And he stayed.
My thoughts and emotions—fear, shame, relief, love—spin wildly, and I can no longer withstand the storm. The tears I tried so desperately to hold back now flow silently down my cheeks.
He is here. Here with me.
His thumb brushes ever so gently over my bruised cheek, then he kisses my forehead and looks at me with such tenderness.
“You really scared the hell out of me, Goldilocks. Do you know that?” His hands still cradle my face, his gaze locked with mine, and I see the fear he had for me.
Immediately, shame floods through every pore of my body, and I close my eyes in defeat.
“I… I’m sorry. He… I…” But Nicolas cuts me off, sharply.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare apologize for that filthy bastard. None of this, absolutely none of it, is your fault. Nothing! That bastard will pay for what he did to you.” He’s furious, and I can hear the raw, unfiltered rage in his voice, so sharp it could cut through the air.
But it’s not that simple. Not for me. I continue to avoid his gaze, the burning sense of guilt clinging to me like something sticky and suffocating.
“Look at me, Goldilocks. Please.” His fingers gently wrap around my chin, guiding it toward him, leaving me no choice but to meet his eyes, even if it embarrasses me.
Oh God.
There’s a storm in his eyes, a storm not meant for me, yet it still frightens me. His gaze flickers coldly, heavy with a deadly promise. When he sees me flinch, it softens at once.
“Your brother is a monster. A sick man who can’t control his aggression. You did nothing wrong. Nothing. If I ever get my hands on him…”
He doesn’t finish the sentence, but I see exactly what he means. And my heart leaps. It leaps with joy, because no one has ever defended me like this before. No one has ever stood by me on this.
My mother always said it was my own fault for constantly provoking my father. For my brother, it was always me, always my behavior that triggered him, and after a while, you start to believe it.
“He didn’t know any better…” I mumble, trying to ignore the fresh wave of shame threatening to consume me.
Nicolas’s eyes widen as he realizes what I’m saying. He straightens up, running a hand over his face, overwhelmed.
“Fuck… this can’t be real,” he mutters, then looks at me again. “I’m so sorry. I’m so damn sorry that your sick, stupid family did this to you. But it doesn’t excuse what he did. He will pay, Lia. I promise. Now rest, I’ll go get the doctor and keep Lizzy at bay. She’ll pounce on you otherwise, but you need…”
“No. Please let her come in. Please.” I need my best friend. I have to tell her everything myself. Even though I’m sick with fear, knowing she has every right to be angry that I kept this from her, I still need her now.
A smile tugs at his lips at my insistence, and he leans down again, his face close to mine, and my heart nearly bursts.
The butterflies return as he brushes his nose against mine and kisses me so tenderly I have to swallow hard to keep the tears in check.
“Your wish is my command… princess,” he murmurs, rising, and I immediately miss his warmth.
“How long… I mean, since…”
I glance around the room and only now notice how luxurious it is. Probably a special wing for the royal family.
Nicolas’s expression darkens as he replies, “Almost four days.”
I swallow hard, because God, four days seems like an eternity. He sees the questions in my eyes, but gently shakes his head.
“Not now. Rest, and when you feel better, we’ll talk.” His posture is firm, unyielding, and I know I won’t get anything more from him for now. And to be honest, I’m not ready to deal with it yet either. So I simply nod, and he quietly leaves the room.
I must have dozed off for a moment, because when I open my eyes again, my best friend is sitting by my bed, watching me with deep concern. Relief is written all over her face when our eyes meet, and she attempts a crooked smile. She fails miserably.
“There you are. You really scared me with your Sleeping Beauty act, you know.” She is trying to lighten the mood, but I can hear the tremble in her voice.
“Come here,” I whisper, patting the spot next to me. She doesn’t need to be asked twice and climbs onto the bed beside me, carefully, so she doesn’t hurt me.
