Altezza slumped dejectedly. He leaned his back against the edge of the bed, hugged his knees, and rested his forehead between them. His chest felt tight, his tears unstoppable now. Never in his life had he felt such pain. Even when Jovanka left him and chose her career over him, Altezza didn't feel as miserable as this. They were both abandoned, but why did this feeling now hurt so much? Guilt dominated his thoughts, while longing squeezed his chest. The image of Adaline's smile filled his mind's eye. Just yesterday he felt his wife's belly and felt the movement of their twin babies. And now he couldn't see any of them anymore.
His phone kept vibrating, Jovanka's name displayed on the screen. Altezza didn't know how many times she had tried to reach him. He didn't want to know. That woman had ruined everything. She had shattered everything until Altezza felt there was nothing left for him.
Was Jovanka's love for him as she claimed?
Then what kind of love did she have for him, who even denied Altezza's happiness? As Antony said, his happiness with Jovanka in the past was only superficial happiness. She never cared for him. She only demanded from him. Never gave anything back to him.
But Adaline? She was always there for him. Adaline let Altezza reach his happiness and so firmly let him go when she felt that Altezza's happiness was not with her. No matter how complicated Altezza's problems were, his Adaline always stretched out her arms and embraced him. No matter how sad he felt, she always showed her smile. No matter how jealous she was, his Adaline could always hold back her anger.
Adaline, Adaline, Adaline.
Altezza roughly grabbed his hair. How could he be so stupid to waste a woman as perfect as Adaline? A woman whose smile was soothing. Whose laughter was missed. Whose embrace was so calming. Where else could Altezza look for his wife? Who else could Altezza ask? Altezza groaned in frustration.
Once again, his phone vibrated. Altezza glanced at it, and Jovanka's name appeared on the slim screen again. Altezza grabbed his phone harshly, immediately turned it off with the power button, and threw it onto the bed. He wouldn't care about that woman anymore. He no longer cared about what that woman would do to him. His only desire now was to find Adaline and make sure she and their unborn child returned to his embrace.
Altezza rose from his seat. Suddenly, he felt a new surge of determination. However, Altezza had to find Adaline and apologize to her. Even if he had to beg and kneel before her, as long as Adaline was willing to come back to him. Imagining the absence of that woman in the rest of his life somehow tortured him. Imagining growing old alone, he was truly frightened.
Half-running, Altezza grabbed his car keys and left his parents' residence.
Elsewhere,
Jovanka looked at her phone. She had tried to call Altezza several times, but the man still didn't answer her calls. She was annoyed. She was angry, and in her anger, she threw her phone as an outlet until the slim device fell to the floor, irreparably shattered.
In the corner of the room, Cindy just watched. Feeling sorry for the expensive, shattered device. Jovanka and her fiery temper left Cindy speechless.
"Where is Evans?" Jovanka suddenly asked coldly, startling Cindy. "Where is that bastard?! Why hasn't he shown up?!" Her question turned into a shout.
"Joe, Evans isn't coming back. If you've forgotten, you've already driven him away."
Jovanka glared angrily, approached, and grabbed Cindy's hair tightly. "What do you mean?"
"Y-You drove him away before, Sister," Cindy whispered through her pain. Tears fell from the young girl's eyes. Jovanka suddenly released her grip on Cindy's hair and shoved her to the floor.
"Don't you ever call me sister! I refuse to have a poor family like yours!" Jovanka shouted angrily. Her eyes widened and reddened with anger. "And I don't care. Call Evans here! Now!" She yelled again.
Cindy tried to tidy her hair and stood up. Whether she liked it or not, she had to call Evans to come back. If not, Jovanka would become even crazier. At least Evans could help Jovanka feel a little calmer. The man had something that could control her.
At Altezza's place,
Altezza was exhausted. Since morning until now, nearing midnight, he had been wandering around Manhattan, searching for where Adaline might be. He had visited several places, but none of them provided the news Altezza needed.
Once again, Altezza groaned in frustration. Especially when he returned to his parents' residence and received no response from his mother. The woman who had given birth to him just stared at him blankly without expression. She seemed reluctant to engage in small talk, making Altezza feel like he was all alone in this world.
Delila didn't lack love for her son. What mother doesn't love her child? Especially considering the struggle she went through to give birth to Altezza. She just wanted Altezza to try even harder.
Delila wanted to know how strong Altezza could endure. How strong her son could fight. When would he admit defeat and surrender?
