Chapter 15 - Seraphina

I noticed it almost immediately—Adrian's behavior toward me had shifted. It wasn't drastic or dramatic, but it was there, like the faint glow of sunrise creeping over the horizon.

He started paying more attention, not just to me, but to the little things about me. The way he'd linger a second longer when our eyes met, or the way his voice softened when he spoke my name. It was subtle, but it made my heart race in ways I didn't want to acknowledge.

This morning, for instance, I was reaching for a cup on the highest shelf in the kitchen when his voice cut through the silence.

"Wait."

Before I could protest, he was behind me, his chest brushing my shoulder as he grabbed the cup effortlessly and set it on the counter. I mumbled a quiet "thanks" and moved away quickly, the warmth of his proximity leaving a trail of goosebumps on my skin.

"It's nothing," he said casually, but his tone was softer than I was used to. Almost... tender.

Later, when I was working in the study, he brought me tea. Adrian. The man who used to order people around with a flick of his fingers now carried tea into a room like it was second nature.

"I didn't ask for this," I said, raising an eyebrow as I looked up at him.

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Doesn't mean you don't need it."

I stared at him for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Was this the same man who had once pointed a gun at me without a second thought?

His actions confused me, but more than that, they unsettled me. Because they reminded me of the man I fell in love with all those years ago. The Adrian who was protective, attentive, and gentle in ways he didn't show to anyone else.

But I couldn't afford to think like that. Not now.

Even later, when I sprained my wrist trying to lift something too heavy, he was there before I could even call for help.

"Why didn't you wait for someone?" he scolded lightly, taking my hand to examine it.

"It's not a big deal," I muttered, trying to pull away, but his grip was firm yet careful.

"You're impossible," he said, shaking his head before grabbing the first aid kit. He knelt in front of me, tending to my wrist with a focus that made my chest tighten.

I tried to make a joke, something to lighten the tension. "Since when did you become a medic?"

He looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. "Since I realized I can't stand to see you hurt."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I didn't. I stayed silent, watching him as he wrapped my wrist with a gentleness that didn't match the man I'd grown used to.

Adrian was a puzzle I couldn't figure out. One moment, he was distant and cold, a reminder of the pain and betrayal that hung between us. The next, he was kind and attentive, making it harder for me to keep my walls intact.

And as much as I hated to admit it, those walls were beginning to crack.

The days went on, and Adrian's attention never faltered. It wasn't like he was doing anything out of character, per se—it was just different. He was always the type to show his care in practical ways, but now it felt more personal, like he was trying to rebuild something, piece by piece.

One afternoon, as I was sorting through some paperwork in the living room, I felt his presence before I saw him. I looked up to find him standing in the doorway, watching me. His usual smirk was missing, replaced with something softer—like he was lost in thought.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, though there was a hint of concern beneath it. He wasn't usually so forthcoming with his emotions.

I nodded, glancing back at the pile of work. "Just a bit busy."

He didn't move, still lingering in the doorway, his gaze steady on me. "You've been working non-stop lately. Maybe you should take a break," he suggested, his eyes softening with something almost... caring.

I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to brush it off, to go back to the way things used to be—distant, formal, with clear boundaries. But something in his eyes stopped me. I stayed quiet, unsure if I was ready to confront this shift in our dynamic.

Eventually, he broke the silence. "You've been doing this for so long, Sera. It's okay to step back sometimes."

I opened my mouth to protest, but the sincerity in his voice stopped me. Instead, I just exhaled, giving him a small smile. "Maybe you're right," I said softly.

I hadn't realized how much I'd been burying in my work, using it as a shield against whatever this... whatever we were becoming. Adrian's kindness was disarming, like every bit of strength I'd built up over the years was slowly being unraveled by his mere presence.

But I couldn't let it happen, not so easily. Not after everything that had transpired.

Yet, in that moment, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth that I hadn't felt in a long time.

Later that evening, when we were having dinner in near silence, Adrian caught my gaze across the table, his expression unusually serious.

"You know, you don't always have to be so strong," he said, setting down his fork. His tone was almost tender, and it made something in me stir—something both familiar and foreign.

"I've had to be," I replied quietly, lowering my gaze to my plate. "Too many times."

He leaned back, watching me with a calm intensity. "I get it," he said, his voice softer now, more understanding. "But you don't have to do everything on your own anymore. Not if you don't want to."

I looked up at him, trying to make sense of his words. He wasn't the type to offer comfort, to promise support. But here he was, doing both, and it made my heart race in ways I didn't want to acknowledge.

