Adaline's point of view:

I walk through the gym that Wlad owns like it's my second home. I'm surrounded by heavy lifting men. The two boxing rings are filled with a fighting couple. It's full of testosterone here but I feel oddly home. I've rarely visited my old gym in the last months and even Sophie has started to train here.

I stop in front of a black boxing sack. I've been hitting against the leather bag for the last months whenever the anger overwhelmed me again. I haven't seen my Dad since Stockholm when I got awarded the Nobel prize. I didn't even see him on Nate's birthday- and the same goes for J

Jo and Rory's birthday. While I was there at their birthday parties but Dad had to work. But according to Ana he was at their birthday dinners, which I avoided because we all know how good the last two birthday dinners went.

It was safer for everyone.

In the last seven months, I served my duties as Ana's maid of honour. We went wedding dress shopping with Mom more than once without Ana finding her perfect dress. In the end, she decided to get her dress custom made by Dior according to the designs in her head. We picked out the dresses for the bridesmaids and my dress in a local British shop. Weirdly, Ana didn't had an issue with finding the right dress for me and the bridesmaids.

Ana didn't want a bachelorette party so I flew with her and the bridesmaids to Tahiti for ten days instead. It was filled with massages and sunbathing - everything that Ana could have wished for in her last weeks before marrying Jake. It was one of the rare times when I wasn't with Wlad. He has been by my side every step of that rocky way until my father finally caves in.

I finish wrapping my hands in bandages and start boxing against the black leather bag. It swings from the strength of my punches. I keep my back straight and my core engaged as I start working up a good sweat. Boxing has been one of the many things I've been doing to get over the fact that my father hates the man I love.

Seven months later and he still despised him like the day we told him about us.

"Dr. Bolton,"

I turn around at the sound of my name. Dr. Rhodes is standing across me in a shirt and shorts. His brown hair is drenched in sweat. I'm his uniform at work I didn't notice his well shaped nose but here... Rhodes is a good looking guy. He takes care of himself. I didn't know he was training here as well. "Hi, Dr. Rhodes. I didn't know you were training here."

"Neither did I." He answers and I notice how his blue eyes dance down my body.

Suddenly, wearing a sports bra and a legging with matching shoes seem like a bad idea. "I'd like to go here to let off some steam. Especially after work."

His bright blue eyes widen, "After a fifteen hour shift you have the energy to go here?"

I shrug, "I've always been energetic. Plus, I like the vibe."

He nods before leaning forward. "You know, I've heard a rumour that a woman nearly knocked out the owner."

"Do you know who owns this gym?" I ask him back instead.

He shakes his head. "Some Russian guy."

Some Russian guy - I should tell that Wlad. I grin. "I see."

"So do you know who it was? I saw Dr. Robbins working out here and you so far. But no other woman."

"Well, maybe you haven't been here at the right times. Maybe there are more women visiting this gym than you think."

"I don't think it's been Robbins who did that. I think it was you."

"It was not me. Maybe the rumour is untrue." I won't put myself and let my man stand in the rain alone. When that happened there were only Wlad, Vermont, Sophie and me in the gym. That rumour should stay a rumour. "Better yet, you shouldn't believe everything that's going around here. His gym is a place to work out and not a café." I hiss at him. "I'll see you at work, Dr. Rhodes." I say before turning on my heel. I can feel all these male gazes on me as I storm out of the gym.

I get into my Aston Martin and start the engine. Only when I wrap my hands around the leathered wheel of my favourite car in the world, I start feeling better.

Wladimir's point of view:

I wince in my chair as I hear the front door of our flat shutting with a loud bang.

My woman is home.

In the last months, Adaline has been filled with more anger than ever. It's not an aggressive kind of anger. She doesn't lash out on me or yell but instead she lets it out in the gym. Whether it not she noticed her body changes, I certainly did. She go ripped. Very ripped.

Because she lets her anger out in the gym.

Or with me in the bed.

I prefer the latter.

And sometimes she has enough energy for both. A twelve to fourteen hour shift, an hour at the gym afterwards and hours of sex on top? We've been using condoms like other people use toilet paper. That's pretty much how our lives have been in the last couple of months.

But each time I tried to talk to her about the taboo topic, a.k.a. Troy, she cuts me off. The first time I did it, she kicked me out of our bedroom. I found out during the night that my couch is not made for sleeping.

I quickly learned my lesson.

So, the next time I mentioned him I was a little more cautious. I talked to her in one of our gym sessions in my private gym. Every Sunday morning from five thirty to seven I close the gym, so Della and I can train privately. With no one around. That's when I gave it another shot.

And Della ripped one of the brand new brown leather boxing bags.

Talking to her when she's working out was clearly no option as well.

So I went to my trusty shrink - Vermont. Although my Swedish best friend has been stressed from planning his wedding with Sophie, he did give me a very important tip.

Wait. It. Out.

Almost seven months later and I'm still waiting it out. Summer and autumn have gone by and I'm still waiting it out. Two seasons have passed by and Della and Troy are still where they started. Not talking or talking but fighting.

Troy still hates me.

Somehow - and I really don't know why - I thought he would have come around by now. But he didn't. And Della refuses to cave as well. She stands her ground like day one.

She's my protection shield now when I have been hers all these years. The whole situation is so frustrating and frankly fucked up that I fear one of my worst nightmares might come true.

Troy ripping the family apart and Della turning her back on her family.

I won't let her do this. I know she loves her father and I know her greatest wish is for him to accept us. But I fear that her wish has turned into a fantasy.

I save the document I was working on and rise from my office chair. I walk around my glass desk and into the living room. Adaline is sitting on the teal velvet couch. Her navy eyes stare at the Fabergé egg that I gifted her for Eastern. The egg is covered in over a thousand diamonds of the finest quality worth around 10 million pounds. The inside of the egg holds a platinum trinity Cartier ring; the middle ring is covered in diamonds. She didn't open it yet but on the day of our wedding I plan to give her the platinum trinity ring.

Whenever that wedding is going to happen.

"Hi." I greet her before sitting down next to her.

But she just keeps staring at the diamond covered egg. She's still in her workout bra and leggings.

"Are you okay?"

I can see how her navy eyes widen as an idea pops into her head. "I'm going to shower." She says before rising from the couch.

"Wait, what is going on in your mind?"

She shakes her head, "Nothing. I just remembered that I wanted to meet up with Sophie tonight. So don't wait for me tonight." She says before rushing into our bedroom.

Adaline's point of view:

I get out of my silver Superleggera Aston Martin and lock the car. An orange flashing light fills the darkness of Belgravia for a second. I walk down the path right across Hyde Park, passing a row of white Victorian town houses with black doors. After a few minutes and some turns I finally reach the house I've been looking for in Belgravia.

Number 48.

