Chapter 20
The sensation was surreal, a mix of pain and detachment. My body felt like it was being pried open and worked on for what seemed like endless hours, even as I drifted in and out of unconsciousness. In my subconscious mind, I couldn’t stop thinking of Rosalyn. Her face lingered like a beacon in the dark, pulling me through the haze. It felt
mysterious and unexplainable how I still felt connected to her, even in this state.
When my eyes finally fluttered open, the sterile scent of antiseptic and faintly sweet overtones of disinfectant hit my nose. I was in
a hospital room, the walls painted in muted
tones that did little to cheer the soul. The distant hum of monitors beeped rhythmically beside me, grounding me in reality. As I turned my head slightly, I felt a warmth on my hand. Rosalyn sat beside me, her fingers delicately entwined with mine, her head resting on the edge of the bed.
“You‘ re awake?” Her voice was a mixture of relief and concern as her gaze met mine.
“Goodness, you don‘ t ever look a bit less beautiful, do you?” I teased, my voice raspy but filled with affection.
She smiled weakly but didn’t let go of my hand. “I was so worried, Niklaus. You scared me.”
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a hospital room, the walls painted in muted tones that did little to cheer the soul. The distant hum of monitors beeped rhythmically beside me, grounding me in reality. As I turned my head slightly, I felt a warmth on my hand. Rosalyn sat beside me, her fingers delicately entwined with mine, her head resting on the edge of the bed.
“You‘ re awake?” Her voice was a mixture of relief and concern as her gaze met mine.
“Goodness, you don’t ever look a bit less beautiful, do you?” I teased, my voice raspy but filled with affection.
She smiled weakly but didn’t let go of my hand. “I was so worried, Niklaus. You scared me.”
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“I’m sorry,” I murmured.
Her expression shifted, and her brows furrowed. “Sorry? You took two bullets for me! Are you insane?”
“I’d die for you,” I said simply, my eyes locked onto hers.
“Don’t say that,” she scolded, her voice trembling. “Don’t ever say that again.”
I squeezed her hand gently. “Rosalyn, I need to tell you something… about Melanie. I need to apologize for everything. For the hurt, the betrayal–I should never have treated you like that.”
She looked at me for a long moment before sighing. “It’s fine. I already forgave you.”
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“Really?” I chuckled softly, wincing as pain shot through my chest. “If I knew risking my life for you was going to get me your
forgiveness, I would‘ ve done it long before you left for Paris.”
She scolded me with a half–smile. “Stop saying things like that. You‘ re impossible.”
Our eyes locked, her breathtaking emerald gaze pulling me in, making the rest of the world fade away. “Let’s get back together,” I finally said, my voice firm and resolute.
She hesitated but nodded, her smile softening. “First, get well.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I want you to accept me back now. I’m sorry I never
treated you right, but I promise to do better.”
Chapter 20
Her eyes searched mine, uncertain. “And Melanie?”
“She’s not part of my life anymore,” I said firmly. “She‘ s in a psychiatric hospital. now.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion. “Why?”
I sighed. “She‘ s mentally unstable. Obsessed. She started seeing things that weren’t there, accusing everyone around her of things that didn’t happen. The doctors said it was a severe mental breakdown after I exposed her bad deeds.‘
Rosalyn nodded slowly. “Alright.”
“So?” I arched a brow, instinctively
reaching for my pocket before realizing I was in a hospital gown. I frowned, and she tapped
Chapter 20
my hand, a playful smile on her lips.
“Looking for this?” She held up the ring, the same one she’d left at my house long ago. I’d kept it safe all this time, praying for another chance to slip it onto her finger. “I found it in your jacket.”
I smiled, relief and hope swelling in my chest. I took it from her. “Rosalyn, I’ve held onto this, waiting for the day I could ask you again. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes widened, glistening with unshed tears. “Niklaus…”
“Please,” I whispered. “I’ve never stopped loving you.”
She bit her lip, nodding as she extended her hand. “Yes.”
Chapter 20
With trembling fingers, I slid the ring onto her finger. Despite the pain in my body, I managed to sit up. Before she could stop me, I cupped her face and captured her lips with mine. The kiss was soft and desperate, filled with everything I’d been holding back. It felt like life itself, her warmth reigniting something in me that I thought was lost.
A sound broke us apart, and my eyes darted to the door. Abby stood there, phone in hand, a wide grin on her face.
“Aww, you two look so cute,” she cooed, snapping another picture.
I chuckled, glancing back at Rosalyn, who looked equally amused and embarrassed.
“Now it’s me and you,” I said softly.
ons on OR
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“Forever.”
She laughed, her fingers caressing my face.
“Yes, Niklaus McDonald. Forever.”
I pulled her in for another kiss, her laughter dissolving into the sweetness of the moment as the world outside ceased to exist.
