BXBX NOVEL Chapter 202 - The Jitters
They looked at each other, their eyes shimmering with love and devotion for each other.
"Good morning, my love!" Graven said.
"Good morning to you, husband!" Laura replied and showered him with her sweetest smile.
Graven brought his hands to her stomach and caresses her baby bump. "Baby... father and mother are together again. We're very happy right now. Our family is intact again. We're very excited to see you soon! Mother will eat plenty of nutritious food and milk so that you will grow healthy inside her tummy. Grow faster, baby. We love you so much!" he said in an emotional tone as tears of happiness glistened in his eyes.
Laura patted Graven's back. "Don't worry, we shall never be separated from each other again," she said.
"I hope so," Graven said. Then his mind recalled the cursed king. He was having an internal debate right now, should he tell Laura about the cursed king or not yet? He has plenty of time to think about it. For now, it's not necessary, he will tell her eventually at a later date.
He needs to settle her first in her new environment and deal with the pressing matters later.
Laura left the bed and went inside the bathroom.
Graven entered the bathroom after Laura exited.
The couple left the room and went downstairs for breakfast.
After they finished breakfast, Graven took his wife on a tour outside the house.
The manor has a garden and a lovely fountain at the back. There's also a swing!
Laura went to the swing and Graven obliged his excited wife.
They stayed in the backyard for one hour admiring the blooming flowers and the fountain in the garden.
Laura feels happy, loving the new place and new surroundings. She looked at her husband, he feels happy too. They're fine. She will find the right time to confess to him that she had sex with Luke several times while she was still in captivity. She feels guilty about it.
Graven noticed the gloomy expression on his wife's face. "Wife, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing..." Laura replied and smiled again.
Half an hour later.
"Let's go back upstairs, I want to take a bath," Laura said.
"Okay, let's go..." he spoke.
The couple walked on the path, went back to the house, and climbed the stairs going back to the master's bedroom.
When they reached the room, Laura can't take it anymore. She released a deep sigh and faced her husband bravely. She cleared her throat ready to confess. "Husband, there's something I need to tell you," she said and sat on the bed.
"What is it, wife? Why are you looking so sad?" he asked worriedly. He is sensitive to her feelings because she just came back from her captivity and she is pregnant. Her condition is different from before.
"I committed a big sin to our marriage!" she said and bit her lip. Fresh tears fell from her face. She dropped her gaze unable to see him in the eyes, feeling ashamed of what transpired between her and Luke during her captivity.
She went silent for a moment and continue.
"I know... I ... I... should have fought with him every step all the way but I'm scared for the well-being of our baby and the safety of the innocent servants in that place. So to make everyone safe, I surrendered myself to your brother..." she said and bit her lower lip in misery.
"What exactly did you do?" Graven asked without a hint of anger in his eyes. He thinks he already knows where their conversation is going. Getting mad at her just because of what happened in the past is pointless.
"My conscience is guilty," she confessed. "Luke was planning to kill our baby by making me drink a herbal brew that would result in me having a miscarriage. To protect our baby, I allowed him to use my body. We have sex several times, it's the only way I know how to make sure he won't do anything to harm my baby," she finally confessed and cried a river after that.
The room was filled with the sound of Laura's weeping and lamenting.
She continues sobbing, tears rolled down her face. "I don't have a face to see you again... but I'm glad and thankful that you take me away from that place. That's not where I should belong. I only belong in your side," she declared.
Graven sighed and gathered Laura in his arms. "Shhh.... stop crying...I won't blame you for what happened while you are under captivity by my crazy-obsessed brother. You are just protecting our baby. I have already forgiven you. Let's forget the past and start anew," he said gently.
Laura looked at him, feeling shocked that he was not mad at her after revealing to him what happened between her and Luke. "Y-you're not mad at me?" she asked, huge disbelief marred her face.
"No. I can't blame you. You have done it to protect our child. If I'm in your shoes during that time, pregnant and vulnerable, I would do the same," he said. He wants to give Laura his full understanding, support, and forgiveness because he had cheated on her as well by having wild sex with that mysterious entity who abducted him for one week. Though he was taken advantage of without his consent, both he and his wife suffered the same fate in the hands of others.
It's not only Laura who broke their marital vows, he also had sex with another woman. They're both used by those heartless and shameless people during their vulnerable moments.
But despite their tribulation and separation they have been reunited again and are blessed with a baby inside Laura's tummy.
Instant relief washed over Laura after receiving her husband's forgiveness. "Thank you so much for your forgiveness, husband!" she said, smiling finally.
"Stop thinking about the past. We're now back in each other's arms, and for me, that's all that matters for us right now. Let's just focus on our little family and make the best of each day," he said, his voice filled with overflowing love for her.
"Thank you, dear husband! You're so kind, loving, and forgiving to me. I never regretted loving and choosing you!" she said earnestly.
Graven hugged her wife and planted a loving kiss on her head. "We will start fresh and give our child the best family that he or she could ever have," he said thoughtfully. He was never been a romantic guy, but when he met Laura, she melted his heart and she made him believe in true love, in weddings, and the importance of family.
The couple was inseparable the whole day, teasing and laughing at each other's jokes.
Their reunion filled their heart with gladness and happiness.
Later at night, after eating dinner, they enjoyed a romantic cuddle and finally retired for the night.
It was a long stressful and emotional day for the couple. They need to rest their weary hearts and minds to recharge and face another day with renewed hope and enthusiasm.
~~0~~
Meanwhile...
A thousand miles away.
At the vampire couple's mansion.
Rebecca and Corbin were unable to sleep early because tomorrow night will be their wedding day.
They were lying on the bed staring at each other.
"Are you having wedding jitters?" Rebecca asked him.
Corbin shook his head. "No. I'm excited about our wedding tomorrow!" he said.
Rebecca smiled. "It seemed all your relatives from all over the country are attending our wedding. They arrived too early," she commented. She had seen with her eyes several of the vampires onboard their carriages getting inside the gate, while others who are living in far-flung areas prepare to teleport and arrived at the gate of the mansion waiting for admittance. The security was tight and strict during the wedding event.
"Yeah, because tomorrow no guest will be admitted from the outside that is why they should arrive early or face the risk of getting turned down from entering the gate. That is the strict rule my mother implemented for our wedding," he said.
Rebecca took a deep breath. "I wonder what's going to happen tomorrow?" she suddenly asked.
Corbin's brows furrowed. "Huh? Why did you ask that question? Are you expecting bad to happen tomorrow?" he asked.
"I dunno, I feel nervous. I can't understand why?" she said.
"You must be suffering from wedding jitters," he said smiling and pinching her nose. "Promise me that you will behave tomorrow during the wedding ceremony, okay? No more plans of escaping. We have to do it the right way. You should listen to me this time, I know how to keep you safe, trust me with this... okay?" he said.
Rebecca nodded her head. "Ok. Don't worry, I will marry you in front of your parents and your relatives. The wedding ceremony tomorrow will be successful because the bride will stay to make it happen," she said, assuring him. She had decided that the best thing to do is just go on with the wedding and escape later after the vampire couple finally lowered their guard around her.
"Thank you, wife!" Corbin said. "By agreeing to marry me willingly, you make me happy," he confessed. "I would be the happiest vampire on earth if you will decide to stay by my side and raise a family with me," he said choking on his words. He just wants her to know that he's ready to settle down with her.
Rebecca breathed deeply, aware of what he's trying to say to her.