Chapter 16 - Adrian

It had been one of those days—long, stressful, filled with meetings, and phone calls that stretched into the late hours. I had insisted on taking her to dinner, needing a break, and maybe even a bit of time with her away from everything else. After a little convincing, Seraphina agreed, but I could tell she wasn't exactly thrilled. I wasn't sure if she was into fancy places, but I figured she could use the change of scenery.

I led her to one of the more luxurious restaurants in town, hoping the ambiance would put her at ease. But when she saw the menu, her face lit up with that familiar mix of confusion and amusement.

"Caesar salad with a hint of mint?" she read aloud, squinting at the description, then grinned. "Oh, I did not know we were playing a treasure hunt of finding mint!" She laughed too loudly, clearly not caring that the whole restaurant could hear her. Heads turned. Some of the patrons shot us confused looks, but she was too busy looking at the next absurd dish to notice.

"And what's this?" She flipped the menu. "Lobster bisque with a dash of... saffron? Is that even a thing? Are we seasoning lobster with a spice used for... gold? Do they think they're in some sort of royal court?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, but I was also acutely aware of the eyes on us. People weren't just looking—they were outright staring. I leaned forward and lowered my voice a little, trying to be discreet.

"Seraphina," I said, giving her a small but firm look. "Could you maybe tone it down a bit? You're... a little loud."

She didn't stop laughing, but she gave me a teasing smile. "Oh, don't worry, Mr. Sophisticated," she said, clearly enjoying herself. "I'm just getting started. If they can't handle my enthusiasm, that's their problem, not mine."

She raised her voice for the next part, loudly reading through the menu as if it were the funniest thing she'd ever seen. "Oh look! A filet mignon with truffle butter. How original! Next, they'll be serving caviar on a piece of toast and calling it 'art.'"

I couldn't contain the laugh that bubbled up from my chest. Seraphina wasn't even trying to be subtle. She just didn't care, and I kind of loved that about her. I glanced around at the surrounding tables—people were still looking at us, some with raised eyebrows, some just curious. But Seraphina? She didn't care. She was just her, unbothered and blissfully unaware of anyone else's judgment.

Trying to bring the focus back, I pointed at the utensils placed beside her plate. "So, do you know which fork to use first?" I asked, the smirk creeping onto my lips.

She glanced at the three forks, then shot me an exaggeratedly serious look. "Excuse me, Mr. Sophisticated. You're not the only one with manners. I know exactly which fork to use. The biggest one first, and the smallest one for dessert. It's not rocket science."

I laughed outright at her response. "I was just checking," I teased, genuinely amused. She could make something as simple as ordering dinner feel like an event.

"You can keep your high society manners," she grinned. "I'll keep my 'play with your food' style."

As she said that, I couldn't help but admire how carefree she was. I had been expecting a formal dinner, but instead, I got Seraphina—loud, playful, and completely unapologetic. And for the first time in a while, I found myself enjoying every second of it.

As the night continued, I couldn't stop smiling. Every little thing she did made me laugh—her sense of humor, her loud laugh that filled the room, and the way she had no filter when it came to sharing her thoughts about the overpriced dishes.

I never thought I'd be so happy to be surrounded by stares, but with Seraphina by my side, the world could've been staring at us for hours, and I wouldn't have cared. She was unpredictable, wild, and entirely herself. And for tonight, that was all I needed.

Seraphina wasn't done yet. She scanned the rest of the menu, her face scrunching up with playful confusion at every new dish that popped up. She pointed to one of the items and snorted.

"Spaghetti carbonara with a truffle-infused egg? Are you telling me they've taken the simplest pasta dish on earth and turned it into a luxury item?" She looked up at me with exaggerated disbelief. "What next? A burger with a diamond ring on top?"

I couldn't help but laugh again. She was completely fearless, saying whatever came to her mind without an ounce of care for who might be listening. But that was what I liked about her—there was no act with Seraphina. She didn't care about the pretenses people put on. She just was.

"Seraphina," I said, trying to stifle my grin, "you do know this is a fancy restaurant, right? Could you... maybe lower the volume just a little?"

She dramatically put a hand on her chest, feigning shock. "Mr. Sophisticated, are you embarrassed by me? I thought we were past this!" She lowered her voice slightly, but the mischievous twinkle in her eye told me she wasn't done having fun with me just yet. "Don't worry, I'll try to be more 'classy' and 'elegant.'"

"I never said you had to be classy," I teased. "Just... maybe not so loud. Some of these people look like they'd faint at the sight of us having fun."

That made her burst out laughing, her laugh echoing throughout the restaurant. Heads turned again. Some patrons actually seemed intrigued by us now, others just looked exasperated. But Seraphina didn't care one bit.

