The Bride Widow
Chapter 141: Ch 141: The decision should be made - Part 2

Chapter 141: Ch 141: The decision should be made - Part 2

"Finally," his mother said, standing. Her voice carried the commanding tone Daniel had grown up with. "We need to talk."

Daniel ran a hand through his hair, his exhaustion evident. "What now, Mother?" he muttered, already dreading the conversation.

His mother stepped forward, her expression stern. "What now? You’re running around like a headless chicken while everything crumbles around you. It’s time you took control of your life." She gestured towards Lola, who perked up at the mention of her name. "You have an omega now, Daniel. It’s time you accepted that and moved forward."

Daniel’s eyes flicked to Lola, who smiled at him as if nothing was amiss. Her carefree demeanor grated on his nerves, a stark contrast to the chaos consuming his life. "I didn’t choose this," he said through gritted teeth.

"Doesn’t matter," his mother replied firmly. "You mated her. That’s all that matters now. She’s your responsibility, and the sooner you acknowledge that, the better."

Lola set the magazine down and looked at Daniel with a sweet but utterly clueless expression. "I can be a good wife," she said cheerfully, as if she were applying for a job. "I’ve been practicing cooking! I made cookies yesterday."

James, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, snorted audibly. "They were burnt," he muttered under his breath, earning a sharp look from his grandmother.

"James," Daniel’s mother warned, her tone low. "Show some respect."

James crossed his arms, his face set in a scowl. "Why? She’s not my mom."

The tension in the room thickened, and Daniel felt a surge of anger and protectiveness for his son. "That’s enough," he said, his voice hard. He turned to Lola, who looked as though she hadn’t heard a word James had said. "Lola, go upstairs. I need to talk to my mother."

Lola blinked, confused, but eventually stood and skipped off to the guest room without a second thought.

Once she was out of earshot, Daniel rounded on his mother. "What are you doing, bringing her here?"

"I’m trying to help you," his mother said, her voice tight with exasperation. "You’re floundering, Daniel. You need to establish stability—for yourself, for James, and for your business. Accepting Lola as your wife is the first step."

Daniel let out a bitter laugh. "Stability? Bringing her here has done nothing but make things worse. Even James can see that."

His mother’s eyes narrowed. "You don’t have the luxury of wallowing in self-pity. If you want to salvage what’s left of your life, you’ll do what needs to be done."

Daniel stared at her, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He knew she was right—at least in part. He did need to make a decision, but this wasn’t the way.

"I need time to think," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "And I can’t do that with you hovering over me and Lola prancing around like a clueless child."

His mother opened her mouth to argue, but Daniel raised a hand to stop her. "Go home. Take Lola with you. I’ll figure this out, but I need space."

For a moment, his mother looked as though she might refuse, but then she nodded sharply. "Fine. But don’t take too long, Daniel. You’re running out of options."

She called for Lola, who came bounding down the stairs, and the two of them left, the door closing behind them with a heavy finality.

Daniel slumped onto the couch, rubbing his temples as the silence settled over the house. James peeked out from the corner, his expression wary. "Are they gone?"

"They’re gone," Daniel said, his voice tired.

James walked over and sat beside him, his small hand resting on his father’s arm. "You don’t have to marry her, Dad," he said softly.

Daniel looked at his son, his heart aching. "I know, James. I know."

______

Daniel sat alone in his dimly lit living room, the weight of the past few weeks pressing heavily on his chest. His mother’s words echoed in his mind, but instead of clarity, they only brought frustration.

The chaos in his life was unbearable—his failing business, the strained relationship with his son, and the presence of an omega he neither wanted nor could bring himself to care for. It was too much.

For the first time in a long while, Daniel allowed himself to think about Anabella. She had been calm and composed even in the face of his selfishness, and now that she was gone, he couldn’t deny the void her absence had left.

He had convinced himself that holding onto her was about saving face, but deep down, he knew it was his pride that had kept him from letting her go.

But now, everything was clear. Anabella deserved freedom, and if he was honest with himself, so did he. Holding onto a broken marriage wouldn’t fix anything. His life was falling apart not because Anabella left but because he had refused to take responsibility for his choices.

Taking a deep breath, Daniel reached for his phone and dialed a number he hadn’t used in years—the lawyer who had helped him secure his initial prenuptial agreement with Anabella. As the phone rang, his heart pounded in his chest.

"Hello, this is Morrison and Associates. How can I help you?" a polished voice answered.

"This is Daniel Ross," he said, his tone steady despite his nerves. "I need to speak with Mr. Morrison about drawing up divorce papers."

The receptionist hesitated for a moment before responding. "I’ll connect you with him now, Mr. Ross. Please hold."

As the hold music played, Daniel leaned back on the couch, exhaling slowly. This was the right decision. Anabella needed a fresh start, and so did he. It wasn’t an easy choice, but it was necessary.

When the lawyer’s voice came through the line, Daniel explained his request succinctly, his resolve unwavering. By the time the call ended, he felt a sense of relief he hadn’t felt in months. For the first time, Daniel believed that letting go of the past might actually give him a chance to rebuild his future.