I take a deep breath before I knock against the black wooden door of the white Victorian town house.

The door swings open after a few seconds.

"Adaline," he breathes out. My grandfather is dressed in grey sweatpants and a white shirt.

I haven't seen Franklin Bolton since I was eight. I don't know why my father and my mother have decided to keep him out of my life but desperate times require desperate movements. "I need your help."

He holds the door open for me and I walk inside. He must've expected me to come. "Is this about your boyfriend?" He asks as he closes the front door behind me.

I turn around in the foyer. "Who told you I have a boyfriend?"

"Saw photos of you and Wladimir online."

Of course he did. "Well, yes it is about Wlad and me. We told my Dad about us a while ago."

"Let me guess: He still hates his best friend for screwing his first born."

I wouldn't have put it that way. "Yes."

He nods before gesturing to his living room. "And now you want my help to crack him open. Sit."

I walk into the living room and notice the framed photos of Wlad and me that stand on his mantelpiece. They are paparazzi shots. "I'll send you some nicer photos of us."

He follows my gaze before sitting down in one of the two deep green armchairs that's across the couch. "How can I help you, Adaline?"

I sit down on the deep green couch, "I am here for some insight."

"Insight?"

I nod, "You've raised Troy Bolton. I thought you could explain to me why he's being such an asshole right now."

The eyebrows of my grandfather shoot up, "Let's say I ignore the insult you threw at my son, your father, for a second. Why do you think I should be able to help you out? Your grandma raised them, not me."

"But he is just like you. Through and through. He has your looks, your mindset, your-"

"Adaline, let me remind you that you, too are just like me. You come from him."

I shake my head, "No, I would've never done what he did to me!"

"You mean to Wladimir."

"Doesn't matter it's the same! I would have never attacked my child's boyfriend like that! It would have been a tough pill to swallow but I would have swallowed that fucking pill. Especially by now!"

To my surprise my grandfather laughs, "Oh no, no Adaline, you wouldn't have. You would have acted just the same. With just the same stubbornness and anger."

"No, I-"

"Let me put it this way. Imagine in five, maybe ten years, you start having kids. Let's say it's a boy. The name doesn't matter but what matters is that he's your firstborn. That boy grows up seeing your best friend - Sophie is he name, right? - as his paediatrician and later on as his family doctor. Those two are 22 years apart and you trust Sophie with your life, and more importantly with the life of your firstborn. And then, one day, a week before your precious boy turns 23, those two stand in your house and declare their love for each other. They start dropping words like soulmate and love. They explain to you that their relationship has started when your boy was only 17. They make it clear, that for the last six years they have lied you in the face with a fat grin on their lips. They show you how they know exactly what button to push to play hide and seek with you, without you ever finding them. How would you feel? How would you react?" Grandpa asks me, "Would you hug them and wish them all the best? Would you have the nerve to have a grownup conversation? Or would you let your hands do the talking?"

I gulp, I never saw it that way. "At least I would have grown a stronger backbone and face them by now. I wouldn't have been quite like a mouse and hide behind the drapes whenever I visit them. I wouldn't have avoided my father!"

"I don't think he's avoiding you because he's a coward. He's keeping a distance to keep you save. He might have hit Wladimir last time, but with his genes - my genes, your genes - we both know how easily he can lose his temper."

"Last time we saw each other, I made myself clear that I will choose Wlad over him and that I'm sick of listening to his accusations day in and day out. He's talking in circles. We all know of the age difference. It's not going to become less just because we talk about it more."

"Age difference?" He echoes and laughs again, "Oh, Della, you still have so much to learn when it comes to your father."

"Then help me understand."

"Well, that depends."

"On?"

"How far are you willing to go?"

"As far as I have to. I love this man and I will not leave him ever again."

He leans back on the armchair, "Okay, then you will have to show him that."

"I already did."

"No, what you did was act like a spoiled child who didn't get her way! But you need to approach this the other way. Stop playing the daughter card. Stop using your family as your protection shield. Get onto the playing field unarmed. Meet him face to face."

"I already told you. He's been avoiding me. Every time I was home he was gone."

Franklin shakes his head, "The way I see it, we share more than just the same blood. Nobody avoids Franklin Bolton. Nobody avoids Troy Bolton. And nobody sure as hell avoids Adaline Bolton! I don't care if you have to be at his office at three in the morning to meet him face to face, but you will do that. Because facing him, making him treat you with the respect you deserve, is the only way you can get his attention. And once you have his attention, you go from there."

"Meaning?"

"You start what every business men would."

"You want me to start negotiating terms."

Franklin starts applauding me, "A true Bolton!"

He wants me to treat my relationship like a business. He wants me to negotiate with my Dad to find out what's it going to take for him to accept us. I'm not sure I can compromise. "I don't compromise."

"You'll find a middle ground."

"He's going to want me to leave Wlad. Which I won't." I shake my head, "He knows that. He knows I won't choose him over Wlad. And if I choose to turn my back on my family, my Mom and sister are going to be heartbroken."

"Use his soft spot to get what you want. Push his buttons so hard until you get what you want but don't be surprised when he explodes in front of you. Don't hate the player, hate the game. That's how you beat your Daddy, sweetheart. That's how you keep Wladimir."

"Adaline?"

I wince as my grandma's voice fills the living room. I look behind Franklin and see a woman that looks just like my Mom, only about 22 years older than her. It's almost spooky how much my grandma looks like my Mom and my grandpa like my Daddy. "Hi."

"What are you doing here? Does Wlad know where you are?"

Of course she knows about Wlad. I haven't seen her in over two years but that doesn't mean she doesn't know of what's happening in my life. She and grandpa, they tend to stay in the dark and observe their surroundings. They only come into the light when someone needs them. "He's aware I'm out."

"You didn't tell him you're here."

"I figured it would be best if this visit stays between the three of us."

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" My grandma asks me.

"Victoria, she just came for some advice and you're trying to cage her here?"

"I'd love to stay for dinner." I answer with a smile on my lips. I don't think I've ever had dinner with them. Let alone in their home.

"See?" Victoria says to Franklin. "She wants to stay. I didn't pressure her or cage her. She's doing it willingly."

"She's a Bolton. She's not doing anything against her will." Franklin answers.

"I'm aware. I can see your trades in her."

"And she is still standing here." I say, leaning forward.

"Of course you are. Sorry. It's been a while since we had someone over." Grandma says with a sad smile on her lips.

"You're very welcome to come over for dinner at my place as well. Just because Mom and Dad keep their distance doesn't mean it includes me."

"I know." She smiles, "But I don't think Wlad would enjoy a dinner with Franklin."

I look at my grandpa. "Why?"

But grandpa shakes his head. "That's none of your business. You're welcomed to stay for dinner but don't think this becomes a regularity. There won't be any Friday dinners."

