Reputation's Bloom

Chapter 114. Legacy

Chapter 114

Three Week Later

Theo and Daphne

Theo stood beside Daphne's hospital bed, arms crossed tightly over his chest like he was holding himself together. His shoulders were tense beneath the fabric of his jacket, and a dull ache pulsed at his temples, the weight of too many sleepless nights pressing down on him.

The steady rhythm of the monitors filled the room, but he barely heard it. All his focus was on Daphne—on the rise and fall of her chest, on the way the light caught in her lashes. She was so still.

Across from him, the doctors were speaking, their voices carefully measured.

"She's shown some signs of improvement," one of them said gently. "Her brain activity has increased slightly."

Theo's gaze flickered to the doctor's face, searching for anything—any thread of hope to hold on to.

"She moved her finger," he said quietly. "Last night. I saw it."

There was a pause. Then the doctor gave a small nod. "It's possible. Though... it could have been a muscle spasm."

Theo didn't respond. His jaw flexed, his eyes trained on Daphne like he could will her to wake up just by standing there. Just by not looking away.

"We'll keep monitoring her closely," the doctor said, his voice softer now.

Theo gave a silent nod, but the storm inside him didn't quiet. His heart ached from the waiting. From not knowing. From the fear of hope—and the fear of losing it.

As the doctor slipped out of the room, Theo walked slowly to Daphne's side, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the hush of the hospital room. The monitors beeped steadily, a rhythmic reminder that she was still here, still fighting.

He reached for her hand—the one that had felt like it moved the night before—and gently wrapped his fingers around hers. Her skin was soft but cool, and his thumb brushed along her knuckles as he sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.

He bent forward, pressing a soft kiss to her fingers, lingering there for a moment as if he could pour everything he felt into that single touch.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "God, Daphne, I love you so much."

His thumb trembled slightly as he stroked her hand.

"I don't know how to do this without you," he murmured. "I don't want to. I need you, okay? I need you to open those beautiful eyes and come back to me."

His voice broke then, a crack of raw honesty slipping through.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. So you better fight, because I've got a whole lifetime waiting for you." He leaned down, resting his forehead gently against the back of her hand. "And I'm not giving that up without a fight."

_______________________

Lily and Gabriel

Lily sat carefully on the edge of Gabriel's hospital bed, her hands resting in her lap as the quiet between them settled like fog. The soft whir of machines hummed in the background, and Gabriel—propped up against a few pillows—was silent, his gaze focused solely on her.

He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing against her chin as he turned her face slightly toward the light. His touch was gentle, but his expression was anything but.

His brows were furrowed, his lips pressed into a hard, thin line as his eyes traced the fading bruises along her jaw and throat. Without a word, he reached up and lifted her hair away from her neck, exposing the ghostly purple marks that had been hidden beneath it.