CHAPTER 13
Elena
I had just finished lunch when I heard commotion outside the room. A soft knock sounded on the door before Judy and Avery walked in, Adrian right behind them.
Judy came straight to me, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. “How are you doing, my dear?” she asked gently.
Avery stood behind her, one hand resting on Judy’s shoulder as she looked at me. “You okay?”
“I’m okay,” I said, offering a small smile. “Still a little sore, but I’m fine so far.”
They both looked confused for a moment, right before Adrian stepped forward with Haille in his arms.
Judy gasped. “What!?” She slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes instantly filling with tears.
“You didn’t tell me she’d already given birth. Oh my God.”
Avery’s jaw dropped too, though she was grinning. “Elena—oh my God.” Then she shot Adrian a glare. “You didn’t say anything! On the phone you said she was about to give birth.”
Adrian lifted his hands in surrender, a smug little grin appearing. “It was supposed to be a surprise,” he said. “Relax, Ave. You’re welcome.”
She pressed both hands to her cheeks, eyes wide, grin even wider. “Why didn’t you tell me!? I would’ve brought flowers! I would’ve—I don’t know—cancelled my entire life!”
Judy breathed, her hands flying up to her chest. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this...” Her whole face lit up, eyes wide and shimmering. “Elena... oh God... I think I’m going to cry.”
“My grandchild...” she whispered again, almost trembling as she leaned closer, like she needed to confirm the baby was real and not some dream she accidentally walked into.
Then, suddenly, she straightened, flustered and urgent.
“Wait—wait, let me wash my hands first. I can’t touch her like this—oh dear God—”
She practically hustled to the sink with the energy of a woman half her age, mumbling under her breath, “Oh my goodness, my first grandbaby... Adrian, you sneaky boy... making me look like a fool...”
She washed her hands so fast the water splashed everywhere, then dried them in a hurry, shaking her fingers like she couldn’t stand wasting another second before holding her granddaughter. The moment she was done, Judy practically rushed back to Adrian.
He leaned forward, careful and steady, and gently placed Haille into her arms. Judy held her so carefully, her expression softening instantly.
“Oh my... she’s so beautiful. And look at all this hair. Thick just like yours, Elena.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“Don’t cry, Mom,” Adrian murmured.
With her free hand, Judy smacked his arm lightly. “You brat. Giving me a surprise like this.”
Adrian let out a soft chuckle, and I watched them with a small smile tugging at my lips.
But then Avery suddenly moved to my side and took my hand. “You’re really okay?” she asked quietly.
I hesitated. There was something in her tone, like she was asking more than one thing.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m okay.”
Avery exhaled, relief softening her shoulders. She gave my shoulder a gentle pat.
“I’m glad,” she murmured. “Really. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Avery.” I smiled at her.
“No problem,” she replied.
“Yo, Capt,” Adrian suddenly called out. “You want to hold your niece?”
Avery shook her head immediately. “Nah. Maybe when she’s a little bigger.”
I laughed at that, and Avery walked over to Judy, leaning in to admire Haille.
“Oh my God, she’s adorable,” Avery breathed. “People say babies’ faces change a lot, but honestly? I hope she looks like you.”
She winked at me, then turned to Adrian with a dagger-sharp look.
“You’re lucky she turned out cute, or I would’ve actually killed you.”
“Avery!” Judy gasped, clutching Haille a little closer. “There is an actual baby in the room, dear God.”
Avery lifted her hands in innocent surrender. “What? I’m just stating facts.”
Adrian groaned. “Can you not threaten murder while Mom is holding my newborn?”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll do it later.”
Judy hissed her name, lowering her voice. “Avery.”
— ? —
Adrian
I knew exactly why Avery still looked at me like she was ready to throw something at my head. Elena had told her about the affair, and Avery had absolutely lost it on the phone after she found out.
Her voice still echoed in my head.
“You’re lucky Elena didn’t let me stay over. If she had, I swear to God, you’d be done.”
“I’m disappointed, Adrian. Disappointed doesn’t even cover it.”
“If Mom ever hears about this? God... I don’t even want to imagine it. Elena spared your ass. She didn’t want to hurt Mom, so she came to me.”
“You had a wife like Elena and still went after some pathetic homewrecker.”
“Phoebe? The girl from college? Jesus Christ, you’re not eighteen.”
I didn’t argue. There was nothing to argue.
“I know,” I said. “I messed up. I was stupid.”
She gave me a cold, humorless laugh, one I’d only ever heard when she was truly angry.
“Stupid? Adrian, you detonated your entire marriage. You don’t get to summarize that with stupid.”
She didn’t let up.
“If Dad were still alive, he’d be devastated. He raised you better than this.”
That one hit harder than anything else. My throat tightened instantly. She didn’t need to spell it out, I already felt that shame every damn day.
“You think I don’t know that?” I muttered. “I do.”
“Then why the hell did you do it?” she snapped.
I didn’t have an answer that made any sense.
“I don’t know. I slipped. I was stupid. I let myself get pulled in.”
Avery scoffed. Hard.
“No. Not ‘slipped’.” She paused. “Ego. Your damn ego. It walked you right into the mess.”
I stayed silent because she was right.
“You ruined her, Adrian. Elena did nothing but love you, and you broke her.”
“I know,” I murmured. “She didn’t deserve any of it.”
Avery wasn’t finished.
“Tell me right now—are you still seeing that whore? If you are, I swear, I’ll deal with you both myself.”
Her tone had teeth in it. Avery didn’t threaten for sport, she meant every word.
“No,” I said immediately. “For God’s sake, no. I ended it. Completely. The only time I ever spoke to her again was about the debt.”
Avery groaned. “Jesus, Adrian... and even that was stupid. What are you, a charity organization? A bank?”
I rubbed my forehead. “Yeah. I know. I fucked up there too.”
Now we were sitting across from each other in the hospital café while Mom stayed upstairs with Elena and Haille. Avery tagged along to help me sort out the paperwork before they were cleared to go home.
The sun filtered through the window, and for a moment, the world looked calm. Too calm for a man who had blown his own life apart.
Avery spun her drink slowly, eyes still sharp but softer now.
“Don’t mess up your life again,” she said. “You’ve got another one to protect.”
“I won’t,” I replied.
She shot me a look. “Don’t just say ‘I won’t.’ I need you to mean it. Because if you hurt her again?” She leaned in. “Elena will leave you. And I won’t stop her, I’ll help her pack.”
I exhaled, long and heavy. “I know, Ave. Believe me... I know.”
I stared down at my coffee, jaw tight.
“I’m not losing her,” I said quietly. “Not ever.”