Aiden swallowed hard, the man’s words striking a chord deep within him. His past—those dark, twisted memories of the sea, of the battles he had fought and the men he had lost, had always haunted him. They were a constant reminder of what he had done, of the blood on his hands. He had never spoken of it to anyone, not even to Katie. He had wanted to protect her from that side of him, to keep her from seeing the violence that he held within himself.
But in trying to protect her, he had only hurt her more.
“I… left someone behind,” Aiden admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. It was the first time he had acknowledged it aloud, the first time he had allowed himself to truly confront what he had done. “Someone who didnae deserve it. She was—is everythin’ good in this world, and I walked away from her because I thought it was the right thing to do. I thought I was saving her from a life with me.”
The old man listened quietly, his expression thoughtful. When Aiden finished speaking, the old man nodded slowly. “Ye thought ye were protectin’ her, but ye didnae give her the choice, did ye?”
Aiden shook his head, shame washing over him. “Nay, I didnae.”
“Then that’s nae love, lad,” the old man said gently. “Love isnae about makin’ decisions for someone else. ‘Tis about standin’ by their side, nay matter how hard things get. ‘Tis about bein’ there, even when ye think ye’re nae enough.”
Aiden’s chest tightened as the truth of the man’s words sank in. He had spent so long believing that he wasn’t worthy of Katie’s love, that he would only bring her pain. But in doing so, he had only hurt her more, left her standing alone on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.
“I thought she’d be better off without me,” Aiden said, his voice trembling. “But all I’ve done is cause her more pain.”
The old man reached across the table, placing a gnarled hand on Aiden’s. “Then maybe ‘tis time ye stopped runnin’, Tom. Maybe ‘tis time ye faced those demons of yers, stood up to yer past, and showed her that ye’re willin’ to fight for her. If ye love her as much as I think ye do, then ye owe her that much.”
Aiden stared down at the old man’s hand, the rough skin, the veins that stood out against the wrinkled flesh. He had been running for so long, trying to outrun the shadows of his past and trying to protect Katie. The old man was right—he had denied her the choice, denied her the chance to stand by his side and face whatever came their way.
He had been a coward, and in doing so, he had betrayed his love for her.
“I dinnae ken if I can,” Aiden admitted, his voice barely audible. “I dinnae ken if I’m strong enough.”
The old man gave him a kind, understanding smile that reached his eyes. “Strength isnae about never bein’ afraid, lad. ‘Tis about standin’ up and facin’ yer fears, even when ye’re terrified. ‘Tis about bein’ willin’ to fight for what matters most, nay matter the cost.”
Aiden felt something change within him, a slow, dawning realization that maybe, just maybe, he had been wrong all along. Maybe he wasn’t yet the man he wanted to be, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t become that man. Perhaps he wasn’t too far gone, too broken, to be the person Katie needed.
He thought of her standing in her wedding dress, waiting for him with hope in her eyes. He had taken that hope and crushed it. But he could change that. He could go back, face her, and tell her the truth. He could fight for her, for them, and become a man that was worthy of her.
Aiden looked up at the old man, a new resolve growing in his chest. “Ye’re right,” he said with conviction. “I cannae leave her. I willnae. But I need to be better for her. I need to face me past and stop lettin’ it control me.”
The old man squeezed his hand before letting go. “Then go, Tom. Go and fight for her. Dinnae waste any more time hidin’ in the shadows. Life’s too short, and love’s too rare and precious to toss away.”
Aiden nodded, standing up from the table. His body ached, his hands were raw, and his heart was still heavy with guilt, but for the first time in many days, he felt a glimmer of hope return to his soul.
He didn’t know what would happen when he returned to the castle, didn’t know if Katie would even want to see him again after what he had done, but he had to try. He had to show her that he was willing to fight, that he was willing to become the husband she deserved.
He left the pub. The village was quiet, the only sounds were the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional bark of a dog. Aiden took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp, fresh air of the night, and for the first time in days, he felt a sense of clarity.
He would return to the castle.
CHAPTER 25
Katie’s thoughtsswirled in her mind as she sat in her room, her packed bags ready by the door. She was leaving. It was both a relief and a heartbreak. She wanted nothing more than to escape the painful memories of the past two weeks. The sight of her packed belongings was a grim reminder of the reality she had to face. Leah and Daphne had been supportive, but their attempts to comfort her only highlighted the void Aiden had left.
As she walked outside and was about to step into the coach, Aiden’s voice cut through the thick silence of her contemplation. “Ye’re nae goin’ anywhere.”
Katie’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to see him standing there, looking worn and haggard. His eyes were filled with remorse and shadowed by exhaustion. His clothes were rumpled, and his usual confident demeanor was replaced by an uncharacteristic weariness.
“What do you want?” Katie snapped, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. She took a step back as he approached, trying to distance herself from her painful memories, but he lifted his hand towards her. “Don’t touch me,My Laird. You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”
Aiden dropped his hand immediately, his face falling as he took a step back. He looked defeated, his eyes pleading. “Please, just let me explain. And if ye still want to go after that, I willnae stop ye.”
Katie’s eyes narrowed as she took in his disheveled appearance. She was conflicted, her emotions a storm of anger and betrayal. “And if I don’t want to hear it?”
Aiden’s gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before he looked up at her, his voice steady but filled with a deep sense of regret. “Ye still owe me a few nights…”
Katie’s breath caught in her throat. She wanted to resist, to tell him to leave her alone, but something in his voice made her hesitate. She glanced at the door and her packed bags and then back at him. The thought of hearing him out and getting some closure was tempting. Despite her bitterness, she knew she needed to understand what had driven him to leave her on their wedding day.
