ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond-Chapter 117: Adelasia X Marina

Chapter 117: Adelasia X Marina
Chapter 117
KATYA’S POV
The elevator chimed softly, and the doors slid open to the third floor. Marina stepped out first.
Not just stepped — glided, like the hallway was hers and we were the ones visiting. I pushed Nonna forward slowly, watching the girl take the lead down the marble corridor without a single glance back at us.
My brows pulled together. Where is she going?
This floor held the dining hall, the kitchen, a few staff rooms, and the corridor that led to the garden terrace. Nothing else.
Nothing that someone like her should be wandering around alone for. If she was here with her father, shouldn’t she... be with her father?
Or did I read everything wrong earlier? Weren’t they here to talk business with Romeo?
Wasn’t that whole weird "come on, Dad, when he sees me he won’t resist" moment supposed to be some kind of plan? So why was she here on this floor?
Why was she walking like she knew exactly where she belonged? Nonna’s voice pulled me quietly back to reality. "Push me, tesoro. Don’t stop in the middle of the hall."
"Sorry," I murmured, but my eyes stayed glued to Marina’s back.
The girl moved with so much certainty, so much familiarity, that I began to think of this was her first time here.
Her steps were smooth, confident, like she’d walked these halls many times before. Like she didn’t need directions. Like she didn’t need permission.
I swallowed. Does she come here often?
Has she eaten in that dining hall before?
With who?
With Romeo?
With the family?
Marina reached the double doors leading into the dining hall and without hesitation she pushed one open, slipping inside as naturally as if her seat were permanently reserved.
My stomach twisted.
Is she... planning to eat here?
Why? With who?
Her father was supposed to be upstairs. Unless the meeting ended, or they kicked her out?... or unless I was overthinking.
Again.
I pushed Nonna slowly toward the dining hall entrance, trying not to let the unease show on my face. But Nonna noticed.
As always. "You are frowning, tesoro," she said softly.
"I’m not," I lied. She hummed. "Your eyebrows say otherwise."
I inhaled deeply. "Just... thinking."
Thinking too much, probably.
But something about Marina Valerio walking confidently into a place she shouldn’t logically be — on her own — made every tiny alarm in my head start ringing.
I pushed open the heavy dining hall door with my shoulder and guided Nonna’s wheelchair inside.
The room was long and elegant, lit with warm sconces that made the polished table gleam. The scent of fresh bread drifted from somewhere near the kitchen.
Normally, this room felt... wasn’t my best place to b with that first encounter I had with someone.
I rolled Nonna forward, about to walk deeper inside and then I stopped dead on my tracks.
My hands froze on the wheelchair handles. My breath snagged in my throat. Because sitting halfway down the table, legs crossed, posture straight, a glass of water held between perfect fingers was Adelasia.
Miss Red.
Her hair was the same impossible copper, pulled into a sleek twist that made her cheekbones look sharper, colder.
She wore a tailored dark outfit, minimal jewelry, elegance distilled into something almost dangerous.
And she was looking right at me.
No sign of surprised or confusion or politeness. Who am I kidding.
Adelasia was just... watching. Like she’d been waiting for me to walk through that door.
My stomach dropped so hard I nearly tripped. She wasn’t smirking. She wasn’t glaring. She wasn’t doing anything overtly hostile, like he usually self.
But it didn’t matter. My entire body reacted before my mind could catch up.
Because I remembered.
The elevator. Her smile. Her voice whispering that she remembered everything.
That cold metallic clink of her new hand near my head. Her promise — no, her warning.
I always make sure debts are repaid.
My fingers tightened involuntarily on the wheelchair.
"Tesoro?" Nonna murmured, sensing the sudden tension. "Why did you stop?"
I couldn’t answer. My throat wouldn’t let me. The room wasn’t filled like usual.
Only her and Marina, who was already striding confidently toward one of the cushioned seats closest to the head of the table — like she belonged here more than I ever would.
She didn’t notice my reaction. Or she did and didn’t care.
But Adelasia noticed.
Her green eyes tracked every flicker of hesitation in my body. Sharp. Too aware. Too calm. This wasn’t her behavior.
Miss red was snappy, her move was always predictable but this...this was calculative.
Slowly, she placed her glass down. The soft clink was so quiet, yet it echoed in my chest like thunder.
She didn’t stand. She didn’t move. She just tilted her head to the tiniest angle, acknowledging me in a way that made my spine feel like ice water poured through it.
Not a greeting. Not a welcome. Just a reminder.
I see you.
And I haven’t forgotten.
"Katya," she said, her voice floating across the table. Smooth. Neutral. Like we were acquaintances.
Like nothing had ever happened. Like she didn’t once corner me in an elevator and promise she kept score.
My pulse thudded painfully in my ears.
I swallowed and finally forced my feet to move. One step. Then another. I pushed Nonna further inside, keeping my eyes on the floor, on the wheels, on anything but that copper-haired woman’s stare.
But I could feel her watching. The way someone watches a flame they’re planning to touch later — not now, not yet, but eventually.
Nonna looked up at me again.
"Tesoro," she whispered under her breath in Italian, a warning wrapped in concern. "You’ve gone pale."
"I’m fine," I lied.
But my voice wavered.
Marina had already taken her seat, adjusting her hair casually, not knowing or not caring that there was a whole storm brewing between two other women at the table.
I guided Nonna to her usual spot, hands stiff, movements too careful.
I didn’t dare look back at Adelasia.
I didn’t dare breathe too loudly.
Not when the last time I saw her, she’d leaned in so close in that elevator that I could barely stand. Not when her metal fingers had glinted inches from my cheek.
Not when she’d said she remembered every scream, every moment, every choice. I placed my hands on the back of Nonna’s chair to steady myself.
Nonna’s fingers covered mine gently, warm and steady, grounding me back into my body for a moment I desperately needed.
"Tesoro," she said quietly, "take a seat. Eat with me." My heart dropped straight through the floor.
Eat?
Here?
With her?
With both of them?
My gaze flicked up instinctively, first toward Marina, who was already smoothing her hair and settling in like today’s meal had been prepared in her honor.
Why wasn’t anyone questioning her being here?
Then toward Adelasia.
She still hadn’t looked away. Not once. Her expression hadn’t changed either—still calm, still unreadable, still razor-sharp in a way that made my skin prickle.
Sitting at the same table as her?
With that metal hand resting lightly beside her glass?With those eyes watching every single move I made?
My throat tightened. Fuck me!
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Ok guy, I know and I’m sorry but I need to put Chapters in privilege so I can meet up with win win. I’m currently broke
Thank for reading a