CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE: Goodbye for Now

ADELE'S POV

The hospital loomed over me ominously.

I stepped out of the car and signalled the driver to find a secluded parking space.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow on the glass doors as I approached them. My heart beat faster with each step I took.

I haven't seen my mother in months. So much has happened. Despite the 90% board vote that made me Co-CEO, I walked around with a hole in my chest.

Julian and I had become strangers. Distant, formal, cold. The kind of silence that echoes.

We barely spoke to each other, save for board meetings and public events.

That's the way it's supposed to be, but I can't help but feel a longing for what we once had, no matter how fake it was.

Pushing it all to the back of my mind, I pushed through the glass doors and the smell of antiseptic and air conditioning hit my nostrils, pulling me into that sterile quiet only hospitals have.

Too clean, too still, too full of ghosts.

I froze in front of my mother's ward, my hand hovering over the doorknob.

‘Deep breaths, Adele. And put on a smile’

A tight smile spread across my face and I pushed the door open.

There she was. My mother. My life giver. Sitting up in bed, wearing a huge smile with arms outstretched.

“My baby girl! Come here”

I rushed into her arms, nuzzling my nose against her neck. She smelled of citrus and antiseptic.

I inhaled deeply, all my buried emotions threatening to burst through my chest. I want to stay here forever.

I want to close my eyes and it would just be the two of us. No cancer, no contract. Just us in our New York home sharing pizza and drinking diet coke.

“I missed you so much, my precious. You don't visit me anymore”

Guilt ate at my chest.

“I know, mom. I'm so sorry”

She pulled me into the bed with her and braided my hair as I told her everything. Julian, Celeste, and my appointment. I left out my accident. I couldn't risk burdening her.

My shoulders sagged when I was done. I felt a little lighter. A little happier.

“Look at me, Beanie”

Her eyes were moist with tears.

“I'm so proud of you, baby. Look how far you've come! You're a whole Co-CEO now. You're finally getting your spark back”

Knots formed in my throat, slowing my breathing. How can I tell her that my life is indeed falling apart, that she was the only thing that made sense.

The only person keeping me alive.

I nodded and swallowed as a teardrop escaped my eyes.

“I’m just so happy you're getting better, mom. I can't do any of this without you”

My mother went quiet.

“Don’t say that, Adele. You can do this with or without me. I'm just happy I got to see it.”

“It was so hard…” my voice cracked with suppressed tears.

“I know, baby. I know. But here's something they don't know. You're a fighter. You take what life throws at you and you make something beautiful. That's rare.”

I looked down at my shaking hands. She reached out and placed a delicate finger under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet hers.

“Keep your head up, princess. Don't let them see your crown fall. And if you ever need a place to rest your head, I'll be here.”

Her voice broke.

”And when I'm gone, I'll watch over you and paint the night sky with the brightest stars. I love you, my sweet child. I love you so much”

My shoulders shook and I leaned into her, sobbing violently. She sniffled and kissed me on the head.

We stayed like that until my sobs reduced to hiccups. Until I started to smell like citrus and antiseptic, and the sky turned pitch black.

“Visiting hours are over, sweetie. You have to go home now” my mom cooed. I didn't want to leave. She was my only true home.

I climbed out of the bed reluctantly and dabbed at my eyes. Her hair band held my braids loosely together.

“Bye, Mom. I’ll call you later.”

“I’ll be waiting, sweetheart.”

She paused. Then added softly

“Goodbye for now.”

That pause. That tone. It clung to me like perfume on a coat.

I pulled open the door and came face to face with a tight lipped nurse. Her bun was wound too tight, face powdered like porcelain. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Good evening, Mrs Hawthorne”

I smiled back, feeling suddenly uneasy.

Something about her made my skin crawl. But I pushed it down. I was just being paranoid. Right?

“Good evening…” I read her name tag “Shirley”

I looked over my shoulder one last time at my mother. The door shut with chilling finality.

A child in a dinosaur onesie ran down the hallway, laughing. A nurse chased him with a juice box.

The hospital still felt alive. Hopeful, even.

I let myself believe the worst was over.

******

The soft click of Adele's heels echoed through the driveway as she stepped outside, arms folded, pulse unsteady.

Julian stood there, leaning against something black, gleaming, and predatory.

A car.

Not just a car.

An Aston Martin DBX707.

All obsidian curves and wicked lines. The headlights blinked like it knew who she was. Dangerous, tired, unwilling to be tamed.

Julian straightened, silent, like he was waiting for something.

“What is this?”

He shrugged, too calm. “A little something for my Co-CEO. Do you forgive me now?”

Adele walked around it slowly, fingertips trailing over the cold, slick surface. Every inch of it was precision and power. Just like him. Just like her.

“You think this fixes anything?”

“No.” He paused. “I think it says what I’ve been too proud to say. That I see you. That you’re not someone to be kept hidden anymore.”

Her chest tightened. She hated how much she wanted to believe him.

“It took you a whole month to even speak to me. You think you can just buy me over with a flashy car?”

