Chapter 153

Chapter 153
Adam's POV

The grocery bags dug into my fingers as I nudged the front door open with my shoulder.

"I brought the fruits Mrs. Peters asked for," I called as I stepped inside.

Normally, Bella would've come running the moment she heard my voice.

Instead, the house was unusually quiet.

Mrs. Peters appeared from the hallway, wiping her hands on her apron. Relief washed across her face the moment she saw me.

"Thank goodness you're here."

My smile faded. "What happened?"

"It's Mrs. Elena."

I immediately set the grocery bags on the kitchen counter.

"What about her?"

"She's been running a fever since around three this morning."

My heart skipped. "Has she seen a doctor?"

"I called the clinic. They said someone should bring medication while they arrange for the doctor to stop by later."

"And Bella?"

Mrs. Peters sighed softly. "She's been asking questions all morning."

As if on cue, a tiny voice drifted from upstairs. "Uncle Adam?"

I looked up. Bell stood outside Elena's bedroom, clutching her teddy bear tightly against her chest.

She looked worried. Far too worried for a two-year-old.

I climbed the stairs two at a time and she ran into my arms the moment I reached her.

"Uncle Adam..."

"It's okay." I gently rubbed her back. "What happened?"

She pointed toward the bedroom. "Mama sleeping."

"I know."

"She not wake up."

My chest tightened. I knelt so we were eye level. "Mommy's just sick, like when you had a fever last month."

She frowned. "Mama get medicine?"

"She will."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

She seemed to consider my answer carefully before giving a small nod. "Okay."

I smiled. "Will you stay with Mrs. Peters while I check on Mommy?"

She nodded obediently.

The curtains were only half open, allowing soft morning light to spill into the bedroom.

Elena lay curled beneath the blankets, her face noticeably paler than usual. Even asleep, she looked exhausted.

I walked quietly to the bedside. "Mrs. Elena."

She stirred but didn't wake. I rested the back of my hand gently against her forehead.

It felt too warm. 

She slowly opened her eyes. "Adam..." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"You should be resting."

"I was."

A weak smile appeared. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten."

Her eyes widened slightly. "My meeting..."

"I cancelled it."

"My fitting appointments—"

"I rescheduled them."

"The Lagos shipment—"

"I've already called Grace. Everything's under control."

She let out a slow breath before closing her eyes again.

"You didn't have to..."

"Boss would've wanted me to."

A tiny smile found its way onto her face. "Still calling him Boss."

"I always will."

She looked too tired to argue.

"I'm going to pick up your medication. The doctor should be here later."

She nodded faintly. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me."

She was already drifting back to sleep before I finished speaking. I quietly pulled the blanket higher over her shoulder before leaving the room.

The pharmacy wasn't far, neither was the clinic.

Within forty-five minutes I had medication, the doctor's estimated arrival time and enough soup ingredients to feed half the neighborhood.

Bella hurried over as soon as I stepped inside. "Mama medicine?"

I crouched and held up the paper bag. "Right here."

She looked relieved enough to make me smile.

The doctor arrived shortly after noon. He examined Elena carefully before joining me downstairs.

"Nothing too serious, just a viral infection."

"She needs rest, plenty of fluids. And make sure she finishes every dose."

"I will."

He smiled. "I had a feeling you would."

After seeing him out, I checked my watch, then my phone. There were three missed calls and two messages.

Both were from Grace so I called her immediately.

"Mr. Adam?"

"How's everything there?"

"We've managed today's orders." She hesitated. "But Mrs. Elena usually approves tomorrow's production schedule."

"I'll come by this afternoon."

"No."

"I'll bring the paperwork here."

There was a brief pause. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"I don't want Mrs. Elena worrying about work."

"I understand." She sounded relieved. "I'll be there in thirty minutes."

As I ended the call, Bella tugged gently on my trouser leg.

I looked down. She held her favourite storybook in one hand.

"Uncle Adam..."

"Can we read?"

I smiled despite everything. "Of course we can."

She slipped her tiny hand into mine. Then led me toward the living room as though she were the one in charge.

Maybe, for today, she was. 

By the time Grace arrived, the house had settled into an unusual rhythm.

