SORRY.

"God, please wake this man up already." I hum as I jerk my head from Damian's shoulder.


I spent the second night yet in here and still, he is in this distressing, deep slumber. Honestly, I am getting furious at him. Why doesn't he want to wake up? Doesn't he know how much it's stinging me to see him like this?

"Wake up already, love, will you? I miss you. This world doesn't seem like a good place for me without you by my side. Please, wake up." I whisper, pecking his lips.

I turn away from him, scouring for some wipes from my purse and wiping off the eyelogs. Before I turn back to him, a call from my lawyer distracts me.


"Hello, attorney," I greet, taking a few strides away from the bed.

"Hello, Ellie! How are you?" He greets her back.


"I am fine, attorney," I respond.

"I just called to let you know that I reviewed the case that you assigned to me, and I think we have several contending grounds."

That makes my heart thump with joy.

"So what does that mean?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves for now. I will present my arguments to the court, and then we will see what happens. But like I said, there is a chance."

"Thanks so much, attorney. I appreciate your help and guidance." I respond.

"Well, thank you for trusting me, Miss Riccaford. It's my honor to work for you." She says.

"Thanks, um, and the media?" I ask.

"It's been taken care of for now. Take your time to prepare. You will address them when you are ready."

"Okay. Thanks, attorney."

"Okay. Bye." I hang up the call.

This is all for the greater good. I hope it works well.

"Wifey?"

Wifey!

Huh? I spin around enthusiastically to the faint sound of Damian. He is awake!? He is...

"Hey!" He now wants to get me upset. I rush to him, dropping my phone on the bed as I stop him from sitting down. "What the heck do you think you are doing?" I ask.

"Shit! This sucks!" He curses.

"Well, it will suck even more if you act this stubborn! Come on! You should lie down," I say, but contrary to my words, I am actually arranging the pillows to support his back as he sits down.

"Hey! Last I heard, you were begging me to wake up. You even said you won't eat until I wake up, and looking at you right now, you are a more stubborn ass than I am."

That's definitely not true. He is more stubborn than I am, but yeah. I only ate some stupid crips and milk yesterday. That was even before lunch, and I haven't tasted anything else.

I sit beside him on the bed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"How did you expect me to eat when you were lying here unconscious? You gave me quite a scare, you know?" I respond.

"I am sorry, love. But you know there is no way I would leave you so soon, right?"

"Yeah? Yet you didn't think twice about taking a bullet for me. You already had one; didn't it occur to you that a second would cripple you? What if something worse happened? You think I would be able to take it?" I lament, and he kisses my hand, clasping it into it.

"But nothing bad happened, love. I am alive, right? I'm sorry if I got you worried."

"Not worried, but horrified, Damian! What if..."

"Hey! Babe? I'm alright. Don't you worry. At least the nightmare is over now. We are free. We can celebrate now, but before that, what's the deal with the attorney? I heard you speaking to him on the phone just now."

Ahem!

"You see, I want to help Nelly in some way."

His face grows wrinkles all of a sudden, but still, he looks cute despite them.

"How?" he asks.

"When I talked to Nelly yesterday before the police took her, she claimed that she wasn't involved in any of the murders. She said that Gracia told her about her crimes after committing them. And after all, Gracia admitted that she was only using her. She isn't even her daughter."

"What? She is not." He asks.

"No. She is her younger sister's daughter. She committed suicide after giving birth, so Gracia saw an opportunity to trap my father by raising the child as her own." I explain.

"Well, that woman is unbelievable. So, what's your plan?"

"I asked the attorney to study her case and see if her crimes could be bailable. Or if she can get a lower sentence, but I hope she won't have to go to jail." I sincerely respond.

"Okay. If things are as you say, then I think she has a chance. Let's hope for the best." Damian says, caressing my hand with his thumb.

"It's the right thing for me to do, right?" I mumble after thinking for a while.

"Of course, love. I know this is not easy for you, but this is what a good person would do. And you are good."

"Thank you for supporting me." I retort, gazing into his eyes.

My hero. He risked his life for me without even thinking twice. I hope Papa is happy. He entrusted my life and my safety to this man, and I have no doubt that I will forever be safe with him.

"Why are you staring?" he asks.

Well, he is starting too, and were it not for his incapacitating wounds, I know I would be enveloped in his arms right now.

"I want to kiss you." I respond.

"Mmh... I haven't brushed my teeth for two days. I leak bad odor." He argues, but I lean on his face, aligning our lips.

"I don't think so, and I don't mind either, hero. I miss this."

I capture his lips, and we gently kiss, slow and deep, pouring all our sentiments into this kiss—our desires and passion all blended together.

"I see my patient is doing great today."

Shit! I mean, damn it! Just when we were getting the edge of it? What bad timing, doctor!

I try to slip out of bed, but Damian holds me still, pinning me to his side.

"Good morning, doctor! Well, I got the best nurse this morning, so I'm better now."

Nurse, huh? I would treat something else, definitely not the wounds.

"I see that. Good morning, Miss Riccaford!" The kind female doctor greets.

"Morning Doc." I greet you back.

"So, Mr. Almeda, any pains? Discomforts? How are you feeling?" The doctor asks.

"I think I am alright. Nothing alarming. Ooh, there is one, actually. Sorry. I'm sick of this bed already. When can I go home?"

Huh? Home? Look at this impatient jerk!

"Well, I think it is too early for that, Mr. Almeda. I think we still need to observe you for another day or two," the doctor says.

"Seriously, I want to be discharged. My wife will look after me. I can get myself a personal nurse to check on me at home if it's necessary," Damian says.

The doctor and I are speechless! He is quite a stubborn man, huh?