Chapter 186- Peace at Last
ARIANA'S POV
The hospital was quiet now, the chaos of earlier reduced to a muted hum of distant voices and the occasional sound of footsteps. Hardin was stable, though still unconscious, and his parents had arrived, their shock and emotions still lingering in the back of my mind. But right now, I needed to see my mother.
I made my way down the hall to her private room, my boots barely making a sound on the polished floor. The weight of everything that had happened pressed heavily on my shoulders—Hardin’s injury, Garry’s actions, and the secrets that had unraveled.
When I pushed open the door to my mother’s room, I found her sitting upright in bed, her usually composed demeanor replaced by a weariness that broke my heart. Agnes was by her side, gently adjusting her blanket, her eyes flicking toward me with a knowing look.
“Mom,” I said softly, stepping closer.
Her head turned toward me, and the moment our eyes met, her expression crumbled. “Ariana,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Are you okay?”
I rushed to her side, wrapping my arms around her tightly. For a moment, neither of us said anything. I just held her, feeling the way she clung to me as if letting go would make the world fall apart all over again.
“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice cracked under the weight of the lie. “I’m okay, Mom.”
She pulled back slightly, her hands gripping my shoulders as she searched my face. “I was so worried,” she said, her voice breaking. “When I found out Garry had taken you, I thought—” She stopped, choking on her words.
“Mom, I’m here,” I reassured her. “I’m safe now.”
Her hand brushed over my cheek, as if confirming for herself that I was really there. “I knew Garry was desperate,” she murmured. “I knew he was dangerous, but I never thought he’d go this far. Kidnapping you, threatening your life—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I interrupted gently. “If you knew he was harassing you, why didn’t you say anything?”
Agnes, who had been standing quietly by the window, spoke then, her voice soft but firm. “Your mother didn’t want to worry you, Miss Ariana. She thought she could handle it on her own.”
My mother sighed, guilt etched into her features. “I didn’t want you to carry the burden, Ariana. I thought if I stayed quiet, if I gave him what he wanted, he’d leave you alone.” Her voice shook as she added, “But I was wrong. I should’ve told you.”
I reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. “We can’t keep secrets from each other anymore, Mom. Garry almost destroyed everything because of this. We have to promise—no more hiding things, no matter how difficult it is.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. “I promise,” she whispered. “I just wanted to protect you.”
“And I wanted to protect you,” I said, my own voice thick with emotion. “We’ve both been trying to shield each other, and look where it got us. We’re stronger together, Mom. We always have been.”
She pulled me into another hug, and this time, it felt like we were letting go of all the fear and pain that had been weighing us down.
After a moment, she pulled back, her expression softening slightly. “How’s Hardin?”
I glanced toward the door, my chest tightening. “He’s stable,” I said. “The doctors said he’s out of danger, but he hasn’t woken up yet.”
Her brow furrowed with concern. “And his parents? Did you tell them?”
I nodded. “I did. They’re here now, waiting to see him. It was… complicated.”
“I can imagine,” she said softly. “The Richards and the Millers… fate has a strange way of intertwining things, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” I agreed. “But they were shocked. His mother recognized the necklace she gave him as a baby, and his father… he couldn’t believe how much Hardin looks like him. It’s a lot for them to process.”
“I’m sure it is,” she said. “But maybe this is a chance for Hardin to have the family he was robbed of. Let’s hope for the best, Ariana. He deserves it.”
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything settling over us. Agnes stepped forward then, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“You’ve been through so much today, Miss Ariana,” she said gently. “You should get some rest.”
“I will,” I promised, though I wasn’t sure I meant it. My mind was too full of thoughts—of Hardin, of his parents, of the chaos Garry had unleashed.
But for now, sitting here with my mother, I allowed myself a moment of peace. We had faced so much together, and though the road ahead wa
s uncertain, I knew we would get through it. Together.
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