บท 44: Chapter 44: The Story of Us
As the clock struck noon, the Moriarty household was bustling with excitement. It was Samuel's fifteenth birthday, and the grand celebration was in full swing. Family and friends filled the beautifully decorated garden, laughter and music intertwining in the warm afternoon air.
Elliot stood at the edge of the festivities, watching Samuel as he mingled with his friends, a proud smile on his face. Alice approached, her eyes sparkling as she joined him.
"It's hard to believe he's fifteen already," she said, leaning against him. "Time really does fly."
Elliot nodded, his heart swelling with warmth. "It feels like just yesterday we were holding him for the first time. He's grown into such a wonderful young man."
As they shared a moment of silence, Samuel came bounding over, a slice of cake in hand, his face lit with enthusiasm. "Mom! Dad! I want to know about how you two met!"
Alice and Elliot exchanged glances, a mixture of nostalgia and hesitation washing over them. They had often thought about the story of their beginning, filled with complexities and transformations.
"Sammy," Elliot began, kneeling down to meet his son's gaze. "That's quite a story."
"Yeah! I want to hear it!" Samuel insisted, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Taking a deep breath, Alice spoke first. "Well, when your dad and I first met, he was… well, let's just say he was very different from the man you see today."
Elliot chuckled, shaking his head. "I was a fool. Extremely overweight and very much in love with the idea of Alice. I would idolize her, follow her around like a puppy. And… well, that didn't go over too well."
Samuel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Alice took a deep breath, remembering the tension of those days. "I was engaged to him, but I didn't love him back then. I thought he was ignorant, always fawning over me. So, I left for a year abroad, thinking it would help me escape our engagement and figure things out."
"During that time," Elliot continued, "I was kidnapped. It was a terrible experience. I faced psychological and physical torture. They made me do hard labor, and when they finally let me go, I was weak, scared, and changed in ways I didn't understand."
Alice placed a reassuring hand on Elliot's shoulder, her heart heavy with the memories. "When he came home, his father made him undergo surgeries to remove the scars, and he went through intense training to prepare him to be the heir to the family business."
Samuel listened intently, his young mind trying to grasp the weight of their past. "And then what happened?"
Elliot smiled softly, a mix of pride and pain in his eyes. "When Alice returned, she expected to find the lovestruck fool she had left behind. But I had changed completely. I was indifferent, no longer the boy who idolized her."
Alice nodded, her expression contemplative. "Our families pushed for the marriage, and Elliot gave me a chance to break it off before the wedding. He told me about his struggles with PTSD and trauma, but I chose to stay."
"And for a long time," Elliot added, "our marriage was more like a business arrangement. We were both trying to figure out who we were."
"But then things changed," Alice said, her voice filled with warmth. "After one of his PTSD attacks, Elliot started to open up to me. We began to understand each other better, and slowly, we fell in love."
Samuel's eyes widened as he absorbed their story. "So, it was a tough journey for you both."
"Very tough," Elliot admitted. "But it was worth it. We learned to communicate and support each other, and that made our bond even stronger."
As they shared their story, Samuel felt a deep sense of appreciation for the journey his parents had taken. He realized that their love had not always been perfect, but it was built on resilience and understanding.
"Thanks for telling me," Samuel said, beaming at them. "I can't wait to tell my friends!"
Elliot and Alice exchanged proud smiles, knowing that they had just given their son a glimpse into the strength of their family's love. As the celebration continued around them, they felt grateful for the life they had built together—a life that was filled with love, healing, and the promise of many more memories to come.
— จบบริบูรณ์ — เขียนรีวิว
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