Never Fall For The Billionaire

Three Diamond Roses

Chapter 13: Three Diamond Roses

An annoying beeping woke me up. 

My hazy eyelids gradually made its way to blinking and I blinked. Once. Twice. A third time. 

Until I realized I wasn't even in my safe and cozy room anymore.

Because first, my walls are not a soothing, hospital white nor are they so simple.

Second, why would there be a light blue drape half covering the windows to the right of me? Last time I remembered, I didn't even have drapes, much less a flowery blue one, though it added a nice photographic effect.

Third, I definitely don't remember how I came to be in a white comforter bed with even more white blankets covering me from the shivering cold.

Cold? Then why is my hand so warm?

As I tried to bring back blood to my numb hand, I felt calloused male fingers against my own. I tried to sit up, wondering who it was and if that person could give me any useful answers, but it was near impossible and very uncomfortable to do so.

I felt almost immobilized, sleeping here and not being able to move a twitch. While I hopelessly try again for the second time, I felt air through my fingers. I knew someone was going to appear and I was correct.

"Kate?" Someone, which proved to Derek, asked quite gingerly. Very unusual.

"Yeah?" I croaked, the voice now so unlike my own.

He gently smiled, "Do you feel fine?"

I lightly laugh, "If by fine you mean completely immobilized and uncomfortable, then yes."

He added worriedly, "Immobilized?"

I roll my eyes, "I just can't sit up, don't worry about it."

"Oh," he sighed gratefully, "the doctor said you shouldn't try to sit up yet, you have a few broken bones here and there."

"It doesn't feel like I have any broken bones, isn't it supposed to hurt tremendously? Wait. Doctor?!" I gasped overwhelmed.

And the memories faintly rushed back. Alex. His men. The fire in the demolished warehouse. And the five of them that may or may not be alive.

"I take it that you remembered?" Derek spoke while watching my features carefully.

"Did, did you save them?" I asked in a low anxious tone, fearing what his answer might be.

"I-," Derek hesitated and appeared ashamed, "I'm sorry."

I knew what his reply would be before it tumbled out through his lips, but that didn't prepare me for the agony that came after.

One lonely tear fell onto my shaking hands as I try to calm down. Surely, there was a reason why he couldn't save them when he could, right? It wasn't just because he didn't like them, right?

I gazed into his aghast grey eyes, finding answers that weren't there, and I turned away.

His finger falteringly glazed my cheek and he wiped away the tears that just won't go away.

"Why?" I murmured, "why?"

"I did it to protect you," he said. My dejection converted to immediate fury and I shook even more from the anger slowly rising up.