All Chapters of What the Heart didn't Know: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

(POV: Adrian)"The city outside was unusually quiet.The rain from last night had washed the skyline clean, leaving behind a sky so pale and soft it looked almost like a dream. The safehouse was in a quieter part of town, surrounded by trees that whispered instead of making a racket. For the first time in ages, Adrian didn’t feel the usual weight of urgency sitting on his shoulders.Inside, the house was peaceful. Amelia and Nora were still snoozing.Adrian leaned by the kitchen window, nursing a cup of black coffee that had gone cold ages ago. His mind drifted back to the previous night, remembering how Amelia had broken down in his arms, the quiver in her voice when she whispered she might be the issue.He hadn’t really known what to say then. But he held her close. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for that night.A soft sound pulled him back, and he turned around. It was Amelia.She stood barefoot in the doorway, wearing one of his old T-shirts and pajama pants. Her hair was

POV: Adrian---The rain came back just before midnight.Not the kind that roared and demanded attention, just a soft, steady rhythm against the windows, the kind that felt like a memory.Adrian stood near the hallway, arms folded as he listened. The house had finally gone quiet… or so he thought.Then came the sharp, sudden sound of crying.Not Amelia.Nora.He moved without thinking.When he reached her room, he found her on the floor, arms wrapped around her knees, sobbing hard. Her little shoulders trembled, and she was rocking herself back and forth like she was trying to disappear.Amelia knelt beside her, whispering in a soft, panicked voice. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here. You’re safe.”But Nora wasn’t hearing her.“I hate this place!” she screamed. “I hate the windows! I hate the beds! I hate the way everything smells!”Adrian's chest tightened. He’d seen combat breakdowns, soldiers curled up just like that, minds stretched thin by fear and grief. But seeing it in a child? That h

POV: AdrianAdrian didn't think much of his grocery trip. Just a few essentials: eggs, milk, and some snacks for Nora. The sky was overcast, that dull gray hue that made everything feel slightly lifeless. He took his time walking back, not out of fatigue but because the silence allowed his mind to wander.Since that night, almost, his feelings for Amelia had shifted. It wasn’t due to anything she had done, but rather what remained unspoken between them.As he approached the safehouse, something unusual caught his attention.A crumpled piece of paper caught in a bush by the front gate.He hesitated, balancing the grocery bag on his arm, and reached for the scrap of paper. It was folded and slightly damp from the morning dew. He glanced around and saw no one nearby.He opened it.Just one word.Adrian.Written in neat handwriting; the kind you use when you’re trying to maintain composure even if your hands are trembling.His name.He felt a rush of recognition. It was unmistakably Ameli

POV: Adrian---The storm hit by midafternoon, dark clouds, wet pavement, and that constant drizzle that just wouldn't quit. The safehouse, hidden behind tall trees and old stone walls, felt even more cut off than usual.Adrian was fine with storms. He liked the gray and the quiet; it gave everything a chance to slow down.What caught him off guard was when the power cut out around dinner time.“Did we forget to pay the bill?” Amelia asked from the hallway, half-washing a plate.Adrian was already flicking the light switches. No luck.“Nah, I think the whole block’s down,” he replied. “Probably a blown transformer.”She made a sound that was part annoyance, part acceptance. “Well, there goes the lasagna.”“We could always grill it,” he suggested. “Like a campfire.”“You want me to set the kitchen on fire?” “I meant I’d handle the grilling,” he added with a grin.She shot him a mock glare before heading toward the laundry room, mumbling about candles.---By the time they had lit enou

POV: Amelia---"It was the first peaceful day in forever.No updates from court. No late-night calls. No sketchy cars parked outside. Just sunlight streaming through the curtains and Nora's laughter floating in from the living room.Amelia stirred her tea slowly, watching the ripples dance in her mug. Adrian had headed out early to get some groceries. Nora was sprawled out on the rug, drawing with intense concentration, her tongue sticking out and her brow knitted in focus.It felt like nothing.But that kind of calm… it was everything.---By late morning, they were all piled into the car, making their way to a cozy bookstore café about twenty minutes away. Amelia had called ahead, they did private sessions for celebrities and high-profile families looking for a escape from the spotlight.The drive was a quiet one. Nora was humming softly in the backseat while Amelia stole glances at Adrian's hands on the wheel.It was funny how she had started noticing little things about him. Like