[BL] A Marriage Ruled by Family, Saved by Desire-Chapter 59: The Moment My Husband Returned

~Alistair’s POV~

"I’m sorry, Mom," I said quietly, lowering my gaze.

My mother walked over and sat heavily on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on me with that terrifyingly sharp parental gaze. "Fine," she said, her voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "Then start talking. Tell me exactly what happened. Every word, Alistair. Start now."

Since I had already told her part of it before, it was easier to explain the rest, the things I hadn’t told her yet.

So I told her everything.

I didn’t hide anything this time. I told her about Sarah, the supposed pregnancy, and the DNA results that had looked so damning at the time. I explained how Alex’s mother had secretly arranged everything because she was desperate for an heir. And I told her how Alex had let the situation grow out of control instead of stopping it from the beginning.

"And you?" she asked, her voice sharp. "What did you do when the world fell apart?"

I lowered my gaze to my hands.

"I didn’t trust him, Mom," I admitted quietly. "I saw the results. I saw the way his mother treated me, and I believed he had betrayed me. I was so broken that night... I went to a hotel. I spent the night there. And a man, a friend named Andrew, stayed with me because I was too drunk to be alone."

My mother sucked in a sharp breath.

"Alistair..." she said slowly, her voice filled with disbelief. "You stayed in a hotel room with another man while your marriage was already falling apart? Do you have any idea how that would look to a husband who was desperately trying to prove he was innocent?"

"Nothing happened!" I cried, tears spilling down my face. "But Alex found out. Now the truth about Sarah is out. She lied. She was pregnant with someone else’s child. But Alex doesn’t care about being proven right. What hurts him is that I didn’t stand by him. He thinks I ran to another man."

My mother let out a long, weary sigh. She reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, her expression softening from anger into something heavier and sadder.

"So the two of you both damaged the foundation," she said quietly. "He allowed his mother to interfere in your marriage, and you allowed doubt to take over your trust. Now you are both left sitting in the ruins of what you built, wondering why everything feels so cold."

"He says he needs space," I murmured. "He said he brought me here so we could ’work on ourselves.’ Tomorrow is our seventh anniversary, Mom. If he doesn’t show up... I don’t think there will be an ’us’ left to work on. Even though he promised to send the address, I’m still scared."

"He’ll show up," she said firmly, rising to her feet and smoothing her skirt. "Alex may be many things, but he’s still a man who keeps his word. He said he would send you the address, didn’t he? Then you’ll be ready. You’ll look your best, hold your head high, and go to that anniversary meeting not as a victim... but as his husband."

She stepped closer, her voice lowering as her tone turned serious. "You were both wrong, Alistair. But what hurts Alex the most is that the moment things fell apart, you turned to someone else. To him, that feels like a deeper kind of betrayal. If you hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have any ground to stand on right now, even though he was the one who started this mess in the first place." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"What am I supposed to do when I see him, Mom?" I asked quietly. "I don’t even know how to face him."

"You need to apologize," she said simply. "For now, you have to set aside the idea that he’s the one in the wrong. Swallow your pride. If you apologize sincerely, Alex will do the same. He’s always been that kind of man. Let him know he’s the only one for you. Remind him why the two of you have lasted seven years. For now, Alistair, focus on fixing what you still have."

"I’ll try, Mom. I really will."

She walked toward the door but paused, turning back to look at me. There was a quiet depth in her eyes.

"Alistair," she said gently, "every union, especially a marriage, will face its trials. What matters is how you handle those moments. That is what reveals how strong the bond truly is."

She paused for a second before continuing.

"Next time something like this happens, remember this. Never make a decision when you are sad, and never make a promise when you are too happy. Give your mind time to settle before choosing your path."

Her expression softened.

"I truly hope the two of you can work through this."

"I’ll try my best, mummy," I murmured.

After my mother stepped out, the silence in the room changed. It no longer felt empty. It felt like a space waiting for me to decide what I truly wanted.

I picked up my phone and texted Alex immediately.

Good morning, baby. Hope you slept well?

Then I went straight to the point.

I don’t want any gifts for our anniversary. If you’re really going to make me stay here at my parents’ house, then you owe me this. We haven’t been together for days, and I miss you. I want us to spend tonight and our anniversary tomorrow together. You’re my husband... You can’t refuse me. I need this from you.

Before I could lose my nerve, I hit send and dropped the phone on the bed.

Then I headed to the bathroom to freshen up, my heart racing as I waited for the sound of a reply that never came.

When I came out of the bathroom, I got dressed and went downstairs.

Breakfast was quiet. My mother had already set the table, but I ate mechanically, my eyes glued to my phone the entire time.

Afterward, I moved to the living room, trying to call Alex. I sent another message.

Are you there?

But the silence from his end was absolute.

By noon, I had shut myself back in my room. When my mother called me down for lunch, I told her I wasn’t hungry.

By evening, a dull headache began to throb behind my eyes. The lack of response felt like a final sentence.

This is it, I thought. We’ve reached the end.

Night fell, and a sharp knock came at my door. "Alistair, come out," my mother called.

"Leave me alone, Mom," I groaned into my pillow. "I’m not hungry."

"Come out first!" she insisted.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted, my voice cracking with frustration.

"Will you open that door and stop making your mother worry?"

The moment I heard the voice, my heart nearly stopped. Oh my God... that’s my husband’s voice.

I sprang off the bed and rushed to the door, pulling it open.

Alex stood there, looking tired but composed, with my mother standing behind him.

Without a word, I threw myself at him, burying my face in his chest and wrapping my arms around him so tightly I thought I might crush him.

My mother watched us for a moment before giving a small, knowing smile.

"I’ll leave you two alone now," she said softly.

Alex gave her a respectful nod, while I refused to let go, my fingers gripping the fabric of his coat as if I was afraid he might disappear.

Once my mother left, Alex gently guided me back into the room and closed the door behind us.

I pulled back just enough to look up at him, searching his face. "Baby, why didn’t you reply to my message?" I asked.

"You really have a habit of making people worry," he said, his voice firm, though it lacked the cold edge from the night before.

"My husband was refusing to talk to me," I said quietly, my bottom lip trembling.

"And that’s why you’re scaring your mother?"

I couldn’t help it. A small smile slipped through. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"My baby was ignoring me," I murmured. "Why?"

Alex looked down at me, his expression serious. "Do you even realize what you did?"

I blinked, playing innocent. "No?"

"Pack your things. Let’s go," he said, pointing toward my suitcase. "I’ll make you understand exactly what you did while you serve your punishment."

A thrill shot through me. I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing myself against him. I kissed him hard, tasting the forgiveness I had been starving for.

"That’s my husband speaking," I murmured against his lips.

Alex kissed me back, his hands sliding around my waist to pull me closer. "You’d better thank your mother," he muttered.

"I will," I promised with a bright smile.

He pointed a finger at me, trying to regain his serious composure. "We still have a lot to talk about, Alistair."

I grinned, my eyes dancing. "I’m so ready, Daddy."

Finally, the mask broke, and Alex let out a small, genuine smile. We started throwing...