I shrug, "We'll see. I thought we could start with once a month. Or every other week."

"Oh that would be lovely!" Victoria cries out.

"Talk to Wladimir about this and afterwards I can assure you, there won't be any dinners. Not weekly and not monthly."

Wladimir's point of view:

I can hear the front door unlocking at two in the morning. She wasn't kidding, she would be late. I can hear how she places her keys into the bowl before her light thuds walk over to the study, where I am still working. I can't sleep without her next to me.

I'm not ashamed to admit that. She's my woman after all.

"What are you still doing here?" I can hear her voice asking me.

I look up and see her standing in the doorway. She's dressed in a simple pair of dark washed jeans and a light grey blouse but boy she has never looked hotter. "Working."

She sighs before walking over to me. "I told you to not wait for me."

Her long slim fingers start kneading my shoulders. The touch awakes my dick immediately. "I can't sleep without you."

She kisses my left cheek. "I can't sleep without you either but you're flying to Monaco in a few days to work for Prince Albert, so I'd say you have to get used to it."

"I think I'm going to need a whole bottle of vodka to do that." I joke.

She chuckles before she wraps her arms around my neck. "I think they only serve champagne there."

I send off the email I worked on and switch off the iMac. "How was it with Sophie?"

She sighs, "I think by the end of this year, I'll be a wedding expert."

"That makes planning our wedding a lot easier."

She places her head on my right shoulder. "Our wedding? We'd have to get engaged first."

"That day will come." I promise her.

"I can't wait."

I can't wait either.

Adaline's point of view:

I walk down the hallway until I find the room where the blood donation is happening. Like every month, I donate a few litres of my blood. Not only because I have the world's rarest blood types, but because it feels good to give back. I like helping people. I always did.

I walk into the room and scan the full area in front of me. It's busy and full of staff members who are donating their blood. There are doctors, nurses, even cleaning staff who donate blood. It's so heartwarming to see the love in front of me. The love to help strangers, this need to give back. I smile as I spot the empty armchair next to Sophie, who is reading a magazine. My best friend is already connected to an blood preserve that's slowly filling.

"Hey!" I say before sitting down next to her.

She looks up and smiles, "Hi there."

"How much longer?"

"Second blood preserve is almost full. I'll get a bar of chocolate for that." She grins at me.

I chuckle, "Lucky you."

"Dr. Bolton,"

I turn around at the sound of my name and smile at Carla, one of the nurses I work on daily basis. "Carla, hi!"

She smiles at me before placing the sterile needle that's still in the package along with an IV on the table next to me. "How are you?"

"Great as always. You?"

"I had a good nights sleep because my three month old baby finally slept the night through." She says before sterilising my arm. "We'll do a blood sample before hooking you up on an IV, as always." I nod as she puts the needle into my arm. Quickly the tube fills with my red blood. She puts the needle out and gives me a sterile cotton pad that I place on the tiny red dot. "I'll be back in five minutes with your results." With that the nurse in the turquoise coloured scrubs walks away.

"So, in a few weeks Ana is going to get married. How is she?"

"Freaking out." I answer Sophie's question with a chuckle.

"Really? Why's that?"

"She spent a whole year planning this day and yesterday she decided to order a whole new cake with new filling. Jake and her agreed on a classic blackberry fruit filling with a cream buttercream on top and yesterday Ana threw that overboard and ordered a chocolate filling instead. So now, the three story cake will be a dream of chocolate."

"Does Jake know?"

I nod, "But he doesn't really care. He has given up on trying to interfere in the wedding preparations in anyway. He's good as long as they finally get married."

Sophie smiles, "I couldn't wait two years... That man has a heart of gold. And lots of patience."

"She changed the flowers, too you know. Originally she wanted pink peonies but now she chose white lilies and orchids instead. Who knows, maybe when I talk to her again she has already changed the location as well."

"No, I don't think she will do that. I mean, she invited all the guests to the Maldives, there is no way she's going to change that now."

"You know with Ana, you never know... she always has some tricks in her sleeves. You think I'm the trouble maker? Well, I just got caught more often than Ana."

"Ana never got caught with anything?"

"That's because she's playing the innocent angel card pretty well." I say with a giggle. "My sister can read people almost as good as Wlad."

"How is he?"

"He's working."

"Well, at least you get to see him tonight." She says with a shrug, knowing I don't have the night shift like her.

"He's in Monaco."

"What? Oh no! I had no idea."

"Yeah. He's staying there for a few more days. I get to see him on Saturday."

"Any improvement on your Dad and Wlad?"

I shake my head, "Wlad hasn't seen him since we told him. I didn't even see my Dad on my sibling's birthdays. We didn't spend thanksgiving together and honestly, I don't think I'm going to spend Christmas with my family this year."

Sophie's blue eyes fall into sadness, "Oh Della, I'm so sorry."

I shrug, "It's hard. I won't lie and say I wouldn't want us all to get along but at the same time, every single time I see my Dad I see this disgusted look in his eyes. Because he still thinks my relationship with Wlad is wrong." I clench my teeth, "But it's not wrong."

"It's just unconventional."

I nod with tears in my eyes, "I'd really like to spend Christmas with my family but I won't put Wlad into danger again. The way my Dad beat Wlad up..." I shake my head as the memory flashes in front of my inner eyes, "No, I can't bring him into my childhood home if my father has not apologised to him."

Sophie squeezes my hand, "He'll come around. He can't be mad forever."

"I don't know. It's been eight months since we told him and he's still as stubborn as on day one."

"That's because he's a Bolton."

I chuckle as Carla comes back. "Ready to get my blood?" I ask her.

"Dr. Bolton, I'd like you to come with me for a moment." Carla's big brown eyes stare at me.

I frown, "Is something wrong?"

"I'd like to talk to you about your test results in private, Dr. Bolton."

I look at Sophie who seems to be as worried as me. We only do that if we found something serious like an AIDS infection, Hepatitis B or C or Malaria. But I know I don't have any of the diseases. I am not sick. "Okay." I get up from the armchair and follow Carla to a private consultation room.

"Have a seat." Carla says, nodding towards the black examination chair before closing the wooden door behind herself.

I sit down although I don't feel like sitting. "I'm not sick. My HIV test was negative and so were the tests for Hepatitis. Plus, I don't have Malaria. And I didn't get a tattoo in the last year, so what's wrong?"

"Dr. Bolton," Carla pulls a sheet of paper out of her pocket. "I'm afraid you won't be able to donate any blood today and the foreseeable future."

What? She's got to be kidding me! "Carla, I am not sick. I-"

"Adaline," she interrupts me. "You can't donate blood because you're pregnant."

My eyes widen at the words. "What?!" I ask her back shocked. Pregnant?!

She nods at me, "Your blood test is pretty clear. You're pregnant."