Julian sighed and rubbed his temples.

“Just take it, Adele. You can see that I'm trying”

Adele scoffed and stepped back from the vehicle.

“You call this trying? You ignored me like I was nothing, and now you're trying?” Her voice rose as anger welled up inside her.

Julian shifted on his feet. He pulled out the key from his pocket and handed it to her.

“Here. You win. I'm sorry. Just take the keys. Jesus”

Adele's fists clenched at her sides. Why did she miss this man?

“You know what, Julian? You can take your keys and drive your freaking car off a bridge. Get out of my way!”

She brushed past him and stormed into the foyer. Julian followed hot on her heels.

“Seriously, Adele? I do something nice for you and you throw it in my face?”

“Go away, Julian” Adele kicked off her heels in the kitchen and tossed her handbag on the counter.

She took a bottle of water from the fridge and drank slowly, feeling Julian's eyes burn into her.

The water was cold. Nothing else was. Her skin still burned with everything unsaid.

She set down the bottle and faced him. He clutched the key tightly. His right eye twitched.

“What do you want, Ads? Talk to me. I'm right here”

Adele rolled her eyes.

“You're here NOW.”

Julian waited. The tension in the air was thick, sucking all the oxygen out of Adele's lungs.

“How about some honesty, Julian. How about you stop being such a giant asshole?”

“Don't insult me, Adele. I'm trying here. Either take the car or don't” His jaw tensed.

“If I haven't made it perfectly clear, I'm not taking your car. You can give it to Celeste. I'm sure she'll be more than excited to jump back into your arms after that”

Julian looked punched.

“Stop it.” His voice was low, predatory.

“No, YOU stop. I'm not some bird in a cage that you can play with and abandon when you like. If you're looking for a dummy wife, you have another think coming”

“I'm not looking for a dummy wife, Adele. I'm not looking for anything at all. I have you. You're more than enough.”

Adele's heart fluttered, and she cursed herself for still feeling something for this man. Her heart won't win. Not this time.

She crossed her arm and stepped closer to Julian until she could feel his warm breath on her face. He smelled of whiskey and sandalwood. She wondered what he tasted like.

Focus, Adele!

“I don't care about what you want anymore. I'm not looking for some saviour. I wanted you, but now I don't. You lost me. Accept it and it'll get easier for you.”

Silence hung in the air.

In one swift move, Julian cupped her face in his hands and crashed his lips onto hers. His lips ravaged hers with a strange hunger. Seeking. Tasting.

Adele froze, then her hands pressed against his chest, shoving him off her.

Her hand moved swiftly, smacking him across the face. Julian's breath came in short raspy breaths as he held his cheek.

His chest heaved up and down.

Their eyes burned into each other.

Adele couldn't fight it anymore. She pulled him roughly against her and kissed him, running her fingers through his hair.

He tasted just as she imagined. Her head buzzed with excitement as Julian wrapped his strong arms around her, lifting her onto the counter.

Her legs wrapped around him, pulling him close.

His fingers ran through her braids, pulling softly, lips still locked onto hers.

Adele's brain screamed for her to stop, but her heart muffled it. Her body tingled with anticipation. Her waist arched with longing.

Julian's breath hitched as her tongue prodded his lips invitingly.

He parted his lips, letting her explore his mouth. His free hand tugged at her buttons, loosening them hurriedly.

His breath caught as the fabric parted, exposing her skin to the cool air. To him.

He didn't deserve any of this. Her light skin contrasted sharply with her black bra, calling attention to her soft cleavage.

“You are so perfect, Ads. So perfect” his voice was hoarse.

He wanted to rip it apart and take her right there, but he didn't. He wanted to take his time. To soak in every detail.

Julian leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her collarbone.

Adele's breath hitched. She closed her eyes and bit her lip.

Her doubts vanished into thin air. Julian trailed soft kisses down her belly.

She never wanted this moment to end. For the first time in weeks, the world outside didn’t exist. No pain. No secrets. Just them.

Just then, her phone buzzed in her bag.

Julian paused and looked up at her, his eyes dark with desire.

“I'll call them back “

Julian shook his head and straightened up, buttoning her shirt back up.

“You should take that. It might be important”

Adele groaned in frustration and shoved her hand in her bag. The moment was ruined. This call better be worth it.

She read the caller ID. Her ears perked up and panic shot through her.

The hospital.

But why were they calling so late? She just left.

She jumped off the counter and pushed past Julian, her eyes glued to her screen.

She said a silent prayer. Her finger shook as she placed the phone on her ear.

“H-hello” her voice trembled. The pause on the other end was eerie.

“Mrs Hawthorne?” The voice on the other end sounded hesitant.

“Yes. Is my mother okay?” Adele blurted. Julian hovered around her, brows furrowed in confusion.

“Can you come in right now, ma'am?”

“Just answer the question first. Is my mother okay??” Adele could hear her heartbeat in her ears.

A pause. The reality hit her before the voice did.

“I'm so sorry, ma'am. Your mother suffered a heart attack. She's gone”