CHAPTER 81: SOMETHING CHANGED

Braelyn’s POV

"You are cleared to be discharged. The nurse will handle the procedure when you are ready." The doctor chimed with a soft smile

The corner of my lips tilted into a polite smile, but I wasn’t sure if I was delighted about leaving the hospital. The past few days have been more than peaceful. I glanced at the window, noticing the brown falling autumn leaves raining down gently.

It looked beautiful and peaceful. "Thank you." I chimed, still staring at the window.

A long sigh rang from my side. Lucien was busy peeling apples for me by the bed. He has been lurking around my hospital room these past days. It made me wonder if he didn’t have a life of his own.

My eyes twitched, remembering that he had claimed to start taking his life seriously. He hadn’t been to the company for days.

Not that I was complaining, it was nice having company, but I needed some breathing space from the man who keeps on getting on my nerves...in the name of keeping company.

"Concerning her condition, are there any medications to reduce her relapse?" Lucien asked, his eyes carrying a serious look of concern. He sliced the apple and handed it to me.

I accepted and started munching the apple, also curious if there was truly a new medication that could reduce the attacks. Each time it struck it felt like I was going to die

The doctor flipped through his sketchbook searching for something. His voice wavered. "I can’t say for sure but I will prescribe a new prescription while we observe her condition..." His voice trailed before he glanced up and met my eyes

"I suggest we take more tests..." His words faded off in my ears. I glanced back at the window, tired of hearing about how bad my condition might be. I wonder if the reason my mother was tagged barren was because of this same condition

"Braelyn..."

"Braelyn..." Lucien’s voice snapped me out of daze. I glanced back at him and my eyes darted between the doctor and him.

"Huh.." I blurted. His eyes were sharp before they softened, reading into my confusion.

"The doctor asked you a question..." He said, handing me another slice of apple.

"Sorry, I spaced out. What did he say?" I asked the doctor, blinking subtly at him. He, holding his notepad, dropped. He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

" I was asking if you would be willing to stay longer today to run over some tests or have them at a later date...." He asked.

My brows furrowed with confusion written on my face. "Are they not the tests to run earlier? Why are you repeating them?"

He looked taken aback. I could see Lucien’s frown deepen. The doctor cleared his throat to ease the awkward situation.

"Just to be sure if we missed something..." He said, but I could tell something was off. Why did he want to run the same test he had run before?

My face turned stern. "Not to question your competency. If you had missed something vital in the early test, I don’t think you would be of much help..." His face scrunched up then he glanced at Lucien.

I was expecting him to react, but he still looked calm. "I understand your concern," he said, taking a pause before he continued.

"There is a foreign specialist who might be of help to you. I will leave his contact information if you are interested." With that, he left the room. Lucien followed after him. They closed the door, but I could feel their presence linger outside the door.

******

The discharge procedure was finished and in no time we were leaving the hospital. Walking down the hospital steps my eyes caught a familiar car driving off the corner...

I paused for a moment. Could it be?

No

I laughed at my hopeful thinking, why would he be here? Even the thought of facing him again in that house made my stomach twist

I told myself that my feelings for him were completely dead but here I was being wishful. I spent an entire week in the hospital, and he didn’t even show up once.

"Is something wrong?" Lucien asked me after noticing I had spaced out. I shook my head. "No, I am fine."

His brows furrowed, and worry filled his hazel eyes. "Are you sure? You have been spacing out a lot." He said. His hand linked with mine. His palm was warm to touch.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about something." I mentioned. We had gotten to Lucien’s car. The lock beeped before he pulled open the door for me.

He closed it and then ran to the other side. He was driving a black Aston Martin. Lucien was a car fanatic. I haven’t seen him with the same car twice, but then there are just a couple of times I have seen his car.

He truly lived up to his reputation as the spoilt Volkov. Lucien switched on the engine and then tucked in his seat belt.

"What were you thinking about?" He pushed on. I was hesitant to say but my lips still parted anyway.

"Just wondering. Did Raphael truly never visit me even when I was unconscious?" I felt Lucien’s shoulders stiffen. It was subtly almost unnoticeable. He jaw locked

"Why are you thinking about unimportant people?" Lucien hissed. My lips pressed together. That was a good question.

"I was just..." My words were cut off. He leaned in dangerously close our breath mingled and my skin prickled

"Braelyn..." He sighed reluctant to complete his sentence. His fingers brushed against my cheeks giving me subtle sparks. My heart spiked a beat.

He reached above my head to tuck in my seat belt. "Safely first." He said. My heart beat slowed down, cheeks burned at my thoughts.

Just when I thought I could finally take a breath, Lucien’s lips pressed against my forehead. Soft and lingering. My body froze, eyes blinked slowly at him. It was just a peck, but my brain short-circuited before my eyes went wide, and I jerked away from him.

"Why did you do that?" I snapped at him. Lucien smiled. "Now your thoughts will revolve around me for now... No more Raphael for today." He said before the car engine roared and he drove off

A smirk was tugged on his lips with a faint spark. I didn’t know what it was exactly but something changed at that moment ...

I felt some annoying critters move in my tummy.

.

Something that should never have happened.