Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Kholod
When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was Noelle's bloodshot eyes.
She was leaning over the bedside, her hair disheveled, tear tracks still fresh on her cheeks. When she saw me wake up, she froze for a moment before intense joy flooded her eyes.
"You're awake..." Her voice was hoarse and thick with tears.
"Noelle..." I tried to reach for her, but my arm was tethered to an IV line. My throat felt raw and my voice came out raspy, but I had to confirm what I'd heard before losing consciousness. "Leo... he's my child, isn't he? Not Lorenzo's, right?"
Her body went rigid. She lowered her gaze as fresh tears fell, then gave a barely perceptible nod.
"Yes."
That single word seized my heart like a vice, squeezing until it nearly spasmed.
"Really?" My voice trembled. "You're not lying to me?"
"I'm not lying to you." She lifted her head, tears blurring her vision. "Kholod, Leo is your son."
Heat flooded my eyes.
I had a son.
I really had a son.
"...I have a son."
Tears spilled uncontrollably, sliding down my temples. I didn't bother wiping them away, just gripped her hand tightly.
"But I missed his birth..." I choked out. "Missed all these months... I didn't even know he existed..."
"You deserved that." Her voice cracked, though tears still shimmered in her eyes. "If you hadn't treated me the way you did back then..."
"I know..." I closed my eyes and let the tears flow freely. "I'm sorry... it's all my fault."
She said nothing more, just gently withdrew her hand and clumsily wiped my tears with a tissue.
"Stop crying. You just woke up—you can't get agitated. The doctor said you need complete rest."
"I'm just... so happy." I opened my eyes and caught her hand again. "Noelle, thank you... thank you for giving me a son."
"You shouldn't thank me," she said. "Thank yourself for surviving. If you had died, Leo would never have known who his father was."
"I won't die." I looked directly into her eyes. "For you, for Leo—I'll never die."
She turned away, but I could clearly see her shoulders trembling.
She was crying.
Crying for me.
Over the following days, Noelle barely left my side.
"Lift your arm."
The warm washcloth moved gently across my skin, carefully avoiding the wounds on my back.
"Does it hurt?"
"No."
"You're lying. I saw you wince."
"It really doesn't hurt." I smiled. "With you taking care of me, even pain doesn't matter."
"Smooth talker." She chided softly, though the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
"Ma'am, the boss's lunch is ready." Nick entered with a tray.
"The doctor said you can only have liquids for now." She picked up the porridge bowl and sat down. "I simmered this for two hours. It should be soft enough."
"You made it yourself?"
"Who else would?" She ladled up a spoonful. "Open your mouth."
"I can feed myself..."
"You have an IV in your hand. Don't move—I'll feed you."
"Alright."
She fed me patiently, one spoonful at a time.
"Is it too hot?"
"Perfect."
"Then eat more. You lost a lot of blood and need to rebuild your strength."
"Noelle."
"What?"
"You're so good to me. These past few days have been happier than my entire lifetime."
"Don't say that," she murmured. "Just eat."
But I noticed her ears turning pink.
At night, the pain from my wounds made sleep impossible. Strangely, I'd endured worse injuries before without complaint, but in front of her, I found the discomfort unbearable.
"Noelle, are you asleep?"
"No." She sat up from the cot beside my bed. "Is the pain bothering you again? I'll call the doctor."
"No need," I caught her hand. "Just stay and talk to me."
"About what?"
"Anything... I just want to hear your voice."
She was quiet for a moment before finally settling on the edge of my bed.
"How about I tell you about Leo?"
"Yes."
"When he was born," her voice was soft, "he only weighed five pounds. The doctor said it was because I was too exhausted during pregnancy and didn't get proper nutrition."
My heart clenched.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't interrupt me."
"Sorry."
"When he first came into the world, he cried so loudly. The nurse said he had excellent lung capacity."
"Like me. I was the same as a baby."
"Really?" She glanced at me. "Then that's definitely like you."
"What else does he take after me?"
"Well... his nose and chin resemble yours. But his eyes are like mine—brown."
"I want to see him."
"Of course."
She pulled out her phone and showed me photos one by one. I studied each image intently, wanting to burn every detail into my memory.
"Noelle, I've missed so much of him."
"Yes."
"I'll make up for it," I said earnestly. "I swear I'll be a good father."
She studied me, complex emotions flickering in her eyes.
