Chapter 400: An unfortunate accident
"Finally, you’re home, Karmen," his mother, Norma.
His father, Ramsey, lowered the newspaper he had been reading and fixed his gaze firmly on their son.
"Good morning, Mother. Father," Karmen greeted, pausing before them for a respectful moment.
"Where were you the entire night?" Norma asked.
"At work," Karmen replied. "With Prince Gabriel."
Ramsey arched a brow. "I thought Prince Gabriel had stepped back from his duties, at least for a while, after the arrival of the little one."
"He has," Karmen admitted, "but some matters still require his attention. I’m exhausted, so I’ll be going to rest."
"Don’t sleep the whole day," Norma reminded him firmly. "Wake up before noon. We’re going to Aisha’s home."
Karmen sighed, irritation flashing across his face. "Today? Why, Mom? You could have told them we’d come tomorrow."
Norma’s expression hardened as she shook her head. "How long are you going to keep delaying this? Meeting a woman isn’t a burden, Karmen. I don’t understand you sometimes."
"Listen to your mom. Wake up before noon," Ramsey stated.
Karmen hummed reluctantly and went to his room. Instead of going to bed, he first freshened up. While showering he thought, ’It is my first time meeting Aisha like this? I have only watched her from afar. I wanted to prepare myself for this.’
A nervous feeling pressed his chest. The cool water cascaded down his body to his shoulders, then rest of the body. It calmed his nerves down but for a brief second.
Turning off the tap after some time, he stepped out and put on a bathrobe. After brushing his teeth, he went straight to bed and lay down. "Why is her family looking for a proposal for Aisha? What exactly happened with her?" he murmured.
’Let’s just sleep for now,’ he thought and closed his eyes.
The knock on the door broke his sleep, and he rubbed his eyes.
"Karmen, open the door. It’s past eleven o’clock. When are you going to come out?" Norma asked, knocking on the door.
"Yes, mom. I am awake," Karmen said, rubbing off the sleep his eyes again. Getting off the bed, he opened the door.
"Here, wear this dress. I’ve tailored it for you specifically for today," Norma stated.
"Okay."
"You’ve not eaten anything yet. I’ll send–"
"I’m not hungry, Mom," Karmen cut her off. "I’ll get ready and come downstairs soon," he said.
"Okay. Do it quick," Norma pronounced and walked away.
He closed the door and made his bed first. Then, changing into the tailored suit, he checked himself in the mirror. A smile carved on his lips as the dark navy suit fitted him well. He made his hair and applied his regular cologne before grabbing his phone and the handkerchief.
As he came downstairs, he found his mother was checking for the gifts while his father was on a call.
Seeing him, Ramsey ended the call. He approached his son and placed his both arms on Karmen’s shoulder. "It’s going to be a special day for you!"
’They seem to be more excited than I am,’ Karmen thought.
"Go sit with him in the car," Norma told her husband.
Karmen went ahead with his father while Norma stayed behind. She checked the rings again and a smile formed on her lips. "I hope everything goes well, Moon Goddess."
Putting the ring boxes into her shoulder bag, she walked out of the house.
~~~~~
Aisha looked at herself in the mirror when her sister, Lilith said, "Doesn’t the dress too good on you? I am sure Karmen is going to fall in love with you."
"I don’t want it to happen," Aisha said, her eyes glistening with tears of pain.
"How long are you going to mourn for Joshua?" Lilith worriedly asked.
"He marked me, Lilith. Why can’t you understand? I get it that Mom and Dad see me as burden now. But you should have understood me," Aisha complained.
"No one sees you as a burden. The thing is you can’t stay like this forever. You don’t do anything, except for staying in your room. And you’ve been doing this for two years. Do you think our parents aren’t hurt seeing you like this? Joshua had an unfortunate accident. I get that you two promised each other to be each other’s, but sometimes fate works differently. You’re still 29. Just do it for their happiness this time. They never asked anything from you, Aisha. You know this well."
Lilith caressed her younger sister’s cheek. "I have heard that Karmen is a nice guy. He never dated anyone before. Not to mention, he’s the beta of Prince Gabriel."
"Mates are supposed to be loyal to each other. I think, I shouldn’t have lived either!" Aisha almost screamed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Aisha!" Their mother’s voice reverberated though the room.
Both the sisters turned to look at the door when Valentina walked in with a necklace box in her hands.
"Mom, please don’t..." Lilith tried to stop her mother.
"You daughter is calling for you. Go downstairs," Valentina told Lilith.
"Please, don’t scold Aisha," she requested her mother before walking away.
"Joshua would have never wanted you to suffer like this," Valentina said, resting the box on the vanity table. She picked up the tissue and wiped the tears from her daughter’s cheeks. "You’ll ruin your makeup at this rate."
"Mom, I won’t love anyone. Only Joshua is in my heart," Aisha said.
"You’re wrong," Valentina stated. "Your father had been sick for a year. Have you ever thought a wolf hardly falls sick to this extent except when they are under a lot of stress? You think we are your enemies. Whatever you feel today is may be wrong but after a certain time, you will thank us. I have to search a lot for the man who will embrace you without questions. Karmen is perfect for you, Aisha. And you’ll not ruin it today. If you, then you may not see me alive. Perhaps, then you’ll be at peace."