"Give me that." I hiss and snatch the sheet of paper out of her hands. I gasp as I see how high my hCG is. 900.70 H mIU/mL. The hCG is a hormone that only starts developing if an egg is implanted in a woman's uterine lining and my hormone level is very, very high. I am pregnant.

Pregnant!

I can't believe it! "Are you sure this is my test results?"

"Yes, I double checked. The lab didn't confuse anything."

I look up from the hCG number, "I'm pregnant."

"Congratulations!" Carla says before pulling me into a hug.

I didn't expect to find out that way. I guess, I need to call my gynaecologist now.

"Oh yes, there's definitely a baby growing in there!" Dr. Ross says to me before turning the monitor in my direction. I stare at the tiny bleb. Yep, definitely an embryo in my uterus. The test was not wrong or confused. I'm pregnant.

Pregnant.

"Congratulations!" My blonde gynaecologist says with a wide smile while I still stare at the embryo. I'm pregnant...

Oh my God, I'm going to be Mom! A Mom!

And Wlad's going to be Dad.

We're going to be parents. Parents!

Suddenly, tears start streaming down my face. I already am a Mom - and Wlad's a Dad. We already are parents. Parents to that bleb. That embryo... our baby.

Our baby!

I sniff. I'm pregnant...

Dr. Ross hands me tissues without a word. "I guess that baby wasn't planned?"

I shake my head as I blow out my nose. It definitely wasn't not planned. It was just not... I didn't think I'd get pregnant so soon. I mean we used protection but we both knew it wasn't a 100% safety. We were aware of the very slim chance. "We weren't not trying. We were ready, but taking it easy and see if it happens... but it's still a surprise." Especially given the hundreds of condors we used up.

My blue eyes doctors smiles at me. "It's always a surprise."

I return her smile before looking back at the screen. The embryo is still there. "I'm about three weeks into this pregnancy, right?"

She nods, "Normally, I see my patients at five or six weeks. But this... this is definitely far earlier. Could be even two and a half weeks. The embryo is really small."

It really is early. That means I conceived the evening we went to the ballet with Ana and Jake at Royal Albert Hall. God, I'm going to be seven weeks pregnant when she's getting married! That's crazy! "Without that positive blood test I wouldn't have known." I think out loud. I don't feel any different. "What are the symptoms? What can I expect in the first trimester?" I ask my doctor. I'm in my first trimester... I stare back at the bleb. This is happening.

"Well mostly body changes. You can even get a high temperature on some days. Sore boobs as they're growing and wider hips... some women report period like cramps in the first few weeks. Weird cravings, sometimes for things you haven't eaten since you were a child. You'll be hormonal. You may cry for no reason or go down the other road, which is yelling. Some of my patients tell me that they don't even recognised themselves. But don't worry it'll go back to normal once you're in the middle of your second trimester."

Sounds like fun. "How was my Mom with me?"

Dr. Ross grins at me. "She was craving blueberry muffins like nothing else! She could eat them all day, every day. She even made your Dad bring her the muffins in the middle of the night..." she chuckles, "That blueberry muffin obsession was really intense. You can ask her about it when you inform her that she's going to be a grandma."

Grandma. My Mom will be a grandma! That's insane! Insane!

I always thought Ana would be the first to give her grandchildren. But clearly this little one has other plans. "When shall I tell her? Once I've hit the twelfth week mark?" I ask because I know that every third pregnancy ends before the twelfth week.

She nods. "That's the usual time couples wait to inform their parents."

"And the father?"

Her blue eyes widen at my question. "That's entirely up to you. I suggest we see each other in about four weeks again."

I nod and look back at the monitor. It'll kill Wlad if I get his hopes up again and the embryo won't make it. I remember the one time when it was false alarm. I was barely nineteen when it happened totally on accident. It feels like yesterday that I peed on those fifteen sticks. It felt like yesterday when all of them were negative.

I remember exactly how he looked like. How heartbroken he was.

No, I won't do that to him again. Not when there's still so much that can go wrong.

I'll let him know once our baby has become stronger.

Once the chances of survival are greater.

I take another bite of my curry as my ringing iPhone suddenly fills the silence. Wladimir is still not home yet as his business requires him to stay in Monaco for a few days longer. The flat is so empty without him here. I can definitely see why Wlad would want to have a few Persian cats here. They could keep me company in situations like this. But instead I am alone.

Pregnant but alone.

It sucks.

I stop eating and look at the screen of my iPhone that's laying next to my right hand on the round marble table.

It's my Dad.

"Hello?" I ask after picking up. Maybe grandpa was right. Maybe I have to wait it out. Or maybe I need to start negotiating.

"I'm calling on behalf of your Mom."

I lean back in my chair. "I see. What does she want you to do?"

"Christmas Eve."

I gulp. Of course she wants to spend Christmas Eve with me. She wants the whole family there although jay doesn't include grandma Vicky and grandpa Franklin. "Is that an invite?"

He is silent on the other end of the line.

"I will not come alone." I make myself clear.

"I figured."

"I'll bring Wladimir and Seryozha." I lick my lips. "For the sake of them, I think we should set down some rules."

"What kind of rules?"

"I'll bring them next Sunday when we decorate the Christmas tree."

"You're coming?"

"And I'll be alone so you can keep the beast caged inside of you." I say before hanging up.

Wladimir's point of view:

It's a little after three when I finally drag my suitcase into my home. I quietly close the front door and get out of my shoes and coat. It's dark but I feel better already. I can't believe the two day long trip turned into a two week trip but when the Prince of Monaco asks for something you don't say no. But instead, you stay longer - until the job is done.

I walk through the living area and appreciate the sound of the hardwood floors against my feet instead of the marble that was everywhere in the palace. I open the door of our bedroom and get greeted by the most beautiful view I've ever seen.

My woman in our bed.

Adaline is sleeping peacefully in the bed that's facing the glass front. I take a moment to stare at her throughly before walking into the en-suite dressing room. I quickly get out of my Oxford shirt and jeans before throwing them into the laundry basket along with my socks and boxer briefs. I open one of the four white drawers on my side of the closet and get out fresh underwear before walking into the bathroom.

I get into the glass double shower and quickly wash off the hard work from the last two weeks. Then I dry my body with one of the Egyptian white towels and roughly dry my hair before putting on my boxer briefs. I can't wait to lay next to my woman again. I open the window to let out the steam that has formed during the time I spent in the shower and walk back into the bedroom.

Della is still fast asleep in our bed.

I will never get sick of that view.

I carefully climb into the warm bed and lay down next to Adaline. She moves her left arm until she reaches my chest. Then she pulls herself closer to me until she's laying halfway on me.

"I didn't mean to wake you." I whisper.

