Chapter 14 - Adrian

As soon as we stepped inside the house, Iris ran straight toward Seraphina, who was waiting in the living room, her face pale from worry. The moment Seraphina saw her, she stood frozen for a second before rushing forward and enveloping Iris in a tight hug.

I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching the scene in front of me. Seraphina was on her knees, clutching Iris like she was afraid she'd disappear again if she let go. Her fingers trembled as they brushed through Iris's hair, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry, baby. I should've protected you. I failed you..."

Her shoulders shook, her usually strong demeanor shattered. I'd seen Seraphina in all her forms—fiery, confident, cold—but this? This was her most vulnerable. And somehow, it was even more heartbreaking because I knew how much she hated showing it.

Iris, ever the resilient little girl, gently wiped her tears with her small hands, her voice soft but steady. "It's okay, Mumma. I'm safe now. Don't cry, please."

Hearing Iris call her "Mumma" was nothing new, but today, it hit differently. There was something in the way she said it—a mix of trust and love that was unshakable. I stayed silent, leaning against the wall, letting them have their moment, though my chest tightened at the sight of them.

Seraphina pulled back slightly, her hands cupping Iris's face. Her voice broke. "You're so brave, my baby. I don't deserve you. I don't even deserve to be your mother after this."

That was it. I couldn't just stand there anymore. Pushing off the doorway, I walked into the room, my footsteps breaking the silence. Both of them turned toward me, Iris's face lighting up with that bright smile she always reserved for me. Seraphina's, on the other hand, was red and tear-streaked.

"You didn't fail her, Seraphina," I said, my voice firm but calm. I walked closer, stopping a few feet away. "You did everything you could. And you've been doing it since the day she came into your life. Stop being so hard on yourself."

Seraphina opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Iris broke the tension. "Adrian's right, Mumma! You didn't fail me. And he's really good, you know?"

I raised an eyebrow, my lips twitching into a smirk. "Go on."

Iris's grin grew wider as she turned to me. "You're truly husband material, Adrian!"

I straightened, the smirk fully forming now. "Smart kid. I couldn't agree more."

Seraphina's head snapped toward me, her expression shifting from sadness to exasperation in a second. Her glare could've melted steel. "Don't encourage her!"

Iris giggled, completely unfazed by her mother's reaction. "But it's true! Mumma, you should say thank you to him. He saved me!"

Seraphina groaned, rubbing her temples. "Iris, enough. And Adrian—"

"What?" I said innocently, shrugging. "She's got a point. Maybe a little appreciation wouldn't hurt."

Iris nodded enthusiastically, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Yes, Mumma! Tell him thank you! And maybe you could even—"

"Iris." Seraphina cut her off, tapping her lightly on the forehead. "That's enough. Go wash up. You've had a long day."

"But Mumma—"

"Now," Seraphina said, her tone firm but not unkind.

Iris pouted but got up, throwing me a conspiratorial smile as she left the room. "He's still husband material!" she called over her shoulder.

As soon as Iris disappeared down the hall, Seraphina turned to me, her arms crossed, her glare sharper than ever. "You just love this, don't you?"

I leaned casually against the wall, my smirk only growing. "What can I say? The kid's got great taste."

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't push it, Adrian."

"Or what?" I teased, stepping closer. "You'll glare me to death?"

She huffed, clearly trying to hold on to her irritation, but I could see the faintest twitch of a smile at the corner of her lips. "You're impossible."

"Maybe. But I did save the day."

She rolled her eyes, turning away. "You're insufferable."

"And you still haven't said thank you."

She stopped, glancing at me over her shoulder. "Thank you," she said, her tone clipped.

I grinned. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

She muttered something under her breath, but I couldn't make it out. Probably for the best. Still, as she walked away, I couldn't help but admire her strength, even in moments like this. And though she'd never admit it, I could tell her walls were starting to crack, even if just a little.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, as I watched Seraphina busy herself with anything but looking at me. She moved around aimlessly, her hands fumbling over dishes that didn't need cleaning and cupboards that didn't need organizing. She was avoiding me.

Again.

"Seraphina," I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tense silence.

She froze for a second before straightening her posture and turning to face me, her expression blank. Too blank.

"Where's Iris's father?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

Her jaw tensed, but she didn't answer right away. Instead, she brushed her hair behind her ear and said casually, "He stays abroad."

I raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Abroad? And where's your wedding ring, Seraphina?"

That made her falter. Her hand instinctively moved toward her ring finger, which had been bare for as long as I'd known her. She looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Seraphina," I said again, my patience thinning. "You're not wearing one. You've never mentioned him. Do you even talk to him? Is he even in Iris's life?"

"Adrian," she started, her tone sharp but shaky, "this isn't your business."

"It is my business when it involves Iris," I shot back, stepping closer. "You keep dodging these questions, and I'm tired of it. I need answers, Seraphina. The truth."

She flinched at my words but didn't move. Her silence was deafening.

I pressed on, frustration bubbling to the surface. "What kind of father doesn't show up for his own daughter? Is he dead? Is he a coward? Or is he—"

"Stop!" she shouted suddenly, her voice cracking.

I froze, the room falling silent except for her ragged breaths.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles white. "Iris... she's not my daughter."

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

I blinked, trying to process what she'd just said. "What do you mean?"

She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "She's not mine. She's not... biologically mine."

"Then whose is she?" I demanded, my voice softer now but still firm. "Tell me, Seraphina."

She hesitated, her lips trembling. Then, as if a dam had broken, the words poured out.

"My father had an affair with his secretary," she began, her voice choked with emotion. "One day, I overheard a conversation between them. She called him, begging him to take responsibility for their daughter. She said she was dying, that she didn't have much time left."

