Adeline pulled back from the hug. She reached her hands up, cupping his cheeks. She was assessing him thoroughly, sincere worry etched on her face.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "Should we get you checked? I know you were worried about me, and you probably haven't slept well."
Caesar was just staring at her.
"Look at you, you look pale." She bit her lip as if biting back a sob. Her lips were trembling, eyes growing wet the more she spoke. "You've lost a lot of weight too, and—"
"Adeline." Caesar grabbed her hands. "Doll, look at me."
She met his gaze, and the wetness in her eyes finally broke. "I'm sorry…" she apologized. "I'm so sorry. T-this is all my fault. I-I never should have done that. I never should have hurt you like that. You didn't deserve that, you didn't—-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Caesar, I-I didn't mean to. I was—"
He grabbed her and yanked her into the deepest hug he'd ever given her, arms tight around her, and face buried deep in her.
