ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond-Chapter 215: Adopt?

Chapter 215

KATYA POV

I left Romeo’s office without a word, the check heavy in my hand like it carried the weight of all my uncertainty.

My footsteps were soft against the polished corridor, but in my mind, every step sounded loud—like a drum announcing that I was leaving, finally.

I didn’t head back to my room. There was no need. Nothing was there for me anymore, not really.

If I was going to go, I needed one last stop. One last person who mattered, however small that mattered might be.

Nonna’s floor wasn’t far. The scent of flowers and faint antiseptic reached me as I approached, and for a moment, I froze outside her door. My fingers tightened around the check.

How would I tell her?

Would she be happy for me—or sad? Would she understand that this freedom I’d begged for in my mind still made me ache in my chest?

After all, she had just told me about that dream... the one where I was her blood family. The one where, for a brief moment, I had felt belonging.

I swallowed hard. My heartbeat thudded unevenly, echoing in my ears. I wanted to tell her I was leaving.

I wanted to tell her Aria was safe. I wanted to show her I was grateful for everything she’d given me... even if my own relief was tangled with confusion, hesitation, and a little sadness I refused to name.

And maybe, just maybe... I could let myself admit it. That I wasn’t entirely happy about leaving. That freedom didn’t feel like a victory so much as a new kind of emptiness.

I raised my hand, fingers brushing the doorframe lightly, and took a slow breath. Whatever came next, I’d face it. I had to.

The knock to nonna’s door wasn’t supposed to be that loud but with my mind messing up, I didn’t even know I had put more force.

The sound of nonna voice saying come in made me open the door and entered. Nonna was sitting near her window, the soft morning light spilling across her face and the table beside her.

A teapot steamed gently, and a small plate of snacks rested there. She didn’t turn at first—her gaze was fixed on the estate outside—but then when she caught sight of me.

Her smile appeared instantly, bright and infectious, like sunlight breaking through clouds.

Despite everything, despite the heaviness in my chest, it made me pause.

"Come, come Sit, mia cara," she said, gesturing to the chair next to her. Her hand lifted slightly. "Come, sit."

I hesitated only a moment before walking over, careful not to stumble over my own nerves. The chair was cool beneath me as I lowered myself, and the table with the tea and snacks suddenly seemed like a lifeline to normalcy.

Nonna glanced at me briefly, then returned her eyes to the window. Her voice was soft, almost thoughtful.

"What did that little rascal talk to you about?" I swallowed, unsure how to answer. I could see she was trying to lower the tension on me but with the check still lay heavy in my palm, folded neatly between my fingers. I couldn’t really focus.

My chest felt hollow and full all at once, and I couldn’t find the words to explain it—not entirely.

"I... I have news," I said finally, my voice tentative. "I... I’m leaving.."

Nonna’s smile faded in an instant. Her eyes snapped to me like I just stole something.

"Huh," Nonna said softly, tilting her head, her expression a mixture of curiosity and quiet concern.

I looked toward the window for a long moment, my fingers tightening again around the check, unsure if I wanted to meet her gaze.

Then, slowly, I turned back to her and held it out. She snatched it from my hand before I could stop her, unfolding it and scanning the paper carefully.

Her eyes flicked from the numbers to my face, questioning. "This... what is this?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "He...he gave it to me. He said I’m free to leave. That I can take whatever I need, to take care of myself."

Nonna’s brows knitted slightly, but she didn’t speak immediately. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

She just held the check, turning it over in her hands as if weighing its weight, both literally and metaphorically.

"Hmm," Nonna’s lips pressed together. Her warm eyes softened. "You see, mia cara... even people like him, with all their... ways... sometimes they can show a sliver of decency."

I nodded, my chest still tight, and let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. "Yeah... maybe he still has some humanity left."

She set the check on the table gently, closer to her than to me, and reached for my hand, her fingers warm and grounding.

"And now you... have a choice now. But do you want to leave? Remember, freedom doesn’t always come clean. It comes messy, tangled, and often heavier than expected."

I looked down at my hands, then at her, trying to sort through the swirl of relief, fear, gratitude, and... something else I couldn’t name.

Was I truly wanting to leave? The check still lay between us, a tangible proof of both my escape and the void it left behind.

"I..." I started, my voice breaking slightly. I blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back. "I don’t know if I’m ready to... to feel happy about this. I thought I would be relieved. But... it feels... strange. Empty, almost. Even though... even though I’m free."

Nonna squeezed my hand gently. "Do you want to know what I was about to say before we were interrupted." My eyes went back to her. Why was she bringing that up when I’m about leaving.

Nonna smiles a bittersweet smile that tugged at my fragile heart, she held my hand gently again. " I didn’t only dream about you being family for the sake of it, Katya."

Hearing her call me my real name without that endosment, made me sit upright. "I wouldn’t force you to make a decision, mia cara. But." Nonna paused as if measuring her words.

"I would love to adopt you as a real family."

††

Well well well, who guessed?