SHATTERED

ROSABELLA'S POV

"I am fine, mom. I really am."

I spoke with a sour throat while trying to reason with my mother. She was mostly understanding but sometimes she became very stubborn to deal with.

I had come down with a cold that winter and my temperature had a spike out of nowhere. Tonight was supposed to be about lying in bed and watching movies I didn't really care about.

Not about being driven to a hospital.

The hospital Hale works in.

"Bella, it's been a long night for all of us. I just want to get you checked so that I can have a peaceful sleep tonight. Let's just get you all checked up honey, and then we'll leave, okay?"

I huffed and fell back to the car seat. There was no arguing with her.

I had absolutely no issues going to another hospital. Any hospital that didn't have Hale working there.

I knew him. And I knew damn well that he was going to blow our cover.

I don't even know why my mum was freaking out about this. It was just a fever after all.

A sigh left my mouth as I looked outside. It was almost two in the morning. My dad was driving silently, and I noticed that he hadn't spoken a single word since we left the house.

Was he okay?

Was he mad?

My brother was still sleeping at home, unaware that he was all alone. My mum wanted to grab him too, but I couldn't have him at the hospital. He could easily detect something was wrong. And if Hale does decide to accidentally blow our cover, he would be the first decipher everything that was going on.

Victor was very useful when I needed help proving that someone was lying but when it was me that was at fault, I had to keep him the farthest from me.

We reached the hospital in no time. I prayed to Daeg that Hale was off duty right now.

But deep down, I knew that he didn't need to be on his shift to actually be at the hospital. He spent half his days working over time and it wouldn't be a surprise finding him there.

Still, I hoped he wasn't there.

Not just for the sake of my parents finding out, but also for him. I had tried convincing him to take some time off his job for himself.

He either spent all his time at the hospital with his patients or with me.

The lack of rest was evident under his eyes.

No, scratch that. It was evident on his entire face.

He was selfless. But I was selfish for him.

I took in a deep breath and walked into the hospital. For some reason it was a busy night.

There were family members waiting while the patients were being moved from one room to the other.

Hale would be here.

There was no chance he would even stay at home at a night like this.

My mum made her way to the reception, while I stood next to my dad.

"Papa, are you mad?"

His stern face didn't change as he looked down at me.

I almost teared up when he continued to look at me with his dark brown eyes.

"What made you think that?"

I shrugged my shoulders and looked away.

"Maybe because you haven't uttered a single word since we left."

He shook his head and I let out a breath that I was well aware I was holding.

"No, Bella. I couldn't be mad at you. You know that. I just don't understand why you were so reluctant to come here. You know how your ma is. She won't rest until she gets her way."

I chuckled as my eyes immediately looked over at my mum.

I could hear her arguing with the clearly fed up receptionist.

"I don't know, papa. I was down with a cold. Nothing more. I don't think it was necessary coming here. Plus, I really didn't feel like ruining both of your night. You guys rarely get a peaceful night home together, and I didn't want to be a burden."

His hand left his side and slowly rested on my head.

"You are the best thing that's happened to your ma and I, mi Bella. Don't you ever think that you would be a burden to us."

I smiled while trying not to wince from the sting that came because my nails dug deep in to the skin of palms.

I was scared. My mum had finally fought her way into a slot for me to get examined.

I prayed that I got anyone else as my doctor.

Anyone but the boy I loved.

But when did Daeg ever listen to me?

Or when did he choose to actually grant me my wishes even when he listened to them?

Never.

As I was lied impatiently on the stretcher that would have been really comfortable if it wasn't for the fear eating me alive, I tried to take in deep breaths.

"Good Evening. I am Dr. Hale Underwood, and I will be your appointed healer today, Ms. uhh, Agapov!?"

I froze when I saw his face.

For the first time in days, his face was cleanly shaven. But that didn't keep me from noticing the bags under his eyes.

My mind raced with the thoughts I didn't even want to think of.

What if he blew our cover?

What if he couldn't keep it in him?

"Good evening Dr. Underwood. I am the patient's mother."

