𝒯𝒽ℯ ℛ𝒾𝓈ℯ 𝒪𝒻 𝒜 𝒬𝓊ℯℯ𝓃

Chapter |13| Sleeping Beauty's Happily Ever After

A R A B E L L A ' S P.O.V

Everything was prepared, and as dawn broke out over a new spring day, I couldn't contain the excitement bubbling inside of me. This was going to be the most special day in my best friend's life, and I was apart of it.

Two weeks ago

I stood nervously outside the waiting room, watching through the large glass panel, as Hardin sat by his father's bedside, listening tentatively to everything the doctorsaid.

Benjamin looked terrible, sickly pale skin, dark bruises covering most of his body and the parts that were bruised were swollen, a broken rib, shattered femur and more.

Extensive damage was done to his brain and despite everything, I couldn't help but think about how there was a chance he would never recover and therefore, I could never find out the truth about my OST, and about Clarissa.

"Hey," I whispered as Wyatt walked over to me, carrying my hot tea in his hands. "Thanks." I mumbled, greedily gulping down the hot liquid.

Wyatt gestured to the room with his chin. "What's happening?" I sighed, watching as Hardin dropped his head into his hands.

"The doctors are saying that there's a chance he will never wake up."

"Shit, really?" He palms his forehead, running a hand through his cropped hair. "And they can't do anything?"

"It's up to Benjamin to fight, if he doesn't wake up...I'm scared of what it will do to Hardin."

"It'll be hard but they were never close, hell even I was closer to my dad than they were."

I shook my head. "Yeah but it's different now. Hardin feels responsible for this, and with the baby on the way...I'm afraid of what it'll do to him."

"Hardin is strong, a born King, and sure it will be a struggle to get over this hurdle but he always makes it through. It's Hardin for God's sake, when has he ever failed you?"

"Never and that's the problem. He's afraid too."

"And you? How are handling this?" It wasn't the fear of Benjamin dying that was consuming me, it was the anxiety and panic of what it would spiral Hardin into, the fear of never finding out the secrets to my past, losing my husband forever to his ghosts.

"I'm fine," Turning to Wyatt I smiled. "So, what do you want?"

From the slight tilting up of his lips, I knew he was in need of my help. "What makes you think I want anything?" I shot him a look, causing him to throw his hands up. "Fine, you got me. I want your help proposing to Rory."

I squealed, and jump and down, before launching myself at him. "That's amazing, oh I can't believe this."

"Yeah but keep it down okay," He shushed me, and I flushed red, noticing all the doctors staring at me. "So, I need your help but you can't tell anyone and that includes Hardin. I can't risk her finding out before I ask."

"Of course so...what do you need me to do?"

***