My Bratty Wife
Chapter 193 - Hundred And Ninety Three

Chapter 193: Chapter Hundred And Ninety Three

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, and a soft warmth kissed Ryan’s face, slowly pulling him from the depths of unconsciousness. He stirred, his eyelids fluttering open, and he sat up on the soft grass, his gaze taking in the breathtaking landscape before him. The field stretched out before him, a vibrant mixture of towering trees and colorful wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. The air was filled with the cheerful melodies of birdsong and the scurrying sounds of small animals darting through the tall grass.

"Where am I?" he murmured to himself, his voice raspy, his mind still hazy and disoriented. Before he could piece together any explanation, a familiar, comforting tune drifted through the air, a gentle humming that resonated deep within his memory.

He followed the sound, his steps slow and uncertain, until he saw her. A woman stood in a sun-drenched meadow, her back to him, humming the very tune that echoed in his heart. She was picking flowers, their delicate petals mirroring the ones his mother had always cherished.

A wave of emotion washed over him, a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming longing. "Mother?" he called out, his voice barely a whisper.

The woman stopped humming, her movements still and graceful. She slowly turned towards the sound of his voice, and when her eyes met his, a warm, radiant smile bloomed on her face.

Ryan’s breath hitched in his throat. There was no mistaking that smile, the gentle curve of her lips, the familiar sparkle in her eyes. This time, his voice was filled with certainty. "Mother!"

"Yes, my boy," Duchess Leah replied, her voice soft and filled with an immeasurable love. "I’m here." She opened her arms wide, offering him an embrace that he had longed for for so long.

Without hesitation, Ryan rushed towards her, his feet barely touching the ground. He threw himself into her arms, burying his face in her familiar embrace, the scent of wildflowers and something uniquely hers filling his senses. "Mother!" he repeated, his voice cracking with emotion, tears welling in his eyes.

Duchess Leah held him tightly, her hand stroking his hair, her touch as comforting as he remembered. "I’m here, my love," she murmured, her voice soothing. She finally broke the hug, cupping his cheeks in her hands, her eyes tenderly assessing his face. She kissed his forehead, her lips lingering for a moment. "Look how big you’ve grown, my Ryan, my little boy," she said, her own eyes glistening with tears.

"How is Byron?" she asked, her voice filled with gentle concern.

"He’s fine, Mother," Ryan replied, his voice still thick with emotion. "He misses you as well."

Duchess Leah sighed softly, her gaze filled with a bittersweet sadness. "I thought I would never see you again," she confessed, gently wiping away a stray tear that had rolled down Ryan’s cheek.

"I missed you so much, Mother," Ryan replied, his voice choked with emotion. "I felt so lost when you left."

Duchess Leah shushed him softly, her fingers brushing against his lips. "Don’t say that again," she murmured, her eyes filled with a gentle promise. "Now we’ll be together forever. You won’t have to miss me again."

She stretched out her hand, her smile gentle and inviting. "Come with me, my son," she said softly.

Ryan reached out, his fingers just brushing hers, when another familiar voice cut through the peaceful scene. "Ryan!" the voice called, filled with urgency.

He turned towards the sound and saw Suzy running towards him, her face etched with worry, tears glistening in her eyes. "Cassandra," Ryan replied, his voice a mere whisper, a mix of surprise and a strange, detached affection.

He now stood between two women, his mother, a figure of warmth and past comfort, and his wife, the vibrant embodiment of his present life, both hands outstretched towards him.

"Where are you going?" Suzy asked, her voice trembling, her eyes searching his. He didn’t answer, his gaze distant and unfocused. "Were you about to leave me? Leave us?" she continued, her voice breaking, tears now spilling down her cheeks. "Everyone in the castle is waiting for you, Mr Bradford, Mrs Madelyn, Mrs Agnes, Byron even Davis," she pleaded, her hand still outstretched, her eyes filled with a desperate longing. "Come with me."

Ryan was torn, a silent battle raging within him. He looked at Suzy, his heart aching at the sight of her distress, but a powerful, almost irresistible pull drew him towards his mother.

"Do you want to come with me, my son?" Duchess Leah asked again, her voice soft and persuasive. "Aren’t you tired? Come and rest with me."

Slowly, almost involuntarily, Ryan began to walk towards his mother. Each step felt heavy, his gaze fixed on her gentle smile. He could feel Suzy’s heartbroken gaze on his back, could almost hear her silent tears, but the allure of his mother’s embrace was too strong to resist. He continued walking, drawn by an invisible force, towards a place that felt both familiar and distant, a place that promised rest and an end to all pain.

Suzy’s voice, filled with a heartbreaking mix of sorrow and resolve, stopped Ryan just before his fingers could intertwine with his mother’s. "If you are not coming with me," she said, her voice trembling but firm, "give me back my ribbon." She reached up, her fingers fumbling with the clasp of the necklace that held the ring he had given her. She removed the delicate chain from her neck, her hand shaking as she pulled off the Blackwood ring. With a choked sob, she threw the ring at him. "Take your ring," she said, her voice thick with unshed tears, "the token of your love."

The small, dark ring landed in the grass near Ryan’s feet. He picked it up, his gaze drawn to his arm. Suzy’s simple hair ribbon, the soft blue a stark contrast to his pale skin, still rested there. He looked back at his mother, his eyes filled with a deep, agonizing longing, tears now streaming down his cheeks. " I don’t want to leave her mother, but I don’t want to leave you too."

Duchess Leah reached out, her touch gentle as she wiped away his tears. "It’s okay, my love. It seems you have found someone who loves you more than I ever could," she said, her voice filled with a quiet understanding and a hint of peace. "I am happy she will be able to fill the void I left in your heart. I am relieved now."

She embraced him tightly, her arms enfolding him in a final, loving hug. "I am not gone, my love," she whispered in his ear. "I am always with you, in your heart. Don’t ever forget that. I love you." She kissed his forehead, her lips cool against his fevered skin.

Slowly, hesitantly, Ryan turned and walked towards Suzy. He reached out and took her hand, her touch grounding him in the present. He looked back at his mother one last time. She stood there, bathed in a soft, ethereal light, a gentle smile gracing her lips. Then, as he watched, she began to fade, her form dissolving into the golden light until she was gone.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurring for a moment before focusing on the familiar patterns of the ceiling above his bed. The heavy drapes were drawn, casting the room in a soft, muted light.

The memory of his mother’s voice, her gentle embrace, lingered in his mind, a bittersweet ache in his chest. "Mother," he whispered, his voice faint and raspy, the sound barely audible in the quiet room. A single tear escaped his eye, tracing a slow path down his cheek.

Just then, the door creaked open and a young maid entered, carrying a basin filled with fresh water and a soft linen cloth for his morning wash. She hadn’t expected him to be awake. The sight of his open eyes, the faint murmur of his voice, startled her so profoundly that her grip on the basin loosened. It slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor with a loud clang, the cool water splashing across the polished surface.

"His Grace is awake!!!" she exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and filled with a mixture of shock and excitement. The sound echoed through the quiet room, shattering the stillness. She stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide with disbelief, before turning and rushing towards the door, eager to spread the news throughout the castle.