21. Chapter 21 Its Not Anyones Fault.
Chapter 21: It's Not Anyone's Fault.
Killian
It is dark.
Very dark.
I know the bastard missed my vitals, but I can't help wondering if I actually died.
It wouldn't be so bad.
Dying, that is.
Ah… except the hospital will continue being gloomy, and it might get worse because of my death.
Dr. Stuart and Dr. Ramone are there.
They'll be able to liven things up.
Well, I don't know about Dr. Ramone, but Dr. Stuart… no…
She'll talk them to death.
Who's going to watch over the branch hospital I'm building for Nathan?
Well, I've placed his name as a partner, and everything is already complete, just a few rewiring here and there.
He'll be able to think of something. He may be rash, but he is a very intelligent person.
It's still dark.
What else am I forgetting?
I donate to charity.
I offer free medical services to people who can't afford it.
I…
I'm a good person, aren't I?
There's really nothing worth keeping me behind.
Heaven is all that's left for me.
No…
Something is still missing.
Not something… someone.
An annoying someone.
A childish someone.
It's a woman. A beautiful woman. She's very careless but innocently sweet when she wants to.
She's a good kisser.
Hmm? The place is getting warmer and brighter the more I think about her.
She's a good lover. My body tingles in delight, just remembering the things she's capable of.
She's a sore loser and will work hard to beat my high-score records.
She doesn't mind going to an arcade for a first date.
She wants to prove that she's mature enough to handle things on her own.
She'll get you arrested by mistake.
Hmm? That last one makes me chuckle a bit.
She is a hard worker.
She doesn't show it, but she gets lonely easily, so she parties to fill the void.
She's stubborn and yet understanding.
She can't cook Japanese food, but she'll order and pretend she is the one who made it.
She has so many flaws and good points that it's hard trying to keep up with them all.
But she's the woman I've fallen in love with.
I may have gotten injured because of her, but that doesn't mean I'd love her less.
In fact, what kind of man will claim to be in love with a woman and not be able to lay down his life for her sake?
I regret nothing.
But I know this woman would probably be blaming herself for something that wasn't completely her fault.
I can't stay in this darkness for too long. Not when my woman is probably blaming herself for something that isn't completely her fault.
Wake up, Killian.
"I'm sorry, Killian, I'm so sorry," her sobbing voice tears through my consciousness and reaches my depths.
The wetness I can feel on my face isn't sweat.
It looks like the overgrown baby of mine is still crying.
I open my eyes, and I see a strange sight.
Nathan holds a sobbing Madison, and she's not snapping at him, and he's not treating her like… a kid.
Could I be dead after all?
I rub my eyelids a bit and wince from the pain in my side.
"Are you sure I'm not dead?" I ask, startling them.
"Killian!" she yells and attempts to hug me.
"Wait, Madison, he…" Nathan tries to warn her, but it's too late, and she's already on my body.
"Owww!" I wince in pain, and she instantly gets off me.
"I'm so sorry," she apologizes. "It still hurts…"
"Not as much as it did before. So, I believe I'm getting better," I answer.
She lets out a sigh of relief and takes a look at my body. The look of relief on her face easily gets replaced by guilt.
"What is it?" I ask.
"This is all my fault," she says. "If I had been more careful... if I had just not gone out that night."
"If you had not, none of this would have happened. Us together might not have happened as well," I remind her.
"But—"
"There are no 'buts,'" I cut her off. "I didn't die, and that's all that matters. Isn't it better you have me alive than mourning my death?"
"You're right," she says with a sigh.
"Ahem," Nathan clears his throat to get my attention.
"Sweetheart, you came," I tease, and he sighs.
"I'm glad you're doing okay," he says. "You scared me. I was freaking out driving your body here."
"You took me to the hospital?" I raise a brow in disbelief. "Thank you. I guess this means you're not mad at both of us anymore?"
"I'm not," he replies. "You saved my sister. Again and again. I suppose it's normal she falls in love with you after everything you've done for her sake. You even sacrificed yourself for her. If that's not love, then what is?"
"Still…" I start to say as I struggle to sit upright. "I should have taken responsibility and told you everything that happened."
"Well, it's in the past now," he says.
"Oh, speaking of the past, you punching me in the face will not go without being avenged," I remind him. "When I get better, I'll pay you back."
"Now, Killian, don't go digging about the past; remember, forgiving is forgetting," he reminds me.
"Unfortunately, I have a good memory, so there is no way I'm forgetting about paying you back," I grin.
"Looks like I can't make you forget after all," he gives up.
"Thanks for understanding," I say, then my attention turns to my woman. "You're not going to say anything?"
"I'm just glad you two have forgiven each other," she says with a smile. "And I'm glad that you're still alive."
"I'm glad I'm alive too," I tell her.
I'm not lying.
She's become a significant reason to make my life worth living for. And I can't imagine spending any longer without her.
"Nathan," I call to him. "I'm in love with your sister."
"Didn't you think she was childish and immature? So why the change?" he asks.
"Because she changed first," I reply. "I'm in love with the product of that childish, immature girl and a girl who knows how to make a man want to continue living. And that's all there is to it. I want her to be by my side. From now till eternity."
Nathan stares at me very hard and gets up while sighing. "I can't win against you two. You have my blessings to live a happy life together."
. "Thank you," Madison says as she hugs her brother, a sight I still haven't gotten used to seeing.
As the siblings stop their hugs, Nathan turns to me, and I give him a knowing look.
"I'm thirsty," he says as he gets to his feet. "I'll be right back."
As he leaves Madison and me alone, I notice her cheeks turn a light shade of red.
"What's gotten you all bashful?" I ask.
"I mean, he gave us his blessings," she replies. "I was agonizing over what to do if he didn't agree with the idea of us being together."
"But I'm glad he did," I admit. "The next option was to kidnap you and change countries."
"You're kidding… right?" She gives a worried look.
I don't reply and just smirk in response.
"You're a creep," she laughs.
As she calms down, she touches my face, saying, "I didn't know what I'd do if you were to die there."
"I was actually going to survive. He missed my vital organs," I reply. "The look on your face as I slowly lost consciousness was priceless."
"Do you just enjoy seeing me in situations that spell my frustration?" she asks, frowning.
"Exactly," I smirk.
"Whatever," she sighs and smiles at me, saying, "I missed you."
"I missed you too," I say and gesture for her to come closer.
She comes closer, and we kiss.
The darkness disappears, and I'm left with warmth and the sunlight this woman provides with her presence.
In a way, I'm glad that all those bad things happened to her.
Thanks to them, I've got someone who will make the remaining years of my life.
"Will you marry me, Madison?" I ask. "I know I'm not with a ring right now. I can just tell my assistant to buy it. But I want your answer now."
"Of course, I will marry you," she says. "The ring can always come later."
And thus, my happily ever after begins.