Chapter 232 101
THE twins ran at full speed, their little sneakers kicking up dust as Amelia stepped out of the car. She barely had time to shut the door before two small bodies collided into her.
“Mommyyyyy!”
They wrapped themselves around her waist, nearly knocking her off balance. Amelia let out a startled laugh, her arms instinctively tightening around them as she dropped her handbag onto the bonnet of the car.
“Oh my babies!” she breathed, crouching slightly so she could hold them properly. She kissed Gabriel’s forehead, then Gaddiel’s cheeks, over and over again, as though making up for every day she had been away.
“You didn’t tell us!” Gabriel accused between giggles.
“You said you were still on your trip!” Gaddiel added, staring at her like she had just materialized from thin air.
Amelia smiled softly.
“Well, that is because I wanted to surprise you.”
Their faces lit up even brighter, if that was possible. The surprise had worked perfectly. The shock, the scream, the disbelief, the pure joy— it was everything she had imagined on the drive over.
Just then, a little girl lingered a few steps behind them, watching quietly. She looked about their age, holding her hands awkwardly behind her back.
“Mom, this is Wendy!” Gabriel announced proudly. “She lives here.”
Wendy stepped forward and gave a small, polite bow.
“Good evening, ma.”
Amelia’s smile softened.
“Good evening, sweetheart.”
“She is George’s daughter,” Gaddiel explained eagerly.
Amelia’s brows lifted slightly. ‘George?’
“Who is George, my loves?”
“The butler!” The two screamed it out unanimously.
“Oh!” Her eyes widened.
‘Adrian has a butler?’ she wondered silently. The house had changed. Or perhaps she simply hadn’t known as much as she thought she did back then.
Before she could dwell on it, the grand doors of the mansion opened.
Adrian stepped out.
For a second, everything slowed.
He stood at the top of the steps, watching them— Amelia laughing, the boys clinging to her, the late sunlight catching in her hair. He hadn’t seen her standing in his compound in years. Not since the day she walked away.
He descended the steps slowly.
The boys turned first.
“Dad! She surprised us!”
“I can see that,” Adrian replied softly, though his eyes never left Amelia.
They faced each other properly now. No phone between them. No distance measured in cities. No Ryan standing behind her. Just a few feet of air heavy with everything unsaid.
“You made it,” he said.
“I said I would,” she replied, composed.
He nodded.
“They have been counting days.”
“I know,” she answered, brushing her sons’ hair gently.
The conversation lingered awkwardly between polite and personal.
“How was your trip?” Adrian asked.
“It was… just good,” she replied briefly, careful not to over talk.
The conversations lingered. He tried to stretch each moment, asking unnecessary follow-ups, searching for reasons to keep her standing there.
And she noticed.
She was already mentally preparing to leave.
The doors opened again, and a middle-aged man stepped out.
“Sir?”
Adrian turned sharply.
“Oh— Amelia, this is George,” Adrian said quickly. “He manages the house.”
George bowed respectfully.
“Good evening, ma'am.”
“Good evening,” Amelia replied, graceful but distant.
Now she straightened, brushing her palms lightly against her dress.
“Boys, go inside and get your—”
“Amelia.”
Adrian’s voice cut gently across hers.
Then he swallowed.
This was the moment he had rehearsed in his mind a hundred times and forced himself to resist.
“Would you… would you at least come in?” he asked quietly. “Have some tea.”
The words hung in the air.
The boys froze.
George stood still.
Even the evening breeze seemed to pause.
Adrian held her gaze, hopeful, vulnerable in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to be in years.
And Amelia stood there, unreadable.