Chapter 127 A Heart That Fades
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Seven
Valenticia’s POV
The machines in my grandmother’s room were the first thing I heard when I opened my eyes. I hadn’t even realized I fell asleep in the chair beside her bed. The sound was steady, but slow. Too slow. I sat up fast and grabbed her hand.
“Nona?” I whispered.
She didn’t move. She didn’t open her eyes. She just lay there with her chest rising and falling in a way that made fear crawl up inside me.
I swallowed hard. “I’m here,” I said softly. “I’m right here.”
Dimitri was sitting on the other side of the bed. He hadn’t slept either. His hair was messy, and his eyes looked tired, but he still sat straight, watching her carefully.
He looked at me. “Any change?”
“No,” I whispered. “Nothing.”
I squeezed her hand gently. “Nona… remember when I couldn’t tie my hair right, and you used to sit with me every morning? You said I could do anything if I tried hard enough.”
Her breathing stayed slow. Her eyelids didn’t move. The fear inside me got worse.
I leaned closer. “You told me stories every night. You told me to be brave. Please… please don’t stop fighting now.”
Dimitri looked down at the floor and rubbed his hands together. I could see how hard this was for him too.
After a long moment, her eyelids moved just a little. I froze. “Nona?”
Her lips parted. Her voice came out as a weak whisper. “Val…”
“Yes,” I breathed out. “I’m here.”
Her eyes didn’t fully open, but she looked in my direction. “Live your life… don’t let fear choose for you…”
My throat tightened so hard I couldn’t speak.
Then her chest rose… and fell… in an even slower rhythm.
And then even slower.
And slower.
“Nurse!” Dimitri called, standing so fast his chair hit the wall.
The door burst open, and two nurses and a doctor rushed in. One touched her neck. Another adjusted the machine.
“Her heart rhythm is dropping,” one of the nurses said sharply.
“No—please—” I reached for her, but the doctor stopped me gently.
“Miss Valenticia, please stand back.”
“I can’t— I can’t leave her—”
“You need to give us space,” he said.
Dimitri pulled me back as I started shaking. “Val, come here.”
“No!” My voice cracked. “She needs me!”
The doctor raised his voice. “We need room to work!”
Dimitri wrapped his arms around me and pulled me away from the bed despite my struggling.
I broke. Completely.
I grabbed his shirt and cried into his chest. “She can’t die. She can’t. Please.”
His arms tightened around me. “I know… I know… I’m here.”
“I can’t lose her,” I said, my voice shaking hard. “I can’t.”
“You’re not alone,” he whispered. “You’re not going through this alone.”
I felt myself trembling. My legs almost gave out, but he kept holding me. I clung to him because it was the only thing keeping me together.
The door opened again, and someone walked in. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Val?”
Stefan.
He stepped closer slowly. “I came as soon as I heard. Is she… is she okay?”
I couldn’t even look at him. My voice came out weak and raw. “I can’t do this right now.”
“Val—”
“I said I can’t!” I cried harder, covering my face. “Please just stop.”
Stefan froze. I could feel his hurt even without looking at him.
“I’m only trying to help,” he said softly.
Dimitri stepped in front of me without letting me go. “She doesn’t need pressure from you right now.”
Stefan looked angry and heartbroken at the same time. “I’m not pressuring her.”
“You being here is,” Dimitri said.
“Dimitri—stop,” I whispered, too tired to argue, too tired for anyone to fight.
Stefan took a step back, his jaw tight. “If she needs me… tell her I’m waiting outside.”
I didn’t answer.
He nodded once and walked out.
I leaned into Dimitri again, shaking harder. My heart felt like it was being crushed.
Then another voice came from the hallway.
“Miss Valenticia?”
Lucas.
He walked in calmly, wearing a dark suit, his face controlled as always. “I heard your grandmother’s condition changed. I came to offer assistance.”
Before I could reply, Dimitri moved in front of me again, his tone sharp. “She doesn’t need you. Step back.”
Lucas didn’t even look at Dimitri at first. His eyes stayed on me. “You will need support soon. This situation will become harder.”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and finally looked at him. My voice came out rough. “I don’t need a contract husband, Lucas. I need my grandmother to live.”
Lucas nodded slowly. “I understand.”
“No, you don’t,” I said quietly. “Please leave. I can’t deal with you right now.”
He held my gaze for a moment. There was something strange in his expression—respect mixed with something colder.
“As you wish,” he said. “I’ll return when you’re ready to talk.”
“I’m not ready,” I said.
“I know.” He turned and left without another word.
As he walked down the hallway, he kept his eyes on me until he disappeared around the corner.
I felt exhausted. My legs finally gave up, and I slid down the wall. Dimitri knelt beside me fast.
“Val, breathe. You’re shaking.”
“I’m tired,” I whispered. “I’m tired of everything.”
He brushed hair from my face gently. “You don’t need to be strong right now.”
“I don’t feel strong.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
I looked at him through blurry eyes. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
I didn’t answer. I just leaned my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me again, holding me in a way that made me feel safe even though the world was falling apart around me.
Night passed slowly, and I stayed in the chair beside Nona’s bed while Dimitri brought me food I barely ate. He kept telling me to rest, but my body refused.
Around midnight, the doctor came in quietly. He looked tired and sad.
“Miss Valenticia…”
My heart stopped. “Yes?”
He sighed. “She’s slipping deeper into unconsciousness. Her body is shutting down. I need to be honest… she may not wake up again.”
I felt the air leave my lungs.
Dimitri grabbed my hand fast.
“No…” I whispered. “No. She was talking earlier. She told me to live. She told me…”
The doctor lowered his head. “I’m sorry. We will keep monitoring her. But prepare yourself.”
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t move.
I sat there holding her hand while Dimitri held mine, and everything inside me broke. This was a nightmare that wasn’t stopping. It was getting worse. And I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring.