Paper Rings and silent fears

The ink had barely dried on the marriage certificate, and yet the weight of it was already settling into Celeste's bones.

Adrian had gone out for a call with one of his father's mafia allies—an errand she was never invited to. And for once, she didn't ask questions.

She sat at the kitchen table, Zara resting peacefully in her lap. Beside her was a makeshift wedding band—twisted gold wire Adrian had found and crafted into a simple ring.

Not because he had to.

But because he wanted her to have something, even if it wasn't grand.

"Paper rings and golden promises," Celeste whispered, playing with Zara's tiny fingers. "What have we gotten ourselves into?"

Zara giggled in her sleep, as if sensing her doubt.

The door creaked open behind her. Adrian entered, removing his blazer and loosening his collar. He looked exhausted—but not from work. From pretending.

She saw it in his eyes: something he wasn't saying.

"You're quiet tonight," she said.

He poured himself a glass of water and leaned against the counter. "Things are shifting. My father's watching our every move. The marriage made headlines in our world, and that's both good and dangerous."

Celeste blinked. "I didn't know it would reach them so fast."

"They're not ordinary people. They have ears everywhere. I married you to protect you, but now I need to protect both of you more than ever."

"Because of Zara?"

"No," he said, voice firm. "Because of you."

Celeste didn't know what to say. The man standing in front of her wasn't just a protector. He was risking his world—his family—for a woman who had never even kissed him.

"You knew this would get complicated," she said slowly. "Did you still think it was worth it?"

Adrian walked over and crouched beside her, placing his hand over hers where Zara lay between them.

"I didn't think," he said honestly. "I felt. I saw you hurting, raising someone else's child with no one by your side. I wasn't going to let you carry all that alone."

"You always do that," she whispered.

"Do what?"

"Step in when I don't even know I'm falling."

A silence stretched between them.

Then Zara stirred and let out a soft whimper. Celeste moved to lift her, but Adrian stopped her gently. "Let me," he said.

He cradled the baby, paced the room slowly, whispering nonsense lullabies that made Celeste smile.

Zara clung to his shirt with the same death grip as before—her tiny fist refusing to let go of him. And just like that, Celeste's heart cracked wider.

Watching him care for Zara with such natural ease—it made her chest ache. Not with confusion, but with clarity.

She loved Ethan once. Deeply. Blindly. But Adrian... she was learning to trust him. That felt more sacred.

When Adrian finally tucked Zara back into her bassinet and turned around, Celeste was standing close—closer than she usually dared.

"You're really doing this," she murmured. "You're being her father."

"I already feel like I am," he replied. "If that's alright with you."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "It is."

Her hand reached out, brushing his. Their fingers didn't lock—but they lingered.

The air buzzed with something unspoken.

Then, like she always did when it got too real, she stepped back.

"I should sleep," she said quickly.

"Of course," Adrian replied, voice steady, but eyes a little dimmer.

She disappeared down the hallway, clutching the feeling of his warmth like a secret she wasn't ready to admit.

Behind her, Adrian stood still.

The silence between them wasn't cold.

It was waiting.