Delila swore she wouldn't say anything until her son begged and pleaded with her. Cruel? Call it what you will. But she did all of this not out of hatred for her son or a desire for revenge for his past rough behavior. Instead, it was because Delila wanted Altezza to find his true happiness.
Someone will appreciate what they have if they feel the difficulty in obtaining it. They will realize something is valuable when they recall the sacrifices they made to attain it.
Altezza lay on his bed. He reached out to the side where his wife usually slept. It felt cold. Empty. As empty as his feelings.
Lying on his side, Altezza closed his eyes and imagined Adaline's presence there. He knew Adaline often had trouble sleeping every night. He just cherished the moments when his wife looked at him. He felt her face with his fingers. He traced it slowly and affectionately.
Sometimes his wife would kiss his face, and Altezza would pretend to be asleep just to feel that tenderness a little longer. Because he knew if he opened his eyes, his wife wouldn't do it; Adaline was very shy.
Although Adaline could be aggressive at times, more often than not, his wife was shy.
Whenever his wife had trouble sleeping, Altezza would simply hold her and gently stroke her back. He kissed her head even though his eyes remained closed.
Oh God. He truly missed those moments.
Altezza stifled his cries into the pillow he clutched tightly. His body curled up like a fetus in the womb. Imagining his wife only made his heart ache more.
"Adaline, where are you? Do you miss me now like I miss you?
How are our children? How many movements did they make today? Did they hurt you? Do they miss me?
What if they don't recognize me when they're born because they never heard me speak to them?
These thoughts continued to fill Altezza's mind until he finally fell asleep.
At Adaline's place
Adaline felt a gentle stroke on the back of her head. "Are you okay, Honey?" Adaline looked at her mother and smiled. "Are you really sure about your choice?" Once again, Adaline nodded in response.
"Mama, if I cut my hair short, would I still look pretty?" She asked enthusiastically.
Violet Scott warmly smiled in response to her daughter's question. "Of course. Whether your hair is long or short, in my eyes, you will always look beautiful. And actually, cutting your hair short is a good idea because, according to most pregnant women, as your belly grows, it's said to become more prone to feeling hot."
Adaline smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I've heard that too. It's also said to be inconvenient because eventually, our hair will start falling out."
Violet nodded. "So when do you want to cut your hair?"
"Later, if someone invites me out, I'll also ask to be taken to the salon," Adaline replied.
Violet nodded again. Her presence now was solely to make her daughter forget her sadness and, as much as possible, make her happy. Whatever the future holds, every human being must strive hard. Praying and surrendering are the remaining tasks they have to do.
"Who wants to get a haircut?" Emma's voice was heard.
"I do. I want to cut my hair short," Adaline answered, always with a smile on her face.
"Oh, don't. If you cut your hair short, then the affection for you will also be short," Emma commanded. Adaline furrowed her brow in confusion.
"What do you mean by that?" Adaline asked, puzzled.
"The affectionate strokes. If your hair is long, when someone strokes it, the affection becomes longer. Like this." The middle-aged woman approached and stroked Adaline's hair. "Sweeeeeet." She elongated the word as long as Adaline's hair. "But if your hair is short, the affection will only be 'sweet'." She said with a short and brief tone. Adaline squinted while Emma laughed.
"What nonsense is that? There's no such thing. If he loves me, then he loves me, regardless of the length of my hair," Adaline pouted. Emma laughed again.
"Alright, you two, when you're together, it's like mice looking for attention. I'm going to make brownies. Do you want to help?" Violet invited Adaline.
"Mom, shouldn't the correct phrase be 'cats and mice'? Why did you say 'mice and mice'?" Adaline pointed out.
"It's up to me. It's my mouth that's speaking, not yours. Do you want to help me make the cake?" She asked again, receiving a nod from Adaline.
Adaline smiled. "Of course, I'll help." She got up. "Please add lots of whipped cream in the topping. And for the chocolate layer, make it layered." She requested playfully.
"So is your mom making brownies or layered cake?" Emma asked again. Adaline just pouted.
"You know you're not supposed to eat too many sweets, Honey," her mother reprimanded.
"Oh, come on, Mom. Just this once, okay?"
"Fine. I'll allow it this time, but don't do it too often," her mother replied, and they both laughed as they walked towards the kitchen, leaving Emma shaking her head.
If Altezza thought Adaline was hiding far from him, then the man was mistaken. Because in fact, Adaline was still in his shadow. Not far, but not close either.