Chapter 74 - How've you been?

Suddenly, Adrien pounced on Lily's lap. In his small hands, he was holding several cards.

"Lily!" He demanded for her attention with his bright voice. His little cheeks puffed challenging. "It's your turn!" He complained fiercely.

"Ah?" The girl realized her mistake too late. She was too focused on the phone call to notice. Guiltily, she bit her lower lip. But failed to notice the calm that had set on the other end of the wire. It took a load off her heart as she heard the cheerful voice of her godson. She had been so worried sick about him as well. After the misfortune of his parents, the toddler had disappeared without a trace. Along with Lily. Although she had a vague idea of what her friend Elodie had intended. But she had wanted to be in the loop. After all, Lily needed to be protected. In her eyes, Lily was as helpless and fragile as Adrien.

Had she known earlier. She would have brought Adrien and Lily to her side. Nelli wanted to protect both children, and she blamed Elodie for that. Lily was just a child at heart. Four years younger than Elodie. Helpless and reckless. She wondered what Elodie, and especially Fabien, had been thinking. When they had made this dreadful decision. Especially since Lily depended on them in some way.

Nelli could vividly imagine how the marriage between her friend and that man had come to be. He had probably blackmailed her, pushed her into a corner. And her poor little Lily couldn't stand up against that beast. She wanted to help her. But how?

Nelli had gathered information in order to learn more about Alexandre de Valois. But now, both her hands were tied. She could do nothing against this man. He was too powerful. Which is why Nelli did not trust him. How could she trust this ruthless businessman to protect her two helpless protégés.

" Hand Adrien the phone!" Nelli claimed.

"Um...yeah!" Lily whispered into the phone on the other side of the line. "Adrien..." She rubbed the offended boy's back. Interested, the toddler raised his head and looked at Lily with his big round eyes. Who was his Lily talking to? He was eager to know and nestled himself deeper into her lap. Maybe it was Alec? Then he wanted to talk to him too! Adrien blinked several times, his lashes fluttered like fragile wings of a butterfly and casted long shadows on his round cheeks.

Lily took the phone off her ear. "Your Aunt Nelli called." She explained to him. "She wants to talk to you."

Surprise appeared on the boy's vivid face and changed in seconds to pure joy. "Nelli!" He was beaming from head to toe.

Enthusiastically, he stretched out his little arms, grabbed the phone to press it against his ear.

"Nelli!" He shouted into the phone.

"Hello, my darling. How are you?"

Adrien giggled, twisting overjoyed on Lily's lap while he held the phone tightly with his two hands. "Come and see me! I have so many new toys, Nelli! Then the four of us could have fun together. We will have so much fun!"

" I will definitely come and visit you! I really, really miss you so much. My sweetie!" Nelli hummed into the phone. "But wouldn't it be just the three of us who would be playing together?" She asked him in feigned innocence. Nelli hadn't missed a single word.

"No, four of us." Adrien protested vehemently. "I bet Alec wants to play too!"

"Ahh! Who's Alec?"

"Alec is my friend. He gives me so many cool presents!"

"Is he nice to you and Lily?"

"Yes! We always play together. Me and Alec and Lily! I even sometimes get to ride on his back." Excited, he tugged at Lily's dress. "Right, Lily?!"

"That's so nice, Addy! My sweetie, Nelli, will come and visit you soon. I miss you, sweetie. Then we can all play together. You'll have to introduce me to your new friend. Will you?"

She paused for a moment before asking. "Could you pass me Lily for a moment, sweetie? I need to tell her something."