War God is Back for his Mother

Chapter 13: Birthday Morning

The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the curtains of the guest room, casting gentle patterns on the floor. Alex woke up slowly, his body feeling heavy from a night of restlessness. 

He had barely slept, tossing and turning throughout the night, tortured by memories of the wedding night and his thoughts. 

His heart felt cold like he was watching everything from a distance, while his mind was conflicted, trapped in a storm that wouldn't settle. 

He sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes, and reached for his phone on the nightstand. His eyes fell on the date, but it was just another day. 

His birthday and also his wife's… but that thought brought no joy.

But as he stood up and walked toward the door, Alex's steps froze. He discovered that Selena had moved the sofa to the doorway of the guest room, and fallen asleep there. 

The large sofa was pushed awkwardly against the door, blocking it partially. Selena was curled up on it in an uncomfortable position, still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. 

Her hair was messy, falling across her face, and a thin blanket from the living room was draped over her body. She looked exhausted… so small and vulnerable at that moment.

Seeing her frowning deeply even in her sleep, Alex suddenly felt his heart soften a little. 

Her brows were knitted together tightly, as if she was arguing with someone in her dreams. There were faint lines of worry on her forehead, and her lips were pressed into a thin line. 

Alex stood there for a long moment, staring at her. Part of him wanted to stay angry, to remember the cold decision he had made. 

But another part… the part that had loved her for three years, felt a jolt of pain at the sight. Seeing her sleeping like a small puppy waiting for him to open the door, stirred something deep inside him. 

He sighed, accepting the reluctant tenderness in his heart, his hand hovering near the door handle but not opening it yet.

Hearing the sounds of movement from inside the room, Selena's sleep got broken. 

She struggled to sit up as she blinked sleepily, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. Her neck looked stiff from the awkward position on the sofa, and she winced as she straightened her back. 

The moment she saw Alex standing there in the doorway, happiness first appeared in her eyes. 

Her brown eyes lit up for a brief second, bright and hopeful, like she had been waiting for this exact moment. But that happiness was followed immediately by a look grievance, like she had a list of complaints that were only and only for his ears. 

Her lower lip trembled slightly as tears welled up in her eyes. 

Without hesitation, she stood up quickly, ignoring the soreness in her body. She rushed forward and hugged Alex's arm tightly, pressing her face against his shoulder. 

Her voice was soft and pleading as she urged him. "Alex, please," she whispered, her words muffled against his shirt. "Let's stop fighting. I don't want this cold war anymore. We just got married, for God's sake! We should be happy, right? And I am… I want to be. Let's forget everything and simply live a good life together again. Can we do that?”

She was actively taking the initiative to reconcile, holding onto him like she was afraid he might pull away.

“Alex, I miss you. I miss us. Please, can we go back to how things were?"

Her fingers gripped his arm, warm tears slipping down her cheeks and landing against his arm. 

"I know I made mistakes. Leaving on our wedding night was wrong. I should have stayed with you. But I was worried about work and... everything. I promise I'll be better. You're my husband, the only man I want, the only one I'll ever want to be with. Don't push me away like this, please… We can fix this. I know we can."

Alex remained silent. He didn't pull his arm away, but he didn't hug her back either. 

His body was tense, his face unreadable as he looked down at her. Inside, his emotions were a whirlwind. Part of him wanted to believe her, to wrap his arms around her and forget the pain. But the memories of Dennis, the hospital selfie, and her stubborn defense were still fresh. He stayed quiet, letting her words hang in the air between them.

Selena Sterling immediately and keenly noticed that his attitude had softened somewhat. She could feel it in the way his muscles relaxed just a tiny bit under her touch. His breathing wasn't as cold and controlled as yesterday. There was a small shift in his eyes—not full warmth yet, but not the icy distance from before. Hope bloomed in her chest. This was her chance. She couldn't let it slip away.

Taking advantage of the moment, she looked up at him with earnest eyes, still holding his arm close. "Alex, since today is both of our birthdays, I have already prepared a surprise for the two of us in advance," she said softly, her voice gaining a little strength. "A romantic candlelight dinner at the rooftop of a luxury restaurant. It's private and undisturbed. Just you and me, with the city lights around us. No phones, no interruptions. I booked it weeks ago because I wanted our first birthday as a married couple to be perfect. Please say yes. We can talk there. We can start over."

She pressed closer, her cheek resting against his chest now. "I promise that no matter what happens this time, I will never leave again. I'll stay with you. Only you. No more emergencies pulling me away. You're my priority. Our marriage is my priority. Let's make today special. Let's celebrate us."

The words poured out of her with genuine emotion. She meant them in that moment, her heart full of hope and fear of losing him. The sofa was still pushed against the door, a silent witness to her night of waiting. The morning light made everything feel softer, like a new beginning was possible. Selena waited for his response, her arms still wrapped around him, not ready to let go.