Chapter 56

Leaving the hospital was imminent. Adrien walked slowly, leaning on Ana's arm, who guided him with gentle yet firm support. Luca was beside them in a wheelchair, his eyes gleaming with a hope he hadn't shown in a long time. The idea of returning home, though filled with uncertainty, offered a sense of relief. Adrien knew he still had a long way to go to regain his strength, but at least he wasn't doing it alone.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried heels echoed in the hallway. Ana had no time to react when she saw a tall, dark-haired, and elegant woman approaching quickly. The woman's gaze was firm, almost imposing, carrying an aura of authority that couldn't be ignored.

It was Adrien's mother.

-What's going on here? - The woman's voice was authoritative, with a tone that left no room for doubt or contradiction. It wasn't a question but a statement of her dominating presence.

Adrien, upon seeing his mother, stopped. His face, though tired, filled with an uncomfortable expression.

-Mom - he said, with a resigned look. He knew his mother wouldn't accept him staying at Ana's house, and this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Adrien's mother, flashing a cold smile, approached him, casting a dismissive glance at Ana and Luca.

-What are you doing here? - she said, not bothering to be polite. -You're coming with me, Adrien. You're weak and need my help. And your son - she turned to Luca with an air of superiority - he'll come with me too. I'll handle everything. The best thing is for both of you to come with me. So, Ana, please don't get in the way.

Ana, completely taken aback by Adrien's mother's sudden appearance, couldn't help but tense up. She hadn't expected anyone else to have control over the situation.

-What are you saying? - Ana asked, holding Adrien's hand more firmly. -I'm not letting you take my son just like that.

Adrien's mother looked at her with disdain, as if Ana were nothing more than a nuisance in her path.

-Your son - Adrien's mother emphasized the words with a tone of contempt - would be much better off with me. You don't know how to handle this situation. I'll take them to my house, where I can care for them properly.

Ana frowned, feeling a wave of anger starting to build inside her. She wasn't going to let Luca go without a fight.

-I won't let you do that - Ana said, her voice tense and determined. -Adrien and Luca are staying with me.

Adrien's mother glared at her, her eyes full of disdain. She didn't like being challenged, especially not by a woman who had no idea what it meant to be a mother.

-I told you not to get in the way, dear - she replied, with a smile that wasn't kind but rather mocking. In one swift motion, she extended her hand and shoved Ana.

Ana, surprised by the aggression, took a few steps back, stumbling before falling into a nearby chair. The push wasn't strong, but it was enough to leave her stunned. For a moment, she stared at Adrien's mother, who watched her coldly, as if what she had just done was the most normal thing in the world.

Adrien, seeing what had happened, felt his breath catch. He couldn't stand his mother acting like this, but he also couldn't bear to see Ana hurting.

-Mom! - Adrien exclaimed, grabbing his mother by the arms and pulling her away from Ana. -What the hell are you doing?!

Adrien's mother, now shocked by her son's reaction, looked at him with a mixture of anger and surprise.

-I'm just trying to take care of you, Adrien. - Her voice, however, didn't sound empathetic but as if she believed she was absolutely right. -Has this woman influenced you so much that you'd rather stay with her? I'll take you to my house, where you can recover properly!

Ana, still stunned by the push, slowly stood up. She placed her hand on the arm that had absorbed the impact, but she wasn't going to back down. No matter what Adrien's mother did, she was going to fight for what she believed was best for Luca and Adrien.

-You have no right to do this, ma'am - Ana said, her voice renewed with determination. -They're staying with me. You're not going to tear us apart.

Adrien's mother, seeing Ana's resistance, paused for a moment, as if considering her next move. The tension in the air grew thicker, and Adrien felt a weight in his chest. His mother's words and Ana's attitude only made an already difficult situation more complicated.

-I told you, Adrien. She doesn't know what it means to care for a child - his mother said, not taking her eyes off Ana. -The best thing is for Luca and you to come with me. So please stop making excuses.

But before she could say anything else, Adrien, with labored breaths, stepped between his mother and Ana.

-Enough! - Adrien shouted, looking at his mother with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. -I'm staying with Ana, with Luca. I'm not going to your house. I won't let you keep controlling my life like this.

Adrien's mother, hearing this, took a step back, looking at her son with a mix of disbelief and disdain. She couldn't understand why Adrien, after everything, would choose to stay with Ana.

The conflict between them, between what Adrien wanted and what his mother desired, had just erupted.

-You need to be responsible, Adrien - she said, turning away with a gesture full of disapproval. -You'll regret this, mark my words.

With one last cold glance, Adrien's mother walked away, leaving them behind in an atmosphere heavy with unresolved tension.

Adrien looked at Ana, who now watched him with a mix of concern and something deeper, something he couldn't yet identify. But he was sure of one thing: the fight wasn't over, and he would face it alongside her.

For now, all that mattered was that Adrien and Luca were safe, and their small home awaited them.