Chapter 82: Confusion, Confusion

Chapter 82: Confusion, Confusion
Chapter 82: Confusion, Confusion

Ikrus froze, Aniya’s words echoing over and over again in his mind.

“I will marry you,” she said again. Then she tried to stand, to move away from the bed and closer to him. It was at that moment that he moved.

His hands held her back and she groaned when that sharp pain along with sparks raced through her veins. He pulled away almost too quickly, and she dragged in a rough breath - as if everything she was doing required way too much strength then it usually would.

Exhaustion was written all over her.

Maybe he was exhausted too. Maybe he had hallucinated her response. After all, he hadn’t properly slept in 3 days that she had been asleep. That must have been it.

“You are finally awake,” he said to her with a smile. “I will hurry and bring Veris here to make sure that—-“

“When do we get married? I am ready when you are,” she laughed nervously. “I hope you are ready right now.”

Ikrus frowned. This wasn’t a hallucination.

“No.”

“What?!” She jumped out of bed, almost dropping right back down when a sudden fatigue consumed her.

He guided her back gently, his voice filled with worry and a great sense of urgency. “You need to rest. I will get Veris—-“

To Aniya, every sound vanished.

Her mind was crowded with different thoughts. She had been too late.

He didn’t want to marry her anymore.

That form of security was gone. This was all because of her foolishness. Her stupidity in thinking that, for once, she had the liberty to make choices based on her own feelings.

When survival was at stake?!

Now she had lost it!

His bald-headed friend, Oana and the rest of his family must have convinced him that not having her in his life was the best thing.

Now he would prosecute her for attempting to murder him.

And to her son?!

She has failed her son.

“I want my son!” Her outburst stopped Ikrus.

Something flickered in his eyes and that look made her chest tighten. “What have you done with him?!” She asked even though she knew deep within her heart that he wouldn’t hurt Arlo.

Ikrus did not let that implied accusation in her voice get to him. She was just scared. He understood that.

He grabbed her hand and she flinched lightly at the touch, but she did not pull away. He sat next her and something that made the pressure in her head feel a little lighter.

Ikrus battled for what to say. He has many questions to ask, many variations for what to say to put her mind at ease, his head was still ringing from her acceptance of his proposal, just as the echo of his refusal did not leave his head.

Too much.

Too much.

But he knew that for her, it must be so much worse.

So he said the words that he believed would lay a fo
undation for what would happen next.

“Do you trust me?”