Chapter 49
ADELINA
After clinging to me half the afternoon, the girls drifted back to Cezar like magnets. They poked at him while he pretended to sleep, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear. Then—exactly like he planned—he lunged, capturing Crina under his blanket.
Violeta rushed to save her sister, but she didn’t stand a chance.
Their laughter filled the living room in a joyous melody.
A sound I hadn’t heard in what felt like years.
Easy, innocent joy. It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did, because Cezar’s words replayed in my head…
how these girls ended up here… how far he’d gone to protect children who weren’t even his.
I was trying my best not to be awkward and ruin the mood. Cezar wore his mask of happiness so convincingly, concealing the pain beneath his flawless fucking smile. How did he manage to do it?
His love was pure and innocent—such a contradiction to how we exist. The way he looked at those girls, the way he let himself be silly for them—it was love and guilt and longing all entwined.
Watching him play, watching him let his inner child breathe for the first time in forever, warmed something cold inside me.
I couldn’t let him have all the fun. After getting my thoughts in order, I joined.
He adjusted instantly so I fit right into the chaos.
He was incredible with them, reading their moods, matching their energy, keeping everything light and safe.
This man was made for moments like this; he would be an amazing father.
I lost track of time as the night wore on.
Liana called everyone inside, shooing the girls into pajamas and dragging them toward their room.
I followed, worn out but content. Cezar told me he had plans for the next day while they were at school, which sparked a little thrill in my chest despite how drained I felt.
Once the girls were tucked in, he disappeared to read them a story. They insisted. Apparently, “Cezar-voiced bedtime stories” were a sacred tradition. I listened from the hallway, hearing him shift between character voices and dramatic gasps.
Later, he joined me in the shower. The steam fogged everything except the look in his eyes when he pulled me against him. Soap lathered across our skin as his hands moved slowly, tracing every curve and ridge with a distracting amount of care.
“I probably should’ve told you more about today,” he grumbled against my neck. “I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I wanted you to meet Crina and Violeta. I’m really glad you did. They love you. More than they love me, which is extremely rude.” He chuckled, though his tone held a hint of seriousness.
His lips brushed my skin again, and his hand drifted lower, waking up a desire I was too exhausted to act on.
“I’m glad I met them, too. Today was… good. They adore you, Cezar,” I breathed as I turned, watching the smile bloom on his face.
“I love them,” he whispered. “Even if I don’t deserve to. But I do. I just want them to be safe.” He kissed me before I could argue, before I could tell him he deserved so much more than the scraps he thought he was allowed.
He deserved all the love in the world, someone who could give him their all…
Am I even worthy of Cezar?
I knew he put those girls above everything. He’d protected them better than anyone ever protected him, and bringing me here—knowing exactly who I was and what I came from—was his way of saying he trusted me with the most precious part of his world.
Everything lately made me feel uneasy about the future. I felt… scared when I thought about his future. If I could write my own story, we would be living a quiet life somewhere away from all the death that we have been a part of.
Shutting off my mind that night was nearly impossible. The shower had relaxed my muscles, and Cezar’s arms gave me the kind of comfort I rarely allowed myself to want, but sleep didn’t come easily.
Too many thoughts. Too many memories. Too many possibilities that I wasn’t brave enough to believe in haunted me.
He scooted closer, his breath at my neck as he draped an arm across my waist. He held me tight. That was what finally did it, not peace or exhaustion—just him.
The steady beat of his heart. The familiar scent of him. The simple comfort of knowing he was there.
It was enough to let my mind rest.