"Dove Hotel, Room 806. What do you want me to do Kim? Kidnap her?" Noah scoffed and he started driving, following after Adriana's car.
"Pfft, Aria is sure naughty. I wonder what kind of punishment she will get by her mom. Just now she told me all about her plan to partner you up with her mom." Kimberly told him.
Noah took a deep breath and he kept his eyes on the road.
"No but now that you mention it, she would gladly love for you to kidnap her mother." Kimberly continued teasing him. Not that it was making Noah feel any better.
"What did you two talk about?" Noah switched the topic. "Oh, nothing much. We just took the time to catch up!" Kimberly responded excitedly.
"Really?" Noah tried to hide his urge to know what she had been up to.
"Mhmm, I know she has a villa in Paris and that she has been working really hard to get where she is today. I'm really proud of her. I never knew she was into designing. Also, she made a lot of new friends and met a lot of new people. When she adopted Aria she started collecting pictures of their memories together. I of course had the privilege to see them! To summarize it all she has been living a great and happy life….without you…" Kimberly finalized, anticipating her brother's reaction.
"Yes, I bet she has been enjoying her life to the fullest without me. I have to." Noah's lips twitched but he insisted on hiding his true feelings.
"You too? Lier." Kim exposed him and he had no way to retaliate since what she said was the truth.
"..."
Kimberly patted her brother's shoulder and smiled. "I'll squeeze the reason to your divorce some day, I swear I will." Kimberly smiled confidently. Noah shook his head and the drive to the hospital was silent after that.
*****
"Mommy, It was a slip of toungue I swear." Aria pouted looking at her mother's expression. "Forget online learning. You will start school soon. Aria NEVER do something like that again. I feel like I have been spoiling you too much lately." Adriana massaged her temple in frustration.
Aria bit her lip and she stayed silent.
"Mommy is it that you don't like Uncle Noah? But he's so kind and he took care of me so well. He took me to the movies, he read me a bedtime story and he cuddled me to sleep, he even made me breakfast, and he let me draw a unicorn in his office wall!" Aria explained her eyes shinning as she excitedly listed all the things they did together.
'A unicorn?' Adriana frowned.
"-_-*"
"It seems you don't want your mommy anymore. Now all you think about is your handsome uncle tsk."
"Mommy, are you jealous?" Aria asked with a teasing smile.
"Humph!"
"Don't worry mommy. No one can replace you. I only love mommy the most!" Aria kissed her cheek and grinned.
"That better be the case." Adriana kissed her forehead.
A few minutes later they arrived at the hospital. Adriana told Ralf to take Aria back to the hotel and she exited feeling nervous.
She came out of the car and she glanced at Noah's car which was parked right in front of her. She took a deep breath and she looked up at the hospital ready to go inside.
Kimberly came out of the car and then Noah did. Silently, Noah,Adriana and Kimberly set foot inside the hospital. Adriana followed behind them as they led her to the ward. They entered an elevator and arrived at the VIP area.
Noah opened the door and his Grandmother turned her head in anticipation but when she saw Noah her lips twitched. He was not the person she was expecting to see but when someone came behind him her eyes lit up again only to be disappointed by Kimberly's appearance.
"Grandma!" Kimberly walked towards her and gave her a hug feeling relieved.
It's good that she's fine….
"Hmm, if I weren't in a hospital bed I bet you brats wouldn't even remember I exist." The old woman complained.
Mr.Preston and his wife shook her heads at their complaint.
Adriana wanted to go inside. She really did but when she saw everyone reunited in one room she hesitated. When Ralf came and told her the news she was truly worried but she decided to come tomorrow, knowing that more members of the Preston Family would be here.
If Noah hadn't pressured her she would have definitely not dared to step foot into a place where more familiar faces were. Those faces reminded her so much of the painful past. It was suffocating to even imagine herself in a room together with all of them.
She closed her eyes and placed her hand on the door knob. She lifted her eyes and her breath hitched when Noah turned to her and gave her an encouraging nod. Telling her to step inside.
She pursed her lips and walked in. She smiled lightly when she saw the only person who gave her warmth and care. The only person who stubbornly stayed on her side and never believed what others told her. She missed this woman so much but unfortunately she wasn't brave enough to keep in contact with her. Seven years ago she made the decisions to walk a path of revenge and her plans did not allow her to keep in contact with her grandmother.
"You….humph!" The old lady turned her head around and faced the woman refusing to acknowledge her present.
"Grandma you can't stay mad at me forever…" Adriana smiled sadly. Her eyes moved to Noah's parents whose eyes were rounded and their lips parted in shock.
"Nice to see you again, Mr.Preston, Mrs.Preston." Adriana's voice was neutral. "I'm glad to see you are doing well Adriana." Mrs.Preston gave her a gentle smile.
"Is it too much to ask for a hug?" Mr.Preston smiled sadly when he saw her. Though his wife had told him about her sudden reappearance seeing her in flesh and blood was still overwhelming.
"Of course." Adriana smiled and she gave Mr.Preston a short hug. "Ah, it's been so long, little girl." Mr.Preston patted her head.
"It sure has, uncle." Adriana nodded.
"You have changed a lot and grown so much. If not for your soft features I don't think I would have recognized you." He said in astonishment.
"You are still as handsome as always uncle." Adriana grinned. "Hah, of course." He smiled again and he walked back to his wife's side.
"Oh, so I'm not even worthy of getting a hug before everyone else?" The old lady mumbled grumpily.
"To be fair, Kim was first and uncle was second. You know I always save the best for last." Adriana walked towards her and she leaned in for a hug.
"You have a lot to explain, brat." The old lady sounded upset because she was but she still hugged Adriana tightly giving her the warmth she had missed so much. "I missed you." Adriana admitted.
"I missed you too." The old lady smiled dotingly.
Noah looked at their interactions and he pursed his lips.