All Started With A Forced Marriage

Chapter 6:

I stood there, unable to say another word. Both my parents and Alma were looking at me with expectation, but I knew I couldn’t stay any longer. I turned back to Alma, who had just woken up after a long coma, and his face looked tired from even the brief conversation.

“You should rest, Alma,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm, though I was overwhelmed with confusion inside. “We can talk more tomorrow. I’ll come back.”

Alma smiled softly, not resisting. He closed his eyes, and I could see the exhaustion taking over him. My heart still raced, but I knew this was the best moment to leave. My parents, though silent, looked at me with disappointment, clearly displeased with my decision.

“Hazel, you should stay a little longer,” my father, Alpha Kayak, spoke, his authoritative gaze urging me to change my mind.

“Yes,” my mother, Luna Laureb, added gently. “Alma has just woken up; you should stay here and watch over him.”

I shook my head, keeping my voice as steady as I could. “No, he needs rest, and I need to go home. I’ll return soon.”

My parents didn’t argue further, but their dissatisfaction was clear. Still, I couldn’t stay any longer. I quietly tended to Alma, pulling the blanket up and adjusting the pillow. I sat beside his bed in silence, watching as he gradually drifted into sleep.

As the seconds passed, the hospital room grew quieter. Alma’s breathing became steady, and I knew he was in a deep sleep. A faint sense of relief washed over me, but it was accompanied by a vague sadness. I stood up, stepped away from his bed, and silently left the room.

---

It was late by the time I stepped out of the hospital room. The corridors were quiet, with only a few people walking by in hushed footsteps. My steps echoed in the stillness, each one heavy, matching the weight in my heart. My mind was spinning. Alma had woken up, but it didn’t bring relief—only more confusion. I didn’t know how I would face this situation.

As I wandered down the long hallways, I didn’t know where I was going, only wanting to escape the pressure weighing on me. The hospital lights cast a sterile glow on the white walls, creating an almost suffocating stillness. I stepped outside into the cold night air and found a bench nearby to sit on.

Sitting on the stone bench, I felt my body sag under the weight of everything. The conflicting emotions inside me left me unable to find peace. I was married to Holden, the man I loved, but Alma’s return wasn’t just about waking up from a long coma. It stirred up too many memories, responsibilities, and obligations that I didn’t want to face.

I sat there for a long time, my eyes staring blankly into the night. The gentle wind brushed past, carrying a sharp chill that made me huddle into myself, yet I still didn’t want to go home. Everything inside me felt chaotic, and I didn’t know what to do or how to deal with this.

Finally, when the clock struck past midnight, I slowly got up and left the hospital. As I walked home, step by step, I felt like a ghost, lost between reality and the past.

---

By the time I got home, it was very late. I opened the door and stepped inside, my mind still blank. But as soon as I entered the living room, I froze. Holden was sitting on the sofa, waiting for me. On the table was a meal that had long since gone cold, and that’s when I remembered what I had forgotten all evening—today was Holden’s birthday, and I had planned a small, intimate celebration for him.

I stood there, guilt washing over me. Holden’s eyes immediately met mine, concern clear in his gaze. He quickly got up and walked toward me, his voice gentle and full of care. “You’re back, Hazel. Why are you so late? Have you eaten?”

His question made my heart tighten. I didn’t know how to respond. I had spent the whole evening at the hospital, worried about Alma, and had completely forgotten that today was Holden’s special day. I looked at the cold meal on the table, then back at Holden, and a deep sadness welled up inside me.

“I… I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice choking with emotion. “I forgot… today was your birthday.”

Holden shook his head and placed his hand gently on my shoulder. “It’s alright, Hazel. I was just worried about you.”

The guilt surged through me at his touch. I remembered the birthday gift I had prepared for him for over a month, and my hands instinctively searched my pockets, hoping to find it. But as I frantically searched through every pocket, my fingers found nothing but emptiness. Slowly, the weight of realization sank in. The gift was gone. It was no longer here.

I stood there, my hands falling helplessly to my sides, trying to stay calm, but inside I was screaming. That gift—it had fallen somewhere, maybe in the hospital hallway, and I hadn’t even noticed.

“I…” I opened my mouth, but the words caught in my throat. Every effort I had made to make this day special for him had vanished. “I’m so sorry, Holden. I wanted… I wanted everything to be perfect for you, but…” I couldn’t finish, only looking at him with eyes full of shame and regret.

Holden looked at me for a moment, his gentle smile still on his lips, but his eyes were filled with concern—not for the birthday, but for me. “It’s alright, Hazel,” he said softly, his voice full of understanding. “I don’t need a gift or anything else. I just need you here, safe. Have you eaten yet?”

His question caught me off guard. All the worry I had been feeling about missing his birthday, and yet all Holden cared about was me. I felt a fresh wave of guilt, as though each kind word from him only made me feel worse.

“No… I haven’t eaten,” I replied softly, my voice trembling.

“Then go take a bath; it’s late. I’ll heat up the food for you,” Holden said, gently guiding me toward the bathroom. His tenderness in every gesture made it unbearable for me. I tried to smile, but it was a thin disguise for the overwhelming guilt building up inside.

---

In the bathroom, I let the warm water flow over me, but it couldn’t wash away the heaviness in my heart. I leaned over the sink, tears threatening to spill. Holden hadn’t scolded me, hadn’t shown any disappointment, yet his kindness only made me feel worse. Tonight should have been his night, but I had turned it into one filled with inner turmoil and regret.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Holden had reheated the meal. The warm scent of food filled the room, but it did nothing to lift the weight off my chest. Holden stood there, looking at me with the same gentle eyes, no hint of disappointment or frustration. He even smiled at me as if everything was alright.

I sat down at the table, staring at the warm meal he had carefully reheated for me. But I couldn’t enjoy it fully; my heart was filled with remorse and guilt.