Chapter Twenty-Three: The Confrontation

Mia walked back to the house with a heavy heart, her mind replaying Eliza's words over and over. Victoria's return was no coincidence. It was clear now that she had an agenda, and it was one that Mia wasn't going to let unfold without a fight.

When she arrived home, Adrian was in the kitchen, preparing dinner for the boys. The scent of garlic and roasted vegetables filled the air, but Mia's focus was elsewhere. She stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him, trying to steady the storm of emotions inside her. She had to confront him—there was no avoiding it anymore.

"Adrian," she called, her voice a little sharper than she intended.

He turned, a smile crossing his face when he saw her. "Hey, you're back. I was just making your favorite—"

"Adrian, we need to talk," she interrupted, her tone serious, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

His smile faltered as he took in her expression. He walked over to her, concern flooding his features. "What's wrong?"

Mia didn't mince words. She wasn't going to dance around this anymore. "I know what's going on with Victoria. Eliza told me everything."

Adrian's face went pale, his eyes momentarily flickering with guilt before he masked it with a frown. "Mia, I don't want you to get upset. I've already told you there's nothing between us. Victoria is just... she's trying to create problems. But I'm not letting her, okay?"

Mia took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "It's not just about what Victoria wants, Adrian. It's about you. You've been hiding things from me. You've been keeping secrets, and I don't know how to trust you anymore."

Adrian's jaw clenched, his body tense. "I didn't keep anything from you, Mia. I should have told you sooner, yes. But I was trying to protect us—to protect you. I didn't want to bring more drama into our lives, especially after everything we've been through. But I swear to you, nothing is going to come between us. I'm here, with you. Not her."

Mia shook her head, her heart aching. "But that's the problem, Adrian. You're not telling me the whole truth. You're asking me to believe in you without giving me all the facts. I need more than just your words—I need to see that you're not hiding anything from me anymore. That you're truly all in."

Adrian's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, Mia could see the vulnerability in them. But the anger she had been holding in started to seep through. "I never wanted to hurt you. But I see now that my actions have done just that. I should have been upfront with you from the beginning. I was afraid of what you might think, of losing you. But I should have trusted you, Mia. You deserve that."

The honesty in his voice cut through the tension between them like a knife. Mia's anger flickered, but it wasn't enough to erase the fear that had taken root in her heart. "You've hurt me, Adrian. And I need time to process this. I can't just ignore what's happened."

Adrian stepped closer, reaching for her hand. This time, Mia didn't pull away. She let him take it, her fingers trembling against his. "I know I've made mistakes. But I'll do whatever it takes to show you that you can trust me. That I love you and I'm not going anywhere. Please, Mia. Let me prove it."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away. This wasn't about emotions running high. It wasn't about accusations or anger. It was about their future—and whether or not she could truly move forward with him. "I need time, Adrian. Time to think about everything. Time to figure out if I can still trust you."

He nodded, his expression a mixture of understanding and desperation. "I'll wait, Mia. I'll wait as long as it takes. But please, don't give up on us. On me."

Mia swallowed hard, taking a step back. "I'm not giving up on us, Adrian. But I need to be sure. I can't keep living in the shadow of the past."

With those words, Mia turned and walked away, leaving Adrian standing in the kitchen, the weight of her decision hanging in the air.

---

The next few days were quiet, and though Mia tried to focus on the boys, her thoughts kept drifting back to Adrian. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he was letting on. And though his apology felt sincere, part of her still couldn't forget the uncertainty, the doubt that had crept into her heart.

One evening, as she was getting the boys ready for bed, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at the screen, surprised to see a message from Eliza.

"Mia, I need to warn you. Victoria is planning something bigger than you think. You need to talk to Adrian about it. She's not done yet."

Mia's pulse quickened. She had hoped this was just a misunderstanding, that maybe Victoria was harmless. But now, it seemed like Eliza's suspicions were right. Victoria wasn't just trying to interfere—she was actively trying to destroy their relationship.

Without wasting any more time, Mia grabbed her phone and dialed Adrian's number. The phone rang a few times before he answered, his voice soft but filled with concern. "Mia? What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to you," she said, her voice steady but urgent. "It's about Victoria. Eliza just sent me another warning."

Adrian's breath caught on the other end of the line. "Mia, I told you, I don't want her to have anything to do with us. I've already made it clear to her, and I've cut contact."

"That's not enough, Adrian. She's planning something. I need you to do more. I need to know you're as committed to us as I am. That you'll fight for us, even when it gets tough."

There was a long pause before Adrian spoke again. His voice was firm, resolved. "I'll handle it. I'll make sure she knows once and for all that she has no place in our lives. And I'll prove to you, Mia, that you are the only one I want. Always."

Mia felt a flicker of hope deep within her chest. Maybe, just maybe, Adrian was ready to fight for their future. But there was still so much at stake. She needed to see it. To feel it in her heart.

"I'll be waiting for you," she whispered before ending the call.

As Mia sat in the silence of the night, she realized that this was the turning point. They could either crumble under the weight of their past, or they could rise above it, stronger than ever. She wasn't sure what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure—she wasn't going to give up without a fight.