Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Silvia’s POV

The eerie silence here felt different.

Not the wrenching  kind that used to wrap around Derek’s mansion like a signal and also not the kind that came before gunshots or conspiracies  spilling like blood across polished floors.

This silence… gasped.

Soft. Warm. And  fragile.

I stood by the window, the early morning light mirroring gently across the small living room. Morocco was quieter than Los Angeles in a way that felt unreal at first—but now, months later, it felt like something I could almost belong to.

Almost.

Behind me, I heard it—the soft, uneven breathing of our son, that sound that calms every mother's nerves.

I turned immediately.

There he was, lying in his crib, one tiny fist curled near his chubby cheek, lips slightly parted like he was dreaming of something only babies could understand. My chest tightened the way it always did when I looked at him.

A kind of love that terrified me.

A kind of love that made me feel like I finally had something that was mine.

“Hey… little warrior,” I whispered in a lullabic tone, stepping closer and brushing my finger gently against his cheek.

He stretched slightly.

And just like that, the world shrank to something simple.

No mafia wars.
No betrayals.
No manipulative Abigail.
No blood.

Just… this.

A child.
A new life.
A quiet peace.

“Silvia.”

His voice came from behind me—low, familiar, grounding.

I didn’t turn immediately.

I felt his lingering presence before I saw him.

Derek.

There was something about his presence that never changed. Even here. Even after the chaos . It still filled the room in a way that made the air shift.

I turned slowly.

He stood by the doorway, dressed already—dark shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal the strength in his arms, his watch catching the light. Always composed. Always controlled.

Always a step away.

“You’re up early,” I said softly.

His gaze moved from me to the baby, lingering there for a moment longer than usual. Something softened in his eyes—just for a second.

Then it was gone.

“I have meetings,” he said.

Of course he did.

Derek always had meetings.

I nodded, looking back at the baby.

“He slept better last night,” I added, trying to keep the conversation alive in some little, normal way.

Derek stepped closer this time. Not all the way. Just enough to stand beside me.

“I noticed,” he said quietly.

That surprised me.

“You did?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “I check in.”

Something about the way he said it made my chest ache.

Of course he checked in.

Just not… like before.

Not the way he used to hover, obsessed and overwhelming.

Now it was so… distant.

Careful.

Controlled.

Like he was afraid of something.

Or maybe… of losing something.

“Silvia.”

I turned again.

He was closer now.

Too close.

My breath caught slightly as his fingers brushed against my wrist—slow, careful. That same touch that used to get  me off balance completely.

It still did.

“I’ll be late tonight,” he said.

There it was.

The familiar line.

The quiet distance wrapped in responsibility.

I swallowed hard. “You’ve been late every night this week.”

It wasn’t just an accusation.

Not total.

But it wasn’t nothing either.

His eyes met mine—dark, unreadable.

“I’m handling things,” he replied.

“Things,” I echoed softly.

A pause echoed between us.

I could feel it again—that void line that had grown between us over the past few months.

Not a wall.

Not yet.

But something… forming.

“I got my results today,” I said suddenly.

That made him pause.

Really pause.

“What?” he asked, his voice shifting slightly.

“My nursing exams,” I said, forcing a small smile. “They’re releasing the results today.”

For the first time that morning, something real broke through his composure.

Pride.

Concern.

Something deeper.

“You didn’t tell me it was today.”

“I did,” I said gently. “You just… had a call.”

His expression flickered.

Guilt.

There and gone in seconds.

“Silvia—”

“It’s okay,” I cut in softly. “I know you’re busy.”

There it was again.

That word.

Busy.

It had become the space between us.

His hand moved from my wrist to my face, tilting my chin slightly upward.

“Look at me,” he said quietly.

I did.

And just like that, everything else faded.

Because no matter how distant he had become…
No matter how cold his edges had grown…

Derek still looked at me like I was the only thing in the room that mattered.

“You’re going to pass,” he said.

There was no doubt in his voice.

No hesitation.

Just certainty.

I let out a small breath, almost laughing. “You sound very sure.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

His thumb brushed lightly across my cheek.

“Because you don’t fail at things that matter to you.”

That hit deeper than I expected.

