Chapter 42

**✿ Adrianna's pov**

Five hours.

It's been five hours since he left me to my thoughts. I have been counting down every second, every minute, every hour.

Did he get someone else that I love or know? Roommate....

The way he had said it only meant that I knew the person. I hope it's not Lily. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to her.

The door creaks and a fragile figure is pushed in. I move back afraid of whoever the person might be.

The small figure sits on the ground, her long hair giving away her gender. Feeling a little less anxious, I move towards her, my tummy making it uncomfortable.

I sit right in front of her trying to rack my brain for what to say to draw her attention. Her head is buried in between her legs making it hard to see her face. Her black hair covers her thin arms. Honestly from the outlook of her body, she looks like she could pass out if mistakenly pushed a little. She has definitely not been fed in a long time. I clear my dehydrated throat and speak up.

"Hey". I say in an audible whisper. I wait for some seconds unsure whether she heard me or not. I repeat the word again and get no response. She's probably sleeping. I start to go back to my corner when I notice her stirring.

I pause in my tracks as she raises her head up. Our eyes meet and freeze immediately.

It's like I'm looking at myself.

An older version of myself but with different eyes. How does she look like me? She looks like....

My eyes widen at the thought. No, that can't be.

I slowly move closer to her, desperate to make sure this is real.

She's not blinking. It's like she's frozen. Just staring at me, not saying anything.

I raise my hand and place it lightly on her cheek. She's real. She's not in my mind. Could she be?

"Are you... Are you my mother?" My voice breaks at the last word. Tears start to pool in her eyes. Although she didn't reply me, I already had my answer.

Without thinking, I wrap my arms around her. My bump the only space between us. My mother. My mother is with me. She's here. She's here.

She wraps her hands around me after a while and as if a dam was broken, I start to wail. Not crying, wailing.

I blame the hormones though.

My mum is still alive. This feels so surreal. I can't believe this. She is here with me.

I release her but still hold her close scared that she will vanish if I let go. I stare into her eyes that's the only difference in our features. Her tired eyes that seem to be drinking in my presence. Her lips part as if she wants to say something but she closes them again. I do something that surprises me next.

I peck her cheek as a go ahead for her to speak. Tears cascade down her sullen cheeks.

"My da... dau.... daughter". She smiles and cups my face with her weak looking hands.

"Mom". That single word suddenly makes everything real. She is real. My mum is alive. She is alive. And here with me.

My eyes run over her skinny figure and I immediately pull her into a hug. A part of me was afraid of hugging her too tight. The fear of breaking her now small body.

After what seemed like years, I finally let go of her. We needed to address the elephant in the room.

"I thought you were...."

"Dead? Yes. I was supposed to" She lets out a dry humourless chuckle.

"What happened?"

"I unfortunately escaped death because Malakai thought it would be a good thing to keep me rotting here to hurt your father."

Adrianna stares at her confused.

"But how can he hurt dad if dad thinks you are dead?"

"From what I gathered over the years, he intends to hold me as leverage soon enough and Malakai',s revenge is even more than this... " She trails off looking at my face as if just seeing it for the first time.

She raises her hand and slowly places it on my cheek, her eyes widening.

"Your eyes..." She whispers as if she's out of breath. I place my hand on top of hers and smile.

"Well, I guess we are both victims of Malakai's revenge." I chuckle mirthlessly. Tears pool in the corner of her eyes as her gaze continues trailing my face.

"I will make him pay for this, even if it's the last thing I do." She solemnly swears.

"Let's get out of this hell hole first mum. In the meantime, you can bond with your little ones. I heard children know voices that speak to them when they are in the womb." If her eyes widened before, they were the size of saucers now.

"Y..you a..re" Tears start dropping from her eyes as I nod and take her hand to my belly.

The light in the tiny room was very dim so she had not noticed my budge since. But placing her hand on it, she could feel the round budge.

"You are going to be a grandmother." I croak out, my voice breaking. Her sunken eyes look alive for the first time since we have reunited and I see the light that she once had in the pictures back home in her again.

"I'm going to be a grandmother" She chuckles happily. She pulls me into another hug, stroking my hair and placing kisses on my hair and cheek at intervals.

"Yes mum. You are." I slowly release myself from her grip and look at her face.

"Your dad and brothers know?"

"Yes mum"

"I know we have not been able to be together all these years but I'm so happy you are having this child. Although you are still very young, my love." She gives me a stern look.

"I know mum. It just kind of happened..." I look down sheepishly, feeling shy all of a sudden.

"It's fine baby. How far long are you?"

"Six months" A wide smile spreads on her face at my response.

"Really? You are so far along. Have you found out the gender of the child yet?"

"Children mum. And no,I haven't. We decided to keep it a surprise till the birth."

"Two? You are having twins?!"She looks like she is about to crash out, out of excitement.

"Even worse, three." She now has the look of a little kid who just got their most desired gift for Christmas.

"I'm having three grandkids at the same time! Woooo!!" She fist pumps the air, making me laugh harder than I have before. Seeing my mum who physically looks on the brink of death look so happy and full of life makes me happy to this point of tears.

"Yes mum. I will need your help with them."

"Duhh. Who do you think will handle three kids before? Your scaredy cat of a father? Oh please." She pffts and huffs.

"But who is their father?" Her Express turns serious. My smile drops at her question.

"Don't freak out mum. It is Dante Rizzo."

"What?!"