Chapter 155 024
NEXT, Amelia lowered the phone slowly onto the vanity, her fingers lingering on it for a brief moment before she pulled her hand away. A faint smile curved her lips— small, restrained, but undeniably there. Her heart still beat a little faster, her chest warm in a way it hadn’t been in days.
Charles.
Her boyfriend… no— her fiancé.
The word settled softly in her mind, carrying with it a sense of reassurance she desperately needed. He loved her. He had said it again, and this time, she chose to hold on to it. Yes, he had flaws. He misbehaved at times, careless, dismissive, absent when he shouldn’t be. But who didn’t have flaws? Which man was perfect, truly?
She exhaled slowly, as though releasing the tension she had been carrying all week.
At least Charles apologized. At least he called. At least he came back. And most importantly, at least he never cheats. She’s his only woman, and she knows it.
Some men’s misbehavior was far worse, unforgivable, unchanging, destructive, pathetic cheats, chronological liars, always playing dangerous hide and seek games. She knew that too well. A familiar name flickered at the edge of her thoughts, and she pushed it away without hesitation. No. It was better to be here. Better to be with Charles than to ever return to that cold, distant place called Adrian.
With that thought anchoring her, Amelia turned and lay back against the mattress, the sheets cool beneath her skin. She stared up at the ceiling, blinking slowly, replaying the sound of Charles’s voice in her head. The way he had said ‘baby’. The way he had begged. The promise of the evening ahead.
A date.
An apology.
Closure, of sorts.
Her smile widened just a fraction, hope bubbling quietly in her chest. The house was still, wrapped in the early morning hush, and for once, her mind wasn’t racing with dread or unanswered questions. Just anticipation.
She shifted onto her side, hugging the pillow lightly, her eyes unfocused as she stared into space. Whatever doubts lingered, she chose, just for now, to silence them.
Tonight would be good.
It had to be.
The clock struck noon, and Adrian’s car pulled smoothly into the driveway. Hazel, who had been waiting near the front door, spotted it immediately. She dashed toward the door, her ponytail bouncing behind her.
The door swung open just as Adrian stepped up, and Hazel flung herself at him.
“Daddy!” she exclaimed, wrapping her left arm around him in a side hug.
Adrian laughed, leaning slightly to return the embrace.
“Hazel! Look at you! How are my big girl and my little princes all in one?”
Hazel giggled.
“I’m good, Dad. And the twins are around here somewhere, I think causing chaos already.”
He chuckled and pulled back just enough to take in her face.
“School going well?”
“Yeah. Teachers are happy. And you missed so much, Daddy! Work, school… everything!” Hazel replied, letting go of him to lead him inside.
They walked together into the living room, chatting casually about school, work, and life. Hazel filled him in on the boys’ week, their home-funs, what they learned, and a little mischief that had made her laugh.
“And how was your trip, Daddy?” Hazel asked suddenly, looking at him curiously.
“Busy,” Adrian replied, shaking his head with a tired grin. “Very busy, but productive. I will tell you all about it later.”
As soon as he sank into the couch, the living room door burst open. The twins came running, their voices overlapping in excitement.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”
Adrian sprang up, his arms wide, ready to accommodate.
“Yo! My boys!”
They collided into him, and he scooped them both up effortlessly, holding them tight as they laughed and squirmed. Hazel stood nearby, smiling at the scene before joining the hug herself, wrapping her arms around her father’s shoulders.
“Okay, okay,” Adrian said finally, setting them down as they all pulled back slightly. His hair was mussed, and his eyes shone with joy.
“So, how was school?” he asked, ruffling Gaddiel’s hair.
“Good! We learned about fractions yesterday,” Gaddiel said proudly.
“And I got to finish my project!” Gabriel added, holding his hands out to show the minor scratches were gone.
Adrian’s gaze dropped to Gabriel’s hand.
“Hey! Look at that. The bandage is off. Healing nicely?”
“Yeah, Daddy,” Gabriel replied. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Hazel, mommy, my teachers, Gaddiel, everyone helped me with it.”
“That is my boys,” Adrian said softly, reaching out to hold Gabriel’s hand. He squeezed it gently, feeling the warmth and reassurance of his son’s small fingers.
“Sorry I wasn’t around,” he said, his voice low. “I should have been here.”
“You were travelling, Daddy,” Hazel said calmly. “We understand. You weren’t in town.”
“Yeah, it’s okay, Daddy,” Gaddiel added. “You had work.”
Adrian smiled, the weight lifting slightly off his shoulders.
“Thanks, guys. I really missed you all.”
They continued chatting, laughter and chatter filling the living room. Hazel told him about the boys’ funny antics, the small fights and reconciliations, and what she had been learning herself. Adrian asked questions, teasing and joking, listening intently.
Gabriel chimed in about the games he and Gaddiel had been playing, Gaddiel insisted on demonstrating a new trick with his hands, and Hazel laughed at both of them. Adrian listened, proud and content, occasionally shaking his head at their endless energy.
He leaned back, taking a deep breath, watching his sons and daughter laugh and play. His heart felt full in a way that no business deal or success could ever match.
Then, just as the moment seemed perfectly peaceful, a sharp, angry voice cut through the room.
“What the hell is going on here?”
The laughter and chatter froze instantly. All four of them turned toward the source of the voice, their expressions shifting from joy to caution.
Amelia stood at the edge of the room, arms crossed, eyes sharp, and her presence immediately filled the space with tension.
Adrian blinked, his smile faltering slightly, but he rose slowly, trying to gauge the situation. Hazel and the twins huddled closer, unsure of what to expect next.
The happy, warm bubble of the living room now felt suddenly punctured, replaced with a heavy silence as all eyes remained fixed on Amelia.