Arthur's POV Diary

  After apologizing, he simply left the living room. I followed, just nodding goodbye to Mrs. Hawthorne. He didn't initiate a conversation; perhaps she was stunned by Ethan's words.

  When I reached outside, he was on his bike, about to leave. I walked past him towards my car but stopped at his words.

  "You should tell," he said.

  "What?" I asked, confused by his sudden statement.

  "About what you asked me before. If I have to tell a truth that can break the Hawthorne family's bond, I will spill the truth, Arthur," he said seriously, looking into my eyes.

  I thought he hadn't understood, but he had. He just stood in silence.

  "It doesn't mean I'm talking about me," I said confidently.

  "Sorry, I didn't introduce myself properly. I'm a writer, Arthur," he said and started his bike.

  I stood there thinking for some time and then left for home.

  As I was taking the stairs to my room, Mom said Mrs. Hawthorne had met her to offer her daughter again.

  "She called last night too. She's always worried about Ethan's influence on her daughter's life. What should I say to her?" she said. I knew she was implying, "How can I tell her we don't deserve your daughter; we stole your pride and truthfulness?"

  "I am going to marry, Mom," I said, taking a heavy breath.

  "What? It isn't good for..." she continued.

  "Not Eliza, but someone else," I said and went to my room.

  I had always planned to stay single after that accident. Responsibilities and emotions scared me, and I had had enough of all of it.

  After ten days, I got married. My mom liked the girl; she had no family, only her grandmother, who had passed away. My mom said all we could give her was a proper life. She worked in a call center and had supported herself for the past five years. I didn't think she would be happy with me, but at least I could provide her with a home, I thought. She was silent throughout our marriage arrangements.

  My Mom invited everyone. Mrs. Hawthorne didn't show up to my wedding. I knew the reason, so I didn't push it further. I even invited Ethan and Eliza personally; they didn't show up either. So, I thought that was the end of the road. We were no longer familiar with each other.

  Days passed quickly. There was no contact between our families. I just heard from someone who came to talk with my mom that Eliza's mom always scolded her, giving reasons why I didn't marry her. Honestly, there were no reasons from my side to reject her.

  One morning in my office, Mr. Hawthorne showed up. His father was in the emergency center; I gathered that much from the office desk. I had to visit him at least to say everything would be fine, but surprisingly, Mr. Hawthorne suddenly came to me.

  "Yes, Mr. Hawthorne, I'm sorry, I heard your father..." I said automatically.

  "Yeah, I know things happen unexpectedly. By the way, congrats on your wedding," Mr. Hawthorne said.

  "Yeah, thanks. I hope your dad gets well soon," I said, worried.

  "Actually, I needed a favor from you," he said.

  "Yeah, anything," I said.

  "I want money, Arthur, if you don't mind," he said, leaving the sentence unfinished.

  "Sure, I will give you the check," I immediately signed a blank check from the table.

  "It is not a small amount; it is approximately seventy lakhs," he sighed and said sorry for asking hurriedly.

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  "It's not a problem; it is blank," I said.

  "I will owe you this," he said.

  "I am happy to help you, Mr. Hawthorne," I said. I don't know why, but I was happy to help him, to help the Hawthornes. Was it because they suffered because of me?

  Mr. Hawthorne talked for about an hour about the situations at home and his work. He said he was worried about Eliza's marriage, that he hadn't saved much for her. At that moment, I thought maybe not marrying Eliza was going to be my second mistake I had made towards the Hawthornes.

  After work, when I was driving back home, I saw Mr. Hawthorne at a bus stop, waiting for a bus. I drove near and offered him a ride; he didn't hesitate. As I was driving,

  "It is easy for you, right?" he asked, looking ahead.

  "Is it about work? Yeah, it's pretty hard to work as a doctor," I said.

  "I knew the truth, Arthur. Don't hide it anymore; actually, you don't have to," he said.

  "I don't understand..." I said, scared of being in this situation.