"You'll have your work cut out for you," she finally said. "Kholod, being a father isn't easy."
"I know." I squeezed her hand. "But for you and Leo, I'm willing to do anything, no matter how difficult."
A month later, I was finally able to use a wheelchair. Noelle pushed me out to the garden for some fresh air. Since my injuries were too severe to return to Philadelphia immediately, we remained at the Washington estate.
The early winter sunlight felt warm against my skin.
"Such beautiful weather." I gazed up at the sky.
"Yeah." She settled on a nearby bench.
"Noelle."
"Yes?"
"I have something I want to tell you."
"What is it?" She turned to face me.
I tilted my head back to meet her gaze. The sunlight cast a soft halo around her.
"Noelle," I took a deep breath, "will you marry me again?"
She went completely still, shock filling her eyes.
"What... did you say?"
"I said, marry me." I gripped her hand with my functional arm. My palm was cold and clammy with nerves, but my hold was steady and firm.
"Kholod, you..."
"I know I have no right to ask this of you. I destroyed our beginning, gave you a wedding filled with terror and humiliation. I forced you at that altar, shamed you in front of everyone."
"Kholod..."
"I hurt you and claimed you in the most despicable way possible, subjecting you to every kind of degradation." I continued. "I imprisoned you, tormented you, branded you as my property. I refused to trust you, doubted you, even locked you away in that basement..."
"Enough," she interrupted. "Stop talking."
"No, I have to say this." I stared directly into her eyes. "Noelle, you need to know how deeply I regret everything. Every single day and night, I'm consumed with regret."
"But what good does regret do?" Tears streamed down her face. "Those wounds don't heal just because you're sorry."
"I know," I said. "That's why I'm not asking for your forgiveness. Noelle, all I'm asking is..."
"Please give me one more chance. Not as the head of the Morozov family, but as Leo's father—as a man who wants to spend the rest of his life loving you and making amends."
Her tears fell faster.
"I want to give you a real wedding," I continued, my voice thick with emotion.
"On Christmas Eve, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
I want to place a ring on your finger in front of everyone and tell them you're my one and only beloved wife.
I want to erase all those nightmares and give you the fresh start you deserve.
Noelle, marry me. Let me spend my lifetime proving that you and our child can depend on me. "
She stared at me as tears continued streaming down her cheeks.
"I'll give you everything you've ever wanted. Wherever you wish to go, I'll take you there. Whatever freedom you desire, I'll provide it. Just please give me one more chance..."
"Enough," she interrupted again, wiping her tears. "Kholod, stop."
"Noelle..."
"I..." She took a shaky breath. "I need time to think about this."
My heart sank slightly. Not a rejection, but not acceptance either.
"Of course." I nodded. "Take all the time you need. Whatever your answer may be," I looked deep into her eyes, "I won't give up."
She didn't respond, just silently turned and pushed the wheelchair back toward the house.
But I noticed her hands trembling on the handles.
Noelle still hadn't given me her answer, but she continued caring for me as devotedly as before—bathing me, feeding me, keeping me company.
"Noelle, I'm missing Leo."
"Should we video call him?"
"Yes."
She pulled out her phone and connected with Darya. I'd assigned Darya to Niaube along with several nannies to care for Leo. Initially, Leo would cry whenever he saw strangers, but the moment he spotted Noelle on video, he would calm down.
Soon, my son's tiny face appeared on the screen.
"Leo!" Noelle called to him.
"Ma...ma..." The little boy broke into a grin. He could already say "mama."
"Do you miss mommy?"
"Ya ya!"
"Good boy, mommy will be home soon..."
Watching this scene filled me with unprecedented contentment.
"Leo," I couldn't help calling out.
The little one turned toward me on the screen.
"This is..." Noelle hesitated. "This is daddy."
My heart lurched.
"Da...da..." Leo tilted his head, seeming to understand but not quite.
"Yes, that's Daddy." My voice caught. "Leo, Daddy will come see you very soon."
"Ya!"
Seeing my son's smile brought tears to my eyes again.
"Kholod," Noelle sighed softly. "Why do you cry so often now?"
"Sorry," I wiped away the tears. "I'm just... so overwhelmed."
"Alright, alright," she said gently. "Stop crying now. Leo, wave bye-bye to daddy."
"Ah ah!" Leo flailed his tiny hands.
"Goodbye, my son." I waved back. "Daddy will be there soon."
