Meeting his in-laws

Kneeling beside her mother, she replied, "I'm fine, mom. What happened to Dad?" She shifted her sad stare to her dad as tears welled up in her eyes. This was her fault, and if anything happened to him, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.

"Your father was diagnosed with aplastic anemia."

"Wh– What does that mean?"

"Your father's health is not how it used to be." The woman said with a bitter smile. Alexa's eyes downcast. It was her fault. She brought a vile man irrespective of what her parents believed.

Different scenes of her father repeatedly warning her against a man like Lucian poured into her mind. Her response each time was that she was old enough to make her own choices and would bear the consequences alone. Now, see, not only was the repercussion detrimental to her family, it affected thousands of other families. Alexa lowered her head in shame. Her tears ran in silence as her shoulders shook repeatedly.