After a moment, she looked at me, a smirk playing on her lips. "Okay, okay, I'll calm down," she said with a wink. "But don't expect me to sit here quietly like some kind of robot."

"I never did," I muttered, still smiling.

As we continued to browse through the menu, she started to make faces at every new dish, scrunching up her nose as though it were a bizarre alien food. "This one's called a 'Deconstructed Beef Wellington.'" She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "What, are we supposed to eat the beef with a spoon now? Why are they messing with tradition?"

"Maybe it's a new trend," I said, finding her over-the-top commentary absolutely hilarious.

She leaned back in her chair dramatically. "It's like they think we don't know how to eat! What next? 'Sushi for beginners'—with an instructional video on how to use chopsticks?"

I chuckled again, this time almost choking on my wine. "You're not wrong."

Just then, the waiter arrived to take our order, but before he could say anything, Seraphina looked at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'll have the Caesar salad with a hint of mint," she said in a mock-serious tone, mimicking a sophisticated accent. "Make sure you find the mint, though. I've heard the hunt can be... tricky."

The waiter blinked, obviously unsure whether to laugh or continue with his job. I saw the struggle in his eyes but couldn't help but crack a smile. "I'll make sure to hunt for it, madam," he said, clearly trying to keep his composure.

I leaned back in my chair, watching her with admiration. She was an absolute riot. So full of life and energy, she had a way of turning even a boring dinner into an event. I honestly didn't care what anyone else thought. In that moment, with her across from me, I was happier than I had been in a long time.

After the waiter left, Seraphina's grin softened, and she looked at me, her eyes sparkling with a hint of sincerity. "You know, Adrian, I really do like it when you let me be myself. Most people want to tame me... but you don't seem to mind."

"Why would I want to tame you?" I responded, my voice low, the smile never leaving my face. "I like you just the way you are."

She raised an eyebrow, leaning forward a little. "Really? Even with all the weirdness I bring to the table?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Especially with all the weirdness."

She smiled back, a rare, soft moment between us. Then, as if on cue, she broke the silence with another loud laugh, pointing to the dessert menu.

"Wait, wait, listen to this—'Chocolate mousse with edible gold leaf.' Gold? Really?" she gasped, holding her hand to her chest. "Are we eating jewelry now?"

I laughed along with her, unable to resist the infectious energy she exuded. She was funny, unpredictable, and completely genuine in a world full of facades. In that moment, I knew that whatever else was going on in my life—whatever complicated past or messy future—this was what I wanted. This wild, unexpected night with her was a kind of joy I hadn't experienced in a long time.

"You're impossible," I said, shaking my head with a smile.

"And you love it," she shot back, winking at me.

The rest of the evening went on in a similar fashion—full of laughter, teasing, and an undeniable connection. I didn't care how many people were watching us. With Seraphina by my side, I was in my element.

The next day, I entered the gym, already mentally preparing myself for the grind of the day. But the moment my eyes landed on her, everything changed.

Seraphina was focused, pushing herself through a series of intense sets, her movements sharp and precise. The way she was moving, her body toned and strong... I couldn't help but admire her. She was absolutely beautiful, her sweat-slicked skin glowing under the gym lights. I knew she wasn't the type to care much about her appearance, but damn, she had a way of making everything look effortless.

"Adrian!" she called out, not even pausing in her workout. "I know I'm gorgeous, but you really should stop staring. It's getting creepy."

I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the effect her words had on me. "You think you're the only one with muscles? What's the point of all that strength if you can't even defend yourself from enemies?" I shot back, already knowing she'd come up with a response to that.

She smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement, and before I knew it, she'd moved behind me and wrapped her arm around my neck in a chokehold. "How's that for defense?" she teased, her grip tightening enough to leave me a little breathless, but not enough to actually harm me.

"Nice move, but you'll have to do better than that," I challenged, half-amused and half-impressed.

In a fluid motion, I twisted around and grabbed her by the waist, flipping the situation to my advantage. In an instant, I had her locked in a hold of my own, her body pressed against me. She didn't expect it, and for a moment, I could feel the surprise in her body before she regained her composure.

I didn't let go, and our faces were dangerously close. My breath brushed against her ear as she looked up at me, her lips slightly parted. The air between us thickened, and something shifted in that moment, something I couldn't ignore. Her eyes met mine, and for a heartbeat, I felt her pulse race beneath my fingers.

Without thinking, I leaned in just a fraction more, drawn to her like gravity pulling us together. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I swear, for a moment, I was about to kiss her.

But then, of course, fate had other plans. My phone rang, shattering the tension in an instant.

I cursed under my breath and pulled away, my head clearing as I saw her flushed face, her breath still coming quick from our little wrestling match.