Her gaze dropped to the floor as a sob escaped her. "He refused. He... he hung up on her, Adrian. Just like that. Like she was nothing."

I clenched my fists, anger boiling in my veins.

"I couldn't let it go," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I found her. She was so sick, barely holding on, but she was still fighting for her daughter. For Iris. She didn't want Iris to grow up in an orphanage or on the streets. So..."

She looked up at me then, her eyes red and filled with pain. "I promised her I'd take care of her. I promised her Iris would never feel unloved or unwanted. And when she passed..." Her voice broke. "I kept my promise."

I stared at her, the weight of her confession sinking in.

"You adopted her," I said softly.

She nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I couldn't let my father's sins ruin another life. Iris... she's my everything, Adrian. She may not be my blood, but she's my daughter in every way that matters."

I closed the distance between us, my heart heavy with both admiration and anger. "And you kept this from me because...?"

"Because I thought you'd judge me," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Or worse, use it against me. Just like my father did."

"Seraphina," I said, my tone firm but gentle. I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. "You did the right thing. You gave Iris a life, a family, love. That's more than most people would've done."

Her eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting slightly.

"But don't ever keep something like this from me again," I added, my voice dropping lower. "You don't have to fight these battles alone anymore. I'm here. Whether you like it or not."

She let out a shaky breath, her hands gripping my wrists. For the first time, she didn't pull away.

After Seraphina's confession, I couldn't stay still. The emotions swirling inside me felt too big for the room, for the house, for anything contained. I grabbed my keys and left without a word, needing space to think—to feel.

The city lights blurred past as I drove aimlessly, one hand gripping the wheel, the other running through my hair. My heart was pounding, my chest tight, but not from anger or frustration. No, this was something else entirely.

Relief.

Happiness.

The woman I thought I'd lost—the woman I believed had betrayed me—hadn't moved on. She hadn't found someone else. She hadn't built a life with another man. All this time, she was still... mine.

The thought sent a surge of exhilaration through me, so powerful I had to pull over. I slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a stop on an empty stretch of road.

I stumbled out, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap, and leaned against the hood of the car. My hands gripped the metal edge as I stared up at the sky, the stars scattered like tiny diamonds.

And then, I let it out.

A scream.

Raw, unfiltered, and from the deepest part of me.

It echoed into the night, carrying with it the years of guilt, heartbreak, and doubt. I screamed until my throat burned, until I couldn't hear the pounding of my heart over the sound of my voice.

When the silence returned, I found myself laughing -  like a madman.

Seraphina hadn't moved on. She hadn't forgotten me. She was still tethered to me in ways neither of us could fully understand.

"She's still mine," I muttered, my voice hoarse but filled with wonder.

Leaning back against the car, I let the realization sink in. The woman who haunted my dreams, the one I'd tried to hate but could never stop loving, was still within my reach.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, staring at her contact name on the screen. I didn't call her. Not yet. She needed space tonight after everything she had confessed.

But tomorrow? Tomorrow was a new day.

And for the first time in years, I felt like I had something to fight for. Like I had a chance to make things right.

As I stood by the car, catching my breath after screaming into the night like a lunatic, a voice behind me broke the silence.

"Well, this is a sight to behold. Adrian Castellanos, the fearsome mafia king, screaming his lungs out like he's in a rock band audition. Should I grab a guitar and join in?"

I spun around to find Nick leaning casually against his car, arms crossed, a smirk plastered across his face. Of course, he'd show up at the most inconvenient time.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I barked, trying to mask the embarrassment creeping up my neck.

Nick raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I could ask you the same thing. But since I know you won't answer, I'll just assume you finally lost it."

I rolled my eyes, turning back to lean against my car, but Nick wasn't done.

"Let me guess," he continued, his voice dripping with amusement. "You're either celebrating winning the lottery or... Oh, wait. Did Seraphina finally tell you she didn't move on? That's it, isn't it?"

My silence was enough.

Nick let out a laugh, clapping his hands together like he'd just heard the punchline of the century. "Oh, this is rich. The great Adrian Castellanos, reduced to screaming in the middle of nowhere because his ex still hasn't moved on. Should I start planning the real wedding now, or do you need a moment to scream some more?"

"Shut up, Nick," I muttered, though I couldn't suppress the grin tugging at my lips.

Nick strolled closer, clearly enjoying himself. "I mean, I get it. She's Seraphina, after all. If I found out she hadn't moved on, I'd probably scream too. But I'd do it in private, you know? Not where I could get caught by my charming best friend."

"Charming isn't the word I'd use," I shot back, shoving my hands into my pockets.

Nick grinned. "Touché. But seriously, man, you look... lighter. Happier. It's weird seeing you like this."

I exhaled deeply, nodding. "It feels... different. Like I finally have a shot at fixing things."

Nick clapped me on the shoulder. "Then don't mess it up, Romeo. And next time you feel the need to scream, give me a heads-up. I'll bring popcorn."

I shook my head, laughing despite myself. Nick always had a way of making even the most intense moments feel ridiculous.

"Come on," he added, gesturing toward his car. "Let's get you home before you scare off any unsuspecting drivers. You've got a lot of work to do if you're planning to win her back."

As I got into my car, following Nick back toward the city, I couldn't help but chuckle. Leave it to Nick to turn my emotional outburst into a comedy show.

But he wasn't wrong. I did feel lighter, freer. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid to fight for what I wanted.

The joy bubbling inside me refused to fade, and as I drove back home, a small, determined smile played on my lips.

Seraphina may not realize it yet, but she wasn't just mine in the past.

She was mine now—and I wasn't going to let her go.