Chapter 168

Chapter 168

Seraphine's POV

"You're not dreaming."

Octavius shot to his feet. The chair scraped roughly against the floor emitting a harsh sound.

My eardrums ached. Just like the pain in my hand, it was reminding me that I seemed to have fully woken up—that my senses had returned.

"Wait here. I'll get the doctor immediately."

Octavius tucked my hand under the blanket and rushed out.

Soon, a whole medical team arrived—at least a dozen people, all crowding around me.

They began examining me. Some pried open my eyelids. Others pulled out stethoscopes to check my heartbeat.

I hadn't eaten anything. My body felt so weak that I couldn't even move an inch when I tried. I could only lie there and let them examine me.

Finally, one of the most senior doctors, it seemed smiled and nodded.

"Ms. Whitaker has truly woken up now. Mr. Capulet, you don't need to worry anymore. After these three months, you've finally made it through."

'Three months?'

I was shocked. What do they mean three months? Just had a few scary dreams, so how did three months passed after a clearly one night sleep and dreams.

One of the nurse must have noticed my confused and expression and came over to clear things up for me, her eyes reddened. "For the past three months, Mr. Capulet has been watching over you every single day. He handed all the Capulet Group's affairs to his subordinates and stayed in this hospital room, waiting for you to wake up. And now you finally have."

I nodded, wanting to thank Octavius.

But I'd just woken up and was too exhausted. Before I could speak, darkness swallowed me again.

This time, I finally slept peacefully.

When I woke again, it wasn't Octavius in the room—it was Brielle.

She was arranging fruit at the table. Hearing a sound, she turned around.

Seeing I was awake, Brielle immediately rushed over happily and grabbed my hand. "Seraphine, you're awake!"

I nodded. With her support, I sat up. I'd never felt my body so light and unburdened before.

"Where's Octavius?"

"He went to buy you food. I heard you woke up, so I brought some fruit to see you. Seraphine, you're finally awake..." Brielle couldn't help but cry. "Do you know how much weight Octavius lost? For three whole months, he hasn't eaten or slept properly. Everyone told him to go home, saying you were a vegetable and might never wake up. But he refused. He just waited, day after day."

Hearing Brielle say this, I was nothing short of stunned.

Octavius had never been so direct before—never laid all his effort, all his heart, so openly before me like this.

I had no doubt that Octavius loved me just like he had in my past life—loved me enough to die for me, loved me enough to neglect his own health.

Brielle shook my hand. "Isn't it touching? Don't you want to marry him right away?"

I smiled but didn't answer her question. "How have you been lately?" My voice croaky from lack of use

Brielle wiped the tears from her eyes. "After I married into the Boleyn family, my husband's been really good to me. He hasn't looked down on me because of my past. I've been working hard to learn how to manage the company and building a career with him. It's been fulfilling. Ever since I made up with you, I feel like I've matured a lot."

Brielle handed me a cup of water, and continued,. "Now the person I'm most worried about is you. Now that you're awake, hurry up and marry Octavius."

I froze.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

Octavius appeared at the door, carrying a food container.

Seeing I was awake, he smiled gently and walked over quickly, pressing his hand to my forehead. "No fever. The doctor said your immune system would be weak when you first woke up—you might develop a high fever. I made you some nutritious food."

"You made it yourself?" I looked at him in surprise.

Octavius nodded. "I was going to have a restaurant do it, but I was afraid they wouldn't make it healthy enough, so I cooked it myself. It might not taste great, but I guarantee it's nutritious and clean. Just make do with it for now. I'll learn more cooking from a nutritionist."

Brielle winked at me, smiling brightly—as if telling me to see how good Octavius was to me, how I'd be letting down all this suffering if I didn't get together with him right away.

I just smiled back at Brielle. "You should go. Let me talk to Octavius alone."

Brielle obediently stood and left.

Once she'd closed the hospital room door, Octavius sat down and pulled a small box from his pocket. He opened it and held it out to me.

Inside was a ring.

I recognized it all too well—the same ring he'd proposed to me with before.

"I've kept this ring all this time. I knew you'd wake up eventually. The first thing I wanted to do was propose to you again."

Octavius looked at me earnestly. "Seraphine, will you marry me? I love you."

I looked at the ring, then at Octavius's sincere, devoted gaze. Suddenly, I felt dazed.

He'd kept watch by my bedside for three months without giving up on me.

Almost every day, I'd been able to hear Octavius calling my name.

Just like Brielle said—now that I was awake, I should marry him immediately.

But for some reason, I suddenly felt I shouldn't do that.

This was too sudden.

I took the ring but didn't put it on. Instead, I closed it in my palm and smiled at Octavius. "I can't agree to marry you right now."

Octavius's smile froze. "Why not?"

He smiled, but I could see his smile was bitter.

"Is it because of your father? As long as you don't want him in prison, I can have someone release him immediately."

I shook my head. "No. My father really did do wrong. He has to pay the price for his actions and atone for them. Don't worry—I have no intention of asking you to release my father."

"Then why?" Octavius looked confused, staring at me. "Do you think I don't love you enough? Or did I do something wrong?"

"No. That's not it. It's because I'm tired." I looked at Octavius's stunned expression and sighed gently. "I feel like I've never lived freely. Before, I tried so hard to be Amara's good daughter to make her happy. Later, after they betrayed me, I worked hard at the company for my father's sake. Then all those things happened, and I almost died. I've never once stopped and actually enjoyed life."

Octavius pressed his lips together and said nothing. The silence stretched on.

I took the initiative to hold his hand and smiled softly. "After I recover, I want to go out and see the world. Travel around. Not have to worry about whether someone will hurt me tomorrow or what dangerous things might happen. I want to experience what freedom feels like."

Octavius lowered his head, looking at my hand holding his. He didn't speak.

Since he didn't say anything, I just waited quietly.

After a long time, Octavius finally let out a soft sigh. "How long will you be gone?"

I shook my head. "I don't know."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't know."

"When will you come back?"

"That, I really don't know."

I was telling the truth. Right now, I just wanted to leave. I wanted to go out and see the world.

As for plans? I hadn't made any.