Chapter 43
Adeline West
“Mommy, are you okay?” Tristan’s voice pulled me back to the present.
I forced a smile, pushing the unsettling thoughts aside. “I’m fine Tristan. Just… lost in thought for a moment.” I replied.
He tilted his head, looking at me with concern. “You sure?” He asked..
I nodded, bending down to kiss his forehead. “I’m sure. Now, let’s finish getting ready.”
As we finished up, my mind kept wandering back to that moment. The way Tristan had moved his hair back and the expressions on his face–it all reminded me so much of Killian, It was impossible to ignore, and it left me with more questions than answers.
I shook my head, pushing all those thoughts back.
No, it’s just my imagination. So much has been happening these past few days, and it must have gotten to my head. Why would my son look like Killian? It’s all in my head; it’s nothing. Itold myself and headed downstairs for dinner.
The dining room was warm and inviting, with a long table set with an array of delicious dishes. The atmosphere was filled with the comforting clatter of dishes and the murmur of conversation. As we approached, I saw Sebastian, Mary, Greta, and Samuel already seated. Sebastian and Samuel are having a deep conversation.
We settled into our seats, and the kids quickly began telling everyone how they played on the playground and all. While serving the food to the kids while everyone happily listened to them, I noticed Mary glancing at Samuel briefly, who was sitting opposite her. There was something with that look she gave to him, who was listening to Tristan and Bridget with a smile on his lips. I saw something in her eyes, but before I read it, she turned to Bridget.
I have known Mary for five years now, and I never saw her look at someone like that.
Stop it, Adeline; you are just reading too much. It’s nothing like that.
Runa said, shutting off my thoughts.
No, But..
She shut me up, ‘She just glanced at him because he’s sitting opposite her: Runa added.
She must be right, she thought, and she didn’t give much thought to it anymore.
As we continued with dinner, I couldn’t help but notice the way Samuel’s eyes would light up when he looked at Tristan and Bridget. There was something almost familiar in his gaze–a deep–seated affection that went beyond simple kindness. Watching with the kids, I felt so warm inside. My memories of my grandparents rushed through my mind. Mostly my grandma. I wish I had a chance to meet her once. Just once. It has been so long since I saw her and talked to her. I wonder how she’s been.
Looking at Samuel, I realized he loved kids, and the thought itself made a smile appear on my lips.
After dinner, I put the kids to bed, tucking them in and kissing their foreheads. Their peaceful expressions as they drifted off to sleep brought a sense of calm to my heart, despite the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. Once they were settled, I needed a moment to myself, a chance to clear my head.
I walked to the balcony on the second floor, stepping out into the cool night air. The stars were bright overhead, casting a serene glow over the land. The silence was a welcome respite, but my mind was anything but calm. Laurel’s words and her visit to the gynecologist all weighed heavily on me.
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Chapter 43.
Why was Laurel at the gynecologist’s office?
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The question nagged at me, adding another layer of complexity to the already tangled web of our lives. Her confidence, her smirks, and her comments all pointed to something I couldn’t quite grasp.
Why am I even thinking about her? She’s just a bitch trying to get under my skin with her shit talk. I should keep her out of my mind.
Why is it taking the elders this long to punish Laurel? It was evident that she was behind the attack. Our evidence should have convinced them, right? But was Laurel right about them not wanting to go against Killian? Was she right? They indeed didn’t want to go against Killian, since everyone knows Laurel is engaged to him. She did tell me that they were going to marry soon; is that the reason why they are delaying it? I should halk to Samuel about this tomorrow,
“Hey,” suddenly someone softly whispered in my ear. I jumped, spinning around to face him, my heart racing. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear Sebastian approach
“Sebastian! You scared me.” I said, chuckling despite my surprise.
He grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” He said, while handing me a cup of coffee. “I thought you might need this”
I smiled, taking the cup from him. “You always know what I need. Thank you.” I said.
He grinned and took a seat next to
to me. We sat in silence for a moment, sipping our coffee and looking out at the starry night sky. The mansion was quiet, and the soft rustling of the leaves in the breeze was the only sound that accompanied our thoughts.
“What’s on your mind?” He asked,
“Nothing.” I replied, taking a sip. “I just.. I miss going to work, admitted. “I wonder how my team is doing without me.”
Sebastian chuckled. T’m sure they’re managing, but they probably miss you, too.”
..“1 admitted.
I sighed. “I just want to go back home as soon as possible.”
“We will once the elders come to a decision.” He said, while taking a sip of his coffee.
“What do you think their decision will be?” I asked, genuinely wanting to know his opinion,
“To be honest, I can’t say that the verdict will be in our favor.” He said, “Laurel has evidence and a strong alibi with the footage and all call records… We just need to wait until the meeting” He added.
“She admitted to me that it was her,” I said, remembering her words and the anger that rose in me.“…multiple times and openly challenged me to prove
Sebastian looked at me and asked, “Did you meet her today?” he asked
I nodded. “We ran into each other at the hospital.” I said.
“Whatever she said to you…” Sebastian said, holding my hand.“Don’t let it get to you, Adeline… Okay?” he added.
I won’t,” I said, quickly changing the topic, not wanting to talk about her. “How’s the pack doing in your absence?” I asked. after a while. “You’ve been here with me all this time. How are things being managed?”
Sebastian smiled. “Ethair is handling everything really well. He’s been keeping things running smoothly in my absence. Actually, I think he might be enjoying the break from my constant presence.
I laughed at that: “I’m sure he’s doing great. It’s good to know the pack is in capable hands.”
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Chapter 43
“Ethan is quite good at his job,” he said, with a smile on his lips.
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Just then, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I sensed an intense gaze on
me, biting into my skin. I shivered, the feeling of being watched making me uneasy.
“It’s getting late.” I said, trying to shake off the feeling. “We should probably head to bed.” I added.
Sebastian seemed to sense my discomfort. He stood up and held out his hand to me. “Let me walk you to your roorn.” He offered
I took his hand, appreciating the gesture. As we walked back inside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching us. The intensity of the gaze made my skin crawl, but I couldn’t pinpoint its source. I glanced around, but there was no one
in sight.
When we reached my room, Sebastian gave me a reassuring smile. “Goodnight, Adeline. If you need anything, you know
where to find me.”
“Goodnight, Sebastian,” I replied, squeezing his hand before slipping into my room.
As I closed the door behind me, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The feeling of being watched hadn’t vanished. I turned on the light and glanced around the room, half–expecting to see someone standing there.
But there was no
