Unrequited Love

Chapter 26 : Mending

As Alex sat at the kitchen table, his mind was miles away, haunted by the events of the past few days. The quiet morning was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. He looked up, and his heart skipped a beat as Aldora stepped in, her cheerful voice filling the room.

"Alex!" she called, beaming as she walked into the kitchen. "Look at what I brought back for the wedding!" She started unpacking her bags, excitement lighting her face as she pulled out carefully chosen decorations, fabrics, and trinkets. But as she talked and displayed each item, Alex's stomach twisted with guilt. He forced a smile, trying to match her enthusiasm, though his thoughts kept drifting to Kyra and the secrets he was trying to bury.

Aldora noticed his lack of genuine warmth. Her smile faded, and she looked at him, puzzled. "Alex, are you okay? You seem... distant."

He cleared his throat, masking his discomfort. "No, no, everything's fine! These are all beautiful, Aldora." He reached out to touch her hand, but she pulled it away, watching him closely, her expression shifting as realization seemed to dawn on her.

"Is there something you're hiding from me, Alex?" she asked, her tone sharper than before. "Because lately, you've seemed... off."

Her words hit him hard, and he struggled to find a response. Before he could speak, she continued, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. "You did see Kyra, didn't you?"

Alex's face froze, and that brief hesitation was all she needed to confirm her suspicions. She shook her head, bitter disappointment clouding her face. "I can't believe this," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "How could you lie to me, especially with our wedding coming up?"

"Aldora, wait—" he began, reaching out to her, but she had already turned away. Without another word, she stormed out of the house, leaving him in stunned silence.

Alex watched her go, feeling an ache in his chest that only grew with every second she was gone. He waited, hoping she might return, but when it became clear she wouldn't, he picked up his phone and called her sister, Bailey, hoping that Aldora might have gone to her.

After a few tense rings, Bailey picked up. "Alex?"

"Bailey, please tell me she's with you. I need to talk to her."

There was a pause before Bailey sighed. "Yes, she's here. Come over."

The drive to Bailey's felt agonizingly slow, though his mind raced the entire way. Just before he got out of the car, his eyes fell on the glove compartment. He opened it, and there, resting in a velvet box, was the Tiffany Victoria® Key Pendant he had originally bought as a surprise gift for Aldora's birthday. He picked up the box, holding it in his hand as he walked to the door, his heart heavy with regret and hope.

Bailey met him at the door, her expression serious. "She's upstairs. Go easy on her, Alex. She's hurting."

Alex nodded, murmuring his thanks, and went up the stairs to find Aldora sitting by the window, her face streaked with fresh tears. She looked up as he entered, but her expression was guarded.

"Aldora," he began softly, walking over to kneel beside her. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I know I've hurt you, and I'm so sorry. There's no excuse for the way I acted, or for keeping things from you."

She watched him silently, and he felt the weight of her disappointment and confusion. Her gaze flicked down as he slowly opened the box, revealing the delicate pendant inside. The 18k rose gold chain gleamed softly in the light, each diamond set into the Tiffany key sparkling as he held it out.

"I bought this for you," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I know it's just a necklace, but it represents... everything I want us to build together. I thought maybe... it could be a symbol of a fresh start."

Aldora looked down at the necklace, tracing her fingers over the intricate design, and for a moment, he saw her expression soften. The pendant was beautiful, the delicate design speaking to her in a way words couldn't. She took a deep, shaky breath and finally met his gaze, her own eyes filling with fresh tears.

"Alex... I want to believe you. I want us to move forward. But it's hard when I feel like you're keeping things from me."

He nodded, his voice steady. "I understand. And I promise, no more secrets. I don't want anything coming between us, especially not now. Please, Aldora... let's try again."

She held his gaze for a long moment, as if weighing his words and everything they meant. Then, finally, she gave a slight nod, her fingers tightening around the necklace. "Alright, Alex," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "But no more lies. We move forward together, or not at all."

He pulled her into a gentle embrace, feeling the tension start to ease from his shoulders as she rested her head on his. The future was uncertain, but for now, they had each other, and the promise of a second chance.