Chapter 68

Chapter 68


The hospital smelled like clean floors and disinfectant, I think. It's the same scent I've always gotten used to. I walked quietly through the white-tiled hallway, holding the small bag of fruits I had picked up earlier. Dominic offered to send a driver, but I wanted to go alone. It felt personal, something I needed to do without the shadow of our contract hovering.

As I stepped into my father’s ward, he was sitting upright on the bed, staring at the small TV in the corner of the room, though I doubted he was actually watching it.

“Eva,” he said softly when he noticed me, a tired smile crossing his face.

I smiled back, trying to shake off the tightness in my chest. “I brought you some fruit. I know you hate the hospital food. Even if it's fancy, it's still hospital food. So homemade food once in a while is good."

“You remembered,” he said, as I placed the bag on the table beside him. His voice cracked a little.

I sat beside the bed and peeled a banana for him, placing it in his hand. He ate slowly, eyes flickering to me once or twice, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the right words.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, keeping my tone light. “Doctor said you’re healing faster than expected.”

“I’ll be out of here before your wedding,” he mumbled.

At the mention of the wedding, a strange silence grew between us. I could see the way he looked at me now—curious, doubtful, and maybe… afraid.

“About the wedding…” he finally said, putting the half-eaten banana down. “Are you sure this is what you want, Eva?”

I blinked. I expected this, somehow. He wasn’t stupid. He knew the world I was stepping into wasn’t built for people like us. “Why do you ask that?” I said quietly.

“I’m your father,” he replied. “I know you. And I know Dominic isn’t the kind of man who marries for love. Even though you're his mate, I'm worried.His name alone costs more than everything I’ve ever earned.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. He was right—but not in the way he imagined.

“He seems decent,” I said, shrugging. “And besides, it’s not like I had many choices, did I?”

His face tightened. “Eva, don’t talk like that. You always had choices. I put you in a bad place, and I’ll live with that shame, but this—this isn’t the solution.”

“I’m not doing it just for you,” I lied gently. “I’m doing it because I’m ready. I can handle this.”

He looked at me then, really looked. “He knows about your past? The nights you cried yourself to sleep in that DVD store? The times we had nothing to eat?”

I reached out and placed my hand over his. “He knows enough.”

There was a long pause.

“You’re strong,” he whispered. “Stronger than your old man ever was.”

I smiled, feeling a knot loosen in my chest. “I wanted to talk to you about the wedding. You have a part in it too, you know.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” I leaned back, crossing my arms playfully, “we’re finalizing the seating arrangements, and I thought maybe you’d want to give me some names. Your friends, some of mum’s old colleagues maybe. People you think would be proud to see your daughter walk down the aisle.”

He chuckled. “Friends? Eva, the people I know barely have enough to pay their rent.”

“It’s not about money, Dad. It’s about being surrounded by people who love you. This wedding—it’s big, fancy, yes—but I want it to still feel like ours, you know?”

His lips quivered slightly, and I could see how much he was holding in. I didn’t want to break down in front of him, but I could feel the emotion tugging at me too.

“I’ll think about it,” he said finally. “But I don’t want to embarrass you in front of those rich wolves.”

“Don’t you dare say that,” I said, more forceful than I meant. “You’re my father. No one will look down on you. If they do, they’ll answer to me.”

He laughed again, shaking his head. “I forget sometimes you’ve got your mother’s fire.”

“She would’ve been proud, right?”

“Very proud,” he said, his voice shaking.

The room went silent again, but it was a warm kind of silence this time.

After a while, I helped him sit straighter and checked the small notebook I’d brought with me. “So, we’ve got options for flowers, menu, and music. Any ideas?”

He looked surprised. “You want my opinion?”

“Of course. You’ll be walking me down the aisle, right? So, you get to help plan a bit.”

He hesitated, then smiled. “Lilies. Your mum loved lilies.”

“Lilies it is,” I said, writing it down.

For the next half hour, we talked about decorations, old wedding traditions, and he even shared a memory of when he and mum danced in the rain because they couldn’t afford a honeymoon. I laughed so hard I nearly dropped my pen.

It felt like a piece of something I’d lost was being returned to me.

Eventually, I stood and gathered my things. “I’ll bring Dominic next time. Maybe we can all go over the guest list together.”

He nodded slowly. “Be careful, Eva. Even the kindest wolves can still bite.”

“I’ll remember,” I said softly.

As I stepped out into the hallway and left the hospital behind, the afternoon sun hit my face. I blinked up at it, squinting and trying to collect myself before heading back.

Dominic had sent a message earlier, asking if I wanted to check in on the decorators. I replied with a yes, telling him to pick me up in thirty.

He arrived right on time, as usual. His black car was polished so clean I could see my reflection in the window.

“You good?” he asked as I slipped into the passenger seat.

“Yeah,” I replied. “Saw my dad. He’s doing better.”