The billionaire's bodyguard (MxM)

part 9

The sterile scent of the hospital room lingered in the air as Ethan lay on the crisp white sheets, his body still weak from the ordeal of food poisoning. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind swirling with a jumble of conflicting emotions.

It had been years since he'd last seen his parents concerned - his father's disapproving glare, his mother's disappointed sighs - and even longer since he'd spoken to his stepbrother , Alex of they have even said anything normal to each other. Their relationship had always been strained, marred by jealousy and resentment, fueled by the bitter rivalry that had simmered beneath the surface for as long as Ethan could remember.

And yet, here they were, standing at the foot of his hospital bed, their faces etched with concern and regret. His mother's eyes brimmed with tears as she reached out to touch his hand, her touch tentative and fragile, as if afraid he might shatter beneath her fingertips.

"Ethan, darling, we're so sorry," she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion. "We should have been here for you, but...but we didn't how much we have hurt you ."

Ethan's heart clenched at the sound of her voice, the memories of their fractured relationship flooding back with painful clarity. He wanted to push her away, to lash out in anger and resentment, but he couldn't find the strength - not with his body still weak and his mind clouded by the fog of illness.

"It's okay, Mom," he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just...glad you're here now."

His father stood silently beside her, his expression unreadable as he watched Ethan with a mixture of pride and regret. "We should have been better parents to you, Ethan," he admitted gruffly, his voice thick with emotion. "But we were too wrapped up in our own lives, too blind to see the pain we were causing you."

Ethan nodded, his throat tight with unspoken emotion. He wanted to tell them how much their absence had hurt him, how their neglect had left him feeling abandoned and alone, but the words stuck in his throat, suffocated by the weight of years of pent-up resentment.

And then, just as the tension in the room threatened to overwhelm them all, the door swung open and Davis stepped inside, a reassuring smile on his face.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said gently, his eyes flickering with concern as he took in the scene before him. "But I thought you might want some company."

Ethan's parents exchanged a wary glance, their expressions guarded as they regarded Davis with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. But before they could voice their objections, Ashley stepped forward, her presence a welcome distraction from the awkward tension that hung in the air.

"Hi, Ethan ta-da...," she said brightly, her smile warm and genuine as she approached his bedside. "I heard you were under the weather, so I thought I'd come by and check up on you."

Ethan couldn't help but smile at the sight of her, his heart swelling with gratitude for her unwavering support. "Thanks, Ashley," he said softly, his voice tinged with genuine appreciation. "It means a lot."

And as they settled into an easy conversation, the tension in the room slowly began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and companionship that eased the burden of Ethan's troubled heart. For the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe - just maybe - there was hope for reconciliation, for healing, for a future where the wounds of the past could finally be laid to rest.

But as the hours passed and the shadows lengthened, Ethan's sense of unease grew, a nagging voice in the back of his mind whispering of trouble on the horizon. And when Davis finally spoke up, his voice tinged with an awkward hesitance, Ethan's fears were confirmed.

"I told your parents and Alex about what happened and told them to visit," Davis admitted, his gaze flickering with guilt as he met Ethan's eyes. "I thought...I thought it might be good for you to see them."

Ethan's heart sank at the revelation, his stomach churning with a mixture of anger and betrayal. How could Davis have done this to him? How could he have exposed him to the pain and disappointment of his fractured family, knowing full well the wounds it would reopen?

But before he could voice his objections, his parents stepped forward, their faces filled with remorse and regret.

"We just want a chance to make things right, Ethan," his mother pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. "Please, give us a chance to prove that we can be better, that we can be the family you deserve."

Ethan's heart wavered at her words, torn between the desire for reconciliation and the fear of opening old wounds. But as he looked around the room at the faces of those who cared for him - Davis, Ashley, even his estranged family - he knew that he couldn't let his past dictate his future.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded slowly, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Okay," he said softly. "Let them in."

And as his parents and stepbrother stepped forward to embrace him, Ethan couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope flicker to life in his heart. Perhaps, against all odds, there was still a chance for healing, for forgiveness, for a future where the wounds of the past could finally be laid to rest.