Chapter 20: Personally
They waited.
It was already 8 p.m., making it over an hour since Daemon had been taken into the operating room.
Arianna was still in her bloody dress and she couldn’t muster the strength to go back to her apartment and change.
Frederick was already gone. He didn’t say a single word to her. Just left like his brother wasn’t in the operating room, fighting for his life.
Her guts told her he must have gone to question the attacker but that could come completely later. His brother was fighting for his life there, literally.
At the same time, Arianna questioned herself why she was still there.
In their world, getting stabbed once or twice, or worst, getting shot was part of their daily activity, something they could never evade since they always involved themselves in dangerous situations every fucking day.
Worst of all, if something terrible happens to Daemon, what is she going to say?
The attacker was clearly coming for her, but he’d thrown himself in her place, taking the stab for her.
Why? She had no idea. Daemon had done several things that confused her, and this time, it left her feeling more than confused.
Her fist clenched hard. Her father had lots of enemies and so did she. But whoever sent that attacker was someone who had beef with her.
She already had an idea of who could be behind the attack earlier.
Arianna rubbed her face in frustration.
Then the door suddenly opened as the doctor walked out with a calm expression.
"Are you his wife?" The doctor asked.
Arianna was about to shake her head before she recalled that she’d also signed those papers.
She was now married to Daemon Langford.
"Yes, I am," she responded.
"You don’t need to worry. He’s completely out of danger. He lost a lot of blood earlier so he’ll need a lot of rest."
Arianna nodded in understanding while the doctor gave a curt nod before excusing himself.
A few nurses followed after him, leaving her tempted to walk in and see him.
But she halted, wondering if she needed to.
But he’d saved her again, so she felt the need to at least show appreciation.
Arianna stepped into the hospital room and found him sleeping.
She closed the door softly behind her as she watched him, taking in his features once again.
Unlike earlier when he’d gone as pale as a white sheet of paper, some color had returned to his face.
She found herself staring at him, admiring his face in fact.
Arianna wasn’t blind. She could clearly see that Daemon was handsome, devilishly handsome, with his thick eyebrows, straight nose, and full lips, and then his sharp jawline that looked as if they’d been specially crafted by the gods.
"Are you done admiring?" She heard him say. But his eyes were still closed.
"How long have you been awake?" She
questioned, a deep frown on her face.
"Since you walked in here," he responded, fluttering his eyes open.
Arianna didn’t forget to take notice of his long lashes that made her jealous to the core.
’What do men need long lashes for?’ She couldn’t help but wonder.
"Why did you do that?" She asked. "And this time, I want you to give me an honest answer."
Daemon stared at her. She looked tired and worn out in her dress that was stained with his own blood.
"Because I love you."
Arianna scoffed as if she’d just heard the lamest joke.
They just met and all of a sudden, he loved her.
Once again, his actions left her confused.
"You don’t love me," she responded.
"I know what I feel towards you and it’s love," he said.
Arianna’s lips thinned.
She didn’t understand this man before her. He spoke in riddles that always left her confused. At this point, she was starting to think if it was a good idea signing that contract.
"Our families—"
"Our family’s feud doesn’t concern us in any way. We weren’t even born when it started so why should I let that stop me from loving you?"
Arianna’s heart skipped a beat so fast that she took a step back.
She didn’t know what Daemon’s were but she was sure that he definitely had one.
He was just trying to lead her off the trail and confuse her, but she wasn’t going to let that happen.
However, the way he spoke made it seem as if they’d met before. But her first time meeting him was at the hospital after she’d woken up.
"You should go clean up and rest," he said, his voice tender and soft that it actually moved her heart.
Her eyes narrowed at him, her lips pausing for a second before she parted them, about to speak when he interrupted her.
"Any questions you have for me, I’ll answer them some other time."
Arianna didn’t say anything. She simply gave him one last look before turning to leave.
A few minutes later, the door opened, revealing Frederick who held a stoic expression on his face.
"Who was it?" Daemon asked, his tone as cold as ice.
"Logan Henderson," Frederick replied, probing himself on the couch nearby.
Daemon balled his fist. Earlier, when he’d seen Arianna was about to be attacked, fear had gripped him so hard he didn’t wait to think of what to do.
The only thing that came to mind was making sure no harm came to her, even if it meant putting himself in harm’s way.
And now, he had to find out that Arianna’s ex-husband had sent someone to kill her. The audacity alone baffled him.
"The idiot didn’t even live long enough for me to hit the record before he died."
"That’s unfortunate," Daemon responded. He would have had his own fun with the attacker as soon as he left the hospital.
Thinking back to it, he regretted not sending Logan to the hospital after he found out what he’d done to Arianna two months ago.
He’d been so worried about her that he’d put everything on pause.
Luckily, Logan struck again and this time, he’s going to take things more personally.
