Ch-44

•~•Third Person POV

The air in Nathaniel’s hospital room was thick with tension, a silence he had no intention of breaking.

His gaze stayed fixed on the window while Melissa perched on the edge of his bed, her hands moving with forced calm as she unpacked food containers from the large basket she had brought.

The soft cling of plastic lids and the crinkle of foil was too loud in the silence

She didn’t look at him.

Just kept her hands moving, like staying busy might smother the unease clawing at her chest.

“I brought your favorites—roasted chicken, creamy pasta, even those little lemon tarts you used to sneak from the fridge when you thought I wouldn’t notice.”

Melissa placed the last container on the side table, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Nathaniel didn’t even look in her direction. His gaze remained locked on the window, his expression unreadable.

She exhaled a slow, almost inaudible sigh. “It’s been over a week since you woke up, and you’ve barely spoken a word to me.”

Nathaniel finally turned, his jaw clenched. "What do you expect me to say to you after you told me she took her own life?"

He locked eyes with her, his fists tightening at his sides. "You know she wouldn't have done that if you hadn't made her think I rejected her by offering her money to get rid of the pregnancy and disappear."

Melissa’s heart sank, the words sticking in her throat. “Sweetheart, five years has passed and you're brooding over her… don’t tell me you’re still not over that girl.”

His expression hardened, sharp and glassy with barely contained emotion. “Still not over her?” he repeated, his voice rising.

“I’ve been in a coma for five fucking years, Mom,” Nathaniel snapped, his voice raw. 

“While the woman I loved…the woman I nearly died trying to reach—has been dead? And you’re asking if I’m still not over her?”

“I’m sorry,” Melissa murmured, her voice small. “That was... insensitive of me.”

“I don’t want your apology.” He cut her off, shaking his head. “You and Aziel—you’re the reason she and I were torn apart. If it weren’t for the two of you, we’d be married by now.”

He exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling as he fought to steady the emotion rattling through him.

Melissa swallowed hard. Regret twisted low in her stomach. If only she had done a proper background check on Irene Lancaster before pushing her off that cliff.

If only she had handled it differently. Her son wouldn’t have spent five years trapped in sleep. And now that he was awake… he was too broken for her to fix.

“I know there’s nothing I can say to make this right,” she said softly, her voice heavy with regret. “I wish I could bring Irene back, but I can’t. She’s gone, sweetheart. You need to find a way to keep living.”

Nathaniel didn’t answer. He just stared at her, unblinking—and for a moment, she thought he might cry. But then he blinked, slowly, and let out a quiet, tired breath.

“Please leave,” he said. The words weren’t cruel, just tired. “I need some time alone.”

Melissa hesitated, then nodded. She rose, smoothing her skirt with trembling hands.

"At least eat something," she said softly. "So you can regain your strength and recover fully.”

He didn’t answer.

She was halfway to the door when his voice cut through the silence.

“Isn’t it strange?” he said. “Your son hasn’t come to see me. Is he feeling guilty for causing the accident? Is that why he’s stayed away, even though it’s been over a week since I woke up?”

Melissa froze.

The words pressed against her tongue, heavy with the weight of the truth she had been hiding.

Slowly, she turned back to him, forcing a small, practiced smile.

“I didn’t tell him,” she said.

Nathaniel’s brows pulled together. “What?”

“I haven’t told Aziel that you’re awake yet.”

His frown deepened, confusion flickering across his face. “Why?”

Melissa’s fingers twitched at her sides.

How could she possibly explain the reason why?

How could she tell him that for the past five years, she had forced his identical twin to take his place—live his life?

That to save the family business, she had even gone as far as making Aziel marry a woman... in his name?

So instead, she said, carefully choosing her words, “A lot has happened while you were in a coma… I can’t explain everything now, but I will. Just give me some time.”

Time—that’s all she needed. Once Nathaniel fully recovered, she would tell him everything.

Then he would get back what was rightfully his—his name, his title…even the company she had handed to Aziel in desperation. 

All of it would be his again. It was only a matter of time.

But until then, she had to keep his awakening a secret from Aziel.

If he found out too soon, especially before Nathaniel made a full recovery, he might feel threatened and rebel, which would cause everything she had worked so hard to build over the past five years to fall apart.

Nathaniel didn’t respond. He just stared at her, silent and unreadable, something dark and distant flickering behind his eyes.

—————

Melissa slid into the back seat of the car, shutting the door with a soft thud. Her phone was already at her ear, ringing.

The driver pulled out of the hospital parking lot just as the line connected.

“Dominic,” she said immediately, “What’s the update? It’s been over a week. You still haven’t found Davian?”

“I apologize, ma’am,” came Dominic’s voice—low, tense. “He’s been hard to track. Last report said he boarded a flight back to Switzerland.”

Melissa’s jaw tightened.

Switzerland?

Why would Davian go back there? Had whoever took him scared him that badly—enough to flee without even contacting her?

She shook her head slowly, voice sharpening. “Wherever he is—Switzerland or the moon…I want him found. You have till the end of the week and I want no excuses.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The line went dead. Melissa leaned back, catching her reflection in the window. Pale. Tired.

She exhaled, long and a little loud, then shut her eyes, just for a moment—to rest. It had been a long, stressful week.