My throat tightened slightly.

“Working at the hospital…” I began slowly, “it’s important to me, Derek.”

“I know.”

“It’s not just about the job,” I continued. “It’s about… me. Having something that’s mine. Something outside of…”

I trailed off.

Outside of you.

I didn’t say it.

But we both heard it.

\---

His hand stilled.

The air shifted.

For a moment, I thought he would pull away.

Shut down.

Become that distant version of himself again.

Instead—

He leaned in.

His forehead resting gently against mine.

“Silvia,” he murmured, his voice lower now, softer. “You don’t need permission to have your own life.”

I closed my eyes.

“That’s not how it feels sometimes.”

A long silence followed.

Then—

“I’m trying,” he said.

And that…

That broke something inside me more than any argument could have.

Because Derek didn’t say things like that.

He didn’t admit struggle.

He didn’t… try.

He just was.

But this version of him…

This man standing in front of me—

He was different.

Still dangerous.

Still powerful.

But… trying.

\---

“Stay,” I whispered suddenly.

I didn’t even plan to say it.

His head lifted slightly. “I can’t.”

“Just for a little while,” I said, my voice softer now. “He’s still asleep. The day hasn’t started yet.”

I watched the conflict flash through his eyes.

Work.

Responsibility.

Us.

For once…

He chose us.

\---

We ended up on the couch.

The baby is still asleep in the next room.

The world is still quiet.

I leaned into him, my head resting against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

His arm wrapped around me instinctively.

Protective.

Home.

“You used to do this more,” I murmured.

“I still do.”

“Not like this.”

He didn’t respond quickly.

His fingers traced slow, unseen patterns along my arm.

“I have more to protect now,” he said finally.

I tilted my head slightly, looking up at him.

“We’re not your weakness, Derek.”

His gaze dropped to mine.

“You are,” he said.

No hesitation.

No apology.

Just the truth.

\---

I should have been afraid of that.

Maybe a part of me still was.

But another part…

The part that loved him—

I understood.

\---

“Then don’t protect me from yourself,” I said softly.

Something in his expression shifted again.

Deeper this time.

More dangerous.

His hand moved to the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

“Careful,” he murmured.

“Why?”

“Because you’re asking for something you might not be able to handle.”

A small smile touched my lips.

“Try me.”

\---

The kiss wasn’t rushed.

It wasn’t desperate like before.

It was… slow.

Intentional.

Like rediscovering something that had always been there.

His lips moved against mine with a quiet intensity that made my chest tighten.

Not hunger.

Not possession.

Something… restrained.

And that somehow made it more powerful.

When he pulled away, his forehead rested against mine again.

“I should go,” he said quietly.

I nodded.

Even though I didn’t want him to.

Even though a part of me wished he would stay like this… just a little longer.

\---

As he stood to leave, I called out softly:

“Derek.”

He paused at the door.

I held his gaze.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Relief.

Fear.

Love.

All tangled together.

“I know,” he replied.

But something about the way he said it…

Made me feel like he wasn’t entirely convinced.

The door closed behind him.

And just like that—

The silence returned.

But this time…

It didn’t feel as peaceful.

Later that afternoon, my phone sat in front of me on the table.

Still.

Quiet.

Waiting.

My fingers hovered over it for what felt like the hundredth time.

The results should have been out by now.

My heart pounded.

Not like fear.

Not like danger.

But something just as intense.

Hope.

Because this—

This was mine.

Not Derek’s world.

Not the past.

Not the chaos.

Just me.

And the life I was trying to build.

\---

The screen lit up suddenly.

My breath caught.

I froze.

For a second, I couldn’t move.

Then slowly…

I picked it up.

Opened the message.

And read.

Everything around me went quiet.

Completely still.

Then—

A shaky breath escaped my lips.

And before I even realized it…

I was smiling.

Tears slipping down my cheeks.

“I did it…” I whispered.

“I actually did it.”

At that moment, I didn’t feel trapped.

I didn’t feel small.

I didn’t feel like I was living in someone else’s shadow.

For the first time in a long time—

I felt like myself.

And somewhere, deep down…

I knew.

This was just the start of a new dawn.