#53 I want my happily ever after

Sebastian survived that surgery, but he was in a very critical condition afterward. The doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. He was hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit for the next three days.
Three days full of agony and desperation because I couldn't stand losing him…
Lily was carefree playing with her auntie and uncle. My parents were thrilled to see her again, while Clara and Austin Leclair couldn't be happier to finally meet her. Nickolas showed them pictures of Lily and me during all these years, so they knew almost everything about their granddaughter's life.
Lily was our bundle of joy. My baby girl was the only reason to make me smile for as long Sebastian was fighting for his life.
Three days passed by very slowly, and I barely left the hospital. Sophie and Nickolas had to drag me back to my parents' house and force me to have a bath and wear clean clothes. I only managed to stop thinking about Sebastian when Lily was around me.
At last, three days later, the doctors informed us that Sebastian was stable enough to leave the ICU. My heart swelled with joy, and happy tears filled my eyes. I could now visit him and talk to him properly, even if he was still asleep. The doctors told me that his brain could register some of the auditory stimuli around him. Well, in other words, he could hear me. That's why I made sure to tell him how much I loved him every single time I visited him.
Walking on the tip of my toes, I silently entered Sebastian's room. The bright sun and the silhouettes of the nearby buildings could be seen from the large window. This wasn't a view one expected to gaze from a hospital room.
Sebastian was lying on the bed motionless. He didn't look that pale like the other times I'd seen him, but his beautiful grey eyes were still closed. His vitals looked normal, and the ventilator machine wasn't attached to him anymore. That meant he was breathing on his own, so he should wake up at any given moment.
I sat on the chair close to his bed and took his right hand in mine. A few stray tears rolled down my cheeks as all these words I've been craving to confess at him rushed into my mind.
"Sebastian, are you awake, my love?" I asked him, lacing our fingers together.
No reply came from him except for his regular breathing.
"I'm so sorry, my love. I never wished for any of this to happen. I pushed my luck too much, and I overestimated my abilities. I thought I could make that crazy woman drop the gun and give us our baby girl back. But I was wrong, my love! And now, I must watch you lying here, fighting for your life…"
Hot tears streamed down my face, but I didn't bother to wipe them.
"All these years, I acted like a spoiled brat, ignoring Nickolas' words. You know, your brother desperately tried to convince me that you've changed. But I didn't believe him. I was afraid to get hurt once again. I was afraid to lose you because I couldn't stand going through the same pain over again. I chose not to listen to my aching soul and submit to my mind's commands."
The words were suffocating me and left my lips without me even realizing it.
"I kept your daughter away from you for three whole years. I hope Lily will forgive me one day because I forced her to grow up without a father. I know you've changed, and I feel so foolish I had to realize it the hard way…"
I leaned forward and pecked the back of his hand. I rested my forehead on top of our laced hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I cannot lose you, Sebastian. I love you so much that it hurts me and makes me the most blissful woman in this world at the same time. Please, wake up, and I won't ever leave you again. Your daughter needs her father. I need the love of my life…" I whispered in between my sobs.
My eyes snapped open since the machine was suddenly beeping. Sebastian's heartbeat had increased, and he was breathing harder. A chill ran down my spine, thinking his condition might have worsened.
"Sebastian? Don't you dare die on me!" I whispered, and I stood up to call for a doctor.
However, I stopped dead on my tracks once I noticed a lopsided grin forming on the billionaire's lips. I frowned and tilted my head to the side.
Could he be awake?
"Sebastian, are you awake?" I questioned, biting my lower lip impatiently.
The billionaire opened one of his eyes and looked at me with a mischievous grin.
"Hello, my love, I'm so happy to see you," he muttered casually.
A gasp left my lips, and I blinked my tears away. My prayers came true. "Oh, thank heavens! You're awake!"
"Evelyn, just breathe. I don't want you to have a heart attack, now…" Sebastian chuckled.
His laugh was like music to my ears.
There were no words to describe how relieved and ecstatic I felt.
"Don't worry about me! Are you in pain? I must call your doctor," I blurted out and turned to leave, but Sebastian's hand stopped.
"The doctor already examined me before you came in. I'm fine, my love. Just stay with me…" he said and gave me a pleading look.
I turned to look at him with a frown. I placed my hands on my hips as his words registered in my mind. "Wait a minute, so you were awake all this time?" I questioned and glared at him.
Sebastian slowly nodded and tried to hide the smirk that threatened to form on his lips.
