CHAPTER 8: The Marriage She Chose
Elara didn't expect to wake up feeling… peaceful.
For the first time since she opened her eyes in that hospital, her chest wasn't tight. Her thoughts weren't racing.
There was no pressure.
No confusion clawing at her mind.
Just… calm.
She blinked slowly, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above her.
Then it hit her.
The house.
The twins.
Aiden.
Her heart skipped at the name.
A strange warmth followed.
She sat up slowly, her fingers brushing against the bedsheet.
Soft.
Familiar.
Like she had touched it a thousand times before.
Why does this feel like mine?
The thought unsettled her.
But not enough to push her away.
A faint knock sounded on the door.
"Elara?"
Aiden's voice.
Low.
Careful.
She swallowed lightly.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
He stepped inside, dressed neatly as always—but there was something different this morning.
He looked… hesitant.
Like he wasn't sure what version of her he would face today.
"I made breakfast," he said. "If you're hungry."
Elara nodded.
"Thank you."
A small silence followed.
Then—
"Aiden," she said softly.
He stilled.
"Yes?"
She hesitated.
Then asked the question that had been sitting heavily in her chest since last night.
"Why did we get married?"
The air shifted instantly.
Aiden didn't answer right away.
He walked a little closer—but not too close.
Always leaving space for her.
Always careful.
"You really don't remember anything?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head.
"Nothing about us."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Disappointment.
Pain.
But also—
Resolve.
"Then you should know the truth," he said.
Elara's heart began to race.
"It wasn't arranged."
She blinked.
"It wasn't forced," he continued. "No contracts. No family pressure."
He held her gaze.
"You chose me."
The words landed softly—
But their impact was heavy.
Elara's breath caught.
"I… chose you?"
He nodded once.
"Yes."
Her mind spun.
That didn't make sense.
She had loved Daniel.
Hadn't she?
"I don't understand," she whispered. "I was with someone else…"
"You were," Aiden said.
No hesitation.
No denial.
That surprised her.
"But you left him," he added.
Her chest tightened.
"Why?"
A long pause.
Then—
"Because you found out the truth."
The same words again.
The same weight.
The same mystery.
"What truth?" she asked.
Aiden's jaw tightened slightly.
For a moment, it looked like he was debating whether to say it.
Then—
"They betrayed you."
Elara flinched.
Even hearing it again hurt.
"But that's not the only reason," he continued.
Her gaze lifted slowly.
"There's more?"
He nodded.
"There was us."
Her heart skipped.
"You and I…" he said carefully, "we didn't happen overnight."
Elara's breath slowed as she listened.
"You hated me at first."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Hated you?"
A faint, almost invisible smile touched his lips.
"You thought I was arrogant. Controlling. Cold."
Her lips parted.
That… sounded believable.
"But you were also curious," he added. "You kept coming back."
Her chest tightened again.
Something about that—
felt true.
"We worked together," he continued. "At first, it was just business."
"And then?" she whispered.
"And then," he said, his voice softening slightly, "you started seeing me differently."
Elara held her breath.
"You said I was the only person who never lied to you."
Her heart skipped painfully.
Never lied.
The words echoed in her mind.
Because right now—
He was the only one who wasn't avoiding her questions.
"And the twins?" she asked suddenly.
Her voice trembled slightly.
Aiden's expression changed.
Not completely.
But enough.
Something deeper surfaced.
Emotion.
Strong.
Unfiltered.
"You want to know about them?" he asked quietly.
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
Her fingers tightened slightly on the bedsheet.
"Please."
Aiden exhaled slowly.
"They weren't planned."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"But they were wanted," he added quickly.
The tension in her chest eased—just a little.
"You were scared when you found out," he continued. "You said you weren't ready."
Elara's heart ached.
That sounded like her.
"I almost convinced myself to let you go," he admitted.
Her gaze snapped to his.
"What?"
His eyes held hers.
Dark.
Honest.
"I thought I was too much for you," he said quietly. "Too complicated. Too dangerous."
Dangerous?
Before she could ask—
"You came back," he said.
Her breath caught again.
"I… did?"
He nodded.
"You told me," he continued, his voice dropping slightly, "that if you were going to be scared… you'd rather be scared with me."
The words hit her hard.
Deep.
Because they didn't sound like something she would say lightly.
They sounded real.
"And the twins?" she whispered again.
This time—
Aiden didn't look away.
"They're ours."
The words were simple.
But the emotion behind them—
was overwhelming.
Elara's chest tightened painfully.
"Our…"
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
A strange, distant feeling stirred inside her.
"You carried them," he said softly. "You brought them into this world."
Her vision blurred.
Not from pain.
Not from confusion.
But from something deeper.
Something her heart recognized…
even if her mind didn't.
"They look like you when they smile," he added quietly.
Elara let out a shaky breath.
Tears filled her eyes.
She didn't remember it.
Any of it.
Not the pregnancy.
Not the pain.
Not the joy.
Not the moment they were born.
And yet—
Something inside her broke at the thought of losing those memories.
"I don't remember loving you," she whispered.
The words were soft.
Honest.
Painful.
Aiden didn't react immediately.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't look away.
"I know."
His voice was steady.
But quieter now.
"But I remember enough for both of us."
Her heart clenched.
"And that's why," he added, taking a small step back, giving her space again, "I won't force you."
Elara looked at him, confused.
"Force me?"
"To accept this," he said simply. "To accept me."
A silence followed.
Then—
"You chose me once," he said.
His eyes held hers.
Deep.
Certain.
"And I'll wait… until you choose me again."
Elara's heart raced.
Because for the first time—
This didn't feel like a lie.
It didn't feel forced.
It didn't feel confusing.
It felt…
real.