Until Forever Wasn't Temporary

Chapter 6 – The Weirdest Situation Ever

Adriana's face hurt from the hit she got, and Theo was crying.

“Stop crying, Theo. I am alright.”

“But they hurt you”

Theo cried as he didn’t expect Ms Adriana to be hurt because of him.

Adriana knew ‌that these men meant business and they were enemies of the Dante Vescari. She needed to properly plan their escape if she wanted to survive with Theo.

One man grabbed Theo by the arm.

“Leave him alone,” Adriana said immediately.

The man laughed.

“You're in no position to give orders.”

He pulled Theo away.

Adriana struggled against the ropes.

“Don't touch him!”

The warehouse doors suddenly crashed open.

Everyone froze. Several black vehicles stood outside, their headlights cutting through the darkness. Men in dark suits entered first. Then Dante Vescari walked in.

He didn't shout.

He didn't run.

He simply looked around the warehouse with an expression so cold that even the kidnappers instinctively stepped back. His eyes found Theo. Then Adriana.

For a fraction of a second, something broke through his otherwise emotionless expression.

Fear.

Rage.

But it disappeared almost immediately.

“Daddy!”

Theo broke down crying.

Dante's gaze moved to the man holding his son.

His voice was quiet.

“Let him go.”

The thug tightened his grip.

“You're not in control here, Vescari.”

Dante tilted his head slightly.

“No.”

He glanced at his men.

“I'm about to be.”

Everything happened quickly after that.

Dante's men disarmed the kidnappers and forced them to the ground. The warehouse fell silent except for Theo's frightened sobs.

Dante ignored everyone else. He went straight to his son. He crouched in front of him.

“Are you hurt?”

Theo shook his head, tears running down his cheeks. Dante pulled him into his arms.

“I'm here.”

Theo buried his face against his father's chest.

“You came.”

Dante closed his eyes for a moment.

“Of course I came.”

Then Theo whispered: “Ms. Adriana…”

Dante looked over. Adriana was still sitting on the floor.

His expression changed. He carefully handed Theo to one of his trusted men. Then he walked toward her.

For the first time that night, Adriana saw the anger he had been keeping under control. His eyes dropped to the bruises on her face.

“Who did this?”

Adriana shook her head.

“Mr. Vescari…”

“Who?”

She glanced toward one of the men lying on the floor. Dante followed her gaze. His jaw tightened. But instead of turning toward the kidnappers, he knelt beside Adriana.

“Can you stand?”

“I think so.”

He gently untied the ropes around her wrists. Adriana winced. Dante immediately slowed.

“I'm sorry.”

The words surprised her. This was the man everyone feared. Yet his hands were unexpectedly careful as he checked her injuries.

Then he noticed that she was trembling.

“You were protecting Theo.”

Adriana looked toward Theo.

“I couldn't let them hurt him.”

Dante stared at her for several seconds. Then, quietly:

“You protected my son when you were the one who needed protecting.”

Adriana looked at him.

“I'd do it again.”

Something shifted in Dante's eyes.

He reached out and carefully helped her stand.

“You won't have to.”

His voice was low.

“Not again.”

As Dante led her toward the warehouse exit, Adriana glanced back. Dante's men were still restraining the man who had kidnapped them.

She expected Dante to look back. He didn't.

His entire attention was on Theo and her. And for the first time, Adriana understood something frightening about Dante Vescari.

He wasn't dangerous because he enjoyed violence.

He was dangerous because there were very few things in this world he wouldn't destroy to protect the people he loved.

Adriana was trembling; the shock and fear had now entered his body. Slowly, she could feel the pain of being hit; she looked down and saw stains of blood on her clothes. She was unaware that they had already reached the Vescari Manor.

“Call the doctors now.”

Dante said to the house staff.

“Yes, sir!”

Sebastian instructed the house staff.

Theo approached Ms. Adriana and held her hands.

“Are you alright, Ms. Adriana?”

Theo was on the verge of crying while he was looking at the face of his teacher.

“I am alright; do not worry.”

Adriana smiled; she didn't want Theo to worry. She looked at his hands; his wrists had red marks from the rope that had tied them. On impulse, she pulled Theo and hugged him.

Everyone who saw that was surprised as Theo hugged Adriana back.

“The doctor is here. Have them see both of you.”

Dante was frustrated with what Theo and Adriana had endured.

The doctors proceeded to examine and medicate the wounds of Theo and Adriana. Good thing that their wounds are only superficial and not life-threatening.

“The young master is alright, Mr. Vescari; as for the young lady, I have prescribed wound cream for her cut lips and bruises, but they are all alright.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Dante felt relieved after hearing that Theo and Adriana were alright.

“I think I should go home.”

Adriana wanted to get out of there, as she never wanted to be there.

“That is impossible, Ms. Hartley. I urge you to stay here.”

Dante replied to Adriana as she attempted to leave, which he could not allow.

