Chapter 3 I will sign it

Adeline Pov

I will sign it.

I couldn't move, the room felt impossibly still, my breath caught as my spine snapped straight.

I suddenly had the courage to move, my hands were trembling while I pressed them against my mouth. I felt numb-so numb that my tears refused to fall.

"Mom..." I whispered, then I collapsed on the bare ground.

"I--I'm scared... stand up now," I stammered.

But she didn't move. My eyes widened as I saw blood trickling from her hand, and a knife lying on the floor.

"No...no, please, mom," I whispered, panic welled knotting in my throat. The tears finally came, streaming down my face.

"I'm sorry...I'm so selfish. I didn't think about you...all I cared about was me." I said as I bit my lips, "Please...get up."

I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and dialed the ambulance, I fell back, screaming, "Where is the fucking ambulance?"

My chest heaved, I kissed her hand, "Mom...don't give up. You are strong, I'll do whatever you want. Just...stay with me."

The room was quiet except from my sobs, and my body shook uncontrollably, and my heart was pounding like it would burst.

‡

I sat down utterly still, emotionally shattered, What if...what if she didn't make it? The idea was unbearable. If she died... I would never forgive myself. Never.

I had always caused her pain. She was right-I was just another burden. A fucking burden.

I wiped my tears slowly, I knew what I had to do.

"I...I have to do this," I muttered to myself, and walked out of the ward.

Before coming to the hospital, I had already grabbed the card that was on the table. I let out a shaky breath and dialed the number, but it didn't go through. I tried again-it kept ringing.

Just as I was about to give up, the idiot picked up.

"Uh," he shrugged.

I rolled my eyes, I can't believe I'm doing this, "It's me...Ade....Adeline," I muttered.

"Talk, I have a lot of things to do," he said.

Why is he so arrogant? I muttered under my breath.

"About the contract... I will sign it."

"Okay. I'll send someone to drop a document at your house, the rules are there. Then I'll tell you what to do." He hung up before I could say a word.

I stared at my phone. What the fuck just happened? But there was no time to dwell. I had to get back.

I walked back into the ward, "When will you wake up, Mom? You're taking so long," I whispered, resting my head on her hand.

Then, suddenly, her fingers twitched. My eyes snapped open.

"Mom...are you awake?" I questioned.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me in a way that I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Mom...why did you have to do this to me? You know how much I care about you! You could have died! What were you thinking?"

"Adeline...." she whimpered.

"I've always worried about you...about whether you'd be happy, whether you'd ever have someone to protect you."

I shook my head, tears rolling down my cheeks, "Mom...you don't need to worry about anything. I will make you happy. I'm so sorry...for everything."

I let out a shaky breath, "I've called him, and I have accepted to marry him."

Her eyes widened, "Really? You would do this...for me?" She smiled, and it was like the sun had broken through the clouds.

I nodded, holding her hand tightly, "Yes, Mom. For you, I promise I'll be okay...I'll be happy."

She squeezed my hand weakly, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"You've made me so proud, Adeline," she whispered. "I just want to see you smile...truly smile, my baby."

"Mom, get well soon," I uttered.

She nodded, and smiled.

Then suddenly, someone interrupted us.

"Get well soon," he said, dropping a flower on the table.

My mom chuckled, and she almost tried to stand. I quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, "Mom, you're just getting better. Don't stress yourself."

She smiled, "Alex Muretti came to visit me? My day can't get any better!"

Alex smirked, I rolled my eyes at him.

"Why the dead flowers?" I scoffed.

"Some reminders are more effective than words," he said.

I grabbed his hand and dragged him out, "How did you know we're here?" I demanded.

He smirked, "I always know where you are...and where I'm needed."

"You are not needed here. The papers-I will sign them. You don't have to keep showing up unannounced."

He didn't say anything, he just stared at me.

"Everything is your fault," I snapped. "If you hadn't come into my life...if you hadn't offered money to mom... she wouldn't be here. We wouldn't have argued, and none of this would have happened."

It feels like there is a rage polluting my insides, my organs feel like they're waiting and rotting beneath it.

His eyes darkened, and his upper lips threatened to curl, "Blame me if that makes you feel better," he said in a low voice." "But understand this-every choice I make, it's always...about you."

He stared at me with plexing pale blue eyes nestled beneath his dark brows.

Dread formed in the pit of my stomach, "About me? You-"

He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him, and I could see the pulse throbbing in my veins.

"Stay out of my life," I scoffed, but my voice wavered.

He tilted his head, a smile curled in the corner of his lips, "I don't stay out of what I want," he said. "And right now... I want you."

A strand of sweat trickled down my back, betraying the anxiety I was trying to hide, I opened my mouth, my voice trembling, "I...hate-"

He glanced at me, and leaned in, "Be careful how you finish that sentence," he whispered to my ear.

My leg trembled as I staggered back until my back hit the wall, and I attempted to hold my breath on the onset of nausea.

He leaned in again, "I don't choose you because it made sense...I chose you because you haunt me and I want only you."