Wedcuffed

Chapter 47

Adrian's POV

The hospital room, bathed in the soft light of the afternoon sun, felt strangely foreign to me. I stood by the window, looking at the city that felt so distant from the whirlwind of emotions. The sound of the baby's gentle coos and Alessandro's murmurs of affection filled the room, mingling with the low hum of the hospital machines.

I watched Alessandro as he held our son, his face lit up with a kind of joy and pride that was almost unbearable to witness. It was a bittersweet sight that I knew was born from my mistakes and failures. The thought that Alessandro was now the one by Sarah's side, sharing these intimate moments, gnawed at me.

The baby stirred in Alessandro's arms, and I could see the tenderness in Alessandro's gaze. He whispered to the newborn, his voice a soothing balm that contrasted sharply with the turmoil in my chest. It was a reminder of how much Alessandro had become a part of Sarah's life, and by extension, our child's life. My stomach churned with a mix of jealousy and guilt.

The guilt was the sharper of the two, eating away at me with a relentless bite. I had made mistakes, and now I was paying the price. Seeing Alessandro in this role, a role I should have been fulfilling, was a constant reminder of the things I had lost—my family, my place in Sarah's life, and the chance to be a daily part of our child's upbringing. I couldn't deny that Alessandro was doing a good job. He was here, present, and supportive in a way I had failed to be.

Yet, every glance between Sarah and Alessandro, every touch, every smile, felt like a direct hit to my already fragile self-esteem. I had chosen the wrong path and made the wrong decisions, and now I had to live with the consequences. Sarah was with someone else, someone who was now sharing these precious moments with her, and I was left standing on the sidelines, trying to salvage whatever I could.

As Alessandro handed the baby back to Sarah, I saw a look of shared understanding between them. It was a connection that was intimate, built over time, and something that I felt I could never fully be a part of. My heart ached with an almost physical pain, and I could feel the bitterness rising within me.

Sarah caught my eye, and her expression softened. She could probably see through my attempts at composure, and the knowledge that she was aware of my inner struggle was both comforting and humiliating. She had always been able to read me better than anyone else.

"Adrian, are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle but laced with concern.

I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil behind it. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess. It's a lot to take in."

Sarah nodded, her gaze lingering on me for a moment before she looked back at the baby. I could see the gratitude in her eyes, the relief that I was here, even if our relationship was strained. It was a bittersweet acknowledgment of the role I was still trying to play, despite everything that had transpired.

I took a deep breath and approached them, my heart heavy. "Can I... hold him for a bit?" I asked, my voice almost cracking with the weight of the request.

Sarah hesitated for a moment before nodding. Alessandro handed me the baby with a gentle, reassuring smile, and as I cradled him in my arms, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions. The baby's tiny fingers curled around mine, and for a moment, all the insecurities and jealousy seemed to fade away, replaced by a raw, vulnerable love for this tiny being.

"I'm sorry, Sarah," I said softly, my voice breaking. "For everything. I know I've let you down, and I don't expect things to be the same. But I want to be here for him, for both of you, in whatever way I can."

Sarah's eyes filled with tears, and she reached out to gently touch the baby's head. "Thank you, Adrian. That means a lot. We're going to need all the support we can get."