Chapter 58
Adrien closed the album and carefully placed it on the table, as if touching it could alter the memories it contained. He felt trapped between the past evoked by those images and the uncertain present he now shared with Ana and Luca.
The sound of the door opening pulled him out of his thoughts. Ana entered, holding a cup of tea in her hands, her expression tired but calm.
-Is everything okay? -she asked, noticing Adrien's distant gaze.
He nodded slowly.
-I found the photo album. I didn't know you had kept all of this.
Ana froze for a moment, a slight blush covering her cheeks.
-I couldn't get rid of them Even though I tried to convince myself it was for the best.
Adrien sighed, running a hand through his hair.
-It's strange. In those pictures, we looked so happy, so sure of who we were.
-We were -Ana whispered, sitting on the couch across from him. -But life doesn't always follow the path we imagine.
Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Adrien broke it.
-Ana, I've been thinking about what happened about what my mother did to you. I should never have let anyone interfere in our lives.
Ana looked at him intently, her eyes filled with conflicting emotions.
-It wasn't your fault, Adrien. I made the decision to leave. I thought I was protecting you but in the end, I just walked away from the person I loved the most.
Before Adrien could respond, a soft cry from Luca's room interrupted them. Ana quickly stood up, but Adrien placed a hand on her arm.
-Let me. I want to be with him.
Ana nodded and let him go. Adrien entered the room, where Luca was tossing and turning under the covers. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked the boy's hair, who slowly opened his eyes.
-Dad -Luca whispered, still half-asleep.
The word hit Adrien like a wave of emotions. He couldn't stop a tear from sliding down his cheek as he replied.
-I'm here, son. I'm not going anywhere.
From the doorway, Ana watched the scene with a tightened heart. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but at that moment, something inside her told her that together, they could face it.
The next morning arrived with fresh air filling Ana's small house. Adrien, after spending most of the night taking care of Luca, woke up early and decided to make breakfast. Ana entered the kitchen, surprised to find him scrambling eggs in a pan.
-Since when do you cook? -she asked, leaning against the doorframe with a faint smile.
Adrien looked back at her and shrugged.
-Not as well as you, but I had to learn. Life away from home taught me a few things.
Ana let out a soft laugh, but her eyes betrayed a trace of melancholy. Adrien noticed the change in her expression and, setting the pan aside, approached her.
-Ana, what's wrong? -he asked gently.
She shook her head, trying to hide her emotions, but eventually gave in.
-It's strange having you here after so much time And seeing how quickly you connect with Luca. It's something I always dreamed of but never thought would be real.
Adrien looked at her intensely, taking her hands in his.
-Ana, I can't change what happened, but I want to be part of his life. No matter what it takes, I won't fail him.
Ana nodded, feeling the walls she had built over the years begin to crumble.
-We'll have to learn to work together, Adrien. For him.
Before Adrien could respond, the sound of the doorbell broke the moment. They exchanged confused glances. They weren't expecting visitors.
Ana went to open the door, leaving Adrien in the kitchen. When she opened it, she found a woman who looked to be in her late forties, with a serious demeanor and an inquisitive gaze.
-Sorry to interrupt -the woman said, her tone polite but firm. -I'm Clara, your new neighbor. I wanted to introduce myself and, well, I've noticed some strange things.
Ana frowned, feeling an inexplicable tension in the air.
-Strange things?
The woman glanced subtly toward the house.
-I saw a car driving around here a couple of nights ago. I don't want to alarm you, but I thought you should know.
A chill ran down Ana's spine.
-Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep an eye out.
When Clara left, Adrien appeared behind Ana, noticing the concern on her face.
-Is everything okay?
Ana nodded slowly, but her unease was evident.
-It's just the neighbor. She said she's seen some strange things around here.
Adrien frowned, his protective instinct immediately kicking in.
-What exactly did she say?
-She saw a car circling the area at night. It's not that unusual, but I don't know, it makes me nervous.
Adrien's expression hardened, his posture straightening.
-Has anything like this happened before?
Ana shook her head but then hesitated.
-Months ago, a man came looking for information about me. I didn't think much of it then because I assumed it was a mistake but now
Adrien stepped closer, his face serious.
-We can't ignore this, Ana. It might be someone causing trouble. Maybe your family or even someone connected to me.
Ana's eyes filled with growing fear.
-What do we do?
Adrien walked over to the window, pulling the curtain slightly aside to look out at the street. Everything seemed calm, but he knew appearances could be deceiving.
-First, I'll keep watch tonight. See if anyone comes back. Tomorrow, I'll talk to the local police, see if they've recorded any suspicious activity in the area.
Ana watched him silently, noticing how naturally Adrien assumed the role of protector. It filled her with a mix of warmth and vulnerability.
-Thank you -she finally said, her voice barely audible.
Adrien turned to her, softening his expression.
-You don't have to thank me. We're in this together.
A noise from Luca's room interrupted their moment. Ana and Adrien rushed to the bedroom. Luca was sitting up in bed, his eyes half-closed and his breathing unsteady.
-Luca! -Ana exclaimed, rushing to his side.
-I had a bad dream -the boy murmured, stretching his arms toward his mother.
Adrien sat on the other side of the bed, placing a comforting hand on Luca's shoulder.
-It was just a dream, champ. We're here, and nothing bad is going to happen to you.
Luca slowly nodded, but his small eyes fixed on Adrien.
-Are you staying here with us? -he asked, his voice trembling.
Adrien looked at him tenderly, his heart tightening.
-Of course I am. I'm not going anywhere.
Ana felt a lump in her throat as she watched the bond forming between them. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe that, despite everything, they could move forward as a family.
As Luca settled back into Ana's arms, Adrien sat quietly beside them. Yet in his mind, Clara's words kept echoing. Something wasn't right, and he would do whatever it took to protect them.
When night finally fell and the house was silent, Adrien decided to stay awake in the living room. His eyes repeatedly shifted to the window, alert to any movement.
The air felt heavy, filled with unanswered questions and unknown dangers. But deep down, Adrien knew he wasn't willing to lose Ana and Luca again, not after finding them once more.