Chapter 116: Chapter 116

“You must ensure you take all your drugs and eat well. A nurse will be stationed for you since you requested home service, and she’ll dress your bandage every three days. Is there anything else you need, Mr Daniel?” The doctor asked for the umpteenth time that morning, and Damien shook his head before replying.

“No, not really. As long as I have Madison here with me, I can assure you that all your instructions will be adhered to. I’ll take the drugs, and she will care for me very well. Thank you so much.”

As he finished, he heard a chuckle bubble up from Madison’s lips, and she squeezed his still-bandaged chest gently.

“Ouch… That hurts.” He jokingly said, but she just continued to laugh and waved him off.

He wanted to look by his side and see the beautiful smile radiating on her face, but he couldn’t. He was still talking to the doctor, and he didn’t want to be distracted. He didn’t want to also miss out on any vital information.

Finally, after almost a week at the hospital, he was getting discharged.

With Alvarez by his right-hand side supporting him, and Madison at his left, holding his bags and other materials, Damien was more than ready to go home.

Now they were just by the exit of the hospital building, with his family and the Connors also waiting outside for them.

Once the doctor finished talking to him, he would be on his way, and honestly, he couldn’t wait to go home already.

Home, here in London.

Unbeknownst to Madison, or even his mother, he had chosen to stay here in London for the time being. He needed to heal, and he also needed to bond with Madison so much.

Even though they’d reconciled, things were still a little bit awkward between them, and he knew she was still coming to terms with seeing him every day and having him back in her life.

But it was good to know that everything was okay and she was with him. Fuck! It was better than okay. It was fantastic.

He could remember that fateful day when Katherine had shot him. As he had closed his eyes, he’d had two thoughts at the back of his mind.

One, what if he died and never got to reconcile with Madison?

Two, what if he survived, and still she refused to accept him?

The latter was worse, and before he’d closed his eyes, he’d prayed and wished earnestly for death.

He couldn’t bear to be alive in this world and not in her arms, even after everything he’d gone through just trying to bring them together.

It would be pure hell and an unlikely punishment for all the times he’d made her suffer. He…

Suddenly Damien felt a tap on his left shoulder, and turning around; he came face to face with Madison, who then said, “What were you thinking about? The doctor just asked you a question.”

Her voice was so soft and pillowy that, for a moment, he just wanted to get lost in them. She was staring at him blankly, eyes wide, and even then, she was still the most stunning woman he’d ever seen.

How could he tell her that he’d just been thinking about her? He’d been thinking about them and what might have happened if she’d refused him one last time.

He would have lost it. He would have…

“Ermmm… sorry, I just zoned out.” Damien mumbled, clearing his throat as he started to face the doctor yet again, but not before letting his eyes roam over the rest of Madison’s body yet again.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw her smile softly, and he reciprocated the smile back at her.

The doctor cleared his throat, pulling Damien’s attention away from Madison and snapping back into reality; he looked towards the doctor and said genuinely, “Ah! Uhm… I’m sorry, sir. What did you ask me?”

“I was wondering if you had any objections or bad experiences during your stay here. I know you filled out our survey paper, but I want to know more and….”

“My experience here was the best.” Damien interjected firmly, with a warm smile and nodding his head; he added, “The nurses were prompt, and I enjoyed my time here even though I was sick. I might come to do a family health insurance plan here too.”

“That’s so good to hear, sir.” The doctor said when Damien was done speaking. “But you stay in New York. You can probably do the plan there. We have branches there and….”

“No!” Damien cut in prudently, “I am doing that here. I plan on staying in London for a long, long time and….”

“Huh?” Alvarez and Madison asked at the same time, the surprise in their tone evident, and this made the mischievous grin on Damien’s face widen all the more.

“Thank you, Doctor. I think that’s all right?” Damien asked quite; frankly, his hands outstretched for a shake, and the doctor accepted all too sharply as he responded, “That will be all, Mr Daniel. I wish you a speedy recovery.”

“Thank you so much.“ Damien gave an appreciative nod and began to walk out of the exit door.

He could feel the questioning gazes of Madison and Alvarez at his back, but he didn’t even say a thing or try to feed their suspicions.

They could think whatever they liked. It was allowed.

As the trio exited the building, Damien, for one, could see the welcome entourage waiting for him outside.

His mother, sister, Madison’s parents and brothers, and Gina.

They all had colorful placards in their hands, balloons waving in the air, and confetti splashing about.

It was like they were welcoming a child or a newly delivered mother and her baby, and Damien started to feel embarrassed suddenly.

“What’s the meaning of this, mother?“ He asked with sparkling eyes as the elderly lady pulled him in for a hug, but she didn’t reply, just embracing him tightly.

“Easy mother, my….”

“I know, son. I’ll try my best not to hug you so tight. Oh, how I’ve missed you.” She mumbled, sniffing as she finished, and Damien’s chest tightened.

Disentangling from her embrace as they conversed a little more, Damien hugged his younger sister, pecking her on the cheeks, and when he was done, he went to meet Madison, who was also talking to her family.

“Hello, Gina…”

“Damien, I’m so happy you’re finally out and about. Recovery looks good on you.” The young, vibrant lady finished with a smile and nodding appreciatively; Damien then proceeded to hug Mrs Connor.

