Chapter 13 – The First Fight
The café night changed something between us.
We still followed the routine — Adrian left at 7 a.m., I cleaned and cooked, he came home at 8 p.m. — but now there were small moments that felt normal.
On Wednesday I went to see Layla for my hour. She drew the house with three people again and wrote my name under the third figure.
When I got home at 5:15 p.m., Adrian was there.
"You went to see Layla," he said.
"Yes."
"How was she?"
"She's happy. She drew us again."
He nodded. "Thank you."
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 48 – She went to see Layla for one hour.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's part of our life.*
I closed the notebook.
Thursday Adrian came home at 8 p.m.
I had made grilled chicken.
He ate, said "Thank you," and stayed at the table.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"I have to go to Alexandria on business Sunday. I'll be back Monday night."
"Okay. Do you want me to pack something for you?"
"No, I'll do it."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 49 – I'm going to Alexandria Sunday, back Monday night.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She offered to pack for me.*
I closed the notebook.
Friday I cooked. Saturday I cleaned.
Sunday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m. with a small suitcase.
"Have a safe trip," I said.
"Thank you."
The apartment felt empty without him.
At 4 p.m. I got a text from Mrs. Cole: *Layla is asking for you.*
I replied: *I can't come today. I'll see her Wednesday.*
*Mrs. Cole: She's sad.*
I felt guilty, but I respected the rule.
At 9 p.m. my phone rang. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Lila, it's Adrian."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. The meeting ran late. I'll be back late Monday."
"Okay. Drive safe."
"Thank you."
I hung up.
I sat on the couch, the apartment quiet.
I missed him.
I realized I missed him.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 50 – I'm in Alexandria. The meeting ran late.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She said to drive safe.*
I closed the notebook.
Monday night at 10:30 p.m. the door opened.
Adrian walked in, tired, with his suitcase.
"Welcome back," I said.
"Thank you."
"You want something to eat?"
"No, I ate on the train."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 51 – I'm back from Alexandria.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She asked if I wanted food.*
I closed the notebook.
Tuesday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He saw me and said, "Hi."
"Hi. How was the trip?"
"It was fine. Tiring."
"Do you want dinner?"
"Yes, please."
I served the food.
We ate.
After dinner, he stayed.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for asking about my trip."
"You're welcome."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 52 – I asked about his trip.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She cares.*
I closed the notebook.
Wednesday 4 p.m. I was at Mrs. Cole's with Layla.
We played, we read, we laughed.
Layla drew the house with three people.
"This is Mama."
"This is Baba."
"This is Lila."
I hugged her.
When the hour was over, she said, "See you next week, Lila."
"I'll see you next week, habibti."
I got home at 5:15 p.m.
Adrian was there.
"You went to see Layla," he said.
"Yes."
"How was she?"
"She's happy."
"Good."
"Thank you for letting me see her."
"You're welcome."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 53 – She went to see Layla for one hour.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's part of our life.*
I closed the notebook.
Thursday night, after dinner, Adrian stayed at the table.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"I want to tell you what really happened to Nadia."
My heart skipped.
"You don't have to if it's hard."
"It's hard, but you deserve to know."
I nodded.
"Nadia didn't just disappear," he said. "She was taken."
I froze. "Taken?"
"Yes. The police found evidence that she was kidnapped."
"By who?"
"We don't know. There was no ransom note. No call."
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I didn't want you to be scared."
"I'm scared now."
"I know."
"Is Layla in danger?"
"No. My mother's house is guarded."
I took a breath. "Thank you for telling me."
He nodded and went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 54 – I told her Nadia was kidnapped.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's scared but she stayed.*
I closed the notebook.
Chapter 14 – The Fear
After Adrian told me Nadia was kidnapped, the apartment felt different.
Every sound at night made me jump.
I kept the lights on in the living room.
Adrian noticed.
"Lila, are you okay?" he asked Friday night.
"I'm fine. I'm just… thinking about what you said."
"I'm sorry I told you."
"No, I'm glad you told me. I'd rather know the truth."
He nodded and went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 55 – She's scared after I told her Nadia was kidnapped.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She chose the truth.*
I closed the notebook.
Saturday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He saw me and said, "You look tired."
"I didn't sleep well."
"Are you still scared?"
"A little."
He nodded.
"Do you want me to stay in the living room tonight?"
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
That night he slept on the couch.
I slept better knowing he was in the next room.
