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Oleg

Aurora had left her breakfast half-eaten after her argument with Logan. She remained in the care room for the rest of the day, even after Sophia declared her stable. Adam stayed with her, though Aurora seemed lost in her thoughts most of the time.

The one time she remembered he was in the room, she invited him to cuddle with her on the window seat and spoke to him briefly.

"Micino, you understand why I did what I did, don't you?"

When silence met her question, she continued. "I would do the same and more to protect you, my love." She said, holding him tighter.

He knew she meant it; Aurora valued her promises. He had come to learn that about her from the promises she made to him and others over the last two weeks.

"I know, Mom. But Dad's right. I don't think Sammy wants to be away from her parents."

A defeated sigh escaped her lips. "Even though they hurt her? Even though her mother is mean to her?"

"I know she doesn't like those things, but I don't think she hates her parents for it."

"They will keep hurting her."

This time, Adam squeezed his mother tightly. "Maybe...she will want to leave them if you adopt her."

"I can't adopt her, micino." She said softly.

"Why not? You're already going to adopt me."

Aurora smiled sadly at him. "You're different."

Adam watched as Logan paced the foyer anxiously. Logan had avoided Aurora after breakfast, even going so far as to get ready an hour before her. Now he kept stealing glances at the staircase as he paced the open area. When Aurora finally appeared, he stopped pacing and watched as she approached him.

Logan picked up her hand and kissed it. "I'm sorry for losing my temper with you."

Aurora shook her head. "I thought about what you said. Maybe I did rush into action without thinking about Samantha's feelings."

Aurora gently brushed her fingers against her husband's lips. She cast a sad look at Adam before turning back to Logan. "I know you and Carl are close. I'll try to make it up to him. I'm sorry I put you in a difficult position."

"You meant well." Logan said, taking her hand and placing it over his heart. "Do you still have plans for Nikolaev?"

She nodded. "Because of me, everything fell apart. It will be a fresh start for us."

Adam smiled as he watched his parents reconcile; their disagreements made him uneasy. The boy let out a sigh of relief as the tension building in his chest evaporated.

"Now that you two have kissed and made up, can we go?" Sophia asked indifferently.

"No need to be jealous, Sophia. You and Michael will—"

"Ssshh," Aurora hissed, pinching Logan's arm, panic etched on her face.

"I see my personal affairs make it into your pillow talk." Sophia glared angrily at Aurora.

"Sorry." Aurora shouted apologetically after Sophia as she stormed out of the house.

The ride to the gallery was uncomfortable. Sophia, obviously very upset, drove fast and recklessly. She took corners at speeds that made the family slide in their seats and braked suddenly a few times, causing them to jerk forward. From her demeanour, Adam noted to never to talk about any Michael in front of her. He wondered whether Sophia's Michael was their driver.