“My son…” She began, lost for words, and as they embraced, Damien could feel the wetness of her tears soaking his shirt.

“Mother, it’s okay. I’m fine….” He said over and over, but she didn’t stop crying, hugging him still until finally, she stopped.

“I’m just so glad you’re alive and well. Now I can have peace, and Madison can also have some. You have no idea what she went through when you were….” Mrs Connor trailed off, her voice breaking sympathetically, and the corner of Damien’s eyes squeezed painfully.

His mother had told him beforehand about Madison being by his side every day, praying, crying and even refusing to eat until he woke up.

As his eyes wandered to where she was standing with her brothers and talking happily, Damien couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotions once again.

This woman… she’d done so much for him; he had no idea how to thank her.

Again, he knew he didn’t deserve her.

He didn’t deserve the love she had to give. He didn’t deserve her at all. But their love was forbidden, and they were meant to be even till the end.

A smile crossing his lips, he gave Mrs Connor a goodbye in greeting, and he started to walk towards Madison and her brothers.

He had to talk to them too, and he could use that opportunity to be the woman he loved.

His chest hurting gently, his grin ever broadening, he quickened his steps all the more.

He couldn’t wait to be done with all these greetings and fanfare.

He wanted to go home. He wanted to be alone with Madison Connor.

…….

Nestled in Damien’s arms, her eyes staring blankly at the tinted car windows, Madison sighed as the car drove speedily through the tarred street road.

The ride back home was already looking smooth and peaceful.

As she briefly closed her eyes, the memories of the past few days rushed past her, and as the vehicle continued to zoom along, Madison felt like shedding tears.

The movement made her feel like she would throw up and cry simultaneously.

Not sad tears, but joyful tears, probably. Tears of hope and surprise too.

So many years, she’d waited for him. No, she’d moved on from him, or so she tried to herself, but with Damien by her side now and the sacrifice he’d made just for her, there was nowhere else she’d even want to be.

Was it the years that had passed between them and the tragedies they’d faced? The humiliations, the tragic events, and the nights at the hospital where she kept praying for him to wake up and talk to her one more time.

Despite all the hurdles, finally, she got to be by his side.

She hadn’t realized how hard it would be if he’d died and given into his coma until now.

Until now, that she was nestled in his arms, being with him, and getting to do this every day… It was just so surreal, and the subtle reminder that she might have missed all these had he given up the ghost came crashing down on her.

She had no idea how…

“What’s going on in your head, little miss?” Damien asked, and she felt his lips on her forehead as he kissed her gently.

A blush rising on her cheeks, she answered shyly, “Just thinking… That’s all….”

“Do you wanna talk about it, love?” He questioned yet again, this time tenderly and with concern.

More tears threatened to fall down her cheeks as she remembered their first real conversation that day in the hospital.

When they’d reconciled, and he’d made her swear that she wasn’t going anywhere anymore.

Instead of crying now, a hearty pained chuckle escaped her lips, and she said, “I’m thinking of the house. Where are you taking me to? Us too? You’ve barely said a thing, and Alvarez and mother said they both have no idea.”

“It’s a surprise, I promise you, and we’re already there, surprisingly.”

“What?!” Madison exclaimed as she scrambled up from the car seat, staring out the window and true to what Damien had just said, they were already home.

“Home…” She muttered to herself as she whined down the car glasses, and a gasp escaped her lips when she got a sneak peek of the magnificent mansion they were driving in.

The car drove speedily, and still looking outside, Madison sharply opened the car door the second the vehicle stopped and stepped out.

“Oh my goodness!” She exclaimed, her eyes widening as she stared around the magnificent mansion.

Her mouth hung open in astonishment, and she took steps towards the entrance while Damien walked behind her.

She could see his mother and sister racing to the open mansion’s entrance, and a chuckle escaped her lips.

Damien had gotten a home for them here in London. Something he’d sworn against.

She, of all people, knew the prejudice he held against this city, and she’d been expecting the driver to take them to one of his numerous hotels. He’d stay there, and she’d stay with him until he decided to leave for New York.

Then, they would talk about their future and…

“Do you like it?”

“Like? I fucking love this, Damien. Did you buy it, or is this some rental and…”

She didn’t get to finish her sentence at all because Damien interjected, his arms wrapping her waist from behind, and leaning closer towards her, he whispered in her ears, “Do you remember what I said at the hospital?”

“Huh? Wait, what?” She blurted out, instantly remembering the insurance stuff and her eyes widened.

“No, you must be joking and….”

“I’m not, sweetie. I plan on building a home for us here.”

“But there’s….”

“We have a lot of time together, Madison, and we’ll sort through them, alright. I’m not going anywhere, Maddie; I want you to know that.” He finished curtly, kissing her bare shoulders, and she shivered.

“But Damien, I…” She protested, but he was already leaving her and walking into the mansion.

“I guess mom is calling us. Don’t you want to see this breathtaking beauty?” He asked with a wink as he turned away from her, and Madison could only stare at his retreating back, her jaw still open.

She had a home now. A home with Damien. Oh damn!