CHAPTER 96
Bryan’s POV
With my hands clasped over hers and my eyes closed, I wish I could turn back the hands of the clock and change things from the way they are presently.
I wish I could change how I treated Celine all along and I wish this isn’t happening.
Celine has been unconscious since last night but the doctor said she would be fine. I feel guilty for everything.
I drop her hands and rest my forehead on my two balled fists, my insides in disarray and my bloody clothes unchanged.
My instinct was right. That motherfucker kidnapped her and I have given him what he deserved. Father and the other men should be done clearing the place already. I left them there to rush Celine down to the hospital and it’s almost morning.
I have been unable to sleep a wink ever since I was allowed into her room. The doctor said she was sleeping but I kept checking her breathing to be sure she is alright and alive.
The door creaks open and I turn to see Camilla come in with Jason.
I furrow my brows in confusion. I told her not to bring him in here.
She flashes me an apologetic smile. “He won’t stop crying.”
I shift my gaze to Jason whose face is swollen from crying all day. I don’t want to give him the impression that something bad has happened to his mother which is why I didn’t want him to see her lying on the bed without opening her eyes.
But now that he is here, there is nothing I can do.
I sigh and look away. Then, Camilla approaches.
“Mommy!” He screams and I snap my head towards him with an angry stare.
“She is sleeping”, I whisper but Jason won’t hear me. He continues to shout till I stretch my arms to take him. He comes into my arms and tries to crawl his way into the bed where Celine is lying.
I want to scold him. Before I can open my mouth to tell him to keep shut, someone beats me to it.
“Shut up, Jason!”
The voice makes me go still and slowly, I turn my face to the bed to see Celine’s wide eyes with a light smile on her face.
Jason is as surprised as I am and Camilla gasps before rushing to hug her.
Celine laughs out loud and I finally let Jason go to her. He begins to ask her numerous questions about where she went and how she is feeling but all she is doing is smiling down at him.
She isn’t sparing me a glance and I am beginning to think she is ignoring me on purpose.
I thought she must have forgiven me for what I did to her but I was wrong. I was responsible for her kidnap. Maybe if I hadn’t cursed at her and made her cry, she wouldn’t have thought of going out of the house and Paxton wouldn’t have kidnapped her.
Camilla excuses us without taking Jason with her. I look up to check the time on the wall clock directly above the bed to see that it is almost 5 in the morning.
Didn’t Jason sleep at all? I ask within me just in time to see him dozing off.
Within minutes, silence elapses and he is deep asleep cradled in his mother’s embrace.
Celine is looking over him, the smile is no longer on her face and she isn’t sleeping. She is just quiet and I wonder what is going through her mind.
Debating on how to talk to her or what to even say to her, I sigh and rake my fingers into my hair.
“Celine”, I call and try to touch her hands but she pulls away, not looking at me.
My heart sinks at the reaction. Is she still mad at me? I should be mad too because I warned her not to leave the house without my consent but she did anyway and this has happened.
“I’m sorry”, I find myself apologizing before I know it. She deserves some apology and that is what I am doing. I am sorry for insulting her. I am sorry for making her feel so cheap. I have no absolute idea of what came over me.
Surprisingly, she looks up and our eyes meet. Quickly, I grab her hand and she doesn’t try to wrench her hands away from my grip.
I find myself unable to say anything as we continue to watch each other. Emotions are dancing in her eyes.
I can see it all. The pain. The sorrow. The hurt.
I am to be blamed for all of this. Maybe if I had treated her right, this wouldn’t have happened.
I lean down and kiss the back of her hand. She stiffens and I lean over to kiss her forehead.
“I’m sorry.”
Silence remains.
“You won’t believe whatever I say as a justification for my actions but I would just say I am sorry because I am. I really am”, I tell her, pushing back the nervousness in me.
The silence is becoming awkward now.
I look away eventually.
“Did they hurt you?” I ask her again, staring back at her. Her gaze does not waiver. She is looking at me and I don’t know if it’s because she is still mad at me or because she is pissed with me for what I did to her.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“Stop trying to be who you are not, Bryan”, she mutters weakly. “It doesn’t suit you.”
At that, she looks away again.
“What?!” I exclaim in disbelief. “I am not trying to be anyone. I swear to you, I had no idea what came over me.”
She nods without a response and it is killing me. I want her to voice out and let out all her pent-up anger.
“Celine…I…” I trail off, without any idea of what exactly I want to say to her.
I apologized and showed her that I truly care. I want us to put everything behind us.
“Celine, I’m sorry”, I say again, my hands shaking.
I almost lost my mind when I thought I was going to lose her. And now that she is alive, I am scared I would lose her forever. I have done enough harm but I am ready to change things.
Things will change henceforth if only she will give me the chance to prove myself.
“Is Paxton dead?”
I blink. Why is she asking me that all of a sudden? Is she trying to use that against me so she could call me a murderer?
I shake my head. “No. He lost a leg and he is in police custody already.”
I don’t want to add that Caleb, his brother is dead. They all deserve it. They are nothing but cruel, pathetic humans. They have been harboring hatred for me and dad with the assumption that we are responsible for their father’s death.
They didn’t stop at killing Helena and my baby, they still wanted more.
I didn’t kill anyone related to Paxton’s family even though the feud between the two families has been going on for years even before they lost their father.
“Can you please excuse me now? I would like to get some sleep.”
I know this is her way of dismissing me. She has been asleep for several hours and she doesn’t look at all sleepy to me. She just wants me to go.
I grunt and grit my teeth, my jaws clenching.
She raises a brow at me and I rise slowly to go to the door.
I might excuse her but I won’t leave the hospital until she is granted permission to go home.
I must get her forgiveness no matter what. I have realized all of my mistakes and I am going to make amends. I will get a grip on my emotions and my life and I won’t let my nightmares get in the way of my happiness.
I have all that I have ever wanted. But I never saw it all along. I was too blinded by hurt and agony to realize that the woman in my home was the one I wanted. The only one meant to change me. Meant to wipe my tears. The one meant to break through the walls I have built around myself.
“Kindly inform Camilla to help me pack my things before I am discharged. Jason and I will be going back to Los Angeles first thing tomorrow morning”, she announce when I get to the door.
I turn back abruptly and exclaim in shock. “What?!”