Sunday morning he went back to his bedroom.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked.
"Yes. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 56 – I slept on the couch so she wouldn't be scared.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She felt safe.*
I closed the notebook.
Wednesday 4 p.m. I was at Mrs. Cole's with Layla.
She was happy, playing with the bear.
When the hour was over, she said, "See you next week, Lila."
"I'll see you next week, habibti."
I got home at 5:15 p.m.
Adrian was there.
"You went to see Layla," he said.
"Yes."
"How was she?"
"She's happy."
"Good."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 57 – She went to see Layla for one hour.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's part of our life.*
I closed the notebook.
Chapter 15 – The Secret
Two weeks passed.
We had two more walks, one more café visit.
Adrian was softer, talking more, asking about my day.
On Friday night, after dinner, he stayed at the table.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"There's something else I haven't told you."
"What is it?"
"Nadia was pregnant with a boy before Layla."
I looked at him.
"She lost the baby at six months."
I felt my heart break.
"I'm so sorry, Adrian."
He nodded, his eyes wet.
"It was the hardest time of our lives."
I reached out and took his hand.
"I'm so sorry."
He squeezed my hand and let go.
"Thank you."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 58 – I told her about the baby we lost.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She held my hand.*
I closed the notebook.
The next day I cooked his favorite meal.
He ate, said "Thank you," and hugged me briefly.
It was the first time he had touched me.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 59 – I hugged her.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I needed the comfort.*
I closed the notebook.
Chapter 16 – The Breakthrough
Two weeks later, I was in the kitchen when Adrian came home at 8 p.m.
He looked exhausted.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
He sat at the table.
"I had a meeting with the police today," he said.
"About Nadia?"
"Yes."
"What did they say?"
"They have a new lead."
"What kind of lead?"
"A man was seen near her office the day she disappeared."
"Do they know who he is?"
"Not yet."
I sat across from him.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Thank you."
He looked at me.
"Lila, I want you to know… I'm starting to see you as you."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Thank you for saying that."
He nodded and went to his office.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 60 – The police have a new lead.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm starting to see you as you.*
I closed the notebook.
Chapter 17 – The Kiss
One night, three weeks later, after dinner, Adrian stayed at the table.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"I want to kiss you."
My heart pounded.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. But only if you want me to."
"I want you to."
He stood up, came to my side of the table, and kissed me gently on the lips.
It was soft, careful, not rushed.
When he pulled back, he said, "I'm sorry if that was too much."
"It wasn't too much."
He smiled and went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 61 – I kissed her.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She wanted it.*
I closed the notebook.
I fell asleep with a smile.
Chapter 18 – The Truth
One month later, the police called Adrian.
They had found the man.
He was a former employee of Nadia's company who had been fired six months before she disappeared.
He had kidnapped her because he blamed her for losing his job.
The police found her body in an abandoned warehouse outside Cairo.
Adrian came home that night and told me.
"She's gone, Lila," he said, his voice breaking.
I hugged him.
"I'm so sorry."
He cried in my arms.
I held him until he stopped.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 62 – The police found Nadia.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She held me while I cried.*
I closed the notebook.
Chapter 19 – The Funeral
We went to the funeral together.
Nadia's family was there.
Adrian's mother held Layla.
I stood beside Adrian, holding his hand.
After the burial, Adrian's mother came to me.
"Thank you for being here for Adrian," she said.
"You're welcome."
She hugged me.
That night Adrian held me.
"Thank you for being with me today," he said.
"You're welcome."
He kissed my forehead.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 63 – We buried Nadia today.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She was with me.*
I closed the notebook.
Chapter 20 – The New Beginning
One week after the funeral, Adrian came home from work, closed his office door, and didn't go inside.
He came to the living room and sat next to me on the couch.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"I want to change the contract."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want you to be my wife on paper only."
"What do you want?"
"I want you to be my wife."
I looked at him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I've fallen in love with you, Lila."
Tears filled my eyes.
"I've fallen in love with you too, Adrian."
He kissed me.
That night the notebook had a new line.
*Day 64 – I told her I love her.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She loves me too.*
I closed the notebook.
The next morning, I woke up in Adrian's arms.
The 27th-floor apartment still had Nadia's photos on the wall, but now there was a new photo on the shelf — one of Adrian, me, and Layla at the park.
I was no longer the replacement.
I was Lila.
His wife.
Layla's friend.
Part of their life.