Chapter 19

The silence Gabriel’s words left behind was thick and suffocating.

Adrian swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to his son. Hazel’s hand tightened around Gabriel’s small arm, and Gaddiel shifted restlessly on the couch, his small face crumpling as he sensed the weight of what had just happened.

“We don’t like it when you shout,” Gaddiel said suddenly, his voice wobbling but determined. “It makes my stomach hurt.”

Adrian crouched immediately in front of them.

“Hey… hey,” he said softly. “Nobody is angry at you, okay? Daddy is here.”

Gabriel nodded slowly.

“I like it when Daddy is here,” he repeated. “We were happy.”

Hazel drew in a shaky breath.

“Mom,” she said quietly, turning to Amelia, “we were really happy just now. Please don’t be mad. Dad didn’t come to fight.”

Amelia stood rooted to the spot, her face pale, lips pressed tightly together. The fire that had fueled her anger moments ago flickered, then died completely. She looked