CHAPTER NINETEEN
1020 Words
Chapter 19
Ciara's POV
I blinked back tears as I walked into the room. Grandfather was looking so small on the bed with all those wires all over his body. the machine's beeping was the only sound in the room.
Grandmother Grace was sitting on one of the chairs looking older than her original age. I had never seen her look so sad and sullen, she was never speechless or without anything to say. It was strange to see my vibrant grandfather lying still and unmoving on the bed and it was weird seeing Mama Grace quiet. She always had something to say to me or anyone around.
She always had something to say about my fashion sense, my choice of deodorant, etc Things right now were too weird. I never thought a day would come when I would see my family like this. When Sophie left, I didn't think anything of it terming it as one of life's many things.
Grandfather lying in this bed looking lifeless was not one of such things and neither was Mama Grace's silence.
I closed my eyes as memories flooded my senses. Memories from my childhood from the time when I moved to Heartfield Estate after being through hell for more than 8 years of my life. The man who had rescued me, been my saviour, my shield, taken me as his own and nurtured me all this while.
Nothing was more painful than seeing him in this vegetative state.
I sniffed and brushed my tears away just as the door opened. Turning around, I froze as I saw Orion standing at the door looking uncomfortable and unsure if he belonged there.
What was he doing here? I wasn't stupid enough to think that he was here for me because he didn't care about me enough so I wouldn't delude myself that way.
"Alpha," Mama Grace greeted, speaking for the first time since I walked into the room and I quickly snapped back to my senses and rose to my feet.
I wasn't sure how I should react to his presence so I merely bowed and then sat right back down again to avoid any awkward situations with him.
I had to stop myself from flinching when he was suddenly in front of me staring up at me with a sober expression on his face. I had never seen him this gentle or be this close to me without dishing out one or two mean words.
What was going on?
"Are you okay?" He asked and I nodded, lost for words to say to this man who was practically a stranger to me even though I was to be his future bride.
He sighed and eyed grandfather's still form on the bed before turning his head to look at me again. He opened his mouth to say something and then hesitated for a second and then finally summoned the courage to say whatever he had to say once again shocking and confusing me.
"Can we talk in private?"
I followed him outside after telling Mama Grace I would be close by in case she needed me for anything. She nodded and I took that as my cue to leave. In another instance, all I would have gotten was silence in response to what I said.
Stepping out of the room with Orion walking by my side felt very strange and awkward. He hadn't said so much as a word to me sicne the day he interrupted the peaceful breakfast Bryan and I had been enjoying. Now he was here, looking all sober and nervous and I didn't know what to make of it or what to think. His actions were strange.
He stopped walking and I almost bumped into him, catching myself at the last minute and thanking me when he helped me break my fall with his hands. I pulled away not wanting him to use that against me and stood upright waiting for whatever he was going to say.
Perhaps he would tell me that since my grandfather might not make it, I didn't have to keep his side of the bargain and that the wedding was off.
I sighed as I thought about it carefully. Of course, that's what it was because why else would Orion be here with me?
Not wanting to wait for him to slap me in the face with his words, I sighed and summoned the courage to speak. "I can understand that right from the onset, you didn't want any of this and I am so sorry you were forced into it in the first place."
I paused and gauged his expression frowning when I saw a frown on his face and a confused look in his eyes. Wasn't this what he wanted?
He opened his mouth to speak and I dreaded what he was going to say the next minute. I already knew that he didn't want me from the very beginning and I had always been okay with it but I never thought the day when he would reject me would come so fast.
Or had he found Sophie?
I scoffed at my cluelessness and sighed. Of course, he had found her and what great timing too. Well, I would have more time to spend with Grandfather and I could finally move back into our home and its familiar surroundings.
"I wasn't going to........"
"Family of George Heartfield?" I heard from behind me and I zoned out from what he had been about to say. Grandfather was more important than anything.
"I am his granddaughter, what is wrong with my Grandfather?" I asked just as the door to Gramps' room opened and Mama Grace walked out."She's my grandmother,"
The doctor nodded and then eyed Orion who was standing by the side watching us, looking uncomfortable and unsure once again. "And who are you?"
I opened my mouth to respond but Mama Grace beat me to it. "He is my grandson-in-law. Tell me about my husband."
The doctor nodded at Orion and motioned towards the door of Grandfather's room. "Let's go inside and talk."
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