Chapter 16 – The Breakthrough
The hug had changed the air between us.
It wasn't a big change — no declarations, no sudden closeness — but it was there in the small things.
Adrian started coming out of his office after dinner instead of immediately disappearing. He'd sit at the table with his coffee while I cleared the plates. Sometimes we talked about the weather. Sometimes we didn't talk at all, and the silence didn't feel heavy.
I kept my Wednesday hour with Layla.
She still drew the house with three people.
"This is Mama."
"This is Baba."
"This is Lila."
I kissed her forehead when the hour was over.
On Monday night, after dinner, Adrian stayed at the table.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for the hug the other night."
"You're welcome."
He looked at me.
"I've been thinking about it all week."
"I have too," I admitted.
He smiled, just a little.
"It was nice."
"It was nice," I echoed.
He nodded and went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 72 – I've been thinking about the hug all week.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. It was nice.*
I closed the notebook and fell asleep with a small smile on my face.
Tuesday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m.
I spent the day cleaning and cooking.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He looked exhausted, his tie loose, his eyes red.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
He sat at the table.
"I had a meeting with the detective today," he said.
My chest tightened. "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 rubbed his eyes.
"They're going to show me security footage tomorrow."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
He looked surprised. "You'd come with me?"
"If you want me to."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Yes. I'd like you to come with me."
"Okay. What time?"
"10 a.m. at the police station downtown."
"I'll be ready."
He nodded and went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 73 – The police have a new lead.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. I'm starting to see you as you.*
I closed the notebook.
I lay in bed, thinking about sitting next to him in a police station, watching footage of the day Nadia vanished.
I felt scared.
I felt honored that he wanted me there.
Wednesday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m.
At 4 p.m. I was at Mrs. Cole's apartment 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 kissed her forehead and left.
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."
"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 74 – She went to see Layla for one hour.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's part of our life.*
Thursday morning I was ready at 9:30 a.m.
I wore a simple black dress and flats.
At 9:50 a.m. Adrian came out of his office.
"You're ready," he said.
"Yes."
We took a taxi to the police station downtown.
The building was old, the air smelled like paper and coffee.
The detective, a man in his fifties with a mustache, greeted Adrian.
"Mr. Cole. This is…?"
"My wife, Lila."
The detective nodded at me. "Mrs. Cole. Please, come in."
We sat in a small room with a computer on the table.
The detective played the footage.
It was grainy, from a camera across the street from Nadia's office.
Date stamp: November 14, 2023, 6:32 p.m.
We watched Nadia leave the building, get into her car, drive away.
Five minutes later, a black van pulled up, parked where her car had been.
A man got out, looked around, got back in, and drove off in the same direction Nadia had gone.
"That's him," Adrian said quietly.
The detective paused the video.
"We're enhancing the plate number. We'll let you know."
Adrian nodded.
We left the station.
In the taxi home, Adrian stared out the window.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm okay."
"You don't sound okay."
He turned to me.
"Seeing her car… seeing that van… it brought everything back."
"I know."
He reached over and took my hand.
"Thank you for coming with me."
"You're welcome."
He held my hand all the way home.
When we got back to the apartment, he didn't go to his office right away.
He stayed in the living room with me.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for holding my hand."
"You're welcome."
He squeezed my hand and let go.
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 75 – I went with him to the police station.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She held my hand.*
I closed the notebook.
Friday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He saw me and said, "Hi."
"Hi. How was your day?"
"It was long."
"Do you want dinner?"
"Yes, please."
I served the food.
We ate.
After dinner, he stayed.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for being with me today."
"You're welcome."
He hesitated.
"I don't think I could have watched that footage alone."
"I'm glad I was there."
He nodded.
"Me too."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 76 – I don't think I could have watched that footage alone.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She was with me.*
Saturday morning Adrian left at 7 a.m.
I spent the day cleaning and cooking.
At 8 p.m. he came home.
He saw me and said, "Hi."
"Hi. How was your day?"
"It was quiet."
"Do you want dinner?"
"Yes, please."
I served the food.
We ate.
After dinner, he stayed.
"Lila," he said.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for coming with me to the police station."
"You're welcome."
He looked at me.
"I'm starting to think of you as my wife, not just the woman in the contract."
My heart jumped.
"Thank you for saying that."
He nodded.
"I'm trying."
"I know."
He went to his office.
I went to my room.
That night I opened the notebook.
*Day 77 – I'm starting to think of you as my wife, not just the woman in the contract.*
Under it:
*She's Lila. She's my wife.*
I closed the notebook.
I lay in bed and felt something shift.
The contract was still there.
The rule about Layla was still there.
But the way Adrian said *my wife* sounded real, not like a formality.
I whispered to the dark room,
"Maybe I am his wife."