-UndoubtedlyYours-

-Chapter♕♚Nineteen-

✧YOU'VE FIXED EVERYTHING✧

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"Absolutely not! Radolphous, how could you allow this?!" Alphard had attempt to keep Rhea's head planted to his chest, but out of respect for her parents and the image of both herself and Alphard, she stood outside his hold but remained just by his side.

"...I won't have our daughter marrying someone closer to my age than hers! Are you completely mad?! A bet?!" Rhea's eyes had grown wide at her mother's declaration and she turned towards her hopefully future fiancee.

"A bet? What type of bet?"

"Not to get too into detail as it's quite the story, but your father owes me a favor. That's how I came here without any scars on my person from asking for your hand. But clearly, Clarissa—You rather have Rhea unhappy with Dolohov than with me." He deemed, and the mother's glared further. 

It wasn't anything less than the truth, in Rhea's eyes is was utterly simple.

"I won't have my daughter marry someone more than twice her age." She repeated, but that had broken the patience that Rhea had tried so hard to retain for so many years. "You're the one who told me that age was just a number when it was Dolohov." She explained, and it was clear that she was getting visibly upset once more, and her parents were failing to secure a healthy environment for her to flourish in.

"Sweetheart, think about this...Alphard is forty-two, he would've had children that are near your brother's and Sirius' age if he—"
"But he didn't, and for the first time since you brought up the idea of needing a betroth, I can finally see myself with them." Her claim had uplifted Alphard beyond the heavens, he felt so enjoyed by her declaration that he reached for her hand and kissed the back of it.

"This is not a suitable marriage, there are plenty of other wizards for you to marry."
"But you didn't tell me that when I asked to get out of this courtship with Dolohov, I told you both and I was ignored...You told me there was the possibility of meeting someone a party, and I have." Her voice was even but it wouldn't manage for much longer, not when Alphard had felt an escaped tear onto their encased hands.

"Rhea...You have to tell them." He whispered, and that startled her parents outright. The worst of any scenario passing through their minds. The firm expression of her father hadn't helped, not when he looked so similar to her brother.

The one that said she deserved it.

"Dolohov almost killed me..." She whispered out, and while Clarissa had opened her mouth to speak, Alphard had given his hand up to stall them. Rhea simply needed time to get it out.

"It hadn't b-been the first time he struck me, but if Mr.Black hadn't found me then I would've died...The first time it was the night before father told me he receive the Saint Mungoes letter. The next is when I faked my fall down the stairs...I couldn't heal my ribs myself..." Her shoulders began to fall and she looked away, her whole body was shaking and Alphard had continued to remain the comfort she needed.

"He hurt me. He continued to hurt me, and Rodolphous said I deserved it." The anger in her voice had caused another round of trembling, and Alphard leaned down to whisper into her ear.

"I'm so proud of you, love. You're doing wonderful. They'll all regret it later."

Her small frame had been faced with so much pain and neglect that Alphard needed to settle this here and now. Though he still had the plan of beating both Rodolphous and Dolohov's arse before they would wed.