Page 61 of His Beloved Princess
"I'm going back to him," I muttered when Derek disappeared, but Frederick stopped me with his hand, grabbing my forearm.
"It's not all, Electra," he announced, looking at Andreas, who showed me the last file. I almost started crying. I'd had enough of this for a lifetime.
"I don't want to know," I whispered, my stomach cramping. My heart needed a break; my entire being was exhausted. I just wanted to return to Bastian and sit silently beside him.
"I'll be quick," Andreas stated, opening the file. "If you sign this right now, you'll become Mrs. Thorn."
I blinked a few times, not sure that I heard him correctly.
"Sit, Electra." Peter lifted the chair and held it for me to sit. I was too perplexed to refuse his offer.
"Bastian took this precaution in case someone from the family wanted to attack the will," Andreas continued, ignoring my flabbergasted expression. "None of us would ever do it, but one can never be sure."
He handed me a silver pen, the one he always had with him, and pointed to the dotted line on the bottom left of the paper with his tattooed finger.
"H-how…" I managed to ask. My eyes were scanning the document. Rose and he had already signed as witnesses. It was a marriage certificate.
"It doesn't matter, Electra," Peter answered instead of his brother. "If the worst-case scenario happens, you'll be protected by his name. You won't need to explain or justify anything. You'll be his widow."
"We broke up," I burst out, unable to hold back the tears. The pain was consuming me, and the guilt was eating me alive as well. I couldn't become his wife like this. He hadn’t even asked!
"You had a fight, sweetheart." Andreas crouched in front of me, cupping my face with his hands. "He would never let you go so easily. You know it."
"But..." I sobbed, holdingonto him like he was the only person who could stop me from falling apart. This was too much. I needed someone to help guide me through this hell.
"No ‘but’. Papers will be with me, and if you decide to sign them, just tell me, okay?"
I was grateful he didn't push me to place my signature next to Bastian's right now. It wasn't right. It was against everything I believed in. I loved him. I was dying every minute while he was in the ICU, but I couldn't do it. If he wanted me to become his wife, he should've asked properly. He should've told me about this.
Bastian didn't have any right to throw this into my lap and expect me to accept it like a good girl. Even if it was his last wish, he crossed the line. He shouldn't have done that to me and given me this kind of responsibility. It was his hard work, dream, and maybe our future, but I wouldn't live it without him.
"Have you talked with the doctors?" I asked, instead of reacting to Andreas’ statement about the papers, wiping my cheeks with my palms.
"He is stable," Fredy replied, his brown eyes burning holes in my head. "We must wait."
"Okay," I breathed, rising to my feet. My legs were wobbly, yet I wanted nothing more than to be with Bastian. His calming presence was all I needed after living through all of this mess.
Thankfully, none of the brothers stopped me when I strolled out of the conference room. My head felt dizzy, but I quickly placed one foot before another to be with my man as soon as possible. It took me only a minute to be back by his side, holding his hand.
I had so many questions. Doubts were crushing me, and only he could provide answers and reassurance. How could he think I was able to survive in his world alone? How could I face all those people outside as his wife without him standing next to me? Why in hell would he believe such nonsense?
He knew very well how damaged I was, how broken I was, how fucking weak I was, and he did it anyway! Was he out of his mind?
I wanted to screamat him, to yell in his handsome face how mistaken he was about me. This was his kingdom, his perfect life! I couldn't be the queen. I wasn't strong enough to rule.
I hadn't even realized I was so out of myself that I was probably crushing his hand in mine. With all my might, I squeezed his palm like I wanted to punish him for his decision and show him how wrong it was.
However, it didn't have any effect on him. I didn't get any reaction from him. The beeping of the machine didn't change. His blood pressure was constant. Nothing indicated that he knew what kind of chaos he had created.
Gently, I pressed my forehead against his naked shoulder, chewing my bottom lip. My fingers were entwined with his, and eventually, I calmed down. My mind was overflowing with thoughts about what happened, and I had to put some order into them.
If, in my wildest dream, I were considering signing that fucking paper, I couldn't be like this. I couldn't let my fear take the best out of me. Somehow, I had to channel my inner warrior and fight. Otherwise, how could I look into Bastian's eyes when he woke up? I wasn't ready to tell him I refused to follow his will because I was scared it might blow in my face or what people might think of me.
It was a horrible situation. On the one hand, I feared disappointing Bastian and his entire family. And on the other, I wanted to please him and do as he said.
What the hell had he got me into?
30