"I'm sorry, I—" I started, but she was already looking away, clearly embarrassed by the close encounter.

I grabbed my phone and answered it without a second thought, trying to regain my composure. "Nick," I muttered, irritation coloring my voice. "You couldn't have called five seconds later?"

Nick's voice crackled through the phone, completely oblivious to what had just happened. "Adrian, where the hell are you? You're supposed to be at the office in fifteen minutes."

I glanced back at Seraphina, her expression a mix of flushed cheeks and confusion, and couldn't help but shake my head. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there in a minute."

I ended the call and turned back to her, still trying to mask the heat of the moment. "You're lucky it was Nick calling, or I might have just..."

She raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. "What? You might have kissed me?" she teased, her voice low and teasing.

I swallowed hard, trying to focus. "Yeah, that's exactly what I was about to do... but, you know, Nick had to ruin it."

"Of course," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Blame Nick for everything."

I walked away, trying to shake off the embarrassing tension I was still feeling. I cursed myself for letting that moment get so close. But deep down, a small part of me was thrilled.

It had been a long time since anyone affected me like that.

——-—————————————————————————————————————————————

I walked through the door, the familiar scent of noodles wafting through the air. I couldn't help but smile; I knew exactly what she was up to. There she was, standing at the stove, stirring the pot with all the grace of someone who wasn't trying to impress anyone, but in my eyes, she looked perfect.

"Hey," I called out, leaning against the doorframe, my arms casually crossed. "Looks like you're making noodles. Mind adding another packet? I'm starving."

She glanced at me with a smirk, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "God has blessed you with two hands, Adrian. Use them," she teased, her voice full of that same cocky confidence I loved.

I chuckled, not backing down. "Oh, I can, but I'd much rather have you cook for me. You know, because you're my wifey and all." I pushed off the doorframe and walked toward her, closing the distance between us with ease.

I reached her side and trapped her between me and the counter, my body just inches from hers. She looked up at me, her face flushing a deep red, the heat in her cheeks matching the color of the noodles she was cooking. I couldn't help but smirk at her reaction, knowing I had her just where I wanted.

Her breath hitched, and for a split second, it felt like the world around us slowed down. I leaned in slightly, feeling the tension between us rise. But instead of pushing any further, I grabbed a jar from the counter, holding it up with a grin.

"I'm just trying to cook as my wifey ordered," I said, my voice low and teasing.

She immediately moved to the other side of the kitchen, clearly trying to hide her flustered state. But I could see the way her body shifted, her attempt at covering her red face failing miserably.

I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped me, enjoying every second of this playful banter.

"You know," I said as I slowly moved toward her again, "you're cute when you're embarrassed."

She turned her back to me, busying herself with the noodles, but I could still see the small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Shut up, Adrian," she muttered, but there was no real heat in her words, just the soft undertone of someone who was clearly trying to hide her smile.

I chuckled again, watching her continue to work, and for a moment, I just stood there, taking in the sight of her. Despite the teasing, despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a warmth inside. This was her—my wife—acting like herself, and I couldn't be happier.

The morning was a whirlwind of activity as Iris got ready for her first day back at school. Seraphina was fussing over her, fixing her hair and adjusting her bag straps like the doting mother she was. I stood at the side, leaning against the wall, watching the two of them. Iris was practically bouncing with excitement, while Sera was doing everything in her power to hide her nervousness.

As they made their way outside, I followed quietly, staying in the background. Iris waved enthusiastically at Seraphina before heading toward the school gate.

"Bye, Mumma! Don't miss me too much!" she chirped, grinning widely.

Seraphina laughed, waving back. "I'll try, but no promises! Be good!"

But just as Iris was about to step through the gate, she paused, looking back over her shoulder. To my surprise, she turned away from Seraphina and ran toward me instead.

I froze, caught completely off guard as Iris wrapped her tiny arms around my waist. "I'll miss you, Adrian!" she said, her voice muffled against my shirt.

It was such a small gesture, yet it hit me right in the chest. For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Slowly, I crouched down to her level, my hand resting gently on her shoulder.

"I'll miss you too, kiddo," I said softly, a genuine smile spreading across my face.

She pulled back, beaming at me. "Don't let Mumma get too grumpy, okay? You have to make sure she smiles!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'll do my best."

With that, she skipped back to the gate, waving at both of us one last time before disappearing into the school.

I straightened up, glancing at Seraphina. She was watching me, her expression unreadable, but there was a softness in her eyes I couldn't ignore.

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Nothing. Just... she really likes you."

I smirked, brushing invisible dust off my jacket. "Of course she does. I'm pretty likable."

Sera rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she turned and started walking back toward the car. I followed, my mind lingering on Iris's words and the warmth they left behind.