"But the doctor said you hadn't woken up yet…" I muttered, still a bit perplexed.
"I asked him to do so," the billionaire shrugged.
"You're unbelievable! I was crying desperately for you, and you were enjoying the play!"
Sebastian laughed at my reaction. He literally laughed at me until a frown formed on his forehead. "Don't make me laugh. I'm not healed yet…" he said once he sobered up.
"Oh, I'm definitely going to kill you this time," I muttered under my breath.
"I took a bullet for you. This was the least you can do to thank me."
I rolled my eyes at him and sat back on the chair. Now that I knew he had heard everything, I felt a bit awkward and vulnerable.
"Keep making fun of me, and I'm going back to Greece," I threatened him.
"I clearly heard you a few minutes ago when you swear you won't ever leave me again," he reminded me.
"I told that to your peacefully sleeping self. You're still an asshole when you're awake," I retorted.
"But you love me nevertheless," Sebastian added with a smirk.
"If only I could do otherwise…"
Our eyes locked for a moment and described everything words couldn't tell. I felt safe and protected. I felt at home. At that moment, I knew I wouldn't ever leave Sebastian's side.
"Is Lily okay? Did the police manage to save her?" Sebastian asked, bringing me back to reality.
"Yes, she's fine. The doctors examined her thoroughly. She doesn't have any sign of physical injury, but she was dehydrated. Probably, they gave her a drug to make her sleep during the flight."
Sebastian frowned and clenched his fists; murderous thoughts must have gone through his mind. He wasn't the only one making such thoughts. But we had to let the police deal with these criminals since the other way around didn't work.
"She's safe, Sebastian. Our parents are spoiling her a lot these past few days. She deserves it, though, after everything she's been through," I reassured him.
A small smile spread on his lips, and his heartbeat slowly returned back to normal.
"I told her that her daddy saved her. She can wait to meet you," I muttered while my eyes welled up with tears.
"You talked to her about me?" Sebastian asked, looking puzzled.
"Of course, I did. You're Lily's father, and she was asking about her daddy for a while now. At first, I said you're away working, but now that we're back… I want to try again and make it work this time. I can't return to Greece. I cannot live without you…" I told him breathlessly.
Sebastian's eyes became teary, and he squeezed my hand in his. However, a bright smile appeared on his lips, and then he muttered, "Thank heavens I didn't die…"
I know he was trying to joke, but his words made me feel guilty. A shaky breath left my lips, and I knew I should apologize to him once more. "Sebastian, I'm really sorry Janine shot you. I thought I could break her down emotionally and make her drop the gun and give us Lily back. But she… She fired the gun…"
Sebastian heaved a sigh and laced his fingers with mine. "I might also be equally responsible for what happened. When I realized she was going to shoot, I ran to protect you. Probably that scared her even more, so she shot."
"You silly man! How can you stand between a flying bullet and another person!" I scolded him once his words sank in.
"And what was I supposed to do? Watch you take the bullet! Well, I've got balls for a reason, and I'd rather die than attend your funeral…" Sebastian retorted.
I glared at him without saying anything else because this could go on forever.
"Besides, to be honest, I didn't expect that she would have indeed hit us. I mean, she was obviously holding a gun for the first time in her life, and she managed to aim correctly and injure me. How lucky is this woman?" he added.
"Apparently, not that lucky. Janine's mentally ill, so she might skip jail. But the detectives promised me she won't ever hurt us again," I filled him in.
"Did they find the men who kidnapped Lily back in Greece?"
"Not yet, but they're close. Janine hired some professionals to do it, so the police are trying to track them down."
"We'll be safe from now on, my love. I promise to always protect both you and Lily," Sebastian stated solemnly.
"I know, Sebastian… I know…" I replied, giving him a small smile.
The billionaire stayed quiet for a few moments, probably lost in his thoughts. He wanted to say something, and it looked like he was trying to find the right words to express his feelings.
"Evelyn, that night when I revealed you the truth, and you left…" Sebastian said before I interrupted him.
"It doesn't matter, Sebastian. It's in the past, and I just want to think of our future."
"No, but it does matter to me. Please, give me a chance to explain myself," he pleaded with me.
I just nodded, not quite sure whether I wanted to hear this explanation.
"That night, I realized I care about you more than anyone in this world. I care about you so much that I don't care Olivia died. In fact, I'd go through the same if it was for you to live," Sebastian said sincerely.
His words left me speechless. All this time, I thought it was the other way around. So, why did he say these things to me?