She keeps her eyes close as she runs her fingers through my damp hair. "I wasn't really sleeping anyway. I slept poorly because this bed is way too large without you in it." She mumbles before resting her head on my chest. "Goodnight."

With a smile on my lips I quickly fall into a deep sleep.

Adaline's point of view:

I wake up to the sound of his heartbeat and allow this sound to slowly ease me into this new day. I missed his chest. It's better than any pillow. His heavy left arm is wrapped around my body, holding me close.

"Good morning." His deep scratchy voice awakes a strong need within my body so easily.

"Morning." I whisper before lifting my head off of his chest. His silver eyes stare at me and his thin lips have stretched into a grin. My heart skips three beats before continuing in a fast speed. "I missed you, Солнышко. When did you come home?"

He runs his finger through my curls, dividing them without making any knots. "A little after three. You don't remember?"

"Why should I?"

"I woke you."

I frown. "You did?"

He nods, "You must've been still half asleep. We quickly fell asleep after a few words."

I let my fingers run over his chiselled chest. The father of my child is finally with me again. "Tell me you're not going anywhere until the next year."

He smiles. "I'm all yours until late May. That's when I have to go to Monaco again for a quick check up."

"Good. Because I think we might spend Christmas in Richmond."

His eyebrows shoot up, "Troy reached out to you?"

I nod. "On behalf of my Mom but it's better than nothing. I will go home tomorrow as it's a Bolton tradition to decorate the Christmas tree together and present him some rules. I suggest you stay here. I want to clear this alone."

"What kind of rules?"

"A contract that hopefully will make sure he won't raise his hands against you or Seryozha on Christmas Eve. I know it will break my Mom's heart if we spend Christmas Eve in separate places. And quite frankly, I wouldn't feel much better as well."

"And you think this will stop him?"

I shrug, "He just needs to keep himself together for a few hours. He can do that, I know it. He has done it many many times in the past on those boring charities and galas with Mom. If he can fool thousands of people, I think he can keep his hands to himself for one evening."

I open the black double doors and walk inside. My black cashmere coat is covered in snow although it just took me a few meters to walk from my Aston Martin to the front door. But the snow is just falling too heavily.

I love it.

"Hello? Anyone home?" I ask as I walk through the white marbled foyer and around the round table that - as always - has a crystal vase with peonies on it. I place my black Hermes bag with the contract in it on the table. I open the door underneath the left curved light grey marble staircase and get out of my coat before grabbing a free silk covered hanger from the wardrobe. I place the long Burberry coat on it and hang it next to the many winter coats and jackets. Next I get out of my black heels and slip into a chestnut coloured warm pair of UGG slippers.

Suddenly, a waft of a baking cake fills my nostrils. A craving for my Mommy's cake overcomes me. I love when my Mom's baking!

"Della,"

I look up as the echo of my Mom's voice fills the foyer. She's standing at the top of the right curved staircase with Elias standing on his shaky legs in front of her. His tiny hands are wrapped around her forefingers. "I can't believe how big he already is!" I breathe out as I look at the little man that's my youngest brother. His bright green eyes start sparkling as he recognises me and he starts jumping up and down as excitement rushes through his veins.

Yep, I missed you too.

My Mom picks him up and quickly rushes down the right staircase, passing the wall that's filled with framed photos of our family. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help decorate the Christmas tree. Or rather watch while the triplets do that. It's a Bolton tradition. I wouldn't miss out on that. No matter how angry Daddy is with me."

Her brown eyes soften as she reaches me and she pulls me into a hug. Elias joins the hug as he wraps his arms around me as well. Then his tiny hands start pulling on my chestnut curls. "I missed you, too, buddy." I whisper into his ear after kissing his left cheek.

He has no idea I'm currently not carrying only him but his cousin as well. "Where is everyone?" I ask as this silence is very unusual for this house. Even Zeus didn't come to welcome me.

"Your Dad is out with Ana and Jake. They're picking out the Christmas tree. And the triplets are in the kitchen. Baking. With the Cambridges."

"The Cambridges?" I ask confused.

"George and Charlotte." My Mom says with a wave of her left hand.

"I don't understand... Wait, you mean the Prince and Princess of Cambridge? The future King and Queen of England?! They're here?!" I ask shocked as the penny drops.

My Mom nods. "But they prefer to be called George and Char. You know, the nickname of Charlotte."

"How the hell did the British Royalty get into this house?" The future King and Queen of England are baking in our kitchen! Blue blooded!

"They're schoolmates. The triplets met them on their first day of school. They enrolled in school on the same day. Have been friends ever since." My Mom explains casually. "I mean, best friends. William and Catherine have been here a few times as well. They're really nice and down to earth. Louis is on a royal engagement with them today which is why he's not here. Otherwise he would sleep over tonight as well."

"Sleep over?! The future King and Queen of England are going to sleep over here?" I ask shocked. Man, I really missed a lot!

"Stop calling them that. It's George and Char." My Mom rebukes me.

"Sorry. But what about the security men? Are they going to sleep here as well?" I know famous people usually come with an entourage and Royalty always has security with them. Especially when it's about their heir.

"There is none. The two of them flew in with a helicopter. The Royal Family and their head of security have scanned our ground throughly. They were pleasantly surprised about the strict security regulations we have here. After talking to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge about it, they have come to the conclusion that their offsprings are totally safe here. Without any additional security needed."

"They scanned the grounds? That means they must've looked into our lives as well."

"They did. We had a pretty frank conversation with the royal family."

"Did you tell them about all the skeletons in our closets?" God knows we have zillions.

"No. At least not yet. Our secrets are well hidden and sealed. No one will get their hands on them unless it's with our consent." She says as we walk through the hallway that leads to the kitchen. The smell of baking cake is even stronger here and I can feel how my stomach starts growling although I have just eaten before coming here.

My Mom eyes me from the side. "You've lost weight."

I have. My body fat percentage is the lowest it has ever been. I'm all muscles. If I'm not careful I'm going to start looking like a body builder pretty soon. I should cut back on the weights in the gym and do more Yoga and Pilates instead. "Don't worry, I'm getting all the nutrients I need." I say with a shrug. Especially now that I'm breeding a baby, I need to have an even closer look at what I eat.

I stop in the round arch and stare at the white marbled kitchen. There are baking trays of all sorts places on the marble countertops and the two ovens are warming up. The kitchen island is covered in different sized bowls and the Kitchen Aid is currently mixing the batter. Flour is everywhere.

My youngest sister Rory and her twin sister Jo are wearing blue floral aprons. Just like Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Her dark blonde hair has been braided into a half-up do that consists of two French braids and one big fishtail braid in the middle, that surely was Jo's work. She's a world champion when it comes to braids. Nate and Prince George of Cambridge are wearing red aprons.

I can't believe the Cambridges are here.