After the call ended, I continued staring at the darkened screen, lost in thought.
Three weeks later, the doctor finally cleared me for discharge.
"Noelle, shall we return to Niaube?" I asked from my wheelchair.
"Yes, Leo is still there."
"I can hardly wait to see him."
"Neither can I."
The car finally arrived.
Noelle helped me from the vehicle and pushed the wheelchair toward the small building. The instant the door opened—
"Ma...ma..."
A tiny figure came toddling over unsteadily. He could already walk.
"Leo!" Noelle knelt down and opened her arms wide.
Leo tumbled into her embrace, giggling with delight.
I sat in my wheelchair watching them, my chest filled with warmth.
"Leo," Noelle held him and turned toward me. "Look, this is daddy."
Leo looked at me, tilting his little head as he glanced between me and Noelle.
"Go ahead," Noelle encouraged softly. "That's your daddy."
Leo slowly extended his small hand. I carefully lifted him onto my lap.
His body was soft and warm, carrying the faint scent of milk.
"Leo..." My voice trembled. "Daddy's Leo..."
"Ya!" He patted my cheek.
"Does that hurt?" Noelle asked.
"Not at all," I laughed through my tears. "It doesn't hurt one bit."
Leo stared curiously at my tears and reached out to touch them.
"Da...da..." he called in his sweet, babbling voice.
My heart melted completely.
"Yes, daddy's here." I held him close. "Daddy will always be here."
Another two weeks passed before the doctor said I could abandon the wheelchair.
"But you still can't overexert yourself," the doctor cautioned. "The wounds need more time to fully heal."
"I understand."
The moment I stood up from that wheelchair, I felt reborn.
"Noelle, look," I took a few careful steps. "I can walk."
"Be careful," she steadied me. "Don't fall."
"I won't."
I walked over to Leo's crib and gazed down at my sleeping son.
"Noelle, I want to take you both back to Philadelphia."
"Why? Isn't it nice here?" Resistance colored her tone.
"I know you don't want to go back." I took her hand. "There are too many painful memories there. But Noelle, I want to show you—everything has changed."
"What do you mean?"
"Before I came to find you, I had the entire place renovated," I explained. "All those cold colors you despised are gone. Everything is warm tones now—very cozy and inviting. I also replaced all the clothes in your wardrobe with styles you actually like."
"Kholod, did you plan this from the beginning?"
"No. But I kept hoping that maybe, just maybe, you'd be willing to come back. I wanted everything to be ready if you did."
She remained silent.
"I know it takes courage. But Noelle, that place is our home."
"Let me think about it," she finally said.
"Of course," I nodded. "Take your time."
That evening, Noelle came to my room.
"Kholod, are you asleep?"
"Not yet," I sat up. "What is it?"
"I've made my decision," she sat on the edge of the bed. "About returning to Philadelphia."
"Oh?" I couldn't help tensing.
"I'm willing to go back," she said. "But I have conditions."
"What conditions? Tell me."
"First, I want my own space. I don't want to be monitored or have my freedom restricted."
"Absolutely," I agreed immediately. "You can go anywhere you want."
"Second, I want to continue pursuing my own interests. I refuse to be some idle trophy wife."
"I completely support whatever you want to do."
"Third," she met my eyes. "About the wedding..."
"Yes?"
"I accept," she said. "Kholod, I'm willing to marry you again."
I froze, hardly daring to believe what I'd heard.
"You... what did you say?"
"I said I will marry you," she repeated. "Kholod, I'm willing to give you another chance."
"Noelle!" I started to rise excitedly, but she gently pressed me back down.
"Don't move!" she said. "Your injuries aren't completely healed yet."
"But..."
"Let me finish first." Her tone was measured. "Kholod, I'm willing to remarry you for Leo's sake, but that doesn't mean I've forgiven you. Those wounds and that pain—I still need time to process everything."
She paused before continuing. "We'll... take things slowly. Start from the beginning."
"Yes," I gripped her hand tightly. "Noelle, thank you... thank you for giving me a chance..."
"Don't celebrate too early," she warned. "Kholod, if you ever make the same mistakes again, I'll leave immediately—and this time, you'll never find me."
"I won't," I vowed solemnly. "Noelle, I swear I'll never hurt you again."
She looked at me, uncertainty still lingering in her eyes, but finally—slowly and resolutely—she squeezed my hand in return.
In that moment, I felt like I possessed the entire world.