“But Mr. Vescari, Theo is already safe. I do not want to impose; I can go home and rest there.”

“That is a no; I cannot allow you to go back to your home and be alone. Stay here and get some rest.”

“Yes, Ms. Adriana! Do not leave. What if the bad guys follow you to your house?”

Theo chimed in to convince Adriana to stay. Adriana was reluctant, as she thought she was not supposed to be there.

Dante approached her and looked at her.

“Please stay!”

Adriana and everyone who heard what Dante said were surprised. Again, this cold, dangerous, and ruthless man said the word ‘please.’

“I will stay, but for tonight only.”

Dante and Theo were delighted with Adriana’s reply.

“Yeah! Come to my room, Ms. Adriana. Let’s go!”

Theo excitedly pulled Adriana to follow him. They stood up and headed for the stairs.

“Prepare a room for Ms. Hartley.”

“Yes, master!”

Dante instructed the house staff to treat Adriana well. Everyone in the household was actually thrilled to meet Ms. Adriana Hartley.

They were curious what kind of woman she was and why Theo liked her so much.

Theo led Adriana to his room; it was a huge room, and a lot of toys were scattered.

“Here, Ms. Adriana, look, this is my favorite teddy bear. Daddy bought this for me.”

“What a cute teddy bear.”

Adriana said. She then held the bear and pinched its cheeks.

“Sorry for today, Ms. Adriana.”

“What for, Theo?”

Adriana was confused when Theo apologized to her.

“You got hurt because of me. Those thugs said that they would kidnap me to hurt Daddy, but you ended up getting hurt.”

Adriana softly smiled and ruffled Theo’s head.

“Theo, do not apologize; it is never your fault. There are indeed bad people in this world; they will try to hurt us, but we didn’t allow them, right?”

“Yeah! Theyare mean and ugly.”

“I am actually proud of you cause you tried to protect me. Thank you.”

Theo smiled and hugged Adriana.

“When I grow up, I will protect you, Ms Adriana.”

Theo declared as he tightly hugged Adriana.

“Then better grow up strong and kind; I only allow people of that kind to protect me.

”

Adriana replied. She then kissed Theo’s forehead. This child is dear to her. She had thought of her own life, if she had been given a chance to be a mother.

What kind of mother would she be?

Dante was in his study room.

“All of those thugs have been eliminated, sir.”

Vincent reported to Dante.

“Good, now make sure their families or anybody related to them are gone in this city. Take everything they have and throw them.”

“Understood, sir!”

Dante lit a cigar; he rarely smokes, but for this moment his nerves were high. The woman Theo wants to be a mother is in this house, right now.

“Ms. Hartley is in the young master's room. She put him to sleep.”

Vincent said while fiddling with his tablet.

“She is a strong woman; I give you that. She protected Theo.”

“Yup! It was a surprise; now I understand why Theo likes her.”

Dante puffed a smoke; he then put it in the ashtray and headed to the door.

“Make sure that what I ask will be completed tonight.”

“Yes, sir!”

Adriana cannot sleep; who would be able to sleep with what had happened, not to mention that she is in an unfamiliar place.

She headed downstairs and found the kitchen.

“Ms. Hartley.”

She saw an old man cleaning the plates at the counter.

“Sorry, I just can’t sleep and was wondering if you have tea here?”

Adriana said with hesitation, as she didn’t want to be a bother.

“Let me brew you a chamomile tea; please sit.”

Sebastian pointed at the island chair so that Adriana could sit.

“I am Sebastian Graves, the butler of this manor.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Adriana Hartley.”

“Nice to finally meet you. The little master talks about you a lot.”

Adriana learning that Theo is called a little master in this place is something else.

“I hope he said good things about me.”

Adriana jokingly replied.

“Oh yes! He keeps on talking about how you play with him.”

“Theo is a sweet child.”

Adriana and Sebastian smiled at each other; a quiet understanding perhaps between two people.

“You are still up.”

Adriana turned and saw Mr. Dante Vescari approaching her.

“Ah! Yes, I am just getting tea to be able to sleep.”

“I see!”

Dante then pulled a seat beside Adriana and sat.

“Give me a glass of whiskey, Sebastian.”

“Yes ,sir!”

Adriana put her sight forward, trying to ignore Mr. Dante.

Dante, on the other hand, stared at Adriana.

“Thank you for saving Theo.”

Adriana was surprise at Dante Vescari said those words; she got this man to thank her for something.

“I did it out of duty, sir. As a teacher, I cannot allow Theo or any student to get hurt.”

“Hmm! Still, I owe you my son’s life.”

“You do not owe me anything, sir.”

“Those men who attacked and kidnapped you and Theo are all gone. So you do not need to worry.”

Gone! Dante Vescari said. Adriana felt a shiver down her spine just thinking about how those men disappeared as instructed by Mr. Dante Vescari.

“Are you scared of me, Ms. Adriana Hartley?”

Adriana was surprise as that question is asked. What does he mean?