I can't believe how much my siblings have grown up since the last time I saw them, which was on Rory and Jo's fifteenth birthday in August.

And now we're a week away from Christmas Eve. I feel guilty for not being there for them more. So guilty that I nearly start crying. I inhale deeply and promise myself to FaceTime with them at least once a week. I should be a better role model. I'm their big sister after all.

"Hey guys!" I say before giving Elias back to Mom.

My siblings turn around and stare at me for a second before running over to me. They wrap their arms around me and wipe their flour-covered aprons against my jeans and camel coloured turtleneck.

But I couldn't care less.

I've missed them so much! I squeeze them a little more before letting go. "I've missed you guys!"

"We missed you, too." Rory says with a warm smile on her lips. Her chestnut hair is braided the same way as Charlotte's hair. Jo's work no doubt.

"Is Wlad here as well?" Nate asks already looking behind me.

"No, I came alone."

My brother pouts. "Man, I was really looked forward to see him again. I wanted him to meet my best friend."

The fact that his best friend is the future King of England will interest my man without a doubt. "Maybe you're going to see him on Christmas Eve. How does that sound?"

"Like Dad will explode." Jo says without thinking.

"I'm working for that to not happen." I ensure her. "Christmas is a special time for all of us and I think we should celebrate that together."

"Together as in with Wlad and Seryozha?" Jo asks with sparkly navy eyes.

I nod. "He's going to come as well."

My siblings grin at me. I know they love Seryozha as much as I do. He always tells them the best stories about his military past. I look behind the triplets and walk over to George and Charlotte. Do I curtsy? Do I bow?

I decide to hold out my hand. "Hi, I'm Della."

George shakes my hand first. "I know. Nate told me a lot about you. I'm George."

"I'm Charlotte. But you can call me Char. You're the one with the Nobel Prize, right? The wonder child." His sister says after shaking my hand.

I chuckle. "Ana's a wonder child as well."

"She's nice, too." George says and his sister nods in agreement.

I turn around and stare at my siblings. "What are you baking?"

"A lemon sponge cake with raspberries." Jo answers with a grin on her lips.

"My favourite!"

"We know. We had a feeling you might come by." Rory says with a shrug.

"Not even Mom believed me when I told her last week that I'd come."

"That's Mom." Nate says with a smirk. "But we know how much our big sister loves the tradition of putting up the Christmas tree a week before Christmas Eve."

"Besides, you're a Bolton. Where else would you be a week before Christmas Eve?" Jo asks me, wearing the same grin as her older brother.

"We should leave you guys to your baking." I say with a smile on my lips. George and Char seem pretty normal.

My Mom and I walk through the kitchen and dining room before sitting down on the huge L shaped couch in the living room.

"I didn't expect you here today."

"I'm not the one who's hiding. Dad has been avoiding me - not the other way around." I answer as Elias starts jumping up and down on my Mom's lap again.

"He's eager to start walking properly." She says as I stare at my little brother.

In 39 weeks I'll be having my own.

The thought fills me with a kind of excitement that makes me want to jump up and down as well.

"I'll walk with him a little bit." I say before picking him up from my Mom.

I could use the practice.

"What's that?" My Dad asks, nodding towards the piece of paper in my black Hermes bag.

I close the door of his study and follow him to his mahogany desk that's standing in front of the French windows. "The rules I mentioned when you called me." I say before pulling out the sheet of paper. I place it on the mahogany desk as my father sits down.

His navy eyes scan the sheet before looking up. "A contract?"

"See it as guidance notes. For Christmas Eve."

His brows shoot up, "You're coming with them?"

"Yes and you will hold your tongue. And your hands will remain by your side. No nasty words and in exchange there will be no body contact whatsoever."

He leans back in his black leather office chair. "Why should I sign this?"

Is he serious? "I think we're both doing this for one reason: Mom."

His lips remain sealed.

"Alright, what do you want?!"

He folds his hands over the piece of paper. "You know what I want, Adaline."

Is he fucking serious?! After almost eight months he still wants be to leave Wladimir?! He knows I won't do that! He fucking knows! "You think I need applause for standing my ground this long. You think I need a warm long hug from my Daddy because he was gone for so long. You think I need you because I needed you in the past." I hiss at him. "Well, let me explain something to you. I do not need applause. I do not need a warm long hug from my Daddy. I do not need you because I haven't needed you for a long, long time! Your little girl has grown up. And I am no longer playing this sick game! I will not leave Wladimir!" I turn on my heel.

"You do not disrespect me! Ever!" He yells at me, causing me to stop in my tracks and wince. "Do you understand? Can I make that any clearer?"

I turn around, "Dad,"

"I'm the one who protects you. Everything I do serves that purpose. I have spent a lifetime, keeping you safe from harm. A lifetime, worrying about your fate. A lifetime, making sure the path ahead of you was clear of debrief. You do not see this. You do not believe this. You think I am some monster who attacks without thinking. Let me assure you, I am not. When I strike, when I make a decision, it is for a reason. You never ever choose one of them over me. Again. I won't have it. Is that clear?"

"What is clear is that you seem to have wasted a lifetime doing all the wrong things." I hiss back at him.

"Against me you will lose." He says as his black eyes stare into mine. "Now I will sign this piece of shit for the sake of your mother and sister. And I will pretend we're a picture perfect family on this one day, but trust me, we are not a picture perfect family. Not as long as this man is still by your side." He says before signing the contract I have written for Christmas Eve.

"Then we have an agreement."

I stop the silver Lexus in front of the two meter high black iron wrought gates and wait for the cameras to scan my iris and identify me. A second later the handcrafted gates start opening, giving me access to my childhood home.

"I still can't believe this is wher eyou grew up! It's huge!" Sergej asks me from the backseat.

I start driving down the driveway. The big oak trees on my left and right are covered in snow, just like the grass and lavender. The driveway has been freed from the snow. "Yes."

Wladimir's father is silent for the next minute and a half as we drive down the path. "It's a big place. Reminds me of our home in Siberia."

I've come to love this man even more over the last months. The casualty to call the dacha in Siberia our home fills my heart with a kind of warmth that it missed over the last eight months. "The building has a different architecture, though. My parents went for a Mediterranean style instead of a cabin style."

"Yeah, But it has the same warmth. It's home."

I shrug as we reach the two story Mediterranean mansion. It's a huge house in an L-shape. The deck is covered in snow as well but it looks lovely. It looks like my home.

But it doesn't feel like one.

I park the silver Lexus limousine next to my Mom's silver Tesla.

We've arrived.

Just as Sergej opens the door, Wlad turns around in the passenger's seat. "Wait. I think it would be wise to remind you of the rules."

His father's silver eyes widen, "Rules?"

I open my seatbelt and turn around as well. "No future wedding talk. Nothing about future children. Nothing about what a lovely couple we make or how perfect we are together. Do not mention the words soulmate or love."