Over the next few days, Adrian's subtle shifts in behavior became more apparent. He wasn't the man I used to know, the cold and calculated mafia leader with a wall between us. He was still Adrian Castellanos—the same man who could make my heart ache with a glance—but now there was an openness in his eyes, a vulnerability I had never seen before.

And every time he came close, whether it was to share a quiet moment or simply offer me a hand with something, I felt that same pull. The same undeniable connection that had always been there, lurking beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

One night, after a particularly trying day, Adrian found me staring out the window, lost in thought. I hadn't noticed him approach, but I felt his presence behind me, felt the warmth of his body before I heard his voice.

"Still working?" he asked quietly, his voice low and full of an emotion I couldn't quite place.

I shook my head, turning slightly to face him. "No. Just thinking."

He stepped closer, his gaze steady. "About what?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much I wanted to reveal. But something about the way he was looking at me, like he was genuinely concerned, made me pause.

"About us," I admitted, barely above a whisper. "About everything."

He didn't say anything at first. He simply stood there, letting my words hang in the air between us, before he spoke, his voice softer than usual. "I know you've been hurt, Sera. I'm not asking you to forget that. But I want you to know... I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

His words struck a chord deep within me, and for the first time in a long while, I felt the weight I'd been carrying start to lift—just a little. But it was enough to make my heart ache with a mixture of hope and fear.

Because no matter how much I wanted to protect myself from this, from him, there was no denying that Adrian Castellanos was still the man I had loved. The man who could break me just as easily as he could heal me.

And despite everything, despite the walls I had built, I knew deep down that I wasn't ready to let go of him. Not yet.

Not ever.

The night had dragged on longer than I expected. I had been working, lost in the details of a deal, when I realized how late it was. My phone had died during the meeting, and I hadn't bothered charging it afterward. Now, as I walked up to the gates of the mansion, it felt like the weight of the entire day was pressing down on me.

When I opened the door, I was greeted by an oppressive silence. But I could feel his presence even before I saw him. Adrian's figure stood in the hallway, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my chest tighten.

"Where the hell have you been?" Adrian's voice was loud, his tone harsh as he stormed toward me.

I froze at the door, trying to process his anger. "I was working, Adrian. It's not like I was out having fun," I retorted, hoping to end the conversation before it escalated.

But it didn't work. Adrian's jaw clenched as he moved closer, frustration radiating off him. "You're telling me you couldn't send a message, or at least let me know where you were? Your phone's been off for hours!"

I crossed my arms defensively, stepping back. "I didn't think I needed to check in with you. You don't control my life, Adrian."

The words were sharp, and I regretted them the moment they left my lips. But the anger and frustration inside me had been building for days, and I couldn't hold it back any longer.

Adrian's eyes darkened. "You really think I'm controlling you? I'm trying to protect you, damn it. I've been trying to protect you from everything, from the world that's after you." He took a step forward, his voice rising with every word. "And this is how you repay me? By disappearing and putting yourself in danger?"

His words hit me like a slap. I had never heard him this angry, this raw. But instead of calming down, I felt the anger boiling inside me, matching his intensity.

"No! You don't get to tell me what to do!" I shouted back. "I never asked for your protection, Adrian. And you can't just force me into this life you've built! You think I owe you something? I'm not your property. I'm not some piece you can control."

I turned away from him, my heart pounding in my chest, but before I could take a step, his voice stopped me.

"Don't walk away from me. Not like this, Seraphina." His voice was low, but it was laced with desperation.

I shook my head, my thoughts clouded by anger and hurt. "You don't get it, do you? I feel trapped. I don't know who I am anymore. I don't even know what this is—what we are."

Without waiting for him to respond, I turned and headed toward the door.

But as soon as I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me, and I felt a flicker of relief. I didn't know where I was going, only that I needed to leave, to breathe. As I walked down the driveway, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Seraphina," a voice called out. I turned to find Nick standing near the gate, his face serious. He looked at me with a mixture of concern and something else—something urgent.

"Nick?" I asked, a little surprised to see him.

He stepped toward me quickly, glancing around to make sure no one else was near. "You shouldn't be out here. Not like this."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, still feeling a tinge of frustration, but the concern in his eyes made me pause.

"Adrian doesn't just act like this for no reason," Nick said, his voice low. "You think this fight is just about your phone or your late night? It's not. He's trying to protect you, Seraphina. From your father."

I frowned, unsure of what he meant. "What do you mean, protect me from my father?"

Nick's expression darkened, and he took a step closer to me. "I've been watching you ever since the night you left that mansion. I've kept my eyes on you, all these years. I know what your father is capable of. He's been trying to get to you. And now, he wants you dead."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Dead?" I whispered, hardly believing what I was hearing.

