CHAPTER 86: GUILT

Pauline let out a breath that broke into a small sob of relief and Alexander reached for her hand instinctively.

Benjamin closed his eyes once and sighed. It was the only show of emotion he allowed.

Olivia wiped a "tear" that wasn’t there.

Evelyn sagged in relief and her shoulders eased.

"When can we see her?" Alexander asked.

"In a few minutes," the doctor replied.

The family nodded.

And in that pause, just before they walked toward Margaret’s room, Evelyn caught Alexander’s eyes.

He wasn’t crying but there was something raw there.

Evelyn slipped her hand into his. He didn’t look away, he didn’t hide it, he simply held on.

.....

[Hospital Room]

Margaret lay on the hospital bed, pale against the white sheets and the monitors beside her blinking steadily. For the first time in decades, she looked small and fragile.

Pauline sat at her bedside, clutching her mother’s cold hand between both of hers.

The moment she saw Margaret, all the composure she had held outside the room shattered. Her chin trembled and her breath stuttered.

"Mom," Pauline whispered and a tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.

Benjamin stood behind her, stiff and uncomfortable at first but when he saw Pauline quietly breaking, something in him softened—something he rarely allowed himself to feel.

He placed his hand gently on her shoulder.

And for the first time in years, Pauline didn’t resist. She leaned back into him slightly, accepting the support.

It had been years since they had stood this close without anger between them.

Olivia, at the far corner of the room, watched the scene unfold with her jaw tight and her hands curling into fists.

Pauline leaning into Benjamin and Benjamin holding her. Margaret on the bed, the center of attention and Evelyn standing beside Alexander like she belonged there.

Everything about it made her feel excluded, irrelevant, invisible.

Evelyn rubbed Pauline’s back softly. "She is going to be okay. The doctor said it wasn’t major."

Pauline sniffed and nodded but her eyes stayed glued to Margaret’s still face. "She is strong but seeing her like this—" Her voice cracked.

Benjamin tightened his hand on her shoulder. "She will be fine, Pauline. Mother doesn’t go down that easily."

Olivia forced a small smile. "Yes, yes she is tough, she will recover soon." But no one paid attention to her.

Minutes passed and the monitor continued its calm, steady rhythm.

Then Margaret’s fingers twitched.

Pauline gasped and Benjamin straightened.

Alexander leaned forward as tension drained from his body and Evelyn exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

Slowly, Margaret’s eyes fluttered open.

"Mom?" Pauline whispered, her tears spilling again.

Margaret’s gaze moved around the room—sharp, assessing, unimpressed, even half-conscious.

"Oh good," she croaked, voice dry, "you are all staring at me like I am lying in a coffin. Very comforting."

Pauline let out a wet laugh and pressed her forehead to the back of Margaret’s hand.

Benjamin exhaled harshly—half relief, half disbelief. "Mother, you scared everyone."

Margaret side-eyed him. "You came too? I must really have looked dead."

Evelyn hid a smile but Alexander didn’t.

Olivia stepped forward, overly sweet. "We were all so worried—"

Margaret turned her head away from her without a single word and Olivia froze mid-step with embarrassment burning her cheeks.

Margaret focused on Alexander and Evelyn now, her eyes sharpening with startling clarity. It was like the heart attack hadn’t affected her mind one bit.

"You two," she said, pointing a shaky finger between them. "Get married soon."

Evelyn’s eyes widened and Alexander frowned.

Margaret continued, "I want to see my great-grandchild before I actually die, not just faint dramatically."

Pauline choked on her laugh and Benjamin rubbed a hand over his face.

"Mother—" Benjamin began but she cut him off.

"Oh hush, Benjamin," she snapped. "If anything, this heart attack was your fault. Your nonsense raises my blood pressure."

Benjamin closed his eyes like he had been personally stabbed.

Margaret turned back to Evelyn with a surprisingly soft smile. "You are joining this family soon, dear. Don’t let these fools exhaust you."

Evelyn nodded shyly, touched. "I won’t."

Alexander stepped closer to Margaret’s bedside. "I am glad you are okay, Grandmother."

She patted his hand with surprising strength. "Of course I am okay. I can’t die before your wedding. I have dresses to judge."

Everyone laughed except for Olivia who stood in the corner, stiff and silent like the glass around her had cracked.

Margaret leaned back on her pillow, exhausted but smirking. "Well, since I am apparently alive, someone bring me water. I nearly died, surely that earns me at least a glass."

....

[Hospital—Late at night]

The corridor outside Margaret’s room had finally quieted. Nurses moved with softer footsteps now, the rush had settled and the sharp smell of antiseptic lingered in the cold air.

Inside the room, the lights were dimmed. Margaret lay propped up on pillows, breathing steadily, her usual sharpness softened by exhaustion and Pauline sat beside her, holding her mother-in-law’s hand with both of hers.

A few minutes ago, Margaret had drifted back to sleep after making her dramatic declaration about wanting to meet her great-grandchild before she died which left half the room blushing and the other half trying not to choke.

"Pauline," Benjamin placed his hand on her shoulder. "She is going to be fine," he murmured. "She is strong, stronger than all of us combined."

Pauline sighed and nodded. "I know, I thought I would lose her," she cried softly. "She raised me, Benjamin, she has protected me more than my own parents did. I just—I can’t imagine a world without her."

Benjamin closed his eyes when he felt the familiar surge of guilt that had been haunting him for years. He understood why Pauline had such a close attachment with his mother, closer than what he ever had.

After he brought Olivia home, It was Margaret who had stood by Pauline’s side ensuring that she got everything she was entitled to. She never allowed Olivia’s presence to overshadow Pauline’s.

And after Pauline left the Reid mansion, Margaret also left with her and only visited whenever necessary for a limited time.

.....