My mom sprung from her chair and went to shake his hand.

Hale, couldn't break the trance we both were in. He extended his hand, but his eyes remained on me.

"It says here that you have come down with a cold and high fever. Let's see what that's all about."

His words were confident. Healer like.

But his voice wavered like a child's.

Someone might think that after seeing these may sick patients, he would be alright with seeing me like this, but no.

He clearly wasn't.

His face was paler than the snow while his hands shook as he brought the stethoscope down.

His cold hand brushed against my warm one.

I slightly shivered from his touch like I always did.

For a second, I almost forgot the extreme discomfort I was in from the fever.

I forgot how my worried mother, and my comparatively laid back father were in the same room as my boyfriend and me.

I forgot how his stethoscope gently rested on my chest while his carefully listened to the way my heart beat.

For him.

For a second it was just him and I.

Him and I against the world that wanted to do nothing but set us apart.

"You are okay, Rosabella."

I tried to smile, but for some reason I couldn't lift my lips.

"You will be okay, My Queen."

This wasn't him.

This wasn't Hale.

I tried to open my eyes, but they felt like they were glued shut. Why couldn't I open my eyes?

"This kingdom needs you."

Who was this?

Who was talking to me?

After minutes of trying, I finally managed to blink my eyes open.

It almost felt like I came up gasping for some air.

The first thing that I felt was the sharp pain in my abdomen.

My muscles feel as though they have been flash-burned with acid from the inside - just sufficient to make them move like the living cells have been replaced by aging rubber bands, thick and twisted.

The ache is a dull, as if some lazy torturer is standing right behind me, only applying enough pressure to be an annoyance. It sits there, just to the right side of the abdomen. I could imagine it would be like this lying on a large glass marble; perhaps at first it would be pleasant yet soon it would be just like this pain of mine.

I groan slightly, and swallow a scream that I just wanted to let out.

"Your Majesty! You are awake!" Edward exclaimed loudly.

I winced from his volume and he apologized immediately.

He went outside the room to call for a healer as I continued to lie on my bed.

The radiating pain strikes in a way that shatters my brain - or at least that's what if feels like. I lie so still, breathing shallow while trying to not close my eyes again.

Because I was scared that if I did, I wouldn't open them again.

I brought my hand up to touch my head and gasped in surprise when I felt how wet my cheeks were.

Was that blood?

I brought my hand down and saw that there was not a single red stain.

Was I crying?

It couldn't be. I hadn't cried in years. It was almost as if I had lost my ability to cry.

My mind wandered back to that flashback I had.

It was almost funny.

How I had everyone I loved worrying about me because of a little fever, and now that I felt like I was dying, I was as alone as a single drop of water that fell from my eyes right now.

My parents were dead because I killed them and the person I loved hated me with all his guts.

If he could have me dead without any consequences he would.

I was sure he would.

I was used to being alone. But some days, I felt like a little child that was just abandoned in a playground.

The doors opened as Edward stepped in with a healer.

I tried to sit back on the bed but stopped immediately as the pain came back with even more ferocity.

"Good Morning Your Majesty! I am Alexander, and I had been treating you since the past three days."

Three days!?

Fuck that was long.

I nodded while maintaining a straight face.

"After examining your wound, we found out that you had been stabbed multiple times during the attack. Due to the spike in your adrenaline, you must have not felt the pain."

Not once.

Not twice.

But multiple times. I took in a deep breath as I waited for him to continue.

"We were only keeping you on light relaxing potions as we wanted you to gain consciousness first. Now that you have, we can reduce your pain quite significantly."

Finally. Something worth listening too.

"Alright. Thank you for that. Is there anything else?"

The healer hesitated before speaking again.

"If you don't mind then I would like to discuss this with you when we're alone."

My breath hitched as I nodded once again.

"Edward."

He bowed and exited the room leaving us alone.

"Your Majesty, when we were examining the depth of the wound, we found out that it had caused extreme internal damage. Especially near your abdomen. I am so sorry to be the one to say this to you, but this injury has significantly lowered your chances to mother a child. To mother an heir to this kingdom."