Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 190: Apology (2)

In another carriage, Ophelia travelled with Theo and Alice.

Ophelia kept her gaze on the outside of the carriage, not wanting to speak to Theo as yet. She waited for the right time to apologise for pushing the matter of Theo seeing doctors, but also to explain her concern.

’I was too pushy,’ Ophelia realised.

However, Ophelia had always been like this. She had always been quick to get Theo his medicine or find a doctor to look at him. Back then, Theo had never been upset by her actions.

’Unless I did not notice,’ Ophelia thought, annoyed with herself for not considering his feelings.

Ophelia scolded herself for not thinking of how Theo felt. He was always in bed, being told about his health and needing to see doctors. If she were in his position, she would grow tired of it as well, even if it was for her well-being.

’I don’t want him to get sick,’ Ophelia thought, worried about Theo’s health.

The days were getting colder, and Ophelia remembered the one time Theo had fallen sick. The doctors thought he wouldn’t last the winter, but Ophelia did her best to keep him warm and well.

Ophelia looked down at her hand.

The winter Theo had fallen ill was one she could never forget. Not only because she thought she was going to lose him, but also because it almost cost her a hand for stealing blankets and food.

Ophelia also thought then that Joel knew how ill Theo was and ordered that their food be withheld so he could die. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Ophelia."

"Yes!" Ophelia answered, ecstatic to hear Theo speak to her. "If you spoke before, I did not hear what you said."

"I am sorry for how I responded to you in the castle. You were only trying to help, and it wasn’t right how I responded to your care. I hope you can forgive me," Theo pleaded, wanting the disagreement to be left in the past.

Ophelia smiled, her worries going away. "Here I thought you were upset with me. I apologise as well. I should give you the chance to request a doctor. It must be overwhelming to always be looking at doctors and repeating your health. I sometimes forget that you are not a little boy."

"It is easy to forget when you have lived your life seeing me in bed. I do not believe I am growing," Theo said, thinking of himself as short.

"If you were not ill, I believe you would be as tall as my husband," said Ophelia.

"I want to be taller. Your husband is short in my eyes."

"Short? How is he short to you? If he were any taller, my neck would ache. I don’t want him to grow any taller than he is now," Ophelia said, her hand subconsciously going to her neck. Dante already towered over her. "He is fine the way he is now."

"Why? Do you fear what your children would be like? I would like a niece," said Theo.

"We do not want any children. Why don’t you make friends and let that occupy your time?" Ophelia suggested. This was one gift she could not offer him.

Theo didn’t believe what Ophelia said to be true. "Lord Hastings doesn’t appear to be a man who doesn’t want children. Do you not see the way the bastard looks at you?"

"He is not a bastard," Ophelia corrected Theo.

"And the way you defend him. Before Lord Hastings, you would never have defended anyone else. I am starting to not like him because I am losing you to him," Theo confessed with a pout.

Ophelia laughed at the silly reason. "It is not true, and that would be childish of you. You will always come first to me."

"Let us ask an outsider. Alice, who do you think my sister cares for more?" Theo asked, placing Alice on the spot.

"Don’t bring Alice into this. She has a way of panicking too much. You are my little brother, and I have known you for much longer, so I care for you more. There, does that satisfy your jealousy?" Ophelia asked, feeling better after a good laugh.

It had not crossed Ophelia’s mind that the two men would be jealous of each other, but now she knew to pay attention to it.

"It will do for now. Since you are in the midst of it and cannot see what others see, I will have you know that Lord Hastings appears to yearn for more with you. It disgusts me to think about it, but I cannot deny it. Perhaps it is time you put more thought into your future," Theo suggested.

"You must find a friend to keep yourself busy so you don’t bother yourself with my marriage. Don’t be like our mother and speak about children. I don’t want to hear it," Ophelia said, wanting to move on.

"I think you would be a wonderful mother," Theo said.

"Do you? After years of hearing that since I lacked my mother’s love, I wouldn’t know how to raise a child, you believe I could be a mother?"

"You raised me," Theo pointed out.

"There is a difference. You are my little brother," said Ophelia.

"I see you as my mother. Surely, you couldn’t have expected me to see that woman as my mother. It is good for you that you weren’t close to her. You’re better off not learning her motherly instincts because she doesn’t have anything to teach you," Theo said, believing it was better that Giselle stayed away.

"Why wouldn’t you want to have children with your husband? Is it because of me?" Theo asked, fearing the answer.

"Children were never on my mind. Neither was marriage," Ophelia answered.

"But you are married now, and you love your husband. I urge you not to let the past hold you back. I would be happy and understanding if you were to have your own little family. We are deserving of such happy endings, Ophelia. You mustn’t believe otherwise," said Theo.

"Did Dante put you up to this?"

"I wish. I would have asked him for money to spend during our outing. These are my thoughts. I want you to stop seeing me as a little boy and believing that you must care for me all the time. I take care of myself, and now we have others around to help me. Think only of your marriage," Theo requested.

Ophelia thought it was better said than done. She would always think of Theo. "You certainly are not a little boy anymore, but it is still a no to having children."