filled with… them.”

Adrian glances at Kostas, who has just entered with a tray of tea. “What about Greece?”

I blink. “What?”

Kostas sets the tray down and meets my eyes gently. “My yacht . It’s docked just off Santorini. Secluded. Peaceful. No reporters. No nursery. Just sun, sea, and space to grieve.”

I bite my lip. “I don’t want a vacation.”

“It’s not a vacation,” John says. “It’s survival, a chance to try and make sense and peace with what's happened . You’re drowning in memories of the excitement and what should have been here.”

Adrian steps forward, placing a hand over mine. “You don’t have to decide now. But if you want it—we’ll make it happen.”

I pause. Then whisper, “I want it.”

John glances between the others. “We’ll all go.”

Kostas clears his throat. “Actually… Adrian and I will go ahead. Get everything ready. Stock the boat. Prep security. And we need to finish up some business in the UK as well. You stay here with her for now, John.”

John nods without hesitation. “Of course.”

Adrian’s jaw tightens. “Just for a few days. Then we’ll see you two.”

I don’t argue. For once, I’m grateful for the planning, the control. I don’t have the strength for details.

I just want to breathe without breaking.

Kostas places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll make sure everything is perfect for you.”

I nod.

He turns to John. “Text me her list of needs. Clothes. Medication. Everything.”

Adrian steps closer, eyes glistening. “We’re going to get you through this, Selene.”

“I know,” I say quietly.

But deep down, I also know this pain won’t stay behind when I leave Denver.

It’s coming with me.

Tucked into the silence between my ribs, the echo of heartbeats that never got to finish their song.

Kostas hugs me gently and I turn to laugh at him , “I won’t break you know, “ and he hugs me a bit firmer and kisses me , and tells me he will see me soon. He steps aside and Adrian steps to me and holds me his head buried in my neck, “Selene , I love you and will see you soon”. 

I watch the three exchange hugs and they leave for the airport to fly to Greece . They will fly on Kostas Jet and John and I will follow on John’s . 

I step out to the patio and light a cigarette staring at the back yard and picturing my babies running around and I breakdown again. John steps up behind me and holds me as I sob uncontrollably. Whispering words of comfort and just allowing me time to cry. 

We spend a quiet evening watching tv .

The next morning John is catching up on some work and I decide to do the same . The work helps keep my mind from over thinking . Also the texts from my two lovers in Greece help. They arrived safely and Adrian is staying with Kostas as they catch up on some work and arrange everything for our getaway. 

John is simply amazing , he is so in tune with me that he knows what I want without me even asking. His mother had flown down and came to see me and was absolutely amazing and supportive despite our rocky start. Hmmm I wonder what she will think when she hears Kostas is now part of this relationship, I laugh with John after she had left. 

Jonathan had been keeping us up to date on the progress with the case. They’ve confirmed that Bianca is the one who pushed me and now they working with Interpol to try and trace her. I asked Jonathan to let me know when they have her , otherwise I did not want to think of that viper . 

John

My beautiful girl seems to be slowly trying to get right with everything that has happened. I’m taking her to the doctors today for her follow up. I usher her into the car and send a quick text to a interior designer who I’ve asked to come in and take away the cribs and any clothes and toys we had bought. Adrian and Kostas both agree that it’s best if we do that. We also decided to change the wall color . 

We finish at the Doctors and they give Selene a clean bill of health and tell her that all is well. I take Selene to airport and to my private jet. I decided that is best that we go to Newyork while they work on the nursery and also to give Selene a break from the house before we head to Greece . We get to Newyork and head to my Penthouse . And Selene is actually smiling and laughing a bit . I text the guys and give them the updates. 

Once we arrive Selene heads straight out to the hot tub with a glass of wine and slips in naked . As I watch her from inside. I’m making a few calls before I head out to join her. I’m going to kill that bitch Bianca when I see her . Seeing Selene so devastated has been hard. Never mind the fact that I was already in love with our babies and could not wait to meet them.