Adaline felt kicks in her stomach. She groaned softly. Her eyes opened, and she could see the hospital ceiling in front of her.
Wasn't she in the ICU earlier? Since when was she moved to the regular ward?
Adaline glanced at the bed next to her. It was clear she had returned to the regular room she had been in. But her husband's bed, which was usually occupied, was empty.
Adaline closed her eyes with her arm. She felt the IV needle in her left hand. It seemed she had passed out again, something that had happened frequently lately.
Adaline heard her room door open, but she didn't want to turn or see anyone who came in.
Footsteps and the sound of wheels approached her bed.
"Madam..."
That voice? It sounded hoarse, but Adaline knew it so well. The voice she had longed to hear. Unwanted tears fell again. How could she daydream at a time like this...
"Madam, do you really not want to see me again?"
The tone of that voice? It sounded sad yet also joyful at the same time.
"Are you teasing me because I can't stand?"
Adaline finally lifted her arms and turned to the source of the voice. Her husband was there. Sitting on a wheelchair, looking at her.
"Al...?" Adaline stared at him in disbelief. Her vision blurred by tears. "Al...?" she repeated, unsure. Adaline saw her husband nodding.
"Yes, it's me. Don't say you've forgotten your husband's face, Madam." Adaline cried in his laughter.
Her husband had returned. Indeed. That was her husband's voice. His face.
Adaline rose from her lying position. Ignoring her husband's advice to be careful. Ignoring the pinches from the IV needle in her hand.
She got off the bed and approached him.
Instead of hugging her husband and releasing her longing, Adaline hit him to vent her anger.
"Why did you do this to me!
"Why did you do all this to me?!
"Why?!
"Are you so eager to take revenge on me?!
"Even though I only left you for a few days, but you tormented me for months! Why are you so cruel to me?!" The woman collapsed on the floor along with her uncontrollable tears.
Altezza got off his wheelchair. Trying to reach his wife and embrace her.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He said, kissing his wife's head. "It wasn't my intention to sleep for too long. I even begged God to wake me up soon. But I have no power." Altezza's words choked. Tears streamed down his cheeks just as intensely.
"I have sinned. I haven't even apologized to you and our children. I intended to kneel before you if we met again.
"I would ask you to come back to me no matter what.
"But now the doctors forbid me from kneeling. I even have difficulty standing." The man said with a hint of humor in his last sentence.
Adaline finally realized their position sitting on the floor. "Al... your legs still haven't healed," she said, with a worried tone.
"I don't care," he replied, tightening his embrace around Adaline. "Will you forgive me? Will you come back to me?"
Adaline looked at her husband, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I promise. This time I swear that I will take care of you and our children properly.
"I promise I won't hurt you again.
"My heart felt so much pain when you left me. I realized that I am completely in love with you. I fell in love with the mother of my children." Altezza stated firmly.
"But..." Adaline spoke hesitantly.
"No 'buts'. You have to come back to me, whether you like it or not. I won't accept refusal. If necessary, I will make a lifelong contract so that you remain my wife."
"Then, what about my contract as a surrogate mother?"
"No surrogate mother contract. You're not a surrogate mother. Who came up with that term? I'll kill that person!" Altezza threatened.
Adaline smiled at her husband.
"You're not a surrogate mother. You're Altezza Quirino's wife. The woman I love. The mother of my children. The daughter-in-law of Mamma and Padre. Do you understand?" Adaline nodded her head.
"But I'm not ready to come back to you yet."
Altezza released his embrace and looked at his wife with wide eyes. "Madam..."
"You have to promise me."
"What promise?"
"Promise me that you will never look at another woman no matter what condition I'm in in the future. Whether I become nagging, old, or fat. No matter how ugly I may become, you must never look at another woman." Altezza smiled and nodded.
"I promise. I won't look at another woman. Twice," her husband said jokingly. Adaline frowned in annoyance. "Darling, if I look at a beautiful woman once, that's called a bonus. If I look at the same woman for the second time, then it's a crime." Adaline hit her husband's arm again. "Darling, that hurts. Are you resorting to violence against me??" Her husband exclaimed. Adaline bit her lower lip, feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry..." she murmured.
"I forgive you. Because I love you," her husband teased. "So will you forgive me too?" Adaline shook her head again. "Why not?" Altezza was surprised again.
"You have to promise one more thing."
"What?"
"You have to say that you love me every day."
"Darling, that's not difficult. Even if necessary, every minute, every hour, every time I see you, I will say that I love you, I cherish you, and I don't want to lose you. How about it? Will you come back to me?"
"Mmm..."
"Enough, what's the point of going back to him? There's no benefit in living with him," Gian's remark made Adaline realize they weren't alone. In fact, her cousin had been standing there since earlier, witnessing the drama between the couple.
Adaline felt ashamed. She glanced to the other side of the room. Violet, Emma, Benjamin, Delila, and Brianna were seated on the sofa, their eyes fixed on them. Meanwhile, Claire, Antony, and Sir Arthur were standing, also watching them.
Adaline blushed with embarrassment. Oh God. They both became the spectacle of the entire family. But Altezza showed no signs of embarrassment at all. He even smiled sweetly at her.
"What about it, Madam? What's your answer?"
Adaline covered her face with her hands. "Al..." she mumbled with her voice muffled by her hands. "I'm ashamed..."
Altezza scooted closer again and embraced his wife. "Don't be ashamed. Let them witness all the promises I've made. Let them be the ones to reprimand me if I make mistakes. Will you forgive me and come back to me?" Altezza held Adaline's arms, wanting to see her face.
Adaline smiled and nodded. Then quickly buried her face in her husband's chest.
Everyone expressed gratitude simultaneously. Gian smirked, though deep down he also felt thankful and prayed for their happiness.