Chapter 127 Chapter 101 (2)
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.