The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~ALARIC~

As I ran towards the house, my heart was pounding with fear and anxiety. When I entered, I saw Nicole lying on the ground, her face drenched in tears. Her body was trembling, and her sobs echoed through the room; it went straight to my chest. Looking around, I could see that the place was in a mess - furniture was ruined, and broken glass was scattered on the floor. I knew right away that she had done this herself. She must have had a nervous breakdown.

I rush to her side and pick her up into my arms. "What's wrong?"

She wraps her arms around me tightly, "You left me. That's what's wrong."

I stayed completely still; I wasn't sure how to respond to her words.

She grabs papers from the ground and shows me her signature. It took me a few seconds to recognize what she showed me.

She'd truly signed them. We were finally divorced.

"Nicole—"

"I can't believe you forced me to do this, Alaric." She gasps, choking on her own words. "You made me sign these papers, and now I feel like my entire world will collapse. I don't know what to do with these emotions. I don't know how to live without you."

I didn't know what to say to make her better. Our marriage was over, and I wasn't going back down that road again. I now had feelings for someone else, and I didn't know what to fucking do with those feelings yet.

I gently rub my hands down her back, "It's going to get better, Nicole. I'm not going to pull out of your life completely. I'll still be here to support you."

"I don't want just your support!" She shouts. "I want your love, Alaric! I want things to go back to how it was in the past. I'm tired of this. I want what we once had. I'm willing to put the things I know about you and your family behind me."

I flinch at her words. It reminded me of the countless times she called me a monster. The full moon was less than a week away. Was she sure that she could handle seeing me like that again? I didn't think so.

"I can never forgive the things you said to me or my family, Nicole," I try to explain to her. "It's not something I can ever easily forget. You hurt me. You hurt my family. You've never cared about them."

"That's because they made it very hard for me to care for them." She snaps. "They always wanted to separate us, and they finally got their wish."

"It was never their wish," I growl. "They were nice to you for a long time, but you never appreciated their kindness. I can't fix what has already been broken. It's too late for that. We are going to have to move on from each other. I know it can't be done in a day's time, but that's why I'm willing to still be by your side until it gets easier for you."

"Are you saying that it's easy for you?" she shouts. "Was divorcing me truly that easy after everything we've been through together?"

"I stayed by your side for years, Nicole; I loved you unconditionally. I allowed you to speak to me like I meant nothing at all to you. I allowed you to disrespect my family." I remind her. "I supported you and cherished you, but in return, you gave me only pain. I knew we were happy once, but all of it eventually changed, and it's over now."

"No!" she snaps. "It can't be over. It will never be over between us, Alaric."

I slowly let go of her, "I came here because I still care about you, but I can't stay."

"What do you mean you can't stay?" she demands. "Where else do you have to be?"

I don't answer her as I help her off the ground and put her seated on a chair. "If anything comes up again, feel free to call me."

I don't say anything else as I storm out of her home. I couldn't stay here. In the past, Nicole knew how to get me wrapped around her fingers. I knew that she was trying to do the same thing to me again. I stare down at the papers in my hands.

She'd signed them.

I look down at my phone after hearing it ring. I was surprised to see that it was Scarlett calling me.

"Scarlett?" Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.

"Alaric!" she says in a worried tone. "I need you to get over to the party right away."

I pause, "what's wrong?"

"Jenna says that she went to the bathroom, but now she can't find Clara anywhere. She was drinking plenty. I'm worried about my sister."

Her words have me in a complete daze.

I don't think twice as I rush into my truck and back out of the driveway.

"Alaric?" Scarlett calls. "Are you still there?"

"I'll find her," I growl as I end the call.