Sergej stares at me in confusion. "Della, I've met your Mom before."

"But not my Dad. Not my grandpa and grandma. Not my aunts and uncles. While they are all standing behind us, my Dad... Sergej, this Christmas Eve is not going to be a lot of fun."

"Then why did you agree to this? Why did you invite me?"

"Because I'm done getting ignored by my father. He thought if he kept his distance and ignored this, us, than the problem would melt into thin air. But we are not going to poof. We are here to stay and he has to bite into that sour apple and get over it. It won't happen over night. There are going to be many, many, many events like this in the future but one day - and God knows this day will come - he will accept us. And until then I will stand my ground. I will spend Christmas with the people I love and two are sitting in this car right now. I will spend Thanksgiving with my family, which you two are part of. He will see that. He will understand. He will tolerate us. And eventually, he will accept us." I stop as I can feel Wlad's staring at me.

His grey eyes are filled with pride and love. "Okay, I think we're good to go now."

I nod and Sergej opens the door of the car. I turn in my seat around and look at Wladimir who hasn't moved in his seat yet. "No touching."

He smiles softly at me. "I know."

"I will do my best to protect you."

His gaze softens, "You already are."

I reach for his left hand and squeeze it. "It'll get better." I promise him.

He lifts our hands and kisses my knuckles, "And even if not, we still have each other."

Wladimir's point of view:

My Dad is blending into the Bolton family like he's already one of them. All the men, except for Troy, have welcomed him with open arms and the women were quickly swept off their feet with my Daddy's charm.

"I think we should start eating now." Miley suggest.

"Oh yes I'm staving!" Kelsi agrees.

"Where are the triplets?" Gabi asks looking around in the living room.

I follow her gaze until I notice all three of them standing in the backyard, starring into the gym. "I'll get them." I say as a bad feeling overcomes me suddenly. I was so focused on making sure my Dad was having a good time that I stopped worrying about Della.

And now she has disappeared. Along with Troy.

That could only mean bad things.

I walk through the dining room where the huge square cherry wooden table is decorated beautifully. I walk through the open glass door in the white marbled kitchen and through the backyard. As I pass the glass front of the living area I can see how all the Boltons and Evans' are making their way to the dining room.

I stop next to Jo, Nate and Rory. It's freezing cold here and they are only in their slippers without any coat or jacket. They must be freezing as well! "We're starting with dinner. What are you guys staring at?"

All three wince at my voice.

"Them." Nate says and points at the glass front. Della and Troy are gesturing and yelling heavily at each other but thanks to the soundproofed walls and windows, we can't hear a word. Adaline looks like she might rip Troy apart and he doesn't look any calmer as well. They're yelling, what looks like, so loudly that the walls and windows could shatter every second.

"Daddy and Della are fighting again." Jo says in a sad voice.

Her sister sighs before turning around to face me. Her bright blue eyes are filled with a kind of sadness as well. "I don't know why he's so mad at you. Just because you're dating Della doesn't mean you're any less family than you were before you started dating her. In fact you're even more family now."

I gulp as she makes me feel her sadness as easily as her big sister does. It's a Bolton gene they all have. "Go inside. I'll tear those two apart."

Nate moves his gaze off of them before looking at me. "If you go in there Dad is going to focus his anger on you." His voice is filled with worry.

"And then he's going to start hitting on you again." Jo adds.

"And that would ruin Christmas Eve for Della because then Seryozha would get involved as well and it would get very, very bloody." Rory whispers with tears in her eyes. "Don't do this. Please don't get hurt. Don't ruin Christmas Eve for her."

I gulp, "Inside." I tell them again.

I watch all three of them turn on their heel. When I look back into the gym, it's empty.

Adaline's point of view:

"I want my daughter back! GIVE ME MY DAUGHTER!" He yells at me so loudly that the walls in the gym vibrate from the echo.

"She is standing right across you." I tell him in a calm voice. I can't risk to get angry. Not in my state. Not today.

"No, you are not my daughter! My daughter is smart. She loves her family over anything. She chooses to protect her family. She flourishes in the spotlight. She works as hard as her parents to make sure her dream comes true. She doesn't let her feelings get involved when it comes to decision making."

"I've grown up! You haven't seen me in two years, almost three because you've been avoiding me in the last eight months. You didn't see what you leaving did to Mom, Ana, the triplets and me! You didn't feel the kind of pain we felt! The kind of betrayal!"

"Betrayal?! You want to talk about betrayal? It was you who betrayed me! You, who-"

"Spare me that bullshit! It's been eight months since we told you and you still act like day one! You've signed a contract with me to behave yourself today and now look where we are! Truth is, you can't and will not accept Wlad and me! Not today and not in another eight months."

My father just stares at me with his black eyes.

After waiting another moment I turn on my heel and leave the gym. I rush into the library at the end of the white hallway that has framed photos of my family on the walls. As soon as I'm in the room that's filled with hundreds of book from the floor to the ceiling I already start feeling better. The dark mahogany bookshelves give me a feeling of comfort. Just like the old open fireplace. There's a big round table in front of the French windows where I used to do my homework. I sit down on the royal blue velvet couch that's across the open fireplace. A few framed photos are placed on the mantelpiece. The flames are dancing inside the fireplace.

I don't know how much longer I can stand my ground. I am strong and my belief in us is u shakeable But this hatred... it gives me chills to the bones. It hurts my heart more than I will ever admit towards anyone. He's hurting me but he's also hurting Mom and the rest of our family. I don't know why he doesn't see that. I don't know how he can ignore that!

I don't know how he can be so cold.

So stone cold.

I pinch the bridge of my nose as tears start burning in my eyes. I knew Christmas Eve was going to be tough but I had no idea how tough. For a moment I want to swipe the mantelpiece clean, tear the books out of the bookshelves and throw everything into the raging fire. I want to destroy the windows, throw the table and chairs through the room and make everyone see how angry I really am.

But I can't. I can't let myself feel that kind of anger. I can't feel stressed. I can't risk getting my blood pressure up.

Because I'm pregnant.

I have a baby to worry about.

So, I cross my legs, close my eyes and place my hands on my knees. I start taking deep breaths as I try to deal with this issue as Dr. Martin taught me when I was in Swansea.

I start meditating the shit out of me.

I let go... I let go.

Suddenly, goosebumps start peppering my skin and a warm feeling spreads in my chest. I can feel eyes staring at my back. His heavy thuds fill my ears as he walks over to me. His ocean smell fills my nostrils before he places his hand on my left shoulder. A wave of strength starts running through my body.

"Do you want to go home?"

I open my eyes and place my hand on his. "No. We're going to stay until dessert. I will not cave in. It'll get easier over time. I know it will..."

"But it doesn't feel like it right now, does it?"