  "You don't understand? The situation when my family didn't attend your wedding was a bit suspicious. We are not the type of people who wouldn't attend a friend's son's wedding because he rejected my daughter," Mr. Hawthorne smiled mockingly. I now completely understood the situation.

  "I didn't know that you guys found out," I said.

  "My wife told me," he said blankly. I was scared Mrs. Hawthorne knew, so that's why she wasn't visiting my house. What should I do? It's not like I face this situation daily in my head. Whenever I see Mrs. Hawthorne, shame washes over me.

  "Your mom talked to my wife two days before your marriage. She said you don't deserve my daughter. And my wife forced the valuable answer from your mother, so here we are, knowing the truth," he said.

  "I'm really so... I don't know what to say or how to..." My eyes were teary. I hoped Mr. Hawthorne saw this breakdown. I didn't speak as we arrived at the Hawthorne home. He just opened the door. I thought he was leaving me in this situation.

  "Arthur, I blame you. I really blame you for the gap between my wife and me for five years. And I don't really like you after hearing that. I am not forgiving you, and I am not able to punish you. I don't know either why I'm not angry with you. I thought I would go wild when I saw you. But there is something... your guilt. As I picture our past together, I can see that guilt on your face clearly now. I didn't understand your words then, but now I feel them completely. Arthur, we were sad for four, five, or six years, but you for fifteen years. I hope you just drop your head and act with your heart now," he said and left without even waiting to hear my thoughts.

  I cried for the first time. I cried for doing that. Not ashamed, not afraid, not scared, but really cried hard. Mrs. Hawthorne knew about all this.

  After that incident, I saw the Hawthorne family visit the hospital. I didn't dare to see them, so I avoided that situation. I saw Mr. Hawthorne's father doing fine. And I realized Mr. Hawthorne borrowed from me for all the hospital bills. I didn't understand whether he did that to clear my situation or actually needed it.

  As days went by, I believed Mrs. Hawthorne had removed me from her life. She visited the hospital again. I was avoiding this situation, but now I couldn't. In the hallway, with nurses beside me, she came to me as she saw me.

  "Can I talk to you for a second?" she said.

  "Yeah... s...sure," I said. I knew how pitiful I was.

  I entered my office, holding the door for her. She sat in front of my chair; I took the next one beside hers.

  "You are avoiding my family after that thing happened," she said, looking straight at me.

  "It was my way of dealing with things, and I support her in it. If I stayed, things would have gotten even worse for my mother," I said, stuttering.

  "You chose your mother," she said.

  "I'm... it's hard even to process the things I have done before, but when I know completely what I have done and start to face your family again, there isn't a time I am..." She cut my words.

  "I know, Arthur. I know you more than yourself. The conflicts between my husband and me are not entirely about the ring, but about the love. He never considered the fact I lost it; he chose to believe I never cared about the things that mattered to him – his mother. You know, I didn't know these situations before. I blamed you for that. I lost interest in love at one point, where I believed some things in life that belong to love can make changes in a person's life. He chose to avoid me, but we fought with our thoughts whenever we wanted to care for each other. After those things, I thought my daughter would never face a situation like mine, so I trusted your mother as a mother-in-law and you as a husband. She is the best; I know that. I admire how she raised you, and I love how you educated yourself. My husband said he can see through you right now. I think I have been seeing you all these years very clearly. As much as I don't want to have this situation, I want to say I'm sad about the truth, but I never realized in the past what I know now: I loved you as my son. And that fact stays as it is. Arthur, stop the voice now. Your mom said you didn't get over that guilt till now; she didn't expect we could see it all through. Stop blaming yourself now."

  She said. I remained silent, balancing myself by placing my hands on my elbows. She came and stood near me, patting my head, and then I realized how good it felt to be free of fear.

  "I'm sorry things got complicated for you because of me," I said.

  Properly this time.

  Ethan's POV

  "Wtf, your family already knows everything about Arthur," I said, shocked.

  "Yeahhhhh," she said, still looking at the diary. "Maybe we missed a connection that says it's Arthur's dream."

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "What?" she said, looking into my eyes, and I looked back at her, still processing what we had actually read.

  Continued....