Chapter 368: To stop protecting me
"Amelie, can we meet tomorrow? I’m also in the capital. Choose the time and reply to me."
Amelie stared at the message glowing on her screen, her brows knitting in quiet confusion.
"Why does he want to meet me now?" she murmured under her breath.
After a pause of hesitation, she began typing, her fingers moving slowly. "You can come to the palace in the morning." With a soft exhale, she set the phone down on the table and leaned back against the pillows, her gaze drifting upward in thought.
Her mind slipped to Flora. ’She’s holding up so well... but how long can she endure like this?’
Pressing her palms together, Amelie closed her eyes in prayer.
"Please, Moon Goddess... clear the obstacles from my sister’s path. Help her find her happiness. Don’t let her suffer any longer."
As she opened her eyes, she heard the door click open and Gabriel stepped inside, dressed in his night clothes.
"Did you all enjoy? What about Idris? He wanted to join, but only ladies were allowed," Amelie asked, shifting slightly on the bed.
"Yes, we had a good time," Gabriel said as he slid under the blanket beside her. "As for Idris, he’s a quiet boy. Someone tried to coax him into drinking, but I asked them to leave. He’s too young for that nonsense. I banned that person’s entry."
He moved closer, resting his arm gently over her shoulder. His hand slipped down to her rounded belly, warm and protective. "Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable when the baby kicks so much?" he asked softly.
Amelie shook her head, smiling. "How could I feel uncomfortable? Every kick reminds me that Noa is here with me. It’s the best feeling. He’s quiet now, I haven’t felt him move for about an hour, but at night he often wakes up. I heard that when the mother moves around during the day, the baby feels like he’s being rocked in a cradle, so he falls asleep. Isn’t that beautiful?" Her smile radiated pure joy.
Gabriel’s gaze softened as he listened. "That sounds wonderful," he murmured, his thumb brushing over her hand.
Amelie laced her fingers through his, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"I was thinking," Gabriel spoke suddenly, "we should hold a baby shower for Noa soon."
Amelie turned to him, eyes wide in surprise. "What? Really?"
"Yes," he said with a small smile. "We should welcome him properly, celebrate you, and your journey into motherhood. You deserve to be cherished, Amelie. And Noa deserves to feel that he’s already loved, even before he arrives."
Her heart fluttered at his words, her eyes glistening as she pressed a kiss against his cheek. "That would mean the world to me and to Noa," she whispered.
"You two deserve that. Let this wedding pass, then we will celebrate the welcoming ceremony of Noa. He should know that even before his birth, his presence filled his parents with happiness. That we were eagerly waiting for him," Gabriel said, his voice warm with certainty.
"You’re right," Amelie murmured, her hand resting gently over his.
For a moment, silence lingered between them, but Gabriel’s expression shifted. His gaze softened, yet carried a seriousness. "I talked to my mother tonight," he suddenly admitted.
Amelie’s brows lifted in surprise. "Really? What did she say?"
"She cried," Gabriel replied, his voice dropping lower. His eyes looked distant, as though replaying the moment in his mind. "I’ve never seen her like that before. It was... strange. She wasn’t the strong, unshakable woman I’ve always known. For the first time, she looked... vulnerable."
Amelie touched his arm gently, urging him to continue.
"I forgave her," he confessed after a pause, his voice almost breaking on the words.
"I didn’t think I could. Not after everything. But tonight... I did. After hearing why she did it." Gabriel’s voice wavered as he tightened his hold on Amelie. "She was truthful to me, Amelie. For the first time, I saw it clearly, she has been carrying a burden all these years, and I failed to see it. I recalled what you told me a few days ago... that a mother can do anything to protect her child."
He let out a quiet breath, his eyes glimmering with the storm of emotions he had long kept buried. "Remember, when I first met you, I used to ask myself why this woman is so attached to her pup when it wasn’t even born... while my own mother never showed me that affection. Seeing you, I always felt grateful that a mother like you exists, that Noa will know this kind of love."
His voice softened further. "But tonight, I realized... my mother wasn’t heartless. She carried more than she ever showed to anyone. She always wanted to keep me safe, even if it cost her her own happiness."
His eyes met hers, a smile still reflecting on his lips.
"I’m glad you forgave your mother, Gabriel. It must have brought you peace," Amelie whispered, resting her hand over his chest where his heartbeat steadied beneath her palm. "Of course she made mistakes... but every decision she took was for you. She loves you more than she ever knew how to show."
"Yes," Gabriel murmured. "I saw it tonight. I told her to stop protecting me because I can finally protect myself." His lips curved into the faintest smile. "Ame, I feel so light. I’ve never felt this way before."
Amelie’s eyes softened and so did her smile "That’s because you’ve chosen a solution, Gabriel. You’ve chosen to embrace your present instead of clinging to the wounds of the past. Both you and your mother were victims of the witch’s cruelty. You accepted her flaws, and in doing so, you freed yourself too. That’s why your heart feels lighter now."
"You’re right." Gabriel caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Let’s sleep now. You need a good rest to stay healthy," he murmured. Helping her lay down, he leaned toward the bedside table and switched off the dim light from the lamp. His face rested on the same pillow on which Amelie’s head rested. Clinging close to her, Gabriel shut his eyes.
"Goodnight, Amelie. Have sweet dreams," he whispered.