“Since you’ve already gotten the marriage certificate, you should live a good life from now on,” Mom said.
I kept my head down, bracing myself for a lecture. But when my mom’s voice reached my ears, I froze momentarily. Slowly, I lifted my gaze, my mind going completely blank before the scene in front of me finally registered.
Her eyes were warm, and she had a gentle smile. She patted my hand softly before reaching for Alex’s.
Seeing the contentment on her face, I stared in disbelief, my hands instinctively clasping together. That was when I noticed the long, slender fingers intertwined with mine.
I hesitated, trying to pull away, but Alex held on just enough to stop me. He stood up, his long lashes casting faint shadows over his eyes–the kind of eyes that could make someone lose themselves. My heart skipped a beat.
I was completely thrown off. Why was Alex even here? And how had he managed to get my mom–who was usually so strict–to accept him? Has he hidden his real identity from her?
After all, our marriage certificate didn’t say anything about his connection to Austin. And Mom wasn’t the type to spend her time scrolling through pointless news articles on her phone.
My mom preferred tending to her flowers, sitting under the sun with a book in hand, and enjoying her quiet time. Even in the hospital, she still carried herself with that same grace and calm.
Then she looked at us with a satisfied smile, speaking with quiet seriousness. “You two should go do whatever you need to do. You don’t have to stay here with me. When I get discharged in a couple of days, we’ll have dinner together.”
Alex’s lips curved into a slight smile. He said softly, “Rest well, Mom. I’ll visit again soon.”
I followed him out of the hospital room. From the moment I stepped inside, Mom’s demeanor had barely changed. If anything, she seemed genuinely happy to see Alex.
But that didn’t make sense. She had never been fond of men with overly handsome faces. I still remembered the first time she saw Austin–how she couldn’t hide her concern.
Moreover, she had given me a heartfelt warning, telling me not to choose a husband based on looks or wealth. What mattered, she said, was his character, his sense of responsibility, and–most importantly–his family background.
At the time, I didn’t think much of it. Austin and I had known each other since high school. I thought I understood him well enough. So his family situation didn’t matter to me. As long as we loved each other, nothing else should have mattered.
It wasn’t until later that I realized things weren’t as simple as they seemed. Austin’s parents had always seemed distant, and uninvolved in his life. But that was only on the surface.
In reality, Austin had moved to Nifelheim City for college just to escape Amanda’s suffocating control.
Alex’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “You don’t want to let go?”
I snapped back to reality and realized I was still holding onto his hand. Quickly, I let go, looking at him in confusion. “You didn’t tell my mom who you really are, did you?”
“What do you think?” Alex raised an eyebrow, his smile teasing. “You don’t want me to tell her? Are you scared?”
The amusement in Alex’s voice made it impossible to read his true emotions.
I studied his face, that impossibly flawless face. For a second, I almost believed my mom had been charmed by nothing more than his looks.
But that wasn’t like her at all. She was never one to be shallow. I frowned, irritation creeping onto my face.
Alex chuckled, looking entirely at ease. “Your mom approves of me. And as for the things she wasn’t supposed to know–she knows. So, you don’t have to stress about it.”
With that, Alex patted my shoulder casually. “Tomorrow night, you’re coming with me to a party. I’ll have a driver pick you up. You’ll be staying at a
hotel for now.”
Before I could even react, Alex slipped a key card into my hand and walked off. I stood there for a long moment, feeling completely unsettled.
What did he mean by the things Mom wan’t supposed to know–she knew? My palms felt slightly damp as I clenched the key card. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and walked back into the hospital room.
1/2
12:58 PM
Chapter 33
“Back so soon? Didn’t leave with Alex?” Bonnie glanced up at me.
I hesitated for a second, then sat down beside my mom’s bed carefully, lowering my head. “Mom, you’re not mad at me?”
Maybe she had just been holding back her anger in front of Alex. After all, marriage wasn’t something to be taken lightly.
“You two are already married. What’s the point of getting mad now?” she said calmly.
Hearing this. I froze. So she was upset.
But then she took my hand and gave me a long look. “He’s the one you like, isn’t he? And it’s obvious he likes you too. Marrying you like this, without hesitation, means he’ll treat you well.”
I kept my head down, silent. Mom thought Alex was the man I had feelings for. But where did she even get that idea? Alex must have said something.
I frowned slightly. My mom was a simple person–if she had been convinced, then Alex had really known how to play his cards right.
“Listen, Laurel,” she continued. “Austin hurt you, and I know things between you two are complicated. But for Alex’s sake, try to let it go.” Her voice was careful, as if there was more she wanted to say but wasn’t sure if she should.
My brows knitted together. Whatever Alex had told her, he clearly hadn’t badmouthed Austin in front of her.
Bonnie spoke up before I could respond. “She knows. Laurel isn’t going to hold anything against him. She is Austin’s elder now–it’d be ridiculous for her to stoop to his level.”
“Don’t stay here. If you’re not feeling well, go back and rest. Go back,” Mom said gently.
“I’m fine. Aunt, why don’t you go home and get some sleep?” I offered.
Bonnie gave me a sidelong look before grabbing my arm and tugging me toward the door. “I took some time off work to stay with your mom. If you want to keep her company, you’ll have plenty of chances later.”
I hesitated, then finally nodded. I had told myself I would stay in Nifelheim City. But now that I was married to Alex, would I still be able to?
In any case, whether I stayed in Nifelheim City or not, I would take my mother with me. I would never leave her alone at home again.
As for Bonnie–her daughter was about to graduate. She’d probably stay in the city for work.
Bonnie pulled me aside with a sly smile. “Your mom really likes Alex.”
That caught me off guard. I asked, “She’s not mad? She’s never liked the Herrera family.”
Bonnie laughed. “What’s there to be mad about? Alex is the CEO of the Herrera Group. Your mom didn’t like Austin because he was a mama’s boy. But Alex? He’s different. If you marry into that family, he’s the kind of man who’ll actually protect you.”
I stiffened, blinking at her. Alex wasn’t a mama’s boy, that was true. But he definitely wasn’t someone to be messed with either.
