SASHA’S POV
The soft hum of machines filled the hospital room, a sound I had grown used to over the many months I’d spent here by my father’s side. But today, that sound no longer weighed heavy on my chest.
Instead, it blended into the background, almost like white noise, as my father sat up in his bed, a light smile gracing his face. Seeing him like this,
alive, awake, and even playful,
felt surreal.
“I’m just saying, Sasha,”
he teased, his voice tinged with a warmth I’d missed so much, “a man as sharp-dressed as you describe Sebastian must have his way with the ladies.
Are you sure you’re the only woman he’s sweeping off her feet?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his words. It felt like we’d slipped back in time, to a place where his quick wit was a constant in my life. “Dad, trust me,
I’m the only woman Sebastian’s interested in,” I replied, my tone firm but playful.
His grin widened. “I’m sure you are. You’re my daughter, after all.” He leaned back against the pillows, a teasing gleam in his eyes.
“But seriously, Sasha, you’re glowing. It’s like you couldn’t wait to introduce him to me. Do you have something else to confess? Maybe a little one running around?”
“Dad!” I gasped, my cheeks instantly heating up.
He laughed, the sound filling the room with life. “What? I’m just asking. You’ve been keeping secrets from me for so long, Who knows what else you’ve been hiding?”
I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips despite my embarrassment. “No, Dad, there’s no baby. But… there is something I’ve been waiting to tell you.”
He tilted his head, curiosity lighting up his face. “Oh, this sounds serious. Go on, then. I’m all ears.”
I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts. How could I explain everything that had happened without overwhelming him? I took a deep breath and started, “Sebastian and I… we’ve been married for some time now.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Married? Sasha, when did this happen?”
“A little over a year ago,” I admitted.
“But it wasn’t the wedding I dreamed of. It was more… practical at the time. We promised each other that we’d have a real wedding once you woke up. We wanted you to be there for it.”
He stared at me for a moment, processing my words. Then, a slow smile spread across his face. “Well, I’ll be damned. My little girl is married. And here I thought you’d never settle down.”
“Settle down?” I echoed with a laugh. “Dad, you make it sound like I was some kind of wild child.”
He chuckled. “You weren’t wild, but you were always… independent. Stubborn, even. I just didn’t think you’d let anyone tie you down.”
I smiled, thinking about Sebastian. “He didn’t tie me down, Dad. He… he made me want to stay. He’s been my rock through everything, even when things felt impossible.”
My father’s expression softened. “He must be something special, then.”
“He is,” I said, my voice steady. “He’s the one who made sure you had the best care while you were in a coma.”
“He paid for everything, every treatment, every specialist. He never once let me worry about how we’d afford it.”
His brows furrowed in surprise. “He did all that for me? For you?”
I nodded. “He did. He’s always put my happiness and my family first. Even when things got hard between us, he never stopped being there for me.”
My father leaned back, his eyes distant for a moment as if he were imagining the man I was describing. “And what does this Sebastian of yours do for a living? He must be doing pretty well to afford all that.”
I froze for a fraction of a second, my mind racing. “He… runs a business. It’s successful. Very successful.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not pressing further. “Well, I suppose I’ll find out for myself soon enough. I can’t wait to meet him.”
The warmth in his voice made my heart swell. “You will,” I promised. “I’ll call him over soon.”
My father smiled, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “You’ve come a long way, Sasha. I’m proud of you. And I can see that you’re happy. That’s all I ever wanted for you.”
His words brought a lump to my throat. I reached out, taking his hand in mine. “I missed you, Dad. So much.”
“I missed you too,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us. Finally, I broke the quiet. “There’s so much I want to tell you about, so much you’ve missed. I don’t even know where to start.”
He chuckled. “Well, start with the most important things. Tell me about this Sebastian of yours.”
And so I did. I told him about the man who had turned my life upside down and pieced it back together again.
I spoke about Sebastian’s unwavering determination, his strength, and the way he could make me feel safe even in the most chaotic moments.
But I carefully avoided certain truths, the dangerous side of Sebastian’s world, the secrets that lurked in the shadows. My father didn’t need to know about that, not now.
He only needed to know the good, the parts of Sebastian that had made me fall in love with him.
As I spoke, my father listened intently, his eyes never leaving mine. He smiled at the right moments, chuckled at my stories, and even teased me when I got too sentimental.
“You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” he said with a laugh.
“Maybe I do,” I admitted, a shy smile tugging at my lips.
“Well, he sounds like a good man,” my father said. “And if he makes you happy, then that’s all that matters to me.”
“He does,” I said softly. “More than I ever thought possible.”
My father’s expression grew serious for a moment. “Then don’t let him go, Sasha. Life is too short to hold back on the things that make you happy.”
I nodded, his words sinking deep into my heart. “I won’t. I promise.”
He smiled, the warmth returning to his face. “Good. Now, go call that husband of yours. I want to meet the man who’s stolen my daughter’s heart.”
I laughed, standing up from my chair. “Okay, Dad. But be nice to him, okay? No embarrassing stories about me.”
“No promises,” he said with a mischievous grin.
Shaking my head, I pulled out my phone and dialled Sebastian’s number, my heart racing with anticipation. As the call connected, I glanced back at my father, who was watching me with an amused expression.
“Sebastian?” I said when he answered. “Dad’s awake… and he wants to meet you.”
And with those words, I knew that my world was about to change once again.