Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

"Are you really not going to ask me?" Adam asked out of the blue.

Melanie froze. She didn’t answer right away, almost tempted to act as if she hadn’t heard him or didn’t understand what he was referring to. But she sighed after a moment. There was no point in pretending. She understood perfectly. And the truth was—she didn’t want to ask. Not really.

Adam sighed too, then reached out and rolled her gently onto him so that she was lying across his chest.

She met his eyes, quiet for a beat, then placed her palms flat on his chest and let her chin rest on the backs of her hands.

"I’m not sure I want to know how you’re going to deal with the whole situation," she said quietly. Then, after a pause, her voice slightly more careful, she added, "Anyway... did you meet the child?"

"I did," Adam said after a moment, his voice low but steady.

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Melanie didn’t respond right away, but her silence wasn’t empty. She was listening.

"He’s... well-settled. Polite. One of those kids who listens when spoken to, but still has his own spark. He’s clearly been raised with care. Patience." Adam exhaled. "Honestly, the only thing Saira might’ve done right was handing him over to whoever she did. He has been raised in a loving and happy environment."

"He talks about the adoptive father a lot. With affection. Keeps mentioning things he’s learned, habits they have, things they do together. It’s clear he’s attached. It’s not forced, either—it’s easy, like he’s proud of him."