Page 58 of His Beloved Princess
The door opened, and inside walked Mr. Leonard Thorn, Bastian's father, in company with Andreas’ scowling face. They both looked drained, and my stomach twisted with fear when I noticed the deep sadness in Mr. Thorn's brown eyes.
"You shouldn't be here," Andreas barked in a low voice, quickly approaching me. But before he had a chance to grab my arm and drag me out, his father stopped him.
"She has every right to be here," Mr. Thorn said, trying for a kind tone, but he was too exhausted to pretend everything was okay.
"Thank you," I whispered, flashing a hard stare at Andreas, whose frown deepened. He obviously disagreed with his dad.
Mr. Thorn slowly walked to the couch and sat down, hiding his face behind his hands, and I found myself clenching my jaw and gulping down my anxiety. He looked so broken and lost that the only explanation for his devastated state was that they had some horrible news.
"How is Bastian?" I asked after a few long moments of heavy silence. I couldn't just look at them and wait until they started talking. I had to know what was behind their concerned faces.
"The surgery was successful," Andreas quickly replied, like he was worried about his father saying something else. I lifted my eyebrows at him, not believing the words coming out of his mouth. He was tense and in some weird protective mode. I didn't know him well enough to understand his body language, but that's what I saw. He was hiding somethingfrom me.
"But?" I placed my hands on my hips, glaring at him. My chest heaved, and my head felt dizzy from the high blood pressure. The pumping of my heart was deafening. Again, I was petrified of what I might find out.
"He lost too much blood. It could result in brain damage," Mr. Thorn answered mournfully instead of his son; a heavy sigh left his lips when he finished the sentence.
"Dad," Andreas hissed, stepping closer to me. However, I didn't hear the other words he was saying because my vision blurred, and I collapsed. Only Andreas’ quick reaction stopped me from crashing to the floor.
I didn't expect something like this. My heart almost stopped beating from the pure shock. Bastian could be lost forever—alive but not alive. My concern could become a reality in the blink of an eye. His playful smile, mischievous glint in his stunning eyes, loving touch, and gentle encouragements could all be gone like the delicate petals of the roses blown by the wind.
From what I knew, brain damage was a huge game-changer. It could affect any aspect of life. He could lose his memory, ability to talk, or do other basic things. I’d heard about a shortened attention span and inability to understand abstract concepts or, worse, difficulty understanding others. If this were the case, it would be a disaster for him.
Bastian was the CEO of an international corporation; his other companies and his employees depended on his ability to lead and decide what was best. If his brain didn't function properly, not only would he and his family suffer the consequences, but many people outside his inner circle would be affected by it, too.
None of his brothers could take his place, and his father looked frail. Since Mrs. Thorn died, he has had difficulty returning to his previous self. Leading a company again probably wouldn't be possible for him.
And then, there was me. I would never leave Bastian, no matter the extent of the damage. He was the love of my life; I knew it, and I would stand by him under any circumstances, yet deep down, I wasn't sure if he would let me.
He wasstubborn and proud. He would never allow me to take care of him daily. His dominant personality and ego, being the size of the continent, were strongly playing against me. I already heard his deep voice telling me to leave him because he didn't want to be a burden, and I deserved something better.
"You shouldn't have told her that, Dad," Andreas groaned after he placed me on the couch, checking my pulse like he knew what he was doing. "We gotta be gentle with her."
"I didn't know she was so fragile," Mr. Thorn pointed out, and shame washed over me. He considered me not strong enough to handle this.
"After what she's been through, I'm surprised she can stand," Andreas retorted, and I saw him through my hooded eyes as he stood. "She needs to be strong when he wakes up."
"If he wakes up," Mr. Thorn mumbled, and my stomach sank. They obviously thought I was unconscious; otherwise, Andreas’ worries about me didn't make much sense.
"He will," Andreas stated firmly, his voice dripping with confidence. "And when he does, the first thing on his mind will be her. We can't show him a broken doll."
"I really hope you're right, my son," Mr. Thorn said, standing as well. "I really do."
He exited the room slowly, and I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. I tried to stifle a sob, but I failed miserably. Andreas looked down at me with his typical emotionless mask on his face while I dug my nails into the couch I was lying on.
"He will be okay," he growled, and his furious eyes sparked a flame of hope in my chest. If he believed in his brother's strength to overcome this, I could do it, too. Because, at this very moment, hope was all we had left.
29
The Files
Electra
Ispent the entire night by his side, holding his hand, brushing my fingers through his hair, and kissing his knuckles. His presence was giving me unimaginable strength, and deep in my heart, I hoped I was helping him, too. I didn’t want to leave him alone for even a minute, just in case he woke up.
However, eventually, in the middle of the night, exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I fell asleep with my head next to his arm. I opened my eyes only when Andreas walked into the room at eight in the morning with a somber expression on his tired, pale face, bringing me breakfast.
"Eat something and refresh yourself. It is going to be a long day."
