Chapter 7

• Chapter 7: Adrian and Lily First Meet
• Adrian POV
• Before I had even taken a drink of coffee in the morning, there was a knock on the door. Lily was coloring at the kitchen table while still in her pajamas and singing a song.
• My fingers lingered above the doorknob as I hesitated. I recognized the person already. After our altercation last night, I didn't think Adrian would give me much leeway since he didn't seem like a guy who would let things go.
• I opened the door after taking a deep breath for balance.
• He seemed to be unaffected by the cold winter air as he stood there, well attired as usual. As soon as his piercing gray eyes met mine, they softened.
• "Elena," he remarked in a stern but hushed voice.
• "Adrian, what do you want?" I asked in the most level-headed manner I could.
• He said simply, "I want to see her."
• I became cold. “I told you—” Adrian
• His eyes remained calm as he interrupted, "I'm not here to fight." "All I want is a proper meeting with her. Please.
• I was surprised at the term. I didn't think Adrian Blackwood was the kind to ask for permission.
• I was about to reply when Lily's voice came from behind me.
• "Who is it, Mommy?"
• She was standing there, holding a plush rabbit, and her big, inquisitive eyes were fixed on Adrian, which made my stomach flip.
• My voice trailed off as I added, "It's... a friend."
• Adrian entered, staring at Lily as if he had lost his words at her sight. And it seemed as if time had paused for a second.
• Lily tilted her head to study him and replied, "Hello." The dude from Mommy's gallery, is that you?
• Adrian lowered himself, and I saw a change in his look that I had never seen before. "Yes, I am. You must be Lily, too.
• She tightened her grip on her bunny and nodded. According to my mother, I was named after flowers. Are you a fan of flowers?
• Adrian felt a little grin pull at his lips. "Yes, I do."
• Lily smiled, obviously happy with his response. Do you also like drawing? My mother claims that I have her artistic abilities.
• Adrian looked at me and said, "She's right." "You have a lot of talent."
• The sound of Lily's laughter filled the room. "Want to view my illustrations?"
• She took his hand and dragged him to the kitchen table before I could object. Adrian let her lead him, and I stared, paralyzed.
• With all the energy a toddler could summon, Lily spread her paintings over the table. here is a castle, and here is a unicorn. Oh! You see, this one is a family. That is both Mommy and me.
• Adrian's countenance was inscrutable as he continued to stare at the painting. He pointed to a dark crayon-drawn figure that stood a little away from the rest and said, "And who's this?"
• Lily paused, looking at me as if she needed my approval before responding.
• At last, she replied, "That's Daddy." Mom thinks he's a long distance away.
• There was silence in the room. Adrian's gray eyes were flashing with passion as his jaw clenched and he gazed up at me.
• "Far away," he said again in a strained tone. "Have you been telling her that?"
• My face flushed. "Don't—Adrian."
• He stood up suddenly and said, "I deserve to know my daughter."
• Lily's forehead furrowed as she glanced between us. "Mom? Are you crazy?
• "No, my love," I blurted out, trying to grin. "How about spending some time playing in your room?"
• Lily paused and looked at Adrian. When I return, will you still be here?
• Adrian lowered himself to her level once again. "I will be present," he murmured quietly.
• Lily left the two of us alone and went off to her room, satisfied.
• Adrian exclaimed, "You had no right," as soon as the door shut behind her.
• "No, correct?" Keeping my voice low, I growled. "You signed a contract, Adrian. Entanglements were not what you wanted. You were rather explicit about it.
• He said, "That contract was about us, not her." "Elena, she transforms everything."
• My voice was shaking as I responded, "She doesn't change anything." "You can't expect to take over just because you walk in here."
• His face became serious. "You believe that I wish to take her away from you?"
• "Don't you?" I retorted. Adrian, you've always been all about control. What would make this different?
• His presence was overpowering as he moved closer. "Elena, I'm not coming to take her away. However, I also won't be forced out of her life. I have every right to know her as she is my daughter.
• The tense atmosphere in the room was oppressive. I had the same old want to flee, to shield Lily from the mayhem Adrian appeared to be bringing.
• "All right," I murmured at last, my voice trembling. You are welcome to hang out with her. but according to my terms.
• Adrian's eyebrows went up. "Your terms?"
• I crossed my arms and answered, "Yes." Adrian, I won't allow you to ruin her life. Here, she is content. She is not in need of—
• "Me?" he cut in, his voice cold.
• I paused. "The complications you bring are unnecessary for her."
• Adrian's voice was stern, but his eyes softened. "Elena, I won't harm her. Furthermore, I'm not the guy you believe me to be.
• My chest constricted as I responded, "I hope you're right."
• Adrian made several visits over the course of the next few weeks, each one becoming more tense than the previous. He soon gained Lily's confidence by bringing her toys and books.
• He wasn't the icy, aloof guy I recalled, which surprised me. To Lily's surprise, he listened to her tales, laughed at her jokes, and even tried his hand at some drawings.
• But no matter how hard he tried, I kept worrying that he would ultimately go back to his old habits.
• Adrian was waiting for me outside one evening as I was shutting the gallery.
• "We must have a conversation," he said gravely.
• Locking the door behind me, I let out a sigh. "Now what?"
• With his hands stuffed in his pockets, he paused. "I've been thinking about Lily a lot. about us.
• He stated it in a manner that made my stomach turn. "If you're going to—" Adrian
• He interrupted me to say, "I want joint custody."
• I gasped. "What?"
• "I've already talked to my lawyers," he said in a composed but firm tone. "Elena, I want to be a part of her life. lawfully.
• I raised my voice and screamed, "You can't be serious."
• He took a step closer and stated, "I'm very serious." "And I'm not enquiring."
• As his words set in, my whole world shifted. This went beyond gifts and visits. I didn't like it, but Adrian was going to battle for Lily.
• There were vast shadows between us as the lamps flashed above.
• "Adrian," I said, my voice wavering. "Avoid doing this."
• His face, however, was determined.
• In a lowvoice, he said, "I will not lose her." "Never again."
• He then turned to go, leaving me standing there in the cold with my heart racing with fear.