The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 502

Chapter 502: You Are My Wife

Arlan arrived at Oriana’s bedchamber and stared at the closed door. Finally, he was wedded to the woman he loved, and there were no more obstacles between them. That witch was gone, and they could now be together in bliss. However, his heart remained unsettled.

Despite the removal of external barriers, their internal struggles persisted. They were still uncertain about each other’s thoughts and feelings. Though she had agreed to marry him, would she be able to let go of the past and love him again with unreserved affection?

With resolve to make everything right between them, Arlan pushed the door open and entered the room, which had been prepared for their wedding night. His gaze immediately found the woman in her elegant nightdress, standing gracefully by the window, lost in a trance of the night beyond.

Her slender back was turned towards him, and her long, beautiful hair, the very sight of which he adored, cascaded freely down her back, stray strands gently swaying in the night breeze.

Arlan closed the door silently behind him and approached her with determined steps. Even though she didn’t react to his presence, he sensed that she was aware of him in the room, a subtle flinch in her body as he drew nearer, an unmistakable sign that she felt his approach.

He stood beside her at the grand window and inquired, "Aren’t you feeling cold?"

It was undeniably chilly, considering the onset of winter, though it hardly affected him due to his constitution but her body was different.

"I’m fine," she replied without looking at him, her hands resting on the cold stony windowsill.

"I wish to say something," Arlan spoke.

"I am listening," she replied, her gaze still fixed ahead.

Arlan moved even closer and gently took her cold hands in his, surprising her. She instinctively started to withdraw her hands, but he held them firmly and spoke softly, "Your hands are freezing."

Her heart skipped a beat as she lifted her eyes to meet his. He was gazing back at her.

She lowered her gaze quickly and mumbled, "It’s not that cold."

"I could feel your delicate fingers turning into icicles if they lingered on this cold windowsill any longer," he replied while rubbing her frigid palms with his warm ones. Then, he brought her clasped hands to his lips, blowing warm breath onto them and gently massaging them.

Oriana finally acknowledged that her fingers had indeed grown numb while she had been lost in thought. The warmth emanating from his hands was a welcome relief.

"They do feel better now," she remarked, attempting once more to withdraw her hands, but Arlan held them gently but firmly. "I am yet to say what I was going to."

Oriana understood that he had no intention of releasing her hands and looked at him, her gaze concealing a torrent of emotions. "Go ahead."

He gazed into her captivating eyes for a few moments before speaking, his voice filled with sincerity, "Thank you for returning to me."

Oriana hadn’t anticipated these words, and she found herself frozen in response, unable to react to his heartfelt gratitude.

"Despite the pain I caused you and the troubles I made you go through since the day you met me for the first time, thank you for still attending the wedding and becoming my wife," he continued, his gaze unwavering, his heart brimming with appreciation that she hadn’t abandoned him.

Speechless and bewildered, she took a deep breath and gently withdrew her hands from his grasp, which he allowed without resistance. She composed herself and replied, her gaze lowered to the floor, "I did it to honor the promise my mother made in the past. For once, I wanted to be a dutiful daughter to the woman who gave me life."

"Even I am thankful to her for bringing you into this world," he remarked softly.

With his words of gratitude, Oriana felt a new weight settle upon her. In her opinion, she and her family didn’t deserve any of it.

She shook her lowered head, her eyes welling up with moisture as she took a step back from him. "You do not need to. My mother, my family is nothing but sinners and the reason for your suffering," her voice shaking.

"Oriana...."

She looked up and cut him off, her guilt-ridden expression unwavering. "I know my mother did something to you. You were born different, and that’s what led to your suffering. She even introduced Edna into your life, someone who hurt you repeatedly and subjected your family to prolonged agony. My family is guilty, and I will bear the burden of their sins, I will atone for all of it."

Before she could utter another word, Arlan pulled her closer, her delicate frame pressed against his robust one. Startled, Oriana met his penetrating gaze, feeling as if he were peering deep into her soul. His hand encircled her waist, holding her firmly, while the other rested gently at the back of her neck. _{freeweɓnovel.cøm}