51

GABRIELLA’S POV
Walking down the dimly lit hallway, heading towards our room, a whirlwind of emotions swirled inside me. I couldn’t help but feel surprised at how the evening had turned out, particularly regarding Margaret’s unexpected kindness towards me.
She had always seemed distant and aloof, but tonight, she had been considerate and thoughtful, going out of her way to make me feel comfortable. It left me both amazed and grateful.
As I reached our room, I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open. The warm glow of the room greeted me, and there, sitting on the edge of the bed, was Nicklaus. His smile radiated a sense of warmth and love that instantly melted away the stress I had been carrying.
“Hey, baby, welcome,” he said, his voice filled with affection as he looked up at me.
“Hey, you’re in here,” I replied, matching his smile as I walked closer to him.
“Come here, you look stressed out,” he said gently, his hand reaching out to grab my wrist and pull me onto his lap, enveloping me in his embrace.
I sank into his arms, feeling the weariness of the day melt away. Wrapping my arms around him, I whispered, “I am,” acknowledging the weight that had settled upon me.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered, his lips softly pecking my cheeks, each touch leaving me yearning for more.
Taking a deep breath, I mustered the courage to share the details of the meeting with him. “So, how did the meeting go?” he asked, his hand caressing my hair while the other gently rubbed my back, offering me comfort.
“It went well, as planned, at least to say,” I began, explaining the events that had unfolded. “Elder Argatha was the one who made the announcement,” I added, hoping to give him some context.
“Oh, I see,” Nicklaus muttered, his brows furrowing slightly. I could tell he wasn’t familiar with Elder Argatha, and curiosity tinged his voice.
“They have scheduled another meeting for tonight at 10 p. m.,” I shared, feeling a sense of responsibility to keep him informed.
“Yes, yes, I’m aware of that. I was already informed,” he replied, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself to address the matter that had been weighing heavily on my heart. “Uhm, Nicklaus, there’s something I need to talk to you about,” I began, my voice tinged with nervousness. It was crucial that I shared my role in this activity with him. He deserved to know the truth at least before he heard about it at the announcement tonight.
Nicklaus looked at me, his piercing blue eyes filled with concern and love. The room was bathed in a soft glow as he gently traced circles on my back with his fingers, a soothing gesture that always brought me comfort. We sat on the edge of our bed, the weight of the world heavy on our shoulders.
“What is it, my love? I’m all ears,” he asked, his voice soft and tender, his eyes urging me to share my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my emotions before speaking. The words felt heavy on my tongue, but I knew I had to tell him.
“I… This morning, Margaret came to me. She told me that there was a problem,” I finally managed to say, my voice laced with uncertainty.
Nicklaus leaned in closer, his brows furrowing in curiosity. “What’s the problem?” he asked, his gaze unwavering.
“That was the same thing I asked her when she told me about it,” I replied, a hint of frustration coloring my voice. I took another deep breath, steadying myself before continuing. “She said after the meeting with the elders, they came to a conclusion that it is compulsory for one of us to volunteer for a thorough search. Our daughter is involved, and as leaders, we are expected to be selfless.”
The weight of those words hung in the air, and I watched as Nicklaus processed the information. Concern etched lines on his forehead, and his grip on me tightened ever so slightly. “Damn, that means I wouldn’t be able to eat for three days and all of that,” he murmured, already assuming that he would be the one to go through the grueling process.
“No,” I said firmly, shaking my head. His assumption caught me off guard, and I needed him to understand my decision.
“What do you mean, no? My process wouldn’t be any different, Gabriella,” he said, trying to correct what he believed was a misunderstanding.
“I know,” I replied, my voice tinged with frustration that he wasn’t grasping my point. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before continuing. “I had to give an answer on the spot, so I volunteered myself.”
His eyebrows furrowed even deeper, and his grip on me tightened further. Confusion and hurt were evident in his voice as he asked, “What? Why would you do such a thing without my consent?”
The weight of his words crashed into me, and I felt a pang of remorse. I hadn’t anticipated his reaction, his hurt. “I did it for Estella, for you, for us,” I explained, my voice trembling with regret. “I thought keeping you out of it would be the best thing to do.”
Nicklaus fell silent, his gaze fixed upon me. The emotions swirling in his eyes were intense-a mixture of disbelief, hurt, and a hint of understanding. I held my breath, waiting for him to respond, dreading his reaction.
Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling slightly. “What are you even saying, Gabriella? What are you saying? How could you make such a decision without considering the consequences? Do you want to harm yourself?” His voice cracked with a combination of concern and anguish.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached out to hold his hands, desperately searching for a connection. “No, Nicklaus, I don’t want to harm myself. I did it because I couldn’t bear the thought of you going through that pain. I couldn’t stand the idea of you sacrificing yourself when I could shoulder the burden. I did it out of love, out of a desire to protect our family,” I pleaded, my voice filled with raw vulnerability.
Nicklaus’s grip softened, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around me, providing solace amidst the storm of emotions. The warmth of his embrace seeped into my bones, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck, seeking comfort.
“I understand that you did it out of love, Gabriella,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. “But we are partners on this journey, and decisions like these should be made together. I can’t bear the thought of you going through such hardships alone.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I clung to him, my voice choked with emotion. “I’m sorry, Nicklaus. I didn’t mean to exclude you or disregard your feelings. I just wanted to protect our daughter, to shield her from any harm. And I wanted to shield you too.”
Nicklaus’s grip tightened around me, his voice filled with deep understanding. “Gabriella, we are a team. We face challenges together, shoulder burdens together. It’s not solely your responsibility, nor should it be. Our strength lies in supporting each other.”
I nodded, my heart aching with regret and gratitude. He was right, as he often was. We were a partnership built on trust, love, and shared responsibility. In that moment, I vowed to never make such a decision unilaterally again, to always communicate and seek his input.
“But what can we do now?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I’ve already volunteered myself, and the elders have made their decision.”
Nicklaus held me at arm’s length, his gaze filled with determination. “We face it together, Gabriella. We will find a way to support each other through this challenge. We will rally our community, seek their assistance, and ensure that Estella is protected. We are not alone in this.”
A flicker of hope ignited within me, bolstered by his unwavering support. Together, we would face the hardships ahead, navigating the unknown with love and resilience. I took a deep breath, drawing strength from our connection.
“Thank you, Nicklaus,” I whispered, my voice filled with gratitude. “Thank you for understanding, for being there for me. I promise to never keep you in the dark again.”
His lips found mine in a tender kiss, a mingling of forgiveness and love. “We are in this together, Gabriella,” he murmured against my lips. “Always.”
And as we held each other tightly, the weight of the world seemed a little lighter, knowing that we would face whatever came our way side by side.
Love would guide us, and our united resolve would overcome any obstacle that stood in our path.