25

As the car rolled to a stop in front of Valeria’s house, Adrian shifted in his seat, glancing at her. She looked tired—her eyelids drooping, her hand resting idly over her stomach as if in silent reassurance.

"We're here," he said gently, but Valeria only blinked slowly before nodding. She reached for the door handle, stepping out with a little more effort than usual. Adrian watched as she fumbled with the keys in her hand, swaying slightly. His brows furrowed in concern.

"Valeria—" Before he could finish, her knees buckled. "Shit!" Adrian was out of the car in an instant, catching her just before she collapsed onto the doorstep. One arm wrapped firmly around her waist while the other slid under her legs, lifting her effortlessly.

Valeria gasped in surprise, her fingers instinctively clutching his shirt. "A-Adrian, I can walk—" she insisted. "Clearly not," he interrupted, his voice laced with both concern and frustration. "What the hell is wrong with you? You didn’t even eat properly."

She sighed, her head leaning against his chest in exhaustion. "I was just… feeling a little dizzy. It is alright, I am fine." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adrian didn’t respond. Instead, his grip tightened as he carried her inside, kicking the door shut behind him. He walked straight into the living room and carefully placed her on the couch, his eyes scanning her face.

"Stay there," he ordered, disappearing into the kitchen. Valeria let out a weak chuckle, rubbing her temples. "You don’t have to—"

"Shhh it and stay put," Adrian’s voice cut in from the other room. Moments later, he returned with a glass of water and a small snack, placing them on the table in front of her. She looked at him, her lips parting to protest, but his sharp gaze silenced her.

"You’re pregnant, Valeria. You need to take care of yourself," Adrian muttered, rubbing a hand over his face before sighing. "You’re alone here. If you won’t do it for yourself, at least do it for the baby."

Valeria swallowed, staring at the glass of water before slowly picking it up. As she took a sip, Adrian sat beside her, watching her carefully. "I’ll stay until you’re better," he said simply, as if it were non-negotiable.

‘He is doing so much for me.’ Valeria glanced at him, seeing something in his eyes she couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t just concern—it was something deeper. Something familiar.

Valeria set the glass of water down, exhaling softly before glancing at Adrian. He was still watching her, arms crossed, as if he wasn’t convinced she was fine. “You should go,” she said, offering a small, tired smile. “I’m fine now. You have work to get back to.”

Adrian didn’t move immediately. His sharp blue eyes studied her, his jaw tightening slightly. “You don’t look fine, Valeria.” She let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. “I’m just exhausted. A little rest, and I’ll be okay.”

Adrian leaned back against the couch, rubbing his temples. “You expect me to just leave when you almost collapsed on your doorstep? Seriously?” he complained while glaring at her.

Valeria sighed. “Adrian, I appreciate what you’re doing, I really do. But you can’t keep babysitting me. I need to learn to handle things on my own.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. He tilted his head slightly, watching her, as if debating whether to argue. “Handling things on your own doesn’t mean neglecting yourself,” he muttered.

Valeria looked away, fiddling with the hem of her dress. “I’m not neglecting myself,” she murmured. Adrian scoffed. “Right. Because skipping meals and nearly fainting is totally normal.”

She sighed again, shaking her head. “Adrian—” He held up a hand. “Fine. I’ll go,” he said, standing up. “But you’d better eat something before you sleep. And don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”

Valeria nodded, offering him a grateful smile. “I will.” Adrian stared at her for another moment before letting out a sigh of his own. “Goodnight, Valeria.”

“Goodnight, Adrian.” She watched as he walked toward the door, pausing briefly before stepping out. As soon as he was gone, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, slumping back against the couch.

Her fingers instinctively brushed over her stomach. “It’s just us now, baby,” she whispered. But for the first time in a long while, she wondered if she could have a great life with a companionship or not.

Valeria stirred awake at the sound of faint clattering, her brows knitting together as she blinked groggily. The dim glow from the kitchen illuminated the otherwise dark house, casting long shadows across the walls.

She slowly sat up, pressing a hand against her stomach for support, and swung her legs over the side of the sofa. Her body still felt heavy with exhaustion, but curiosity pushed her forward. ‘Who was in the kitchen?’

Her bare feet padded softly against the wooden floor as she made her way towards the warm glow. As she reached the entrance, she halted, her eyes widening slightly. “Adrian? You are still here?” 

He was standing by the stove, his sleeves rolled up, stirring something in a pot with effortless ease. The scent of fresh herbs and something savory filled the air, instantly making her stomach grumble.

She cleared her throat, and Adrian glanced over his shoulder. A small smirk tugged at his lips. “You’re up.” Valeria crossed her arms, tilting her head. “What are you doing?”

He turned back to the stove, giving the pot one last stir before lowering the heat. “Cooking.” She scoffed lightly, stepping further inside. “I can see that. Why?”

Adrian grabbed a bowl from the counter and ladled some of the steaming soup into it before setting it down. “Because someone decided to skip dinner and pass out on the couch,” he said, raising an eyebrow at her. “I figured you could use something warm.”

Valeria sighed, rubbing her temple. “Adrian, you didn’t have to do this.” He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “I know.” She opened her mouth to argue, but the rich aroma of the soup made her stomach twist with hunger. Hesitantly, she stepped forward and sat down at the small kitchen table. Adrian slid the bowl in front of her without a word.

She stared at it for a moment before sighing in defeat. “You really don’t listen, do you?” Adrian chuckled. “Not when it comes to stubborn women who don’t take care of themselves.”

Valeria shot him a glare but picked up the spoon anyway, blowing on the hot broth before taking a small sip. Warmth spread through her chest, soothing and comforting in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.

Adrian watched her, his expression unreadable. “Better?” She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah… better.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “Good.” For the first time in a while, Valeria didn’t feel so alone and for some reason Adrian’s presence felt her with warmth.