29. The Files #2
"And these two are for you, Electra," Andreas finally said, connecting his eyes with mine, but he didn't give them to me yet. "Their content is surprising, and please remember that we are all here to help."
My brows shot up while I was staring at him. I couldn't imagine what could be in the files, but a heavy feeling settled in my stomach, making me sick.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, and my voice wavered. I was afraid he might have my contract with Bastian there, and he wanted to disclose it to his closest friends and family. However, that move didn't make any sense, considering the current situation.
"The day after the grand opening, Bast called me to write his will in case something happened to him," Andreas explained, slowly sliding the file to me. "If he dies, everything he owns will be yours."
Time around me froze. Andreas’ lips were moving, but I didn't understand the words coming out of his mouth.
He placed his hand on my forearm, but I didn't feel his touch.
He leaned closer and cupped my jaw with his palm, forcing me to look at him, but I was too shocked to see him.
My mind was circling only around one thought.
What the fuck has Bastian done?
I wasn't his wife to inherit everything he worked for, and I absolutely wasn't CEO material.
He had people for this, people who were much better for this, and he also had a family who should be first in line to have his money, not me.
Not when I was the reason he was in this fucking hospital in the first place!
I yanked my chin from Andreas’ hold and stood up so swiftly that the chair flipped and fell to the ground with a bang.
All eyes in the room were on me. My entire body shook violently, and my breathing turned shallow.
For a moment, the whole room darkened, and I almost fainted because of high blood pressure, but I managed to stay standing.
"This is the stupidest thing you have ever said," I hissed through gritted teeth, grabbing Peter's chair for support. "Why would he do that?"
"To take care of you, Electra," Frederick answered, giving me an encouraging smile. "He loves you; you know it." He swept around the table and gently took me by my elbow, turning me to face him. "It's done. You can't do anything about it."
"I can refuse it," I stated stubbornly, holding his gaze.
"Would you really do that?" Rose asked, her tone attacking. I snapped my head in her direction, and she used that moment to throw another question at me. "Would you spit in his face?"
"I'm not—" I started, furious, but she instantly cut me off.
"You what, princess?" she whined, her blue eyes glaring daggers at me.
"You're not disrespecting him? His wishes?
" She moved towards me, but Andreas stood between us.
However, that didn't stop her from sputtering venom at me.
"All he cares about is you, and this is what you're doing? You fucking bitch!"
"Rose!" I heard Fredy's indignant voice, but she was too furious to listen to anyone. She looked ready to slap my face if she got the chance.
"I won't ever understand how he could fall for someone as weak as you!" she hollered, and with one last deadly glare at me, she spun and left.
The heavy silence that settled in the room was uncomfortable. For a very long time, no one said a word. The situation was difficult for everyone. We were all under a lot of pressure, and every future discussion about this could end up even worse, with all of us arguing.
"Rose is right," I whispered, pushing back the tears that wanted to fall from my eyes. "I'm not strong enough for this."
"Too bad he chose you to continue on his path." Derek shrugged, standing and buttoning his perfectly fitted grey suit jacket. "Keep me posted about his condition. I'll take care of the rest."
"Of course." Andreas nodded, still looking at me like I was some wounded puppy.
"I'm going back to him," I muttered when Derek disappeared, but Frederick stopped me with his hand, grabbing my forearm.
"It's not all, Electra," he announced, looking at Andreas, who showed me the last file. I almost started crying. I'd had enough of this for a lifetime.
"I don't want to know," I whispered, my stomach cramping. My heart needed a break; my entire being was exhausted. I just wanted to return to Bastian and sit silently beside him.
"I'll be quick," Andreas stated, opening the file. "If you sign this right now, you'll become Mrs. Thorn."
I blinked a few times, not sure that I heard him correctly.
"Sit, Electra." Peter lifted the chair and held it for me to sit. I was too perplexed to refuse his offer.
"Bastian took this precaution in case someone from the family wanted to attack the will," Andreas continued, ignoring my flabbergasted expression. "None of us would ever do it, but one can never be sure."
He handed me a silver pen, the one he always had with him, and pointed to the dotted line on the bottom left of the paper with his tattooed finger.
"H-how…" I managed to ask. My eyes were scanning the document. Rose and he had already signed as witnesses. It was a marriage certificate.
"It doesn't matter, Electra," Peter answered instead of his brother. "If the worst-case scenario happens, you'll be protected by his name. You won't need to explain or justify anything. You'll be his widow."
"We broke up," I burst out, unable to hold back the tears. The pain was consuming me, and the guilt was eating me alive as well. I couldn't become his wife like this. He hadn’t even asked!
"You had a fight, sweetheart." Andreas crouched in front of me, cupping my face with his hands. "He would never let you go so easily. You know it."
"But..." I sobbed, holding onto him like he was the only person who could stop me from falling apart. This was too much. I needed someone to help guide me through this hell.
"No ‘but’. Papers will be with me, and if you decide to sign them, just tell me, okay?"
I was grateful he didn't push me to place my signature next to Bastian's right now.
It wasn't right. It was against everything I believed in.
I loved him. I was dying every minute while he was in the ICU, but I couldn't do it.
If he wanted me to become his wife, he should've asked properly. He should've told me about this.
Bastian didn't have any right to throw this into my lap and expect me to accept it like a good girl.
Even if it was his last wish, he crossed the line.
He shouldn't have done that to me and given me this kind of responsibility.
It was his hard work, dream, and maybe our future, but I wouldn't live it without him.
"Have you talked with the doctors?" I asked, instead of reacting to Andreas’ statement about the papers, wiping my cheeks with my palms.
"He is stable," Fredy replied, his brown eyes burning holes in my head. "We must wait."
"Okay," I breathed, rising to my feet. My legs were wobbly, yet I wanted nothing more than to be with Bastian. His calming presence was all I needed after living through all of this mess.
Thankfully, none of the brothers stopped me when I strolled out of the conference room. My head felt dizzy, but I quickly placed one foot before another to be with my man as soon as possible. It took me only a minute to be back by his side, holding his hand.
I had so many questions. Doubts were crushing me, and only he could provide answers and reassurance. How could he think I was able to survive in his world alone? How could I face all those people outside as his wife without him standing next to me? Why in hell would he believe such nonsense?
He knew very well how damaged I was, how broken I was, how fucking weak I was, and he did it anyway! Was he out of his mind?
I wanted to scream at him, to yell in his handsome face how mistaken he was about me. This was his kingdom, his perfect life! I couldn't be the queen. I wasn't strong enough to rule.
I hadn't even realized I was so out of myself that I was probably crushing his hand in mine. With all my might, I squeezed his palm like I wanted to punish him for his decision and show him how wrong it was.
However, it didn't have any effect on him. I didn't get any reaction from him. The beeping of the machine didn't change. His blood pressure was constant. Nothing indicated that he knew what kind of chaos he had created.
Gently, I pressed my forehead against his naked shoulder, chewing my bottom lip. My fingers were entwined with his, and eventually, I calmed down. My mind was overflowing with thoughts about what happened, and I had to put some order into them.
If, in my wildest dream, I were considering signing that fucking paper, I couldn't be like this.
I couldn't let my fear take the best out of me.
Somehow, I had to channel my inner warrior and fight.
Otherwise, how could I look into Bastian's eyes when he woke up?
I wasn't ready to tell him I refused to follow his will because I was scared it might blow in my face or what people might think of me.
It was a horrible situation. On the one hand, I feared disappointing Bastian and his entire family. And on the other, I wanted to please him and do as he said.
What the hell had he got me into?