The split
Aiden sat in silence, reflecting on the recent arguments with his family, including his parents. The weight of guilt pressed heavily on him; he knew he had been wrong to lash out.
Deep down, he longed to mend those fractured relationships and restore the warmth that had once defined their family dynamic.
Yet, he found himself grappling with a troubling question: did his reluctance to marry Katie mean he was shirking his responsibilities? Lilian's comments echoed in his mind, making him feel uneasy and self-doubting.
He didn't want to be perceived as someone who ran away from commitment, but he also felt that he needed to stay true to his feelings.
"How's Allen doing? Has he arrived?" Aiden shifted the conversation away from himself.
"He's fine. He arrived and called me," Lilian replied. Soon after, they returned to the living room, and Aiden regained his cheerful demeanor.