NOT JUST A GIFT

Chapter 12.

Vera's worry turned to fear as she looked into Charles's eyes. She had never seen him like this before, and it scared her. "Charles, what can I do to help you?"

Charles looked at her, his eyes pleading. "Vera, please stay with me. I don't want to be alone right now."

Vera nodded, her heart going out to him. " Of course, Charles. I'm here and I'll always be here for you."

Charles looked at Vera not wanting her out of his sight as he picked up the almost emptied bottle of liquor on the table close to his bed. "Vera I don't want this night to end." As he drank from the bottle.

Vera in disgust, rushed to him and took the bottle, looking at Charles more with concern than anger. "Charles, I think I have to get going if you'll continue drinking."

Hearing such, Charles felt broken. He took Vera's hand, his grip gentle but insistent. "Just a little more, Vera. Please. You shouldn't Leave me here by myself."..

Vera looked at him, her heart softening. She could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the genuine desire to spend more time with her. And despite her reservations, she found herself wanting to stay, to help him get off that mood.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice tiny as air. "One more drink. I'll leave, Charles."

Charles's face lit up with a relieved smile, as he loosened his grip on Vera and dropped to the floor. "Thank you, Vera. Thank you so much."

The tension between them was palpable, but it was no longer strained. Instead, it felt like a warm embrace, a sense of connection that neither of them wanted to break, as they stole glances at each other.

As they sat there, Vera couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the way things had turned out. She had never intended to spend this much time with Charles, to get this close to him. But now that she was here, she didn't want to leave.

"Charles," breaking the wall of silence between them. Her voice was low and husky. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he replied, his eyes locked on hers.

"Why do you want to spend so much time with me?" She asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Is there something else attached to this, or probably because of Ariel?"

Charles's gaze never wavered, his eyes burning with intensity. "It's not just about Ariel, I need to be sincere with you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "it's about you, Vera. It's about the way you make me feel."

Charles's eyes filled with remorse as he gazed at Vera." I know I can't turn back the hands of time, I can't deny the fact that I've cost you pain, Vera. Please, forgive me. I can't bear the thought of living without you, Vera. It's a punishment I can't handle, torture and torment that's suffocating me."

Vera's heart ached at the sincerity in his voice, the desperation in his eyes. She had never seen Charles so vulnerable, so broken.

"Charles, I...." She stuttered, her voice not audible.

But Charles interrupted her, his words trembling out in a passionate plea. "I know I don't deserve it, Vera. Please give me the chance to make things right at least. I know I've hurt you in ways that I can't even imagine. Vera, please have mercy on me, not just for my selfish sake but for my selfish Desires. I can't let you alone carry this burden, this anger, this hurt. I want to be free, vera, free to love you, to cherish you, to make up for lost time."

Vera's resolve was crumbling her defenses weakening. She had forgiven Charles, but letting him into her life was something of a mist feeling, should I or should I not? But now, faced with his raw emotion, this genuine remorse, she felt her heart made decisions.

"Charles, I..." She stuttered again, finding her voice.

But this time, Charles was calm. He just looked at her, his eyes pleading, his face etched with pain.

Vera took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I have thought of all of this before now and I have forgiven you, Charles," she whispered finally. "Not for your sake, but for mine. Not to forget just the past, but to build a future."

Charles's face crumpled, his body shuddering with relief. "Thank you, Vera," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. " I won't take this chance for granted, thank you"

Charles's lips brushed against Vera's, his lips gentle yet full of promises. "I'll make it better, Vera," he whispered, his breath caressing her skin. "I'll show you what it means to be loved, to be cherished. You're the queen of my heart, and I'll treat you as the royalty that you are."

Vera's heart skipped a beat as Charles's words sent shivers down her spine. She felt herself melting into his embrace, her resistance crumbling beneath the warmth of his touch.

As their lips lock tightened, the world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the passion and promise of a new beginning. Charles's armed doing what it's meant for at that moment, and his lips are not left out as he feeds on the heavenly foods.

Vera's ocean flooded as Charles poured his love and devotion into her river. Vera's begged for more. At that moment she knew she was his, completely and utterly, and their love would be the stuff of dreams.

The bird's chirps sounded so morning, the sweet sound of Ariel's little voice in confirmation, reminded Vera and Charles of their precious reality. They smiled at each other, their heart filled with love and gratitude. With a new countenance to handle anything.

"Looks like our little alarm clock is up and ready to start the day!" Charles, chuckled, gently disentangling himself From Vera's warm embrace.

Vera laughed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Time to start the day indeed!"

As they made their way downstairs, hand in hand, they were greeted by Ariel's excited chatter and bright smile. Her reaction to the new decorations in the room was joy uncountable. The three of them spent the morning wrapped in the warm embrace, basking in the love and happiness that filled their little family.

The night's passion and promises gave way to new days of sweetness, filled with laughter, playtime, and the simple joy of life.

On a faithful day as they sat down for breakfast filled with giggles and stories, Vera knew that this was what she had been missing- a family, a home, and a love that would last a lifetime.

Vera's eyes widened in shock as she lifted her glass of tea, revealing the glint of a diamond ring beneath. Her heart raced like a wild drumbeat, and her breath caught in her throat. She felt like she was drowning in the Depths of Charles's eyes, which shone with vulnerability and adoration. She picked up the folded note "Vera, my love, my everything.
You're the sunshine I see each day I wake up before stepping out, seeing you alone is an assurance of a blessed day, I believe you should have noticed how you have calmed every storm around me. You're the missing piece I knew I needed from the very start, and you remained the perfect rib that fits, thank God I found you, my love.

Vera's eyes filled with tears she was trying to hold back.

Charles dropped to one knee, his eyes never leaving hers, Vera's heart melted like wax in a flame. She felt the room spin around her, and her Vision blurred with happy tears.

"Please, marry me, Vera." Charles pleaded with a voice that was afraid to ask, the. Will question "Please be my wife, my accomplice, my best friend?"

Opening the handkerchief in his hands as he handed it over to Vera, with "please" scrambled in bold letters, was the final blow to get defenses. Vera's tears flowed freely, her heart overflowing with joy and love.

"Oh, Charles...yes! Yes, a million times yes!" She exclaimed, her heart pounding Louder than her voice.

As Charles slid the ring onto her finger, it felt like a homecoming, a sense of belonging she'd never known before. The three of them shared a warm embrace, Ariel's giggles and squeals of excitement adding to the joyous chaos.

At that moment, Vera knew she'd found her soulmate, her forever love, her everything.

She remembered the night they had Discussed their wedding together and seeing it come through was what she had thought was impossible.

Indeed a small and mighty wedding for a small family wouldn't be a bad idea at all.