Chapter Three: Adele

I locked up the store before making my way home. Today had been unusually hectic, with a strange tension in the air, as if everyone sensed an impending storm. I glanced up at the sky—it was a serene expanse of clear blue, not a cloud in sight, and the wind barely stirred.

"Maybe it's one of the royals," I mused, letting the thought linger. Occasionally, a member of the royal family would wander through the streets, dispensing charity or seeking a thrill. But a dress shop was hardly the place for such excitement. As I walked, snippets of hushed conversations reached my ears—people whispering about something called "The Blue Star." My heart skipped a beat, and an icy dread gripped me, quickening my steps.

"No. It can't be. How?" My thoughts raced, each one more frantic than the last, as I approached my home. To my horror, a sleek, well-crafted carriage stood parked in front, its polished surface gleaming ominously in the fading light. Four guards, clad in the Bonaparte livery, flanked the vehicle, their expressions as unreadable as stone. My breath caught as I noticed the mermaid and sword crest etched on the carriage's door. The sight nearly brought me to my knees. Forcing myself to move, I approached the entrance of my modest home and pushed open the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

I froze in the doorway, my blood running cold at the sight before me. There, seated comfortably in my small living room, was Cesare—his presence as commanding as ever. He was casually chatting with my son as if he belonged there, as if he hadn't torn my world apart.

"Horses are fun once you learn how to ride them," he said, his voice rich and smooth, like a dark melody. Julian, who clutched a small wooden horse figurine in his tiny hands, looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"I would wike to wide a howse," Julian chirped, his voice filled with childlike excitement. Then he noticed me standing in the doorway, and his face lit up with joy. "Mama!"

He scrambled off the chair and crawled under the table, racing toward me with all the speed his little legs could muster. I scooped him up into my arms, holding him close as if I could shield him from the man who loomed like a shadow over our lives.

"What took you so wong, Mama? He sent Mowe home," Julian said, glancing back at Cesare, who lounged in the chair with an air of practiced indifference, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"I apologize, my dear. I was... detained," I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady even as I heard Cesare's low, mocking chuckle.

"What could be so pressing in a dress shop?" he asked, his tone dripping with condescension. I clenched my jaw, recognizing the gleam in his eyes—he was in the mood to toy with me. I closed the door behind me, trying to block out the outside world, and set Julian down on his feet.

"Why don't you go play in your room while I speak with this gentleman," I said, forcing a smile for my son's sake. Julian hesitated, glancing between Cesare and me, his little brow furrowed in confusion.

"Okay, but he should stay for dinnea," Julian said before darting off to his room. The innocent request hung in the air, a painful reminder of the normalcy I longed for but could never have. I took a deep breath, steeling myself, before turning to face Cesare. Time had not diminished his power; if anything, the years had only honed the sharp edges of his presence. He looked exactly the same—devastatingly handsome, his features chiseled and cold, his attire even more opulent than I remembered.

"You still look the same. It seems motherhood suits you," he remarked as he rose from the chair, his voice smooth and unhurried. I had forgotten just how tall he was, how his mere presence could fill a room and make it feel smaller. Everyone commented on Julian's height for a three-year-old, but I could never admit that his father towered over me as well, his looming figure a constant reminder of his dominance. I felt like prey in the sights of a predator, my every instinct screaming at me to flee.

"Silent as usual. You have nothing to say for yourself?"

"What are you doing here, my lord?" I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He glanced at the closed door behind which my son played, unaware of the storm gathering around him. "Isn't it obvious?"

"I know you have questions."

"I have plenty of questions, but the only one that comes to mind is... why?"

I blinked at him, disbelief and anger warring within me. "Why? You ask me why? We had a deal. I was to pretend to be a Bonaparte and marry into the House Della Valle so you could live your life as freely as you wished."

"That's true, but you didn't succeed." He pointed out.

"Because you sabotaged it. You... You made me look like a fool. You dressed me up like a commoner in gilded clothes and allowed your high society to tear at me. You went back on the deal."

He stared at me, his expression inscrutable. "You are correct again."

I fought back the tears that threatened to spill. I had poured my heart and soul into that role, practiced every nuance, every gesture, all to escape his grasp—and then, foolishly, I had fallen for him. I had believed his pretty words, his empty promises, and in the end, he had made me feel cheap and used.

"I did not reveal that you were a commoner. That was someone else."

I glared at him, my hands trembling. "So why don't you go back there, my lord?"

"I am here for my son, Adele Vivi," he said, his voice as cold and unyielding as iron.

It felt as though the ground had opened beneath me, threatening to swallow me whole. My worst fear was unfolding before my eyes. A small part of me had always known this day would come, but I had never truly believed it...

"Why?" I whispered, my voice trembling with despair.

Cesare crossed his arms over his broad chest, his posture radiating authority. "He is the heir to the Bonaparte line. He can't stay here in this hovel."

"You can't. You can't take him. He's just a little boy. He needs me," I pleaded, my voice breaking.

He gave a slow, predatory smile. "I think he can manage. I was raised without my parents."

"That's different," I insisted, as his golden eyes narrowed, the intensity of his gaze almost unbearable.

"How?"

I swallowed hard. "I am all he has ever known. I... I am his mother."

"And I am his long-forgotten father, who can give him a better home with security and an education."