I shake my head, "No."

He wraps his arms around me and suddenly all breaks loose within me. I start crying in the arms of the man I love like I've never cried before. I don't cry because of the pain my Dad makes me feel but I cry for all that he's missing out. He doesn't see me but instead I'm clearly still his little girl. He doesn't know that his little girl is currently carrying a little one herself. He doesn't know that the bond to the father of my unborn child is unbreakable.

He doesn't know how strong I really am.

Every time he tries to shake my belief, I will only stand taller.

Until I will shake his belief.

"I'm going to talk to him."

"No, please don't." I say quickly and let go of him. His strict voice matches his angry face. "If you talk to him than he's going to start hitting on you again and if you don't fight back than Sergej will. And that would ruin Christmas for the triplets."

To my surprise he grins. "That's exactly what the triplets said to me. Only they said it would ruin your Christmas Eve."

I sigh. "It'll get better." I repeat myself.

"I can't just sit at the same dining table as him. Not when he's hurting you like this."

"You have to. Because we will not go away. He will not separate no matter how many times he throws nasty words at me. We will not back down, Wladimir." I tell him in a strong voice. "We're a family." It slips off my tongue.

He smiles softly at me. "We are a family." He agrees with me before kissing my tear drenched lips.

He has no idea how much of a family we already are.

Wladimir's point of view:

I intertwine my left fingers with Della's as we walk down the hallway. I hate Troy for making his daughter cry on her favourite holiday. It makes me so angry that I want to confront him with my mouth and hands.

But I won't.

Because that would ruin Christmas Eve for Adaline completely.

I stop as my ears suddenly recognise my father's voice coming from Troy's study. "Get seated. I'll be right there." I say as I let go of Della's hand.

"No. I'm coming with you." She insists.

"Della,"

"No. If my Dad's fighting with Seryozha he is fighting with me as well. I thought we cleared that in the library."

We did. "Alright, fine. But it could get nasty."

"I'm used to that."

I walk over to the open door of Troy's study, ready to get into the arena. My Dad and her Dad are yelling at each other in Russian, which makes the quarrel sound even more aggressive. "Dad,"

My Dad turns around at my voice.

"Get the fuck out of my sight!" Troy hisses at me.

My hands form fists but aside from that I try to stay cool. I won't ruin Christmas Eve.

"Dad!" Della hisses. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She hisses at him as she walks past me, around the red pool table and over to my Dad and Troy. "You've signed a contract. You-"

"I don't give a shit what I've signed!" He hisses at his daughter.

"I won't let him talk to you like that." My Dad says to Adaline.

"She is my daughter! I talk to her however I want!" Troy's black eyes stare at Sergej.

I watch how the body of my father tenses. He hates disrespect.

"ENOUGH!"

I wince as I hear Gabriella yelling behind me so loudly that my eardrums nearly burst.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She hisses at us before strutting inside. She stops at the red pool table and leans with her hips against it. "It's Christmas Eve for Christ's sake! It's a holiday to get together, to celebrate being a family and you are here fighting your asses off!" She pinches the bridge of her nose. "Bloody hell, I've had enough! Enough of this bullshit!"

"Gabi-"

"No!" She growls before pinching the bride of her nose. "Okay, this is what we're going to do. Sergej, please take your seat at the table. Take Wladimir with you." She says before opening her eyes. "And you two... I have more than a score to settle with the two of you. I've had enough of those fights. Get your shit together and make up!" She hisses at Della and Troy.

"Get my shit together?! I'm not the one making a mistake-"

"Are you really going to let him talk about you this way?!" My father asks me.

I only shake my head at my father's question.

"Wladimir-"

I lift my hand to shut him up.

"This is not a mistake!" Adaline yells at him. "You see those two standing behind me? If you won't stop with this shit, than I will leave with them."

He waves with his hand, "Go!"

"Troy!" Gabriella's shocked voice echoes through this room.

He's kicking her out?!

"Are you serious?!" Della asks him shocked. "You're willing to-"

Troy leans forward on the table. "I told you. Against me you will loose, Adaline."

"Except you're not winning. It's you who is loosing. Your daughter. Your precious first born. The one you taught how to swim. The one you taught how to shoot a gun." She says with her poker face on. Then she turns on her heel and walks over to my father and me. "We're leaving."

I unlock the front door of our flat and watch her walking inside. She switches on the lights and gets out of her black Burberry coat. I close the front door as she slips off the black heels she wore tonight. She spent one hour on her hair, makeup and picking out the right outfit just for tonight. She put in an effort because she believed Troy would keep himself together tonight. She even made him sign a contract.

But all of that didn't change the fact that he lost control again. He ruined Christmas Eve not for me but for her Mom, the triplets and Della herself!

It makes me so angry that he ruined Della's favourite holiday!

But I didn't raise my voice because that would hurt Della even more. A bloody fight would have hurt her the worst way possible.

"I'm going to shower." She announces in a low voice before slowly walking into our bedroom and into the en-suite bathroom.

I get out of my coat and shoes. Della barely said a word when I drove us home and dropped off my Dad. She's hurt.

For a moment I debate to pour us both some bourbon and call it a night. But then I remind myself that alcohol doesn't solve any problems.

Especially not a problem as big as Troy Bolton.

I have no idea what to do with him. If I talk to him it's only going to get worse. If Della talks to him they'll fight. If Gabi puts pressure on him he explodes.

Whatever we do it's a loose-loose situation.

I sigh as I walk through our empty bedroom and see her black cashmere dress laying on the edge of the bed. She didn't even have the strength to walk into our dressing room. I sigh before walking into our dressing room and getting out of my clothes. I dump most of them into the laundry basket before walking into the en-suite bathroom. The running shower is filling my ears as the humid from the hot water is slowly filling the room.

And suddenly her sobs start filling my ears. It's a deep, pain filled sound that sends chills down my bones. It feels like someone is squeezing my insides.

And my heart shatters into a million pieces.

I stop across the glass shower and see how she leans against the white marble tiles. The water is pouring out of the rain shower head and down her back as her chest expands. Another excruciating sob is filling the bathroom and I can see how her palms shake against the tiles. She has reached her limit. He broke her.

I open the door of the shower, walk inside and wrap my arms around her. I hold her close to me as she cries in my arms. She's shaking heavily from the pain her father makes her feel.

After a moment, I can feel her nails digging into my forearms. She turns around and buries her nose in the nape of my neck. Her warm breath clashes against my neck as I hold her. There's nothing I can say or do to make her feel better.

All I can do is hold her and hope that she feels just slightly better.

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

Do you think Della is going to tell Wlad about the pregnancy?

How do you think Troy and Gabi are going to react to the news? Are the news going to force Troy to finally accept them? Or are they going to keep fighting?

Please review!

In gratitude,

Nicole