Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Edward opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurred and his body heavy with pain. For a moment, he couldn’t quite grasp where he was or what had happened. The last thing he remembered was the gunshot, the searing pain in his chest, and Vivianne’s terrified face as she cried out his name. But now, everything was different. He was lying in a bed, soft sheets beneath him, surrounded by the familiar scent of his own room.

He groaned, the pain in his chest flaring as he tried to move. His hand instinctively went to where he had been shot, but instead of finding blood and torn flesh, his fingers brushed against bandages. He was alive, but how? And more importantly, where was Vivianne?

The memories of that night rushed back in vivid, painful detail—the confrontation, the madman with the gun, the desperate struggle to protect Vivianne. He remembered the moment of impact, the way his breath had been stolen from him, and the darkness that had consumed him. But now, he was here, alone and confused.

Edward forced himself to sit up, wincing as the pain lanced through his body. He looked around the room, heart pounding as he searched for any sign of her. But there was nothing—no trace of Vivianne, no clue as to what had happened after he had lost consciousness. The room was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint ticking of a clock on the mantel.

“Viv…” he murmured, voice hoarse as he tried to call out for her. Panic began to rise in his chest as he struggled to make sense of it all. Had she been taken? Was she safe? The thought of her in danger, alone and afraid, made his blood run cold.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, determined to find her, but the moment he tried to stand, his body betrayed him. Knees buckling, he collapsed back onto the bed, gasping in agony. His head swam, and he realized with a sickening dread that he was far too weak to search for her, much less protect her if she was in danger.

Desperation clawed at him as he lay back against the pillows, trying to think through the haze of pain. Someone must have found him and brought him here, but who? And why wasn’t Vivianne with him? Had they been separated? Had she been captured or—God forbid—worse?

The door creaked open and Edward’s heart leaped in his chest. He turned his head, his breath stopping when she saw her there in the doorway. She looked weary, but there was a soft, relieved smile on her face. Her eyes, red-rimmed and filled with both exhaustion and love, met his, and he felt a flood of emotions he couldn’t quite name.

“Vivianne…” he whispered, reaching out a hand toward her. She hurried to his side, her own hands trembling slightly as she took his hand in hers, her fingers gently brushing over his.

“Oh, Edward,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion as she leaned closer. “You are finally awake. We’ve all been so worried…”

“I’m here,” he said, weak but filled with relief. “You’re here, too. What happened? How did I get here?”

Vivianne took a deep breath, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she began to explain. “After the gunshot… Jonathon appeared and he wrestled with Reginald. He managed to get the gun away from him. The constables arrived just in time to help, and Reginald was arrested and taken away.”

“Jonathon?” Edward’s eyes widened. “He saved the day?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “Well, you both did.”

“Hardly,” he said, pointing at his gunshot wound.

“Heroes always have scars,” she reminded him.

He smiled back at her. “Is he all right?”

“Somewhat battered and bruised, just like you, but yes,” she assured him. “The constables took care of Reginald, and Jonathon stayed by your side with me while you were unconscious.”

He squeezed her hand, his heart swelling with affection. “You stayed with me? All this time?”

Vivianne nodded. “I couldn’t leave you, Edward, not even for a moment. I stayed by your side. I wanted to be the first one you see when you wake up.”

He took a deep breath. “Even through everything that’s happened, through all the pain and fear… there’s something I need to tell you.”

Vivianne squeezed his hand gently, her eyes never leaving his. “What is it?”

Edward’s voice wavered, but the sincerity in his words was firm. “I love you, Vivianne. More than words can say. I’ve loved you for so long, and even when I was at my worst, when I thought I might never see you again, my love for you kept me going. It’s been the one thing that always made sense.”

Tears welled up in Vivianne’s eyes and she blinked them away, her face glowing with emotion. “Edward… I love you, too. Even when I was scared and confused, your love was the only thing that gave me strength.”

Edward’s heart swelled at her words, and he reached up with his free hand, cupping her cheek gently. “I’m so grateful you’re here,” he said. “You’ve been my rock, my guiding light. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Vivianne’s tears finally spilled over, and she leaned into his touch. “I’m here, and I always will be.”

Edward smiled. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you. To show you every day just how much you mean to me.”

