Chapter 81

The feelings were similar to those of déjà vu.
Alexander could easily make out a familiar touch stroking his cheeks and gliding across his skin. It was exactly the first time Heather touched him. However, this time, it felt more intense than before. Irrespective of his present condition and yearning to open his eyes and look at Heather, he was consciously aware that something prominent was going on.
Never once did he imagine his life turning out the way it did. Juan's presence here was both good and bad. Furthermore, everything around him confused him more than ever. He could not decipher how long he had been unconscious, but he was certain about the flashes in his dreams, which did not seem to be an allusion.
He slowly opened his eyes, only to find Heather sitting beside him.
“How do you feel?” She asked him with a slight smile on her face.
Alexander was relieved that she was doing well and was no longer bruised. It almost felt like having her old self beside him, but both knew that too much had happened in between, which neither could forget.
“Lost,” he told her honestly.
“I do not blame you,” Heather said.
“But you do blame me, Heather. The last time I saw you, it was pretty clear that you not only blamed me but also despised me.” Alexander said as he tried to sit up.
However, Heather pushed him down as she spoke. “You were marrying my cousin. How did you expect me to react?”
“Cousin? Diona is your cousin?” Alexander asked in disbelief. He never once anticipated this information.
“Yes, Diona Gonzales is my uncle's daughter,” Heather explained. However, she purposely excluded being her being step-daughter. Things were still sensitive between them, and without consulting Diona, she did not feel comfortable revealing this information to Alexander.
“So that makes you…”
Heather completed his sentence, “Heather Crown Gonzales.”
“How did you find out, though? Further, your father..." Alexander fumbled, trying to pick the right words, but with so many thoughts racing through his mind, it was hard to assess which question to ask first.
“Arkin Crown Gonzales and Mabel Crown Gonzales are my parents. Diona Gonzales is my cousin. I got my memories back on the day of your supposed marriage; that is the reason I was able to stop your marriage with Diona.” Heather explained.
Alexander sighed. There is so much he has missed, and it seemed like Heather was in no mood to reveal anything to him. “I was marrying her against my will. I never wished to take that step, but I had no option.”
“It does not matter. The important thing is that you are fit as a fiddle, and now you can return home." Heather said, but as she was about to stand up, Alexander grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him, making her fall on him.
Heather gasped in response, "What are you doing?”
“Something I should have done long before. Never letting you leave my side.”
“Let me go, Alexander.” Heather tried to free herself, but Alexander did not let go of her. Rather, he tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer if that was possible.
“No. I need some answers, but before that, I want to apologize.”
Heather turned her eyes away and said, “It is too late. Let go of me.”
“No, it can never be too late to accept my mistakes. I sincerely regret my actions, Heather. I swear, I had no clue that you would have been tortured there. If I did, then..."
“I had warned you, Alexander. I told you that your folks would never accept me, and your mother would not take my return lightly. And she did not. She threw me in prison without giving it a single thought.” Heather said as she averted her eyes from him.
The pain and torment were still fresh in her mind.
“I was not aware of the way you were being treated there. My mother promised that you were being taken care of. I did know about it then..." However, Heather did not let him finish the sentence.
“I would not have been served poison? I am, in fact, glad that I was made to go through that, or else I would have never gotten my memories back.”
“Poison?” Alexander was flabbergasted.
“Do not be daft, Alexander. Did your staff not mention that I was brutally punished for something I did not do and was served poison so that your marriage would go smoothly? If it were not for our kid, I might as well be..." Heather's eyes widened at the words she spoke.
She tried to immediately get up, but his hold on her tightened.
“What do you just say?” Alexander could not believe his ears.
“Nothing.” Heather felt dumb for making such a blunder. He was not supposed to find out in this manner, particularly when there were so many misunderstandings between them.
Alexander, however, got furious and flipped her over, now him being on top of her.
“Heather, I heard you clearly. You said our kid…”
“Let go of me." She tried to push him away, but Alexander was stronger than her, even in the present state.
“Why did you not tell me? Why did you not look for me?” He asked her. He could not believe that even after knowing about the presence of their kid, she purposely stayed away from him.
“I could not risk my child's life, Alexander. Not even for you.” She said, locking her gaze on him.
“I would not have let anything happen to either of you.”
“Just like in prison. If it were not for the surprise in my womb, I might as well be dead, rotting in the dungeons with you enjoying your marital bliss.” She glared at him.
“You know that I do not love Diona. It would have been a marriage just for show. How could you not trust me?”
“Words are often empty, Alexander. I have trusted you more than I should have, and in the end, it has only resulted in pain and suffering. I am done with it. If it were not for my child, I would have initiated a war against your people.”
“Our child,”
Heather ignored his words and tried to get up, but he trapped her in his arms.
“Look at me, please." She tried to avoid his whisper because if she did not stay strong, she knew that she would cave in.
“Heather, please.” He tenderly made her look at him and kissed her lips.