Chapter 146 015
ADRIAN?
Why was he calling?
Amelia stared at the phone vibrating in her hand, her brows knitting together slowly. Her heart had leapt only seconds ago when it rang, she had leapt foolishly and hopefully, thinking it was Charles finally calling back. Finally calling to explain, apologize, or even say something that would make the tight knot in her chest loosen.
But no.
It was Adrian.
Her ex-husband.
A deep frown settled on her face as irritation replaced disappointment. What did he want now? And how had he even heard anything? The timing alone made her pulse spike with annoyance.
She glanced back at the dining table where her sons sat. Gaddiel was halfway through a dramatic story, waving his spoon in the air, while Gabriel ate quietly, his injured hand resting carefully beside his plate. The white bandage stood out too sharply against his brown skin, a sight that still hadn’t stopped hurting her.
“I will be right back,” Amelia said softly, forcing a smile as she leaned down to kiss Gabriel’s cheek. “Continue eating, sweetheart.”
Gabriel nodded, though his eyes lingered on her longer than usual.
Amelia turned and walked briskly out of the dining area, the heels of her hairy flip-flop clicking against the tiled floor as she headed into the kitchen. Only when she was alone did she answer the call, lifting the phone to her ear without a greeting.
“Amelia?” Adrian’s voice came through almost immediately.
She rolled her eyes, leaning one hip against the kitchen counter.
“Yes, Adrian. What is it?” she replied coolly, saying his name like it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“What is this I’m hearing?” he asked, his voice tight, almost panicked.
She scoffed softly. As if he cared.
“Hearing what exactly?” she asked. “Be specific.”
“Stop pretending,” Adrian said. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Amelia sighed, already exhausted by the conversation.
“Well, whatever you heard, it is over now. Gabriel is home. We are fine.”
“That is not what I’m talking about, Amelia.”
Her patience thinned.
“Then what are you talking about?” she snapped.
“You stayed three hours,” Adrian said sharply. “Three hours before going to pick up my son.”
Her jaw clenched.
“He is my son too,” she shot back. “Don’t make it sound like you are the only parent who matters.”
“The school called me first,” Adrian continued, his voice rising. “I told them I was out of town and asked them to contact you— and you abandoned them?”
She folded her arms across her chest, anger flaring.
“Why do you talk like you suddenly care?”
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. Silence followed, thick and heavy.
“They are my children, Amelia,” Adrian finally said, his voice lower now. “For goodness’ sake.”
She looked away, staring at the kitchen window as guilt pricked her conscience despite her irritation.
“Fine,” she said stiffly. “I admit it. That part was my fault. I asked Charles to go get him, and I… I guess he got busy or something.”
Adrian let out a humorless laugh.
“Charles?” he repeated. “Who is Charles?”
Her grip tightened around the phone.
“Adrian, don’t start.”
“Start what?” he demanded. “Charles is not, and will never be the biological father of those kids. He won’t take them as his no matter how hard you try.”
“That is not—”
“Sending your assistant would have made more sense,” Adrian continued coldly. “Why didn’t you go yourself?”
Her shoulders sagged as frustration and guilt mixed into something heavier.
“I was in a meeting,” she said. “An important one. I couldn’t just walk out.”
“And this is what you call handling it?” he asked. “Letting someone else fail them?”
“It is done,” Amelia snapped. “Everyone is home. No one died. Get over it.”
“Get over it?” Adrian echoed incredulously.
She was done. Completely done.
“Nothing should happen to my kids,” Adrian said firmly. “Nothing. Keep them away from your new man.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Is that jealousy I hear?”
“Just… keep them away from him,” Adrian said again, more quietly this time.
That was it.
Amelia ended the call abruptly, her thumb slamming against the screen. She let out a long, shaky breath, rubbing her temples as irritation, guilt, and disappointment battled inside her chest.
She turned sharply, ready to return to her children—
—and froze.
Hazel stood right there at the kitchen doorway.
Still. Silent. Watching her.