Married to the crippled billionaire

Chapter 7 _ A kiss

Rhoda's POV

FOUR DAYS LATER

Lucian hadn't opened his eyes. Fear was beginning to creep in, wrapping itself tightly around my chest.

The doctor said he was alive but I've been here night and day and haven't noticed any slight movement from him.

Were they sure about what they said?

I began to wonder.

The steady beeping of the monitor beside him was the only sign of life, the only reminder that he was still here with me.

I sat by his side, staring at him. His wavy black hair was still perfect, even with his low cut.

The patterns in his hair were faint but they were still there.

Our sons were going to have lovely black hair and the thought brought a small smile to my tired face.

That is if we even get the chance to make babies.

I sighed deeply, my gaze lingering on his pale face. My contract husband the man I barely knew yet had come to care for because I was his wife was lying here motionless

If anything was keeping me sane, it was the fact that he was alive. At least for now.

The sound of the door flying down made me jump, and my heart raced as Clara stormed in like she owned the place.

“Is he up yet?” She asked her tone sharp and uncaring

I immediately frowned. “You're going to disturb him,” I snapped, fixing her with a glare.

She ignored me completely, her eyes roaming over Lucian's still form. Then she smirked chewing her gown obnoxiously like she hadn't just bathed in a hospital room

“Who?” She asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “The vegetable?”

Her words hit me like a slap and my blood boiled. I felt the stars threaten to fall, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

“He is not a vegetable,” I said firmly, glaring daggers at my stepsister.

Clara just shrugged dismissing my anger like it didn't matter. She plopped a food package onto the table beside me

“Eat this and stop worrying about your husband.” Her tone was so nonchalant, so cold that it ended another wave of anger surging through me.

“I don't need anything from you,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice low but firm.

She laughed, a mocking sound that only fueled my rage. “You think I'd waste my time bringing you something? Please,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Dad asked me to bring this. He said he doesn't want you losing weight before Lucian finally decides to open his eyes”

Her words stung not because they were true but because they still tried to make sure this marriage went through.

Lucian and I already knew the truth, and Dad was scared that he would want to cancel the marriage, but Mr Kenneth told him not to worry about Lucian.

I, on the other hand, was still angry at my family, and I decided to be with the stranger I called my husband.

The pain of betrayal from my family still felt fresh in my heart, and I wanted to stay as far away from them as possible.

I clenched my fist my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my emotions in check.

Clara's gaze shifted back to Lucian, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “I really pity you, Rhoda. Imagine being stuck with a man like that for the rest of your life,’

I couldn't take it anymore.

My emotions surged.

Fear, anger, and sadness all crashed together inside me.

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I glared at her, the weight of the last four days' lesson down on my shoulder.

“Get out,” I said, my voice trembling with barely contained fury.

Clara just smirked, her expression smug as if she'd won some unspoken battle.

Without another word, she turned and left her laughter echoing in the corridor

As soon as the doors closed behind her, I let out a shaky breath, my shoulder slumping.

I turned back to Lucian, my heart aching as I looked at him.

If Lucian woke up, what would happen to me? What would happen to us? Would this marriage still continue?

If it doesn't continue, will I be able to go back to my family? The same family who didn't think twice before setting me up with a stranger and betraying me

The same family who doesn't care about me but just themselves?

I 'm not sure about Lucian waking up, but there's one thing I'm sure of, and that is never ever going back to the people who hurt.

I'm never going back to Dad.

I'm never going back to my life as Mr Thomas daughter

I'm never going back to try and please Mom so she can like me.

I'm never going back to my family.

I would rather stay with Lucian and see how all this goes.

What if he ends up wanting to end the contract after waking up? What if he wants a divorce or doesn't want me in his life

What would I do then?

I'd just have to make him like me so I'd just stay with him as a wife.

I sighed deeply once more, exhaustion weight heavily on my shoulders as I stared at the motionless man lying in the bed

The stranger who was somehow my husband.

For the first time, I allowed myself to really look at him. My gaze lingered on his face noticing features that had escaped my attention before

He was undeniably handsome.

His lashes were long, dark, and perfectly still, framing his closed eyes like a delicate work of art.

His nose, straight and defined, seemed to call to me, urging me to reach out and trace its sharp edges with my fingers.

How did I not notice this before?

I realized then that I'd let the wheelchair cloud my perception of him.

Seeing him confined to it had made me focus on his limitations rather than the man himself.

It had dulled my instincts to truly see him.

But now, as he lay still I could see so much more.

My gaze wandered to his lips and my heart gave a sudden unexpected flutter.

They were pale and dry but still somehow soft looking with a natural pink hue that made them seem so inviting.

I swallowed hard the memory of our first kiss flashing in my mind.

That moment had been quick, stolen, and driven by circumstances rather than emotions.

But now…now I want to feel it again.

My pulse quickened at the thought mix of curiosity and nervousness swirling inside me.

It wouldn't be so terrible would it?

To kiss him again?

To feel the warmth of his lips once more?

My heart raced justifying the urge. He wasn't a husband after all.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I went forward, closing the space between us.

My heart hammered in my chest as I tilted my head and let my lips softly brush against his.

They were warmer than I expected even after days of being unconscious.

I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, letting the kiss linger longer than I had intended.

His lips were inviting and I found myself wanting to stay there, lost in the feeling.

But just as I started to pull back, a shiver ran down my spine. My eyes fluttered open, and I froze.

Piercing blue eyes stared back at me, sharp and intense.

I asked, jerking backward so fast I nearly knocked over the chair behind me. My heart thudded in panic as I tried to process what had just happened.

He was awake

Those beautiful, commanding eyes were wide open, staring directly at me with an expression I could understand.

I pressed a trembling hand to my lips, my face burning with embarrassment.

“Lucian…” I whispered my voice barely audible.