The Forgotten Princess

Chapter Three

Nikolai sat in the hard plastic chair beside the bed of the unconscious girl as he continued to stare at her.

He hadn’t moved in for a long time while waiting for her to wake up.

His gaze stayed locked on her... the delicate curve of her cheek, her dark lashes fanned over pale skin, and the faint flutter of breath against the oxygen tube. He had to admit, the girl was beautiful.

He didn’t know why he was still here. He could have walked out after the doctors confirmed she was stable and left the follow-ups to someone else to take care of.

But here he was, letting something... something he couldn’t explain... keep him rooted to the spot and make sure she woke up before leaving.

Rafael entered with glee in his eyes, his eagerness completely out of place in the hospital ward.

He had a faint smirk on his face with his hands shoved casually into the pockets of his jeans.

Where Nikolai was all sharp edges, cold, and reserved silence, Rafael carried himself like a man who had never once cared about the world's weight. People still wonder why they were best friends in the first place. They were completely opposite of each other

“Hey, man,” Rafael said. His voice was low but filled with his usual amusement. “Let’s step out for a minute. You won't believe the kind of shit I found on her.”

Nikolai’s gaze lingered on the sleeping woman for much longer before he stood up and without a word, he followed Rafael out into the corridor.

The hallway was even colder than the room. It was also quiet since it was th VIP ward.

Once they were far enough from the door, Nikolai turned, his expression taut with impatience. “What is it?” His voice was low and clipped. “What did you find out about her?”

Rafael chuckled, holding up both hands in mock surrender. “Chill out, man. Seriously, you need to relax. You look like you’re about to interrogate me at gunpoint.”

Nikolai’s eyes narrowed. “Rafael,” he said, each syllable heavy with warning, “spit it out.”

“Alright, alright.” Rafael’s grin widened, but his tone shifted, taking on a hint of seriousness. “Her name is Cassie McCarthy. Ring any bells?”

Nikolai’s expression didn’t change. The name meant nothing... or so it seemed. Why must he remember such a name?

Unbothered, Rafael leaned against the wall, crossing his arms loosely as he continued. “She used to be ‘The Country Princess.’” He gave the title a dramatic flourish, as though announcing royalty. “The renowned screenwriter and author everyone adored. She won awards left and right starting from a young age. Her books and her scripts were fucking nominated almost every year.

The whole country loved her at one point. Then, poof... she vanished out of the public eye without a trace. People started calling her ‘The Forgotten Princess.’”

Nikolai’s brow lifted just slightly, but he said nothing, prompting Rafael to continue.

“She married an asshole,” Rafael added with a shrug. “And that asshole happens to be someone you know very well.”

Nikolai’s eyes sharpened, though his face remained composed. “Who?”

A sly smile crept over Rafael’s face, as though savoring the moment. “Raymond Vanderbilt. Your dear arch-nemesis in the business world.”

That got a reaction. Nikolai’s eyes flickered, a subtle widening that quickly disappeared. He didn’t need to voice the next word... Rafael knew to keep going.

“And,” Rafael said, “our dear Raymond just divorced her today. The reason? He cheated on her with her best friend, Rachael. Classy move, right?

Cassie signed the divorce papers a few hours ago, walked out of that snake’s mansion, and was on the street when—” He tilted his head meaningfully. “Well… you know, your car hit her.”

A muscle worked in Nikolai’s jaw. His mind briefly replayed the moment, the faint thud, the sudden body in the headlights, the sickening jolt of the brakes.

He had cursed under his breath, assuming she’d darted into the road carelessly. Now, hearing the full picture, the incident took on an entirely different weight.

“That man,” Nikolai said, his voice low, almost a growl, “has been going against me for years. I don’t care about his pathetic little schemes. But what his uncle did to my Aunt Camila…” His eyes darkened, the ice in them replaced by something more dangerous. “I’ve wanted to crush that family for a long time. I guess taking advantage of women runs in their blood.”

Rafael nodded, his smile turning grim. “I know. And it gets better... or worse, depending on how you look at it. Cassie’s parents died in a mysterious car accident years ago. Convenient timing for an asshole. Guess who swooped in like a vulture? Raymond. He took control of her inheritance, her family’s company, everything she had. And now, as the final insult, he screws her best friend. What a filthy trash!”

Nikolai’s cold composure cracked, the anger beneath it seeping through. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

“But,” Rafael went on, his voice shifting to something alluring, “this is where it gets interesting. Your parents have been breathing down your neck about settling down, right? Cassie has every reason in the world to hate Raymond. You… have every reason to destroy him.” He straightened, his gaze locking on Nikolai’s. “So marry her. Help her take her revenge while bringing him down. Two birds, one glorious stone.”

Nikolai stared at him, incredulous. “You think I’ve gone crazy, don’t you?” His tone was icy, but there was no outright dismissal.

Rafael shrugged, the picture of casual provocation. “Maybe a little. But think about it, Nik. It could be the perfect plan. She gets justice, you get satisfaction... and Raymond? He loses everything. You can consider helping her as compensation for running her over!”

The hallway seemed to get quieter with Rafael’s suggestions. Even the beeping machines from nearby rooms felt distant.

Nikolai’s gaze shifted toward the door they had just exited, toward the sleeping woman inside.

For the first time since Rafael started talking, something flickered in his eyes, not softness exactly, but something sharper.

Inside the room, Cassie stirred faintly, her fingers twitching against the sheet. She didn’t wake, but the movement was enough to draw Nikolai’s attention back to her.

He walked to the doorway and glanced in, his expression unreadable.

Her face was turned slightly toward the window now, strands of hair falling loosely across her cheek. The bandage at her temple stood out starkly against her skin.

Rafael watched him from behind, smirking faintly. “You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”

Nikolai didn’t answer. His hand rested lightly on the doorframe. His fingers flexed once before he stepped inside again.

*********

A few minutes later, Rafael excused himself to use the restroom.

Nikolai remained by her bedside, not saying anything.

The girl in the hospital looked fragile.

But Rafael’s words replayed in his mind, mingling with the flashes of fury that always accompanied any thought of the Vanderbilt family.

He didn’t believe in fate. But this… this felt like the universe was daring him to act.