Free Web NovelChapter 123: A confession in the dark
Nico
"Are you alright?" my uncle Anderson asked as he stretched forth a cup of tea toward me.
I gave him a questioning look, wondering how the hell he was able to immediately find all of this because we had only been here in my grandmother’s private villa for less than twenty minutes.
Uncle Anderson chuckled softly, noticing my confusion as I took the warm porcelain cup from his hands. "I actually came here before when I first arrived in the country," he explained, leaning his large frame back against the balcony railing. "I asked the housekeeper to clean up and prepare the rooms for me to return for the night. Then, while we were on our way here in the cars, I called ahead and asked her to make some hot tea for everyone. Alaric and Sophia should be sipping theirs in their respective rooms right about now."
"Oh," I muttered quietly, the warmth of the ceramic cup radiating straight into my cold palms.
Slowly, Anderson adjusted his posture, his expression softening as he asked me yet again, his voice dropping into a serious tone. "But really, Nicholas... Are you fine? Because after everything that has happened tonight, I need to know if you are doing fine.’’
I heaved a deep, ragged sigh, my eyes tearing away from him to stare up at the pitch-black, misty night sky. "I will be," I answered honestly, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. "I have always been fine, even after everything that has been happening to me over the years." I sighed softly yet again, shaking my head as the bitter memories of the dining hall flashed through my mind. "Living truly was showing me hell tonight, Uncle. But... I am glad that at least I have people to rely on now."
Anderson frowned, a look of profound guilt and sorrow crossing his rugged features. "Why did you never open up to me, Nicholas? Or to anyone else? Why did you keep all of this horrific garbage trapped inside you for fifteen years? Even though you were not that close to the rest of the family, I am your favorite uncle remember? You should have come to me.’’
"I felt ashamed," I confessed, my voice barely a cracked whisper against the cool night wind. I kept my eyes glued to the dark horizon, unable to face him. "I was so ashamed of what had happened to me, and I was terrified of what anyone would think about me if the truth ever came out. I thought everyone would see me as something broken. Something ruined and most importantly, I was a child.’’
"We are family, Nicholas," Anderson said firmly, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "You should have known that I would have protected you."
I let out a short, bitter chuckle, turning my head to look at him. "Geum-ho and Grandfather are also my family, Uncle. Look how that turned out. I trusted grandfather when he found out and looked at where it got me.’’
Anderson’s jaw clenched so hard I could hear the bone grind, his knuckles turning white as he stared down at the floor. "The next time I see that pathetic bastard Geum-ho, I am going to punch him straight in his face yet again," he growled angrily, his chest heaving. He heaved a deep, exhausted sigh, rubbing his large hand over his face as his shoulders sagged under a sudden weight. "I was so damn blind. Min-jun... my eldest brother is probably rolling in his grave right now over what they pulled in that house. I should have noticed. I should have protected his son."
He sighed yet again, stepping closer until he was standing right beside me. He stretched out his hand, rubbing my shoulder gently, his large palm offering a steady, grounding pressure that instantly chased away the lingering chills.
"But I am so incredibly proud of you for conquering it, Nicholas," Anderson said, a genuine, proud smile breaking through his sorrow. "I am so glad you managed to stand up and face them tonight."
"I owed it all to Alaric," I admitted quietly, the truth pouring out of my chest before I could stop it. "If he hadn’t been there, if he hadn’t been holding my hand... I don’t think I would have had the strength to say a single word."
Anderson nodded his head slowly, a knowing glint appearing in his eyes. "No wonder you were completely obsessed with that boy all those years on the grid. It makes sense now."
A small flush crept up my neck, but I didn’t try to deny it this time. "Yes... it was like he had seen right through me all those years ago, even through a screen. He truly inspired me to keep surviving."
"You have an amazing partner in him, Nicholas," Anderson told me, his tone incredibly sincere.
I stayed quiet for a long moment, the warmth of the tea doing nothing to quiet the sudden, frantic pounding of my heart against my ribs. My mind drifted back to the intense, chaotic thoughts that had consumed me in the Maybach. I looked up at my uncle, a desperate curiosity taking over me.
"Uncle Anderson... what exactly does it mean to be in love?" I asked him quietly.
Anderson grinned softly, his eyes softening as he looked down at me. "Being in love means that person becomes your absolute world, Nicholas. It means their happiness matters more to you than your own. It means that even when they get on your absolute nerves, you still can’t imagine a single second of your life without them by your side. It’s when their presence is the only thing that can bring you peace in the middle of a chaotic storm. Love is a beautiful thing.’’
He paused, tilting his head with a teasing smirk. "Why do you ask? Are you in love, Nicholas?"
"I don’t know," I responded honestly, sniffling slightly as I stared down at the dark liquid in my cup. "I really don’t know... but all I know right now is that I never want to part ways with Alaric. The mere thought of him walking away from me makes me feel like I can’t breathe." free𝑤ebnovel.com
Anderson’s grin widened, and he let out a low chuckle, patting my shoulder one last time. "Oh boy... you will definitely realize it much sooner than you think." He checked his watch and gave me a gentle nudge toward the doors. "Go inside and get some rest. We have to prepare for your grandmother’s memorial service tomorrow, and it’s going to be a long, exhausting day. Goodnight, Nicholas."
"Goodnight, Uncle," I muttered as he turned and walked back into the villa.
I remained standing outside on the balcony for a while longer, the cool wind brushing against my face as my uncle’s very last words resounded relentlessly in my head.
You will realize it sooner than you think.
But I already have and even though my mind was still conflicted, I knew it now better than anyone else.
Before I didn’t realize it but being in his company for days made me figure out everything and now that uncle Anderson had said,it was much clearer but I don’t know how to tell Alaric.
Finally, the freezing cold became too much to bear. I walked back inside the villa, quietly closing the glass doors behind me. Instead of heading toward my own designated room, my feet seemed to move on their own accord, carrying me straight down the dimly lit hallway until I was standing right in front of Alaric’s door.
I didn’t even hesitate. I turned the handle slowly, opening the door without a sound, and stepped into the dark, quiet room.
The soft moonlight was spilling across the bed, illuminating Alaric’s striking features as he lay there.
Without saying a single word, I walked over to the edge of the mattress and climbed in beside him. I moved closer until there was absolutely no space left between us, laying myself down right beside his frame and placing my heavy head directly on his solid chest, wrapping my arms tightly around him in a desperate hug.
The steady, powerful thumping of his heart instantly echoed against my cheek, sending a wave of total peace through my entire body.
"Are you sleeping?" I whispered into the quiet darkness of the room.
Alaric didn’t reply, his breathing remaining deep and synchronous as he lay perfectly still beneath me.
I knew he was probably fast asleep, exhausted from the chaotic nightmare we had survived tonight, but looking at his calm, handsome face in the moonlight made my heart pound wildly against my chest yet again.
I tightened my grip on his shirt, burying my face deeper into his warmth as I allowed myself to be completely vulnerable in the dark.
"I think I am in love with you," I muttered softly knowing that he wouldn’t hear since he was asleep.
It was the only way I could let it out of my chest.
