Chapter 6 Sheltering Her
Subsequently, when my ‘original’ plan failed, I knew I had to do something to compensate and, strangely, from another perspective, this was… better.
I could carry out what I failed to do properly.
But, there were a few troubles coming along which I needed to sort first so I took her to Uncle’s place for the time being.
To find me in the middle of the night at his place perturbed him as he rushed to my side.
“Vince? You? At this hour? Is everything…”
He stopped when he saw another figure standing timidly behind me, failing to lift her gaze.
“Alyssa?”
Uncle glanced at me and back to her, repeating it like a loop to get an idea about what was happening.
“What is it, Dear- Oh, Vince?.. And Alyssa?”
Aunt Dolly also became worried and her features softened at Alyssa’s condition. Hair messy, gaze puffy from sobbing, dirt over her, her countenance distressed both of them.
“Uh.. What is happening?”
Clearing my throat, I stepped away, holding my hand out.
“I will tell you guys in a bit. For now, let her rest. She is tired-”
Curling my hand in a fist, I corrected my words, “Exhausted.”
“We can tell,” The couple said at the same time, observing her form while she had zero strength to speak or shed a tear anymore.
“Jane. Can you take Alyssa to the guest room? Help her freshen up, and give her something to eat as well.” I instructed the head maid, gesturing to Alyssa to follow her.
“I will be there in a bit, you relax. Okay?”
Nodding weakly, she went away, “...Okay,”
When she left, their eyes were darting towards me to explain what step I had taken, or if I had gone extreme in order to obtain what I desire.
I agree it was indirectly my fault but I believe a temporary scar was better than a lifetime failure.
She must pull herself from the ground eventually.
Else, in that marriage, there was no hope, heartbreak was going to end her life in the end.
“Are you going to tell us what happened or not, Son?” Uncle demanded strictly, folding his arms at his chest.
With my features hardened with an unknown determination, I placed my intentions openly.
“Uncle, Auntie… with your blessing. I want to marry Alyssa,”
“Come again?”
Taking a deep breath, I explained the situation to them, how things had gone downhill, how one night had swirled her life into destruction.
Staggering to the anguish she faced in just a few hours, they got disturbed accompanied by heavy pity for her.
“Greg threw her out? I can’t believe he is forgetting his dignity. She is his daughter, not that she committed a sin. How can he do this to her?”
I nodded, gritting my teeth, “Yes… and in order to stop her from doing suicide, I offered… my hand,”
They both comprehended my state and reasoning for the marriage yet I could see a string of hesitation lingering there.
For what? When we all knew she was innocent.
“Understandable, son, we get it, you are trying to help her but,”
“But, what is it, Auntie?”
“You do know your mother, right? How strict she is. Plus, what about Astrid? What will you tell her?” She questioned slightly.
Then I realized what a step I was about to take and probably marrying her could bring ceaseless difficulties for both of us.
“That is exactly my point. You want to save her but from how many things will you? From your family? From this world? From her ex?”
Uncle continued sternly, reminding me of the future I was choosing in a spur of a moment.
“Are you sure you can take that responsibility? Can you become her savior?”
To their serious question, I had my clear-cut reply already.
“It’s not if I can, I must.”
My intentions were crystal-clear from the start. I had wholeheartedly taken this obligation on my account. I must take responsibility.
Why? Because-
“Since I am the one who assured her to take the divorce and come with me. I merely failed to anticipate her family’s wrath and because of me, she is left with nothing,”
“Oh, poor soul. I will check up on her. She needs support. You guys decide when you are going to come with the marriage papers,” Auntie whispered sorrowfully.
“Wait, Honey, are you siding with Vince? It’s wrong. He can't marry Alyssa like this,”
“Why not, Andrew? The child is all alone, and as he said, he got her entangled in this mess.”
“But-”
“At the very least the child had a roof over her head, now she has literally nothing.”
Relaxing her shoulders, Auntie flashed a sweet smile, being kind-hearted as always.
“And if Vince wants to support her in this difficult time then I am nothing but proud of him,”
I couldn’t help but to smile feebly, “Thank you, Auntie,”
“Bless you son. May the Almighty had mercy on your marriage and sort all you guys problems,”
After blessing me, she left to check up on her, leaving us alone where I could feel the glare Uncle was sending in my direction.
Baffled at his seething expression, I faked a cough, turning my head away.
“What? Why are you looking at me like this?”
He came straight to the main point, “You can fool your Auntie but not me.”
“What?”
“I know you, Vince. What are your intentions behind this marriage? Is it only to save her? But, why?”
Shit. I was too attached to him, he saw right through me. He knew me too well, he knew I wasn’t kind enough, I wasn’t a helper.
He knew if I had decided to help Alyssa, there must be a solid reason behind it. Undoubtedly, there was.
“I…”
Forming my lips in a thin line, I inhaled sharply, releasing a deeply grieved resonance, “I don’t want her to receive the same outcome as Lucia.”
His eyes widened, “What?”
Cascading my gaze down to my empty hands where I had found my life and aim empty. Where I had been stuck in a loop.
And if there was a single chance to escape this abyss that caged me, I would grasp it selfishly at all cost.
“I can’t witness another death out of a failed love, I want to free myself from her trauma,” I confessed sincerely.
“For Lucia?”
“Yes,”
“Oh Vince, and for that you will marry her? Someone who might not be able to love you? What about your future? Your happiness?” He questioned compassionately.
Well aware this decision might grant me redemption. But, at the same time, it will destroy my future.
It knew this well. I was going to put my future at risk for my past. But, I needed this.
“None of it matters, Uncle,”
“Why not? This is your life, Vince,”
Shaking my head in disappointment, I rose from the seat, flashing a cold smile.
“If I managed to find peace in my marriage, that alone is enough for me to spend the rest of my life with her,”
“Without love?” He asked again for confirmation as I walked away with a harsh reply.
“Without love,”