Eira’s POV
Roman left thinking I had fallen asleep, but I hadn’t. I was waiting for him to fall asleep or leave.
Just as he left and the room grew quiet, I turned toward the bedside table, my eyes finding the photo fra.
"Alice..." My voice trembled as the tears already gathered in my eyes. "How much I want to co to you—but I can’t."
My fingers brushed over the glass, lingering on her face.
"Lucian says it wasn’t my fault, but how can I forget? It was my hand that pulled the trigger. I was the one who shot you. No matter what they tell , that truth will never leave . I just want to co to you. I’m so tired, Alice. Truly tired. I don’t know what else to do anymore. There’s nothing left inside . All I have is hate and bitterness, and I fear it will consu your brothers—the very n you loved so dearly. I hate them, Alice, I hate them so much... but I don’t wish them harm, because it would hurt you."
I pressed my fingers against the fra, as though the touch could bridge the distance between us.
"The world was so beautiful with you by my side. Without you, I don’t want to remain in it anymore. I hate this world, and everyone in it. You know, today they did everything they could to celebrate the Moon Festival. But for , there was no aning in it. Still... I prayed. I prayed for your soul to be at peace. I prayed that we might be united soon. I miss you. I miss you so much."
My tears fell freely now, slipping hot across my cheeks as I gathered the fra into my arms, pressing it tight against my heart.
"They want to be good to ," I whispered, choking on the words, "but I don’t want it. Their sudden kindness won’t erase what I suffered... it won’t bring back what I lost. I can never forget my child. I can never forget the cruelty. It haunts , makes every mont unbearable to live. I accepted it once, thinking it was my punishnt for killing you. But I can’t anymore. I can’t forget. And I can’t forgive.
Sobs broke through as I clutched the fra harder. "Alice, please... can’t you do sothing? Call to you. I don’t want to be here anymore. Every mont around them is unbearable. I endure it only by telling myself it will end soon. They will fuck and throw out. But...
"They won’t let go, and they won’t kill either. Just do sothing, Alice... You’re the only one I have left. Please, Alice. Please..."
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Kael’s POV
Roman returned to us instead of staying with her, though it could have been a night ant for mates.
And though I had accepted that possibility—though I had even prepared myself for it—the mont I saw him return, a strange relief settled over .
Such an ass I am.
After hours of drinking, we finally drifted back to our rooms.
Once inside my room, I opened the drawer of the bedside table. There was a small box inside it—a gift I had bought for her, but didn’t have the courage to give.
I opened the box. There was a tiny pendant hung on a delicate chain. It belonged to my mother, and it was ant for my mate, the woman I loved. But...
Maybe, I have to wait.
Despite the alcohol kicking in, I had no desire to sleep. Standing by the wall-sized glass window of my room, I looked at the moon.
I should have been with her, celebrating every moon festival with her like true mates, but I had lost that chance with my own hands.
I looked around the part of the estate that was visible from here.
This estate was a gift from my parents, and I often stayed here back then to have my own peaceful ti. Standing here and looking at the sky always offered more peace.
And then, my gaze settled on the side house below.
Six years ago, I built this small side house out of nowhere.
It shocked everyone—why was I even building such a small cottage-style ho when I already had this big house? And that too in the middle of the garden, right next to the main house, instead of in so other part of this grand estate.
I didn’t explain the reason to anyone, nor did I wish to admit it to myself.
But I knew it well. Eira—she was the reason.
Back then, when I was at Lucian’s ho, Alice returned from the market carrying so many things. But she wasn’t alone. Eira was with her. Both of them brought so much.
"What’s this?" Jennifer asked.
"Mom, we have decided to change the boring interiors of our ho. I am bored of seeing the sa things around," Alice told her, as both the girls placed all those bags on the couch.
"Where did you get so much money?" Jennifer was shocked. "Don’t tell you are yet to pay."
"Don’t worry, Mom. I just broke my piggy bank, as money wasn’t going to double there, and then I got so from my brothers."
"Don’t forget your brothers are still students. You shouldn’t trouble them," Jennifer warned her. "Don’t be reckless like this."
"You only scold ," Alice complained. "You should scold Eira as well."
Eira was clearly shocked, and I enjoyed those expressions on her small innocent face. "What... did I do..." Eira asked.
"You didn’t stop when I was shopping. Instead, you helped buy things," Alice replied. "And all of this is of your choice, as if you were buying it for your own ho. I just paid for it."
Eira felt baffled. "But... I thought Aunty told you to buy... so..."
"See, Mom? She accepted her fault," Alice said. "Now scold her."
Eira’s face turned apologetic as she looked at Jennifer.
"Stop scaring the poor girl," Jennifer said, and went to Eira. "It’s alright. Let’s see what you got. Maybe your choice of things can change the mood inside our ho."
"I... just tried... but Alice chose them as well..." she said, feeling a little nervous.
"I am sure everything is perfect," Jennifer assured her.
"When it cos to Eira, you are always so soft, Mom," Alice complained, though in a playful way. "I wonder who’s your daughter—her or ."
"Both of you are," Jennifer replied, and started to go through the bags.
"I am the daughter," Alice said. "But how about you make her your daughter-in-law? You have two sons," Alice teased.
The mont she said that, my body froze. I looked at Eira. She was shocked as well, but also a little shy.
"Want to be my sister-in-law?" Alice asked, putting her hand around Eira playfully. "Which one, Lucian or Jason?"
Eira slapped her hand gently and scolded her softly, "Stop joking around and let’s help Aunty."
Though we were talking, all my attention was on her. They revealed what Eira had bought.
"Oh! It’s beautiful, Eira," Jennifer said as she looked at the wall hanging she was holding.
"Mom, she liked everything warm, cozy, and a little vibrant—opposite to how dull our ho looks at the mont," Alice added as she revealed more things.
Unsure why, but I took note of everything she bought and understood what she preferred. From their talks, I also learned more about Eira’s preferences for a ho.
Later, I decided to build this warm, cozy side house just the way she preferred. Just my attempt to get familiar with her world, get used to it, and most importantly, because coming to this side house made feel I was close to her that way.
And then, I looked forward to the day she cos to this ho and realise it was just what she preferred.
If I told her today I had built this side house for her, she would just spit on it and walk away. The hate in her eyes for was far deeper than I could even dare imagine.
I looked at the box I was still holding in my hand. My finger caressed the pendant gently. Maybe one day, I will be able to give it to her.
Keeping the box back in the drawer, I lay on the bed without even changing my clothes. I felt exhausted emotionally, my heart felt empty as I missed her by my side, right here in my bed where she was supposed to be.
As I closed my eyes, my mind only repeated that sa thing, her na, Eira.
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