Chapter 187: A Love Redefined
“Trust me, Elon and Ethan are more than excited to be with you. They're still kids… you would definitely have more remarkable moments together” She said, softly her voice filled with warmth.
“I hope they don't use it against me tomorrow. It’s pretty scary”
She chuckled. “Don’t mess with Elon then. That kid is literally different from his brother, Ethan”
“Yeah, I noticed that also. He took after you”
“You’re not far from the truth. Ethan took after your personality too. The resemblance is uncanny” she chuckled.
For a while, they stopped talking about the kids to discuss weightier matters.
“Why didn’t it hurt you,” he asked gently, trying to understand, “when the father of your children finally showed up for you and the kids?”
She heaved,the past circumstances flooding back in her mind.
“ You know, “ she began, her voice flattened. “ When you started messing around with Isla, I gave up on you, our marriage and my happiness. Mostly likely, I gave up on the male flock too.
Then, after the accident… the fire accident that almost claimed my life, I gave up on romantic relationships— literally everything that makes a woman happy. I had to focus on building myself.
I became fierce, more confident and treated humans the way they deserve to be treated. I gained power. I got admired by the female counterparts and was feared by all. Men began to fall head–over–heels for me but only the brave got the guts to cross the Lion's den or stand before me” she narrated, admiring her strength.
“That’s incredible,” Alec said softly. “I still remember the very first moment I laid eyes on you. I’ll never forget that day—or the way it made me feel.”
“It’s amazing how you never give up trying to win my heart. I got irritated at some point. But down the line, a new feeling began to unravel” She smiled, fixing her eyes in the empty air.
In-between the flow of the conversation, Alec became more curious to find out things he didn't know before Now.
“Tell me,” he said quietly, “why you chose to be with Toby knowing fully well he was once my friend.”
She sighed. “ Toby isn't your friend, Alec. He's your older step brother” She revealed and Alec's eyes widened.
“How did you find out about this? Who told you?”Alec asked, his breath hitching.
“ I found it out myself and Toby later confessed it himself,” Vera revealed, “He hid it from you because of his selfish interest”
“I felt it. Can't believe he's the brother that Lawson once told me about.”
“ Toby's transformation still baffles me. Who would ever believe that such a peace-loving man could be a monster in disguise? It's just too alarming” Vera's voice flattened.
She tried to picture a life with Toby, the future she once almost chose. But the thought curdled quickly—what if she had married him? Would he have worn his cruelty further destroying her and the children?
“My father had a son outside marriage that I'm not aware of? What a snake he and Toby were” Alec’s face darkened.
“I guess Toby desires everything you have from the beginning. This is the reason he kept mute, never revealing himself to you”
“I’m glad everything ended the way it should end” She muttered. “He should go to prison for all the crimes he has committed”
“Such a creepy young man. Alec's Anger burned down.” Why did you go back to him the second time? He almost killed you and my kids”
It took a while before Vera replied.
“Because I just wanted to give myself to love…to be loved… and then, Toby showed up. He was just everything I desired in man”
“I didn't believe such a calm, young man, would transform overnight” Alec's voice faded.
“ Same here” she sighed, her back crashing on the couch.
Now that Alec knew Toby was his half-brother, a strange calm settled over him.
The storm in his mind finally quieted, and for the first time in a long while, his thoughts rested in genuine peace.
Silence flushed. Only the sound of their deep breath filled the room.
A quick laugh escaped Vera's lips but Alec didn't know why she was laughing.
“ Our enemies have been crushed down” She gave a shout of Victory.
Alec joined in the celebration.
“Woah! Cheers to the winning team” Reflexively, he clenched his hand to Vera's hands, hoisting it up.
They danced to no music for a while and Alec immediately carried Vera his hands, swinging her about.
Shortly he put her down and when they had finally come back to their senses, they gave out a loud boisterous laugh, suddenly realizing how childish they had been.
An awkward pin silence settled between them. And this time, Alec felt the need to talk things out with Vera. To know if she still loves him.
“ Can I ask you something?” He said, his heart racing.
The smile on her face faded. “ Yes… Go ahead”
The air in Alec's nostrils thickened.
“If given a chance, will you still want to be with a man like me?” He asked, even afraid of her response.
What if she rejected him? What if she turns him down?
She gave a warm smile. “ You are ten times better than the men out there, Alec. So, if given a chance, I will still choose to spend the rest of my life with you”.
Alec's breath seized. He could feel a crawling sensation around his skin now.
He didn't quite get Vera's answer. No… she must be kidding around.
His eyes furrowed. “A—are you saying you still love me?... That you will still be with me?”
“Yes, I still love you Alec, and will still choose to be with you. Now that I found a better Version of Alec Sterling, the man I once loved, I'm not going to let him slip off my fingers—not anymore”
She let out and Alec immediately wrapped his arms around her, kissing her.