My stomach churned, a sickening wave of fear washing over me.

"Cesare, please..." I hated the sound of my voice; begging felt like a violation of my very nature.

Cesare's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "You're begging? You've always been good at begging."

"I am begging you not to take him," I said, my voice trembling with desperation.

His blue eyebrows arched in mock surprise. "Oh, I don't see why I shouldn't. You kept him from me."

"Because I... I knew you didn't want or like children. You said before that children weren't something you saw as..."

He moved swiftly, his powerful stride closing the distance between us as he cornered me against the wall. His hand gripped my chin, tilting my face up to meet his penetrating gaze. "Do not use my words against me."

I pressed my lips together, holding back the torrent of words I wanted to hurl at him, as he finally released me, running a hand through his tousled blue hair.

"I am well aware of what I said and did three years ago. I've had a change of heart."

My eyes widened in shock. "A change of heart?"

"Yes, Adele Vivi. I've decided that children aren't so bad, considering they have their uses."

"Julian is not a plaything, my lord. He is a boy with a mind, with emotions. He is a person," I said, my voice filled with defiance.

"As I have seen. He is bright, too, which is why he will come with me in the morning."

I leaned against the wall for support, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. "You can't. I won't let you."

Cesare prowled toward me, his presence as menacing as a stalking predator. His hand once again found my chin, his grip firm yet strangely gentle. I was instantly reminded of our first meeting, the moment when he had devised his plan to mold me into his perfect pawn, transforming me into a High Society Lady. My heart thundered in my chest, each beat echoing with fear.

"How do you plan to stop me, eh? Running away? Hiding? You may have succeeded this far, but you won't escape again. You can stay or go, but that boy comes with me.

I grabbed his hand, my grip weak but determined. "You can't do this. I know I've angered you. There are many things I could have done differently, but Cesare, this is too low, even for you. Please, by the goddess, don't take my baby away from me."

His eyes softened slightly, his grip on my chin loosening as he absorbed my words. "So sincere."

"It is sincerity. This is a mother trying to keep her child from being ripped away from her," I said, my voice a whisper.

He released my chin, and I let go of his warm hand, the loss of contact leaving me feeling cold and empty.

He looked up at the ceiling, sighing deeply, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "Damn. We will have to make an arrangement."

The tension in the small house grew palpable, the air thick with unspoken words and unfulfilled promises.

I swallowed hard. "What do you have in mind?"

He lowered his gaze to me, his eyes narrowing as if I were an insignificant insect beneath his heel. "Marry me."

I nearly collapsed under the weight of his words. "What?"

"Marry me," he repeated, his voice cold and commanding. "As you know, I broke the engagement with Lucrezia Della Valle after you abandoned her brother, Ezra Della Valle, at the altar. Madam Eva has been incessantly nagging me to marry someone, anyone, to distract from my transgressions against High Society and the royal family. But I could care less about that," he said, his tone growing serious. "Now, that all changes. I have an heir now. He needs to be presented to society at the proper age."

"So, marrying you could possibly absolve the events that happened between us three years ago?" I asked, my voice shaking with disbelief.

"More or less. People are still talking about our scandal. You are known as 'Lady Mermaid,' and I am still known as 'The Blue Star.' If we marry and present ourselves as such, we could change the narrative."

"That is not a guarantee. You wanted me to pose as your sister."

He waved away my words with a dismissive gesture. "Forgotten details. The moment people found out you were a commoner, the plan fell apart. Marry me when we reach Santnare. You will be the Duchess of Bonaparte. A true High Society Lady."

My mouth went dry at the mention of the Duchy. The thought of returning to that snake pit after being humiliated was almost too much to bear. I could still hear the mocking laughter and whispered threats echoing in my ears.

"If I agree to this, I have my own set of boundaries," I said, straightening my spine and lifting my chin. His words had battered my dignity, but I had fallen lower and harder before. I needed to think of Julian.

"Boundaries?"

"Yes. Boundaries. If I agree to this, you will allow me to care for Julian until he comes of age."

He blinked, surprised by my sudden assertiveness. "Damn. I had forgotten how quick you are."

"Do you agree with that boundary?"

A slow, calculating smile spread across his face. "Until he is eight, then he goes to a private school of my choice."

I gritted my teeth, swallowing the protest that rose in my throat. "Alright. And I have one more condition."

He slipped his hands into his pockets, his gaze never leaving mine. "What is this one?"

"We are not to share a room."

His eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "Try again."

I shook my head, my resolve firm. "I mean it. We are to be married but have separate rooms. If you agree to this boundary, I will accept your offer."

I watched as his jaw clenched, the muscles ticking in frustration. If I was to endure this "marriage," I needed to maintain control, to protect myself. If I gave him a chance, by the goddess, my healed heart would break open, and I would be lost to him once more.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then let out a heavy sigh of resignation. "Deal. I will not interfere with your care of the boy, and we will sleep in separate bedrooms. Is there anything else?"

I shook my head, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a heavy shroud. "No, those are my only two conditions."

"Troublesome female," I heard him mutter under his breath, but then he spoke more clearly. "Be ready in the morning. We leave for Bonaparte Manor by ship."

He barely spared me a second glance before striding to the door and disappearing into the night, his departure as silent and sudden as his arrival.