Nick nodded. "Yes. Your father doesn't care about you, Seraphina. He's using you as a pawn in his games. And now that he knows Adrian's been protecting you, he wants to take you out for good."

I stumbled back, the gravity of his words hitting me like a physical blow. "But Adrian..." My mind raced. "Adrian's been protecting me all this time, even when I didn't know it?"

Nick's gaze softened as he nodded. "Yes. He's done things for you, things you'll never know about, just to keep you safe. He's been trying to shield you from your father's reach."

My breath caught in my throat as everything clicked into place. All the times Adrian had been there, all the times he'd insisted on protecting me, even when I pushed him away—it made sense now. He had been trying to save me, even when I didn't see it.

But still, the thought of my father wanting to kill me sent a wave of panic through me. "I can't believe this," I said, feeling lost.

"You have to believe it, Seraphina," Nick said firmly. "Adrian's not the enemy here. Your father is."

I stood there for a long moment, trying to process it all. Then, I looked at Nick, my heart heavy with the weight of the truth. "I need to go back. I need to talk to him."

Nick nodded, though there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. "Just be careful. And don't push him away again. He won't survive it if you do."

I didn't respond, but as I turned and made my way back to the mansion, I felt the heaviness in my chest lift just a little. Adrian wasn't the man I had thought he was. And maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to be on the same side.

I had barely managed to process Nick's revelation about my father, when another piece of the puzzle fell into place—one that made my entire body freeze with disbelief. As I stood there, on the edge of the driveway, the cool night air wrapping around me, Nick's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Seraphina... there's something else you need to know," he said, his tone shifting, growing more serious. "About that night seven years ago."

My heart skipped a beat. That night. The night Adrian shot me. The night I thought I would never forget, the night that haunted me in every corner of my life since. The night that made me hate him, made me see him as just another man who betrayed me.

"What about that night?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. I wasn't sure I was ready to hear any more of it, but I had to know. For my own peace of mind.

Nick took a deep breath, stepping closer, his expression softening. "It wasn't like you think it was, Seraphina. Adrian didn't want to hurt you."

I shook my head, confusion flooding me. "What do you mean? He shot me. I saw it. I felt it." I couldn't stop the bitterness from creeping into my voice, even as my heart began to race.

"I know you saw it. But that night... it wasn't his choice," Nick continued, his voice steady, though there was a somber edge to it. "He didn't shoot you out of anger or hatred. He was forced to do it. His uncle had already arranged for a sniper to take you out. If Adrian didn't shoot you, the sniper would've aimed for your head. He had no choice but to make the decision to save you, even if it meant injuring you. He couldn't lose you."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I had always thought that Adrian's actions were driven by betrayal, that he shot me without a second thought. But now, hearing Nick say it, the story changed.

"I don't understand," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. "He shot me, Nick. He didn't even care enough to listen to me."

Nick's eyes softened with sympathy. "He wanted to listen, Seraphina. But his uncle's orders were clear, and he couldn't risk losing you in the way he knew would be more painful. He didn't want to shoot you. But if he hadn't, you wouldn't be here today."

A numb silence fell between us, and the weight of the truth began to sink in, suffocating me. Adrian hadn't betrayed me. He'd been caught in a war he didn't start, forced to make a decision between saving me or losing me completely.

"But why didn't he tell me? Why didn't he explain?" I finally asked, my voice shaking with emotion.

Nick looked at me, his gaze full of understanding. "Because he didn't think you'd believe him. He knew how much pain you'd already been through, how you would see it. He didn't want to put that weight on you, not after everything."

Tears welled in my eyes, the truth heavy and raw. I could feel the anger and hurt I'd carried for so long beginning to unravel, and in its place, confusion and disbelief took root. Adrian had always been there, had always tried to protect me in his own way. And yet, I had pushed him away, never giving him the chance to explain.

Nick's words lingered in the air, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. "I didn't know," I whispered, more to myself than to Nick. "I didn't know. All this time... I didn't know."

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "I know, Seraphina. And it's not easy to hear. But you need to know the truth. Adrian's been carrying the guilt for that night all these years. He's never stopped thinking about what he did to you. But it wasn't his fault. And he's been trying to protect you, even from himself."

My chest tightened at Nick's words, and for the first time in years, I felt my walls crack. I wanted to hate Adrian for what happened, for the pain he caused me. But hearing this new truth, understanding that he had made that choice for me, to save me in the only way he could—it changed everything.

I stood there, silent for a moment, trying to process everything. "But he should've told me," I finally said, my voice barely a whisper. "He should've explained."

