The Bride Widow
Chapter 149: Ch 149: One tired soul - Part 3

Chapter 149: Ch 149: One tired soul - Part 3

"You’re right," he said quietly, his voice firm. "I did love my first wife more. And yes, I do miss her every day. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t cared for you, Helena. I’ve tried to be a good husband to you, even when you’ve made it difficult."

Helena’s eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to process his words. "You—how dare you?"

Marcus didn’t flinch. "What I won’t do, Helena, is stand by while you bully Anabella. She’s been through enough, and if you can’t see that, then maybe you need to take a step back and reevaluate your priorities."

Helena’s face flushed with indignation. "You’re choosing her over me? Your wife?"

"I’m choosing to do what’s right," Marcus said, his voice calm but unyielding. "And what’s right is supporting Anabella. She’s my daughter, and I will always stand by her."

Helena’s lips trembled with rage, but her eyes gleamed with something else—fear. She had always relied on Marcus to eventually give in to her demands, to placate her when she pushed too far. But now, his unshakable resolve was something she hadn’t anticipated, and it unnerved her.

"If you don’t take that back," she said, her voice low and dangerous, "I will leave. Do you hear me, Marcus? I’ll pack my things and go. You’ll lose me forever."

Marcus met her gaze, his expression resolute. "If that’s what you need to do, then so be it. But I’m not taking back my words, Helena. Not this time."

Helena staggered back a step, as if his words had physically struck her. "You...you’re serious?"

"Deadly serious," Marcus said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

For the first time, Helena seemed at a loss. Her bravado faltered, and her eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape. She hadn’t expected him to call her bluff, and now she was left floundering in the aftermath.

"You’re making a mistake," she said weakly, her voice trembling. "You’re going to regret this, Marcus."

"Perhaps," he replied, his voice softening slightly. "But I’ll regret it more if I don’t stand up for my daughter when she needs me the most."

Helena stared at him, her face a mixture of anger, betrayal, and desperation. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.

Marcus watched her go, a pang of sadness in his chest, but also a deep sense of relief. For too long, he had allowed Helena to dominate the household, to manipulate him with her sharp words and endless accusations. Standing up to her had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he knew it was the right thing to do.

As the door slammed shut behind her, Marcus sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples. He didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in years, he felt a sense of clarity. Anabella needed him, and he wasn’t going to let her down.

Upstairs, Helena paced her room, her mind racing. She was furious, yes, but beneath the anger was a deep, gnawing fear. Marcus had always been her anchor, her safety net. If she lost him, what would she have left?

But another part of her refused to back down. If Marcus thought he could push her aside so easily, he had another thing coming. She wasn’t about to let him or Anabella win without a fight.

Unbeknownst to her, Marcus sat downstairs, already drafting a message to Anabella. He wasn’t sure how she would react to his sudden involvement, but he wanted her to know that he was in her corner, no matter what.

And for the first time in years, he felt like he was finally doing something that mattered.

______

Anabella sat in her small living room, the sunlight filtering through the curtains as she stared at her phone. She had just received a message from her father, Marcus, and it wasn’t anything like she had ever expected. The words were simple, but they carried a weight she hadn’t felt in years.

"Anabella, I just want you to know that I support you. No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side. You’re my daughter, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you."

She read the message twice, then a third time, trying to process what it meant. Her father had always been distant since his remarriage to Helena, always taking Helena’s side, no matter the situation. To see him finally standing up for her was something she hadn’t thought possible. Yet, instead of joy or relief, there was a strange hollowness inside her.

Clair, sitting nearby with a cup of tea, noticed the look on Anabella’s face. "What’s wrong?" she asked gently.

Anabella held out her phone. "It’s my father," she said quietly. "He sent me this."

Clair read the message and raised her eyebrows. "Well, that’s unexpected," she said, handing the phone back. "How do you feel about it?"

Anabella hesitated, her fingers curling around the phone. "I don’t know," she admitted. "This is the first time he’s ever taken my side. Ever since he remarried, it’s like I stopped being important to him. But now... now he’s saying he supports me, and I just... I don’t feel anything."

Clair nodded thoughtfully. "That’s normal," she said. "When someone who’s been distant or neglectful suddenly changes, it can take time to process. Your emotions might be muted right now because you’re used to protecting yourself from disappointment. It doesn’t mean you don’t care—it just means you need time."

Anabella looked at Clair, her eyes searching. "Do you think I’ll ever feel... happy about it?"

"I think you will," Clair said firmly. "But on your terms and in your own time. Don’t force yourself to feel something just because you think you should. Healing takes time, and so does trust."

Noah, who had been lounging on the couch with a book, chimed in. "You’re allowed to take this slow, Anabella. Don’t rush to forgive or forget. Just let it be what it is for now."

Anabella nodded, their words sinking in. She felt a little lighter, though the hollowness remained. It was something she’d have to work through on her own.