Bella sat cross-legged on the living room rug, carefully arranging her stuffed animals into what she insisted was a "meeting." Every few seconds she looked toward the staircase, as though expecting her mother to appear.

Grace laid a folder on the coffee table.

"I brought everything that needs Mrs. Carter's attention."

I flipped through everything. There was nothing Elena couldn't handle tomorrow if she felt better. I picked up a pen and made a few notes.

"Move these fittings to Friday."

Grace nodded. "Done."

"The Abuja shipment can leave without her final inspection. She already approved the samples."

"I'll let them know."

She hesitated before asking, "How is she?"

"Still sleeping."

"I've never seen her miss work."

I smiled faintly. "Neither have I."

After Grace left, I carried the folder upstairs. The bedroom door was still slightly open.

Elena was awake this time, sitting against the headboard with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The colour hadn't fully returned to her face, but she looked much better than she had that morning.

"You should be lying down," I said.

"I've been lying down all day."

"Exactly."

She rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. "You sound like Dante."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

She accepted the glass of water I handed her before swallowing another dose of medicine.

"Did Grace come?"

"She did."

"And?"

"I told her you'd look at the designs tomorrow."

She sighed. "I hate leaving everyone with extra work."

"They're not complaining. They care about you."

Her eyes softened. "I've been lucky."

"No," I replied quietly.

"You've been kind, there’s a difference."

Before she could answer, a tiny head peeked around the door.

"Mama?"

Bella tiptoed into the room with her teddy bear tucked beneath one arm.

"Can I hug?"

Elena opened her arms immediately. "Always."

Bella climbed onto the bed carefully, as though she understood her mother wasn't feeling well. She wrapped both little arms around Elena's waist and rested her cheek against her shoulder.

"You warm."

"I know, sweetheart."

"Mama better now?"

"I'm getting there."

Bella nodded as though that settled the matter. Then she looked at me.

"Uncle Adam made sandwich."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "He did?"

Bella nodded enthusiastically. "And soup."

"And story."

"And teddy meeting."

A laugh escaped Elena despite herself. "Teddy meeting?"

"It was important," Bella said very seriously.

I couldn't help smiling. "I was invited."

Bella giggled.

By evening, Elena's fever had finally begun to break. She insisted on walking downstairs on her own.

"I need to stretch my legs."

I stayed close anyway.

The living room was tidy again. The dishes had been washed, the toys had been gathered into their baskets and dinner simmered gently on the stove.

Elena looked around slowly. "You did all this?"

"Mrs. Peters helped."

"But you organised everything."

I shrugged. "It needed doing."

She turned toward me, her expression filled with quiet gratitude.

"You've looked after me."

"You looked after Bella."

"You even handled work."

"You don't have to carry everything by yourself, Elena."

She was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Thank you."

I smiled. "If Boss were here, he'd have done exactly the same."

She looked at me for a long second, then reached out and squeezed my arm. "I know."

After dinner, Bella fell asleep on the sofa halfway through her favourite bedtime story. I lifted her carefully into my arms.

"She's getting heavier," I whispered.

Elena laughed. "Don't let her hear you."

"I wouldn't dare."

I carried Bella upstairs, tucked her beneath her blanket and kissed the top of her head before quietly closing the bedroom door.

As I walked back down the hallway, my feet stopped outside another room.

Dante's office.

I pushed the door open. Everything remained exactly where he'd left it.

The leather chair sat neatly behind the desk. A framed photograph of him and Elena rested beside a stack of books, his watch box was still in the drawer and even the small plant by the window was alive, though only just.

I watered it carefully before straightening the picture frame by a fraction.

Behind me, Elena leaned against the doorway. "I've noticed something."

I turned.

"You still come in here. Every week." She glanced around the room. "You've never changed anything."

I looked at the desk for a moment before answering. "No."

"Why?"

My hand rested lightly on the back of Dante's chair.
"Because Boss should come home feeling like he never lost his place."

Silence filled the room. When I finally looked up, Elena's eyes were glistening.

She smiled through them. "I hope that day comes soon."

I looked around the office one last time before switching off the light.

"So do I."

Then I closed the door gently behind us.