Chapter 10 Selina, Girl in The Photo
Aveline slowly looked down, her fingers reaching for the photo that had fallen to the floor. The paper was slightly curved, its color faded, indicating the photo had been kept for quite some time, perhaps years.
She stood for a moment, unsure what to do, before finally stepping over to the sofa and sitting down. The house was silent, save for the slow, ticking sound of the wall clock.
Slowly, she looked at the photo. Adrian in the picture was much younger. Maybe in his early twenties, with slightly longer hair and a smile that was still innocent. A smile she hadn't seen since they got married.
But what drew her attention wasn't just Adrian. It was the young woman next to him.
The girl was smiling brightly, hugging Adrian's arm with such natural closeness. Her hair was long and flowing, her eyes gentle, her face clear without excessive makeup. Their clothing style was neat, with a cross-body bag and a student appearance.
"A college friend...?" Aveline muttered softly.
But a strange feeling slowly crept into her chest. She felt the girl's face was familiar. Like she had seen her before, but couldn't place where or when.
"Who are you...?" she whispered quietly.
Aveline tilted the photo, trying to find other details. The campus background, the building behind them... but everything wasn't very clear. And Adrian's expression was too captivating. His smile was too wide and sincere, a smile Aveline had never seen before.
Something in her felt a pang of pain seeing that smile.
Why did Adrian hide this? Why was this photo inside a hidden notepad?
Why did Adrian leave in such a hurry while carrying that notepad with an inexplicable expression?
Aveline bit her lower lip. How could she live for years with a man, sleep in the same bed, eat at the same table, share the same house... even have a child together? Yet she didn't know something this important?
"Adrian... who was she to you?"
Aveline leaned back on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the photo, as if hoping the answer would emerge from the yellowed paper. But the girl continued to smile silently, keeping a secret that made Aveline's chest tighten even more.
For some reason, the image of Ezra suddenly flashed in her mind. The young man's gaze seemed to read a person's wound. His ability to see things that were hidden.
The girl in the photo... felt familiar to Aveline. And strangely, Ezra also made Adrian react excessively. As if Ezra's presence reminded Adrian of something. Something he had hidden for quite a long time.
Aveline gripped the photo tighter. A bad feeling crawled up her throat, making it difficult to breathe.
"Why does it feel like... something is terribly wrong?"
She looked at the photo one last time. Longer and deeper this time. Then, for the first time, Aveline felt a small fear creeping up her spine.
She was sure Adrian was hiding a major fact. Something that might be horrible.
On the other side of the city, night began to fall slowly. The hospital lights turned on one by one, reflecting a cold light on the polished ceramic floor.
Adrian stood in the third-floor corridor, both hands clenched, his breathing heavy as if holding back something about to explode. He had been waiting for more than fifteen minutes. When the patient room door opened, a woman in a nurse's uniform came out, reading a patient's file.
Martha. Adrian instantly recognized her.
As Martha looked up and saw Adrian standing at the end of the corridor, she immediately stopped. Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched. As if she were seeing a ghost.
"Adrian...?" Her tone was full of fear.
Without waiting any longer, Martha turned, trying to step away quickly as if to flee. But Adrian moved faster, cutting off her path and standing right in front of Martha.
"We need to talk," Adrian said, his voice flat but full of pressure.
"There's nothing to talk about," Martha quickly retorted. "Please... leave here."
Adrian did not budge. His jaw tensed.
"Where is the child now?"
Martha closed her eyes, her face turning pale. "Don't start again, Adrian."
"I need to know," Adrian insisted. "Selina's child... where is he?"
Martha shook her head vigorously, her body trembling. "Stop. Stop pushing. You've already destroyed our family enough."
Adrian held her arm so Martha couldn't leave again. "I didn't come here to fight. I just want an answer."
Martha looked up, staring at Adrian with teary eyes. Anger, fear, and trauma mixed into one.
"An answer?" Martha laughed bitterly. "My sister is dead, Adrian. Selina died carrying the secret you left for her. You think I will help you? You think you'll be able to mess up our family's peace again?"
Adrian fell silent, holding his breath.
"You don't understand," he said softly.
"No, YOU don't understand!" Martha's voice broke. "Selina trusted you. Trusted you too much. And look what happened? She's gone... and our family was destroyed because of it."
Adrian closed his eyes, as if taking a heavy blow.
"Where is the child?" he repeated, more quietly. "I need to know how he is now."
Martha nodded slightly, but not in agreement. More out of exhaustion.
"Need to know?" She stared sharply at Adrian. "For what? He's healthy, he's safe, and he's happy. But he'll be safer if you never go near him."
"Martha, please..."
"You think I'll tell you?" Martha took a step back. "You... are the one person who shouldn't know. I don't want that child's life to be destroyed like my sister's life was."
Adrian froze. There was obvious pain in Martha's eyes when she continued, "Get out of our lives, Adrian. Forever. Don't bother us again."
Without waiting for an answer, Martha turned and walked quickly toward the staff room, disappearing before Adrian could catch up to her.
Adrian just stood in the quiet corridor. His back was slightly hunched. His hands covered his face. Everything seemed to collapse in silence.
"Selina..." he whispered softly, almost inaudibly.
The cold hospital walls offered no answers. The past he had tried so hard to push away for years... had returned to hit him without mercy.