Page 82 of His Beloved Princess
“It’s okay, Electra,” he whispered soothingly, stroking my back. “You can stop pretending.”
Another wave of sobs came when I heard his words. He knew it was only a facade, an act for people around me to believe I was strong enough to handle everything. But I wasn’t. I needed someone to stand by my side, and he always had my back, even when we had our differences.
“Did they tell you something?” he asked, still holding me. I raised my head to look at him, but he directed the question at his brother. Fredy shook his head no and then shrugged when Andreas started to bomb him like he was accused of first-degree murder. Obviously, he thought it was easy to gain information, yet nurses and doctors were cautious about their statements. No one knew how severe Bastian's condition was and what would happen in the following hours.
“You need some sleep, Electra,” Andreas pointed out when he led me to the couch and studied my face closely. “Go home, and I’ll call you when something changes.”
“I’ll lose my mind there,” I objected, shaking my head to express my disapproval.
“You’re losing your mind here,” he stated, frowning at me, and I had to say he didn’t look better. He often gave the impression of an exhausted and overworked person, but it was even worse this time. We all needed a break.
“At least I am close to him,” I whispered, and he cast me a stern stare but said no more. I curled into a ball, hugging my knees in the corner of the couch while he spread papers and files on the coffee table and began working. He clearly couldn’t waste any time. Fredy tried to persuade him to stop for a minute, but he had two significant cases and another one on hold because the judge was sick. I couldn’t imagine the pressure he must feel with everything that was happening around us.
However, only his presence helped me calm down, and I didn’t know how, but I fell asleep. I woke up to Fredy’s gentle voice telling me to open my eyes.
I followed his words and felt disoriented for a moment but then deciphered his smiling face.
“Bastian woke up,” he said, his grin widening when I kicked the blanket off and quickly stood, ready to run to his room.
“Wait a second,” he stopped me, taking me by my elbow. I bounced on my feet, prompting him to tell me what he had to say. “Doctors confirmed his brain is okay. No damage, nothing.”
I hid my face behind my palms, relief washing over me like a wave, taking away all worries and anxiety.
“There are some things he will need our help with,” Fredrick continued, taking my wrists and moving my hands away from my face. “He will need rehabilitation, exercises, and much more.”
“I don’t care,” I whispered, happiness overtaking every cell in my body. “No matter what he needs, he’ll get it.”
“Okay, there is more of it, but you’re not paying attention,” he sighed, faking annoyance, but his mask cracked when I smiled at him. “Go to him. He can’t wait to see you.”
I stood on my tiptoes, smooching his cheek, and then I ran to the other side of the hall to the room where I spent the most challenging days and nights of my life. But this time, it was a place of joy and love.
Bastian was half-sitting, half-laying on the bed, supported by pillows, and listening to the conversation between Andreas and a doctor in charge of the neurological team. I noticed the tray with an empty plate, a jug filled with water, and a small bowl with green jello. The beeping machines were turned off, and the sun shone through opened curtains.
It was a beautiful day outside, as if the entire world celebrated the great news about him waking up. My heart danced with happiness, and it literally made a backflip when our eyes met, and he acknowledged my presence with a small smile.
I inhaled a deep, shaky breath, ignoring the glances from Andreas and the doctor, and I walked towards the bed. Tears were streaming down my face, my entire body trembled, and all I felt was relief and gratitude. He was awake. He didn't lose his memory, and he wasn't paralyzed or worse. Anything else didn't matter. We would go through it together.
“Hello, baby,” I whispered, sitting on the bed and leaning closer. I cupped his pale, sunken cheeks with my palms, and I placed a loving kiss on his forehead.
“Princess,” he muttered in a raspy, weak voice. His arm reached forward, but he didn't have the strength to lift it to my face. I gently took it and brushed it against my flushed cheek, enjoying the warmth of his touch.
“We’ll give you some privacy,” Andreas muttered somewhere from my left side, but I didn't pay attention to him. My eyes were glued to Bastian’s, savoring our closeness and a familiar sensation of pure love exchanging in only our glances.
“I missed you so much,” I breathed, unable to stop myself from weeping. Freeing sobs were leaving my mouth, and the rope around my chest finally loosened its grip on me.
“I-I’m...here,” he tried to reassure me, but I needed this cleansing cry to unchain my soul from fear and desperation. His presence and calming touch allowed me to let go of all the bad feelings that had been gnawing me since our accident.
“I know, sir.” I kissed the back of his hand, my eyes landing on the golden ring on his finger, and a smile appeared on my face.
“We are married,” I announced cheerfully, showing him the overpriced jewelry, and he frowned, staring blankly at me. My heart skipped a beat, and I gulped, thinking that maybe I said it too soon, but then his face lit up with a realization.
“Golddigger,” he whispered, and my jaw almost hit the floor.
“That's not nice, Sebastian,” I groaned, faking anger, but when he raised an eyebrow at me, I burst into laughter.
Carefully, so I didn't hurt him, I lay next to him and hid my face in his neck, breathing him in. His arm rested around my waist, and he moved his fingers slowly while I pecked his jaw and neck.
“This golddigger is so sucked on your bank account, she's not gonna leave your side,” I muttered, confirming it with a kiss in the corner of his mouth.
