Chapter 42
Adeline West
As we were walking down the street with my kids on my sides, I noticed a playground nearby and decided to take them there.
“Mommy?” Tristan called,
“Yes, Honey?” I looked at him.
“Are we going to that playground?” He asked,
“Yeah.” I replied with a smile.
“Yeh!” Tristan exclaimed happily, holding Bridget’s hand and running into the playground.
“Careful there,” I said with worry, but quickly chuckled at their excitement as I watched them run inside the playground. Their laughter filled the air as they climbed onto the swings and began to play. I strolled towards them, watching them play around with a smile on my lips. It was so good watching Tristan get back to being himself. These past few days have been so stressful forme, looking at my son always made me infuriated at Laurel. Looking at him now, happy and cheerful, all those worries have disappeared.
This is what I always wanted. To always keep them happy.
Adeline?” I heard someone’s voice and turned to see Samuel, Killian’s grandpa
“Hello Samuel,” I smiled at him.
He nodded at me and sat on the bench. “Come, sit, my dear.” He asked.
I sat down beside him and looked at my kids, who were playing happily. “They look quite happy,” I heard him say, and I turned to him while nodding, my gaze following Tristan as he pushed Bridget on the swing. “They needed this. It’s been at rough few days for them.” I said, my heart warming at them.
Samuel chuckled softly. “Children have a remarkable ability to find joy even in difficult times.” He said, looking at them.
I noticed him watching my kids with a keen interest and curiosity, like solving a complicated puzzle, but then his expression. turned into a calm smile, with a warmth in his eyes as he stared at them, like thinking about something that made him feel happy inside. I was curious now.
What was he thinking?
Why is he looking at my kids like that? I thought while glancing at my kids.
I’m curious too. Runa added.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked, unable to hold my tongue any longer.
“Nothing,” he said, still keeping his eyes on my kids and a knowing smile on his lips. “Your children look familiar to me,” he added.
I was confused.
Familkar?
He never met them.
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Chapter 42
This was the first time he actually saw them.
“Familiar?” I asked, confused.
“Yeah, they remind me of someone.” He replied, leaning back on the bench.
I looked at my kids and back at him. “Of who?” I asked.
“Just someone…” He added with a smile, “It’s nothing.” He shook his head as if dismissing the thought. I frowned, not entirely convinced. He turned to me. “Tell me, how are you holding up?” He asked casually.
I sighed, feeling the weight of the past few days pressing down on me. “It’s been tough, Samuel. I feel like I’m walking on thin ice.” I said.
“I understand.” He nodded, his gaze turning serious..
“How is the investigation going?” I asked, hoping for some insight into what was happening behind closed doors.
“The elders are still investigating. I can’t disclose much, but know that not everyone is as blind to Laurel’s manipulations as she might think.” He said his tone bitter as he mentioned her name. It was clear that he didn’t like her much. Eve was right
His words were meant to comfort me, but they only raised my anxiety. “I just want to protect my children and get to the truth. Laurel, she’ll stop at nothing to save herself. I said. Our conversation in the hallway of the hospital rushed to my mind.
Samuel placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’re strong, Adeline. You’ve been through so much, and yet you’re still standing Keep fighting for your children. The truth has a way of coming to light, no matter how much someone tries to bury it.” He said.
“I hope you’re right, Samuel. I really do.” I nodded, appreciating his support, but a part of me still felt uneasy.
We sat in silence for a while, watching the children play. I just want this investigation to be over soon and the Elders come to a decision as soon as possible. I don’t want to stay here long and want my kids as far away as possible from Laurel. It’s best for all of us. The soon this is over, the sooner we can leave this park.
The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the playground. I felt a sense of peace wash over me, even if just for a moment.
As the evening drew near, I decided it was time to head back. “Come on, kids. Time to go,” I called out to Tristan and Bridget
They ran over, their faces flushed with excitement. “Mom, can we come back tomorrow?” Bridget asked, her eyes wide with hope.
“Maybe,” I replied with a smile, ruffling her hair. “We’ll see,” I sai
Samuel told us that he would drop us back home, and I couldn’t say no to him. We were walking to the parking lot, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. It wasn’t a creepy feeling, but it was unsettling nonetheless I glanced around, half–expecting to see Laurel lurking in the shadows, but there was no one there.
Back at the mansion, I took them upstairs to get ready for the evening. The tension of the day seemed to melt away as we walked in. Abigail greeted us with her charming smile.
“Where are Mary and Greta Lasked, as I didn’t see them around
They went out to Greta’s house” She replied.
“Oh,” I said.
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Chapter 42
I led Tristan and Bridget into the bathroom for their showers, listening to their cheerful chatter echo off the tile walls. Once they were clean, I helped them dress. Bridget, always eager to share her day, was bubbling with stories about the playground. “Mommy, did you see how high I went on the swing? I almost touched the sky!” she said.
I laughed, pulling her pink pajama top over her head. “You were so high, sweetheart! You must be the bravest girl in the whole playground.” I said.
She giggled, wiggling into her pajama bottoms. “And Tristan was so fast on the slide! He zoomed down like a rocker!” She added with a sweet smile on her lips and her adorable gestures.
Tristan, who was drying off and pulling on his own pajamas, smiled shyly. “It was fun,” he said simply, his eyes twinkling
I turned to help Bridget with her hair, untangling the damp strands and smoothing them down. “You both were amazing. so nice to see you happy.” I said I was genuinely happy.
Tristan was pulling his shirt on, his wet hair clinging to his forehead. “Mommy, look at this,” he said, and he began to shake his head, sending water droplets flying in all directions. Bridget and I squealed, laughing, as we tried to shield ourselves from the sudden shower.
“Tristan, stop it!” Bridgetgiggled, swatting playfully at her brother.
“Haha, take–this,” he said, continuing to shake his head.
We laughed and kept shielding ourselves. “Oh Goddess, Tristan, stop!”
“Okay, okay,” he said, laughing and pushing his hair back from his eyes.
I watched him, my laughter fading as a strange sense of deja vu washed over me. The way he ran his fingers through his hair pushing them back away from his face, and the way his side profile looked in that moment–it was all too familiar.
1 froze, my heart skipping a beat.
He looked familiar.
Like a person I know very
well
Killian Volkov.
Why does he look like Killian?
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