Arranged To Be|18+✔️

48'

I sprung up in bed, disoriented, and was instantly blinded by the bright lights.

"Ow," I groaned, raising a hand to my pounding head.

"Lay back. Everything is okay," Czar said softly, guiding me back down onto the hospital bed.

"Everything hurts," I mumbled.

"You have a bad concussion, and your back was grazed by the bullet. They patched it up and said you'll heal just fine."

"And the baby?" I asked quickly.

"The baby is fine," he said, eyes steady on mine.

Relief poured through me as I finally allowed my body to relax.

"What happened to Annika?"

Czar looked away, staring at the wall. "When I got there, I found her sitting on the floor outside the door. She was crying. When the police arrived, they arrested her. She's in a mental institution now, she had a breakdown."

I reached for his hand. "I'm so sorry, Czar."

"Don't be. This isn't your fault. I should've seen the signs. They were all there. She was never able to keep the proper help she needed... but now, maybe she finally can."

"I'm glad you're here."

He smiled, brushing my hand with his thumb. "I'm glad you're okay. And that the baby's okay too."

He reached out and gently rubbed my stomach.

"Oh, she's awake!" my mother's voice burst through the room as she entered.

Czar stood quickly, withdrawing his hand. My father and Josiah followed her in.

"What are you doing here?" my father asked Czar coldly, arms folded.

"Dad, don't be rude," I said.

"No, Zariah, your dad is right. His sister nearly killed you!" my mother snapped.

"Are you being serious right now?"

"Yes! This man is dangerous. Your father told me everything. If I had known the truth, I never would've let him marry you. He's a murderer. A monster!"

My blood boiled. I clenched my fists at my sides. If I wasn't attached to so many machines, I'd be out of this bed.

"Get out! Both of you! Don't come in here bashing my husband when you were the ones who forced me into this marriage! And now that I've found happiness, you want to tear it away from me? Get out, or I swear, I'll call security."

"You're being unreasonable," my father argued, stepping closer.

Czar moved between us. "I'd never disrespect you in front of your daughter. But if she has to tell you to leave again, I will remove you myself."

My father hesitated, clearly shocked.

"Let's go," he finally said to my mother.

She looked back at me with teary eyes. "I can't support this. I won't. I never want to see you again, for as long as you're married to this monster."

She stormed out, and my father followed.

The words stung, but I didn't let it show. I sat in silence, fists clenched.

"I'm sorry, Zariah," Josiah finally said, kneeling beside my bed. "I have no idea what's gotten into them."

"It's okay," I said, wiping a few stray tears. "Parents are overrated anyway."

He gave me a small, fleeting smile. "I just want you to be happy. If he makes you happy, that's all I care about."

"Thanks, Siah." I pulled him into a hug and let the tears fall.

Czar quietly stepped out to give us privacy.

"And don't worry about Mom and Dad. They'll come around."

"I don't care if they do. They'll never accept Czar, or this baby—"

"You're pregnant?" he interrupted.

I smiled through my tears. "Yes. I was waiting to tell you."

"I'm going to be an uncle?" His face lit up. "I'm going to be an uncle!"

I laughed at his sudden excitement. He looked like he was about to dance.

"What is it?"

"We don't know yet. Czar thinks it's a boy."

"Then it's definitely a boy. A boy named Josiah."

We both laughed and spent the next hour tossing around baby names. Eventually, Czar returned with a nurse following close behind.

"I'm here to give you your pain meds. They'll make you sleepy," the nurse explained.

I groaned. I wasn't ready to sleep again. Josiah kissed my cheek and left, and Czar took a seat beside me, holding my hand as the nurse administered the meds through my IV.

"I always thought you'd be afraid of needles," Czar said once the nurse left.

"I used to hand-sew. Stabbed myself with those tiny needles all the time."

"How are you feeling?"

"My head still hurts."

My eyes were growing heavy.

"I guess all that arguing didn't help," he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

"You didn't do anything wrong. They did."

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead gently.

"Zariah?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep, dreaming of a bouncing baby boy with beautiful blue eyes.

~*~

I'm not crying, you are! Two more chapters left :( Plus the epilogue. I'm starting to regret not making this book into a series but there isn't any going back now. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to comment, vote, share, and follow. Until next time my lovelies.

BTW- It's my birthday week! :D