Becoming Mrs DeLuca novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

ADRIAN

THE PAST

“Adrian,” Damien said firmly, gripping my shoulder with a sense of urgency in his voice.

“Call my father. Tell him to come over immediately. He needs to know what’s happening, but don’t mention Rico—let’s keep the focus on Lorenzo for now. And don’t alert anyone else just yet. We have to come up with a believable story,” I instructed, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

“Are you really going to keep Serena’s affair under wraps?” Damien asked, his eyes searching mine.

“Absolutely. I don’t want the world knowing. We’ll pin this all on Lorenzo—label him a traitor. He was probably the one who tipped off the bikers anyway,” I said, the bitterness in my tone unmistakable.

“But Serena might know more than we think. If she was involved with Lorenzo, they could have talked,” Damien warned.

I shrugged off his hand, anger and despair rising inside me like a storm. “I have to check on her,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Adrian,” Damien said, grabbing my shoulder again, his grip firm but cautioning. “Even if you don’t kill her, you can’t trust her anymore. This marriage is over.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I climbed the stairs in silence. When I reached Serena’s bedroom, I found her lying in bed, looking out of it—drugged and distant. The doctor was there, sweat beading on his forehead, a swelling evident from some earlier struggle.

“She fought me,” the doctor explained, his voice tired. “I had to sedate her and drag her back to bed. If I hadn’t, she might have hurt herself or the baby.”

Doctor Sal glanced down at my blood-stained clothes. “Do you want me to check your injuries?”

I shook my head but asked from the doorway, unable to step closer: “Is the baby okay?”

“It’s stable,” he replied, though his tone was cautious. “It’s not ideal that I had to sedate her. If she’s still this hysterical when she wakes, we might have to restrain her. I can’t keep giving her sedatives like this.”

“Can we deliver the baby now?” I pressed, the worry gnawing at me.

Sal shook his head slowly. “In theory, yes. But we should wait another two or three weeks at least.”

How could I guarantee the baby’s safety? I’d have to watch Serena around the clock, hoping she could somehow get past Lorenzo’s death, while also keeping her away from Rico. Foolish hope, I knew. What could I realistically expect now? To live under the same roof, filled with hatred? Serena would spend every moment wishing for my downfall, and I would breathe resentment for what she had done. This marriage was dead—had been from the very beginning.

“Stay with her,” I said quietly, then turned and left the room.

I made my way to the master bedroom, where I took a quick shower and dressed before heading to Stefan’s room.

He was asleep, curled up on his side in bed. I sat down slowly on the floor beside him, running my fingers through his unruly hair. He looked so much like Serena—her brown eyes, dark-blond hair, even the shape of his face. Everyone had said it from the start. He bore no resemblance to me. My sister and mother shared that same dark-blond hair, so I had always assumed Stefan had inherited it from them. But now, with Rico’s dirty blond hair in mind, if Rico was Stefan’s father, it explained everything.

I thought of the baby still in Serena’s womb. Lorenzo and Serena shared many features—would the child look like them?

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I looked down at the boy I loved more than anything in the world. I had never truly loved Serena—not for who she was. I had respected and cared for her because she had given me the most precious gift imaginable: a child.

Father lowered his arm slowly. “Let’s postpone this conversation.”

“There won’t be another conversation, Father. Stefan and Sofia are my children, end of story. Anyone who says otherwise will pay the price.” Part of me was scared—scared to face the truth, scared to look at Stefan and not see my son but Rico’s. I would never let that happen.

Father straightened and warned, “Don’t forget who you’re talking to.”

“I’m not forgetting. I respect you. But don’t say anything I won’t forgive.”

He leaned heavily on his cane, sighing deeply. “If you prefer to live in the dark…”

“The dark is where we’re all most comfortable,” I said with a nod toward Damien. “Take care of the body.”

Damien inclined his head and turned to do what was needed. I could always count on him—but after today, could I truly trust anyone? Probably not.

My eyes drifted back to Serena, lying on the bed, fragile and broken.

“How will you ever look her in the face again after what she’s done?” Father asked quietly.

“I doubt that will be a problem,” I replied coldly. “She probably won’t want to look at me after what I did to Lorenzo.”

Chapter 60