"When I realized what I was capable of sacrificing for you, I got scared. I was a coward, and I tried to push you away once again. I kept repeating the same mistakes since the first day we met. I was afraid to lose someone else who I deeply love. No, I was actually afraid to lose my first love…"
A gasp escaped my lips, and I questioned myself whether he understood what these words truly meant to me.
"I loved Olivia. She still has a special part in my heart. But it can't be compared with the feelings I have for you. My love for you it's suffocating me, Evelyn. It burns me alive and mends my heart at the same time. It's the sweetest torture one could ask for…"
I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. Sebastian's words, the passionate tone of his voice, the disarming sincerity and affection glistening in his grey eyes left me speechless. I've been craving to hear these words for so long.
"I deserved the way you treated me back then. It was the only way to pay for all the misery I caused you. But I'm ready to make a new beginning with you whenever you're willing to forgive me. I never stop loving you. Hell, I think I love you even more than ever before…"
"Oh, Sebastian…" I breathed out and stood up only to sit on his bed this time. Without a second thought, I leaned forward and placed my lips softly on his.
Our lips danced in sync like we used to kiss every single day. Sebastian let me lead, and I happily licked and sucked his lower lip until he gave me access to explore his mouth. Our tongues locked at the ancient dance of love, and our hands restlessly explored each other's bodies. I brushed my hands through his brown strands and ran my fingertips along the stubble on his chin. This felt so damn good…
"We need to stop kissing on hospital beds," Sebastian grumbled when we reluctantly parted.
I nodded sheepishly, biting my lower lip.
"What about Owen?" the billionaire asked, out of the blue.
I tilted my head, trying to understand the train of his thought. "Why are you so obsessed with him?"
"You were with him for three years…" Sebastian replied like this explained everything.
"He's just my friend. Although I recently discovered he has feelings for me. My heart belongs to another man, as you already know, so…" I trailed off, smirking at him.
"That other man must be so damn lucky," Sebastian said with a lopsided grin.
"He sure is," I chuckled.
"So, you haven't been with a man for three years, right?" Sebastian questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"That's right. But that doesn't mean I didn't have any orgasms…"
"Well, I, also, took advantage of my alone time… But neither did I have sex with another woman since you left. In any case, I suppose we have a lot to catch up to…" he said, his grey irises darkening.
"I'm afraid you have to keep it in your pants until you're out of the hospital, Mr. Leclair."
Sebastian rolled his eyes at me and sighed, obviously not enjoying my joke.
Another thought popped in my head, and I turned to look at him.
"Sebastian, how come you have a photo of Lily and me on your phone?" I told him, curiosity lacing my voice.
The billionaire looked guilty and cast his eyes on our intertwined hands. "Nickolas came one night at my loft to apologize and ask me to be his best man. We ended up talking about you, and he showed me some pictures of Lily and you…"
I felt regretful once again for staying away for so long. "It must have been hard for you…"
"No, Evelyn, it wasn't as hard as you may think. I knew you were happy, and that made it easier for me. When Nick told me about all the little things I've missed from Lily's life, I felt like a part of your life," he said truthfully.
"So, you knew about the things I narrated to you the other day?" I questioned, surprise lacing my voice.
"I won't ever get bored of listening about everything I've missed. And I want to spend the rest of my life making up for all the lost time we lived apart," the billionaire replied, boring his grey eyes into my light blue ones.
"I'd like that, too…" I muttered happily.
"Evelyn, will you marry me?" Sebastian questioned me, catching me completely off guard.
Was he really proposing to me while he was lying on a hospital bed?
Did he really mean to ask me such a question at this particular moment? Or was he high from the drugs?
My eyes bored into his grey orbs, searching for his feelings. The love, affection, and passion flickering in his eyes made me smile brightly.
It didn't matter why he proposed. It only mattered he had, at last, ask the question...
"Yes, Sebastian, I will marry you," I replied without a second thought.
The billionaire pulled me close, and we shared another passionate kiss.
"For someone who had already proposed twice, you clearly aren't getting any better at this. Well, one could tell you're even worse, actually…" I teased my ruthless billionaire and leaned back to gaze at his beautiful face.
I heard Sebastian chuckle, and I knew I had at last found my Paradise.
It was finally time to live our happily ever after…

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A.N. Only the epilogue left to be published. It's kinda bittersweet to reach the end of this story. Do you have a favorite character you're gonna miss or a scene you really liked?