Nick's eyes softened with sympathy. "He couldn't, Seraphina. He thought he was protecting you by keeping you in the dark. He thought that you'd hate him for what he did, and in a way, he was right. But what he didn't realize was that not telling you only made everything worse."

I swallowed hard, feeling the truth crash down on me. I had spent seven years hating Adrian for something he hadn't even wanted to do, blaming him for my pain when all along, he had been trying to protect me.

I couldn't stop the tears now. They came, uncontrollable, washing away the anger, the hatred, the walls I had built around myself. I felt so many emotions—anger, regret, confusion—but above all, I felt a deep sadness, a longing for the years that had been lost, for the trust that had been broken when it didn't have to be.

"Why didn't he tell me the truth?" I whispered again, more to myself than to Nick. "Why didn't he just... tell me?"

Nick's expression turned serious. "Because, Seraphina, he was afraid. Afraid you'd never believe him. Afraid he'd lose you forever."

And in that moment, I understood. I understood Adrian's fear, his guilt, and why he had stayed silent all these years. But now, as I stood there, knowing the truth, I wondered if it was too late to fix the past. Could I forgive him for what happened? Could I find a way to rebuild the trust we had once shared?

I didn't have the answers yet, but I knew one thing for sure—things between Adrian and me were far more complicated than I had ever imagined.

The weight of everything I had learned about that night seven years ago settled on my shoulders as I stood before Adrian. His presence, once so imposing, now felt different. There was a vulnerability to him that I hadn't noticed before, one that mirrored the one I was feeling deep inside.

Nick's words echoed in my mind—Adrian had never wanted to hurt me. He had been forced to make a decision, one that had cost us both years of pain. I wasn't sure if I could fully forgive him, not yet, but I understood now that his actions had been out of love, even if they had been clouded by fear and the weight of his family's expectations.

I walked into the house, trying to steady my nerves. Adrian was in the living room, staring out the window, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words.

I had to confront him. I couldn't keep running away from the truth, from what I now knew.

"Adrian," I said softly, my voice almost breaking as I spoke his name.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable, as if he was waiting for the storm that was surely coming. But I wasn't sure what to say. The anger I once felt toward him had softened, replaced with something more complicated—something I didn't have a name for yet.

I took a step toward him, unsure of myself. "I know everything," I said, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling within me.

He didn't say anything. His eyes remained fixed on me, waiting for me to continue.

"I know why you did it," I whispered, as if speaking it aloud made it more real. "I know you didn't want to hurt me."

The guilt in his eyes was unmistakable, but he didn't interrupt. He didn't even move, letting me speak my truth.

"I don't know what I expected from you," I said, suddenly feeling small. "I thought you betrayed me. I thought you shot me without a second thought. But now... now I see that you were just trying to protect me in your own way."

I paused, my heart racing. Adrian didn't seem to know what to do with my words. I didn't expect him to.

"I don't know if I can forgive you yet," I continued, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "But... I need you to know that I understand now. And I'm not angry at you anymore. I just..." I trailed off, not knowing how to finish.

Adrian's face softened, the walls he had built up around himself crumbling ever so slightly. He took a step forward, closing the distance between us, but I wasn't ready for him to reach out just yet. I needed to breathe.

"I don't expect you to forgive me, Seraphina," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But I need you to know that I never stopped caring for you. And I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

I didn't know how to respond, not yet. My mind was still racing, processing everything I had learned, everything that had been said. But in that moment, standing there with Adrian, I realized something. The past couldn't be changed, but we had the power to shape what came next.

I didn't love him, not yet. But there was something between us, something that still held me here, still tethered me to him. And that was enough to keep me grounded for now.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment, and then—before I could second-guess myself—I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. The hug was brief, but it felt like a silent promise, one that neither of us could fully understand yet.

"I'm not ready to say I forgive you," I whispered against his chest. "But we're in this together now. And we'll figure it out."

His arms tightened around me, the warmth of his embrace sending a shiver down my spine.

"I'll do whatever it takes, Seraphina," he whispered back, his voice low and full of resolve. "Whatever it takes to make things right between us."

We pulled away from each other, and I could see the determination in his eyes. But there was something else there, too—something softer, something that made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, we could rebuild the trust we had lost.

"We need to find out what your father is planning," Adrian said, his tone shifting from emotional to serious. "We need to stop him before he can do any more damage."

I nodded, feeling a sense of purpose settle over me. "I'm with you," I said, my voice steady. "I'll do whatever it takes to stop him."

Together, we would face whatever came next. And maybe, just maybe, we would find a way to fix what had been broken between us.