The Unwanted Marriage (UNDER EDITING)

55: Nicholas

AUTHOR'S P.O.V

Thea barely had sleep the night Arthur confessed his broken heart in a voicemail and came home drunk. She never once freed her hands from holding him in her arms, feeling extremely guilty that she had hurt her husband. Arthur never let himself drunk, he likes to drink but not enough to let the alcohol takes over his mind, and Thea knew that because she has never seen Arthur drunk before. It added another real guilt that she had caused this mess. She hates herself for the damage she has caused.

Arthur snorted quite heavily, given that he hasn't had enough good sleeps the past few days. His mind had kept him awake all night for a few hours. Tonight was the first night he actually had a decent sleep, whether it's because he was drunk or he obliviously found a comfort that his wife held him closed in his sleep. Either way, Thea was glad that Arthur could have the sleep he really needed.

Thea was restless the whole night, the guilt was eating her alive. She didn't know if Arthur could forgive her, she hoped he will try to forgive her. She couldn't bare at the thought of losing him. She had fallen in love- too deep- with him. And she is not ready to lose him, she will never be ready to lose her husband. The guilt worn her out that she eventually was able to fall asleep.

Arthur woke up, feeling the worst headache he has ever felt in his life. He cursed under his breath when he remembered that he got wasted last night from drinking too much. He promised himself that he would never give in to alcohol too much, he got a bit of taste of his own medicine a few years ago when he was partying all night during college. He got too drunk, getting into fight with some dude and ended up getting arrested for 2 hours before River bailed him out of jail with the help of his uncle. It was not the best moment in his life, and he was ashamed of himself.

He groaned as his head kept pounding, it had been years since he last felt this kind of after-drunk effect, but he still didn't miss it for a bit. His eyes slowly opened, and the first thing he saw was the beautiful face of sleeping Thea. Suddenly his heart beating a bit faster, it has been a while since he looked at her this close, it made his inner self thrilled. Another thing is that he realized that Thea had held him close to her while they sleep. It was surprising to him, given that Thea had been so distant to him the past 2 weeks that he never got to hold her in his arms because he was worried that she was not ready.

He couldn't help but smiled at the thought of her slowly opening herself back to him, but he quickly dismissed the idea before he got too happy, it was most likely a subconscious action Thea did in her sleep. It happened quite regularly when they sleep, this one makes no difference. And he remembered how she had pushed him away all this time, how his heart broke with the way she treated him. He was alone when he needed her the most. She was not there when he needed her. He didn't want to be upset because of her, but he couldn't help being disappointed. And hurt.

He untangled her arm that was rested on his chest, and slowly got up from the bed. He needed to shower and brush his teeth to get rid of the alcohol taste, and quite possibly the smell and the touch some women tried to throw themselves into him last night at the club. And yes, he had pushed them away without sparing a glance. He might be drunk but not drunk enough to forget that he is married and has a wife waiting for him at home.

The sound of shower running woke Thea up from her sleep. She opened her eyes and was a bit upset when she found the empty side beside her. She had hoped to talk to him when they woke up, quite possibly to solve whatever happened the past few weeks, and for her to apologize to him. But she knew better that Arthur is probably mad at her now, and disappointed in her. It wouldn't surprise her, she would be too if she were him.

She sat up on the bed, waiting for him to come out of the shower. She was fidgeting, worried how Arthur would react. She would take whatever reactions he would throw at her, she was ready to face the consequent. She just needed to prepare for herself.