Chapter 7 His Choice
ALYSSA’S POV:-
How could my life shatter in just one night? Or maybe I anticipated the upcoming ravage long ago but became stubborn and gave Ken a chance nonetheless.
But, I moved on, I started a new life with Ken, I… Well, what was the point of it now? Everything had been in shambles now.
My life, my dreams, my hopes, my confidence, all of it fell apart.
‘I will never forgive you Ken for what you have done to me,’ Thinking furiously.
I was in the room, holding the mug of hot chocolate Auntie made for me as the door opened and the man who warned me from the very start emerged.
I was on the couch, knees hugging my chest as I quickly averted my gaze when he stepped forward with a softened gaze.
“Are you okay?”
Embarrassed, recalling what just happened, all I could give him was a nod, taking a sip of my hot chocolate.
Clearing his throat, he sat on the farthest corner of the couch. Forming my lips in a thin line, feeling highly awkward, I didn’t know what to do.
So I offered him a sip. “Hmm?”
“Sure,” And he actually took two sips.
“Auntie made this hot chocolate for me herself,”
“They already consider you their daughter after all,”
“Hmm, I know,”
“Umm, You can stay here for the time being.” He started speaking, giving me the mug back and wiping his mouth.
“They love you already, they will take good care of you,”
Nervously shifting his eyes anywhere but me, he leaned back, running his fingers through his soft locks before continuing tentatively, probably to not unsettle me.
“Until we.. uh.. We sort this out and marry and you can be protected under my shade,”
Holding the mug firmly between my both hands, I was staring at the side he drank from, the traces of it, and questioned mindlessly.
“Will you really do this for me, Vince?”
He replied without thinking twice, “Yes,”
My lips quivered. He was willing to do this for me and the man I offered my heart to neglect my sincere feelings in a heartbeat.
He cheated, he left me vulnerable, defeated, and at another man’s mercy. He did the worst to me and it would ache forever.
Maybe love was never in my fate…
“Listen,”
“Yes?”
“I have talked to my associate, he will get the final divorce decree as soon as possible. A week or two. We can sign the marriage licence after that,”
I shivered, “Are- Are you sure? What if it didn’t work? What if people start degrading you too? What if-”
He cut me off with a taunt, arching an eyebrow, “Did you think that much before marrying Ken?”
I muttered, “I didn’t think at all. That is why I am worried,”
“When you can give that cheater a chance then I bet I couldn’t be any worse than him,”
To his assurance, I could feel worry brimming in my chest, I wasn’t sure about drowning him along with my turmoil. He had a memorable life ahead of him after all, unlike me who was left with nothing.
Even if I was found dead on the streets, I wouldn’t care. But, I didn’t want him to make the wrong choice.
“Are you truly sure, Vince? Don’t ruin your life along with mine. My wrong choices led me here. You-”
But, cutting me off sternly, he stopped right before me, “Alyssa,”
Taking the empty mug from my hand, his features hardened. All I saw was full resolve glimmering in his eyes.
“This is my choice,”
Amplifying my beats, I pressed myself harder into the couch. Breaking the intense contact immediately, in fact, I was unable to do.
Smirking coldly at my reaction, he straightened his back and left me all alone after announcing.
“I will see you next week with the marriage papers,”
Was he truly going to marry me? Why go that far to save me? Who was I to him?
Countless questions began to rise in my heart that ripped my slumber. It felt like night froze, as if I had been pierced horribly and the ache of it won’t let me recover.
The morning arrived, but I didn’t. I had been lost. The Alyssa I knew myself to be was dead. I was no longer the confident, ambitious woman I once was.
My love drowned me, my choices destroyed me, and consumed by the result of my own actions, I was left hollow.
What is left in my life?
But, since Uncle was calling me downstairs to have breakfast, I came and unknowingly, my gaze was scanning around to find a certain man.
“If you are looking for Vince then he left last night. Come and have breakfast,” Auntie called.
“I see…” Nodding, I took a seat, failing to lift my ashamed eyes from the food.
“Uncle, Auntie,”
“Hmm?”
“I am sorry for.. Uh.. for appearing like this,”
“Don’t be, Dear. We are here for you. I will talk to Greg. How dare he throw you out like this?” Uncle growled.
“No!” I responded immediately, shaking my head in denial.
“Don’t… please. I don’t think I want to face anyone anymore for now… I can’t bear their looks. It feels like everyone is laughing at me,”
“Oh, Alyssa, life is nothing but a trial. This too shall pass, everything is going to be alright,” Auntie smiled.
Pulling me into a side hug, kissing the top of my head to soothe me but nothing could serve as a medicine for my disease.
“Alright? How? I gave all my assets to Ken out of love for his business, Papa has abandoned me too. In that case, what am I supposed to do?”
With shaky lips, I pulled away a little along with a tear gleaming in the corner, reminding me of my powerlessness.
“Apart from becoming a burden on you guys and Vince…”
“You are not a burden for us, Alyssa. Trust me, things will get better one day. Vince is a gentleman, he will take good care of you,”
‘I don’t want him to destroy his life because of me,’ I almost opened my mouth to speak but their determination and trust in him stopped me.
Forming my lips in a thin line, I nodded and decided to stay low for the time being and contemplate what to do with my life now.
2 WEEKS LATER, I was still where I lost it all, the ache in my chest was irrecoverable, I couldn’t move on, my mind had ceased to work.
Will this ache ever end?
Probably not.
As I was submerged in gloom, staring out of the window hollowly, Auntie came, “Alyssa,”
“Yes, Auntie?”
“Dear, Vince is downstairs. Your divorce is officially done. Here are the marriage license papers, he has signed them,” She spoke cautiously, placing the papers down while offering me a pen.
My heart began to race against my chest. Having second thoughts about this ordeal but choices for me were minimum.
“Is he sure?”
She smiled gracefully, “Yes. Trust Vince, Alyssa, you won’t regret marrying him,”
“... Okay,” Forming my lips in a thin line, uncaring of the consequences nor having expectations, I signed them absentmindedly.
Just to escape this darkness, hoping this humiliating interlude would end. If not, then ending this life would always be the final option for me.
With a gloomy expression, I signed them and handed her the papers.
“Here,”
Pausing, she asked expectantly, “Also, can I ask something? It’s not from him but me, I have always seen him as my son and it was my wish to… prepare his bride,”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. I don’t want to smear you guys’ dreams,”
“Thank you, Alyssa,”
“But, I don’t have a wedding dress,”
“You can wear mine, if you want,”
“Okay,”
Although it was gut-wrenching for me to become another man’s bride after making promises with Ken but to repay their kindness, I agreed.
Yet this question will always linger in my heart- ‘Will I be able to accept him as my husband?’