Chapter 5

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“Take him back to his room,” Adrian said abruptly, standing up to Carolina and at that moment she knew she was doomed.

The butler nodded and gently picked Justin up but the little boy immediately reached for Carolina, he didn't say anything but the look in his eyes was calling to her and that alone made Carolina's heart shattered.

“It's okay,” she whispered before she could stop herself. “It's okay, sweetheart.” She muttered and Justin looked at her before the butler carry him away.

The second they disappeared, Adrian turned to her, the warmth in his face vanished immediately.

“You broke the rule I gave you.” He said in rage and Carolina swallowed.

“I just wanted to know who was in here” Before she could finish, Adrian grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall.

Pain exploded through her back and she gasped, his hand was tight around her neck, too tight that she thought she definitely won't live to see tomorrow.

“You think this is a game?” he hissed, his face was inches from hers, his voice shook as he talk, not with calm anger but with panic.

“I warned you.” He half yelled as she clawed weakly at his wrist.

“Adrian” She tried to talk as her fingers dig into his hand.

“I told you never to come here!” He yelled, his grip tightened and tears blurred her vision.

“I was curious” She muttered again.

“Curious?” he shouted. “Do you have any idea what could have happened?”

He looked almost out of control, as if she had walked into the center of a wound he had spent years trying to hide.

“I made just three rules for you,” he said hoarsely. “ And you couldn't even obey any of it.” His voice was now more louder than before and her lungs burned.

“Please” She struggled and for a moment, his eyes met hers. And he finally saw the fear and tears in her eyes.

The way she could barely breathe and slowly his hand dropped.

Carolina collapsed to the floor coughing violently, she clutch her throat as Adrian stepped back like he regretted touching her.

But only for a second, then his face hardened again, he took out his phone and called someone.

“Come upstairs,” he said coldly and two guards arrived less than a minute later.

“Take her to her room,” Adrian ordered. “She is not allowed to leave it until I say otherwise.” He completed and Carolina looked up at him in disbelief.

“You can't do this.” She yelled even tho her throat hurt.

“Yes, I can.” He barked back at her, his eyes still filled with rage.

“We're married.” Carolina reminded him like he had forgotten about it but his expression did not change.

“You went somewhere you should never have gone.”

“I only found a”

“Enough.” He yelled, his voice cracked through the hallway and immediately the guards grabbed her arms.

“Let me go!” Carolina shouted, struggling. “Adrian!” She called but he did not look at her.

He stood in the middle of the hallway, chest rising and falling too fast, one hand pressed against the back of his neck.

Like he was trying very hard not to fall apart, cause Carolina is starting to be a problem to him.

THE NEXT MORNING

The room was quiet except for the ticking of the clock across the room. Justin sat cross legged on the floor beside his bed, he was lining up toy cars in a perfect roll, toys in different colors.

The doctor sat nearby, speaking softly even though the little act like he didn't exist in the room.

“Justin?” The doctor called but he got no answer, the little boy kept his eyes on the cars.

“Can you look at me?” He tried again and Justin's fingers twitched, he looks uncomfortable as he covered one ear with his hand.

The doctor immediately lowered his voice as he saw this, then sighed. “It's alright. We don't have to talk.” He muttered as he stood up.

Adrian stood by the window, watching them, then he moved closer.

“How is he?” he finally asked and the doctor walked toward him.

“You said he spoke last night?” He asked and Adrian nodded.

“He doesn't speak in front of people.” Adrian voice was quiet now, he sounded exhausted.

“Sometimes he speaks to me when we're alone but it just a word or maybe two, But if anyone else is there” He shook his head. “He shuts down.”

“And last night?” The doctor asked and Adrian looked toward Justin.

“He spoke" Adrian said.

“What was the word he said?” the doctor asked, and Adrian sighed.

“Mummy,” he replied fast, like the word burn his throat.

The doctor was silent for a moment, then he glanced toward the little boy who had stopped playing, he was staring at the door. Like he was waiting for someone.

“The woman from last night,” the doctor said carefully. “He connected to her.” He said and Adrian's jaw tightened.

“He met her for less than five minutes.” Adrian argued.

“For Justin, that may have been enough.” The doctor spoke gently.

“Children with autism experience connection differently. Some people make them feel safe very quickly. Others don't.” He said as he looked back at Justin.

“He wasn't speaking because he was neglected or because there was something wrong with him. Justin is autistic, Adrian. He experiences the world differently.” He said and Adrian looked away.

“He has always been like this,” he said quietly.

“I know.” The doctor said as he rested a hand on his shoulder. “And you've done everything you could.”

For the first time, Adrian's face cracked but just slightly.

“I don't know if I did enough.” He whispered, his head lowered.

“You did.” The doctor said as he glanced at Justin again. “But he is lonely.”

Adrian looked toward his son, Justin was still staring at the door.

“She made him feel safe,” the doctor continued. “You need to let him see her again.” He said and Adrian immediately tensed.

“No.” He rejected.

“If you want him to keep opening up, then yes.” He said as Adrian's hands curled into fists.

“You don't understand.” Adrian Whispered

“Then help me understand.” The doctor said and for a long moment, Adrian said nothing.

“His condition is finally improving, do your part in this, Mr Adrian, i will take my leave now,” the doctor said and Adrian nodded.

The moment the doctor walked out, Adrian moved toward the little boy, he looked at Justin but now the little boy had taken out his notebook.

His small fingers moved across the page as he wrote down some words, he stood and walked closer to Adrian.Then held up the notebook for Adrian to read.

"Adrian, did Mummy leave again?" Adrian stared at the words and something inside him twisted painfully, he smiled weakly as he crouched in front of his son.

“No,” he said softly and Justin blinked as he wrote another words.

“She didn't leave?” Adrian read the words and shook his head.

“No She's here.” He replied and the little boy's eyes lit up, then he quickly wrote again.

"Will she stay with me forever?" Adrian looked at the words for a very long time, then he closed his eyes shortly, because for Justin, he would do anything.

Even if it meant bringing Carolina back into the one part of his life he had never let anyone touch.

“Yes,” he whispered and Justin smiled.

A real smile, the kind of smile Adrian has never seen on his face.

Justin had been born autistic, for five years, he had barely spoken a word while growing up. At first, Adrian thought it was normal for a child his age, until he realized his son might never speak again.

The doctors said Justin's condition had worsened because he grew up without a mother's love.

The only word Justin said freely was Daddy or Adrian, and those words he only say them when they were alone. Everything else, he wrote down on sticky notes.

Adrian had him homeschooled and made sure he had everything he needed, he would bring down the moon for Justin if he could.

But last night, for the first time in years, hope flashed in his eyes when he heard Justin call Carolina Mummy.

And now, whether he liked it or not, he had no choice but to let Carolina stay close to his son.

And Adrian knew, in that moment, that he had already lost one of the battle he tend to fight against fate.