She nodded, her own smile bright and full of love. “And I’ll be here beside you, supporting you, loving you, every step of the way.”

Just as they were about to kiss, a knock on the door interrupted them.

“Yes?” She didn’t take her eyes off of him.

“I could return a bit later if I am interrupting something,” Jonathon teased, standing in the doorway.

“Most certainly not.” Vivianne chuckled.

“Indeed.” Edward gestured for his friend to come in. “The hero of the day in the flesh.”

Jonathon let out a laugh. “I wouldn’t call myself the hero.”

“I would,” Edward told him as Jonathon approached the bed and took a seat on the adjacent chair.

Jonathon grinned. “I’m just sorry I didn’t arrive in time to prevent Reginald from shooting you. When you left, he took me off guard and attacked me. He knocked me out and took your gun.”

“What about William?” Edward suddenly remembered.

“He ran away, the coward,” Jonathon said angrily. “It happened during my fight with Reginald. I could see him heading toward the door, and by the time I regained consciousness, he was gone.”

“I doubt we will be seeing him again.” Edward frowned. “While I do not like it when guilty people escape justice, I suppose there is little we can do about it.”

“Take solace in the fact that he will never be able to return home,” Vivianne pointed out. “For many people, that is punishment enough, not being allowed to see your loved ones.”

“I doubt William has any loved ones,” Edward remarked. “But let’s hope that misfortune follows him for the rest of his days… or at least until he makes up for what he has done.”

“His fate is irrelevant,” Jonathon scoffed. “What matters is that we all survived, and that Reginald will get what is coming to him.”

“Yes.” Edward nodded. Then, he looked at Jonathon with deep gratitude. “Thank you, my friend. I don’t know how to express just how much you mean to me, how much you both mean to me.”

Jonathon waved his hand dismissively, though his eyes were soft with unspoken emotion. “Think nothing of it. It is what friends are for. And besides, someone had to step in and be the hero when you couldn’t.”

Edward chuckled weakly. “Well, I must say, I truly didn’t expect you to be the hero of this story. I always thought of you as more of a Sancho Pansa sort of a character.”

Jonathon laughed, shaking his head. “Sancho Pansa? I suppose it could be worse.”

“Yes, you could have been a mere windmill,” Vivianne teased, and as they all laughed, Edward pressed his sides gently in an effort to subdue the pain. It was a price he was willing to pay.

“Why, the windmill is the most important thing to Don Quixote,” Edward replied mischievously. “Not even Dulcinea is as important.”

“If you say so.” Vivianne laughed melodiously, and Edward knew it was a sound he wanted to listen to for the rest of his life.

“Well, as long as I’m able to help out, I am happy with whatever role I get,” Jonathon said.

Vivianne smiled, holding Edward’s hand. “I don’t know how to thank you both. You’ve been incredible through this ordeal, not giving up on me like everyone else.” She sighed, and Edward knew that she was worried about her reputation, about her family.

“Everything will be all right, Viv,” he assured her. “Do you know why?”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.

“Because you will marry me, and I will make you the happiest woman in the world,” he said simply, not letting go of her hand even for a single moment. “And together, we shall remain deaf to whatever other less-important people have to say, because we will have each other.”

She looked at him in a state of surprise and shock, then she smiled. “I thought a gentleman is supposed to go down on his knees when asking a lady to marry him, not order it.”

Edward chuckled. “I never do anything the way it is supposed to be done, my dear. I hope you’ve learned that about me. Besides, I fell to the ground when I got shot for you… doesn’t that count for anything?”

“Of course it does,” she replied playfully, her smile lighting up every single corner of his once-neglected heart. “And I will be happy to marry you and give you the chance to make me the happiest woman in the world.”

Upon those words, she leaned down and gave him a sweet peck on the lips.

“All right, all right,” Jonathon teased. “Do not forget that you are not alone, you two.”

“Don’t worry, old boy,” Edward returned. “We shall tell Aurelia everything and she will fall madly in love with you, if she hasn’t already.”

“I do believe she has,” Vivianne assured him.

“Oh, I… I am very happy to hear that,” Jonathon said a little awkwardly, and all three burst into amused laughter.

Their ordeal was finally over, and they could finally look to the future with hope and love, ready for any challenges that life may throw along their path.