Chapter 77
Alaia
Nick finished his story, and my head could barely understand everything he had said.
“A plan that I came up with in a day, it couldn’t fail,” he snorted. “I went to see you a day before it all ended, and you were at your house, unaware of it all. I wanted to make sure you were still there.” He laughed humorlessly and shook his head.
“I never wanted to hurt you, Alaia. The words I said, I only meant to push you away for the
days it would take me to have everything in my hands and be able to decide about my father, about my life, to be free to be by your side, for you to continue being my wife. I know I didn’t do it right, but my father’s life depended on that imbecile, and you were at risk. Killian didn’t care about his son; it was clear that he represented a danger to you, so I decided not to tell you at that moment. I was already making many moves behind his back. One false step and he would have disconnected my father. I just needed a few days to free them from him.” He looked at me, and I swallowed a lump in my throat.
“The day of the wedding, you looked happy, your grandfather, the abortion,” I whispered, and he immediately shook his head.
“It was all an act; I imagined you there the whole time.” I bit my lip, feeling something rise and fall in my stomach. “He went on his own; I never knew about that visit. I didn’t know about your pregnancy. I’m sure he didn’t trust me and wanted to make sure to get me away from you.
He’s always told me that love makes us weak, that our relationship was an impediment to his purposes,” he explained, and I went back to that time when I lived the most difficult days so far, and it seemed incredible that it was all part of Nick’s plan. “You didn’t trust me.” I lowered my gaze. I didn’t know what I would have done if I had been in his place. I felt like I should have trusted him. I understood that he needed his family’s money to keep his father alive, something I couldn’t reproach. I would do anything for mine.
“I wasn’t going to hide it from you; I just delayed the truth for a few days, for your sake and my father’s, for us. Now it sounds like a crazy plan from a guy who didn’t want to choose, who wasn’t willing to lose you, and I know I could have done better,” I noticed the weight in those words as he said them. “And not have lost two years of you, of our children.” He rubbed his face with both hands. “I never stopped looking for you, Alaia. I had Cedric followed for a year, but the imbecile knew how to move; we got nothing from him.” He settled himself better in the chair, and I could see the outline of his torso. “Your mother ceased to exist with you; there was no sign of her p>
“We didn’t want Killian to find us. He threatened my children. We took precautions,” I said. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the time my children and Nick had lost.
“Damn bastard,” he muttered.
“I felt like I came back to life that day when I saw you, the moment I had been waiting for the most these last two years; it was happening right before my eyes. I wanted to hug you and tell you how much I had missed you, apologize to you, explain the truth, but your eyes had stopped looking at me with love, and I can’t blame you.” He walked to the window and fixed his gaze on me from his position.
“My mistakes of the past were catching up with me. I thought about looking for the right moment to tell you the truth, but I found out that you were engaged to your best friend from college, the imbecile I’ve always hated. The first thing I thought was that I had lost you.” He clenched his fist. “I acted like a jealous i***t, hiding what I felt every time I saw you. I wanted to get away, to understand that you had moved on with your life with… him.” He spat out the word. “But I couldn’t. The love I feel for you is stronger than anything, and I decided to fight for you and to give our children a family.” He smiled sweetly.
“This is my truth; it’s the truth I’ve been keeping all this time, waiting for the day when I could tell you. I’ve disarmed myself before you, Alaia. I’ve laid my cards and my heart on the table. I’ve been completely honest with you. Now everything is in your hands.” He turned to me, and I felt my heart pounding in my chest.
It was all a lie, part of a plan to help his father. My mind was not able to decide; nothing was clear in it. I never could have imagined it; I just thought he had stopped loving me. I saw his wedding. My head started to hurt; it was too much to think about.
“I… I need time,” I said. He couldn’t tell me everything he’d told me and expect an immediate answer.
“Alaia, we can love each other, forget everything, and start over,” he said confidently, and my heart was unable to deny it, but my head was not working properly right now.
I saw my clothes in a corner and put them on. I’d take a bath at home.
“Love me one more time.” He came closer and left a short kiss on my lips. Those brown eyes only had room for me.
My racing heart gave me the answer, but my lips were unable to say the word.
“Nick, please,” I said, putting my hand on his chest where I could feel his heart beating. He held my hand as if he didn’t want to let go, and I looked into his eyes, in which there were no lies.
He exhaled forcefully and let me go.
“Him,” he said as I finished putting on my blouse, and I stopped, turning my back on him, understanding who he was referring to.
“I have to fix it,” I spoke softly. “I’ll take a taxi,” I said before he offered to take me.
“Aly p>
“Please,” I said, turning to look at him.
Nick looked up at the sky, as if asking for patience, and nodded as he took a deep breath.
I walked out of the house and saw him from his bedroom window. Nick watched me before I managed to get a taxi. I didn’t feel capable of getting home under the gaze and questions of Ash and Tino. I didn’t know what was going to happen now. I needed a drink.