Chapter 40: The Truth
It took Nesryn a whole week to open her eyes much to the delight of her family and her lover. Kathleen was the one watching over her when her sapphire colored eyes took in her surroundings.
Alexis was able to convince Azriel to go back to the company and Nesryn would be fine in the hospital with her parents.
He was hesitant at first before Alexis used his Nesryn card over him and the business man quickly got dressed and had the driver take him to the office. Attendant Yun immediately filled in Nesryn's position after learning what happened from Azriel. He did his best in supporting the man in every meeting and deals he had.
His level of respect for Nesryn increased upon realizing the true work of being Azriel's secretary. He was exhausted on the third day and wanted to hand the job over to someone but he stopped his own thoughts, comparing himself to Nesryn's three years worth of hardship.
Azriel was not in the mood to work but still managed to finish his tasks and schedule day by day. He just finished a business deal and was ready to retire for the day when his phone started ringing, he quickly answered it "Azriel, come nesryn opened her eyes" Kathleen words rang in his mind and he quickly took his coat and left the building, stopping by Attendant Yun's desk to bid goodbye.
He took the key from the driver and hopped in, he might be ecstatic to see Nesryn once again but he's still a law abiding citizen and followed the proper speed limits. It took him 15 minutes to reach the private hospital where Nesryn stayed.
The receptionist bowed her head in greeting and he flashed his killer smile. One reason Azriel chose this hospital was because of the staff's professionalism. He said his greetings and made his way to the elevator. Few people boarded the small confined area with him and he just stayed at the back.
He patiently waited for his floor but his hand thrummed against his leg in excitement. By the time he reached his floor, he was all alone in the elevator. It took him every ounce of self-control in his body to not just run in the halls of the hospital to his lover like a rabid wolf hunting its prey.
Azriel muttered his thanks to his personal bodyguards standing outside Nesryn's hospital room, guarding her and her family with their life. He sucked in a deep breath before opening the door, his hazel eyes immediately glued to the familiar sapphire that belonged to the woman he loved.
The moment their eyes connected something bursted in Azriel's heart, he didn't dare to look at anything else, just at the tantalizing eyes of his whole world. He slowly made his way closer to the bed, all the sleepless nights and constant worrying was thrown out of the window as he wrapped his arms around her.
He could instantly melt when she hugged him back, tears flowed freely from his eyes, relief coursing through his body at the sight of his angel, alive and well. Nesryn ran her hand on her lover's back, whispering soothing words as she felt his body tremble.
"I am alright now Azriel and safely back in your arms" she whispered and that made Azriel sob loudly and he hugged her tighter.
"Oh baby" the delicateness in his voice was enough for everyone in the room to realize, just how much this situation pained the man. It took a couple of minutes before the two pulled back but Azriel didn't release her, he just stared at her eyes and Nesryn did the same.
Kathleen could see how much the two loved each other, when Azriel came into the room, his eyes were immediately on her daughter, only focusing on her and no one else.
Kathleen nudged her husband and tilted her head to the side, gesturing at the door. The married couple exited the room without the two knowing.
Azriel placed a kiss on her forehead, that made Nesryn close her eyes and her head slowly fell to Azriel's chest "I am tired" she whispered and Azriel, slowly and carefully, helped his lover lay back down on the bed. Dipping in and kissing her lips before intertwining the hands.
He sat down on the chair and just held her hand, he watched as her chest rose and fell, a sign that she's really alive and back to his side. He kept her hand near his lips, alway kissing it whenever he felt that everything was just a dream and he was gonna wake up soon.
He stayed for hours, waiting for his heart to wake up and look at him with her sapphire colored eyes once again. He never left her side till Kathleen and Alexis returned in the room, Azriel didn't even notice they were gone. They both sat with Azriel, putting him in between the two of them.
Alexis placed a hand on his shoulder and Kathleen pulled him into a hug. For the first time ever Azriel felt he was loved by a family, a familial bond he found with his lover's parents and not on his own. He felt like a small child once again as Kathleen took him in her arms and just hugged the man.
Unbeknownst to them, Nesryn was awake, for a whole 15 minutes now and watched their interaction with half-lidded eyes. Alexis was the first to notice that his daughter was watching them but just stayed silent, sending loving smiles to her and returning it back.
Nesryn watched as her lover relaxed in her mother's arms, not once letting go of her hand "I love you" she whispered, enough for everyone in the room to hear her words.
Azriel froze in shock and slowly turned his head to her. The amount of love present in Nesryn's eyes and words were much greater than the simple three words she uttered.
"I love you too, goddamn much" he replied and leaned in, kissing her fully on the lips, in front of her parents. The peaceful silence was disturbed when a knock.
"Master, the doctor is here and wanted to see the madam" the guard outside the door spoke and Azriel can't help but puff his chest out like a proud lion at the address he called his lover.
"Let them in '' Azriel said and the door slid open, revealing Nesryn's own entourage of Doctors and Nurses, accompanied by Azriel's doctor friends. Kathleen, Alexis and Azriel stepped to the side so they could check on her without any hindrances.
His friends were updated on her situation when they flew back to America and had been the greatest help and support for Azriel, Nesryn was not familiar with her doctors but relaxed when she saw that her lover knew them and surprised that he trusted her in their care.
No one could deny that Azriel is a possessive and territorial man, he didn't like it when others touched what's his and he is so intent on protecting what's his. Azriel knew Nesryn is not some trophy to be won over or a piece of doll he could play with, that's why he didn't force her in this relationship.
He was letting her decide what will happen between the two of them. With this in mind Azriel suddenly remembered his late grandfather's words 'The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet by Mohadesa Najumi' and it simply describes Nesryn to a perfect T.
Sure she might get insecure from time to time but she doesn't need other people's words to live, she is her own person and she's the one controlling her life, not the society. That's what makes her unique from the past women Azriel's been with.
She was the only one who didn't care what the world thinks about her and instead showed the world that she's a woman they shouldn't trifle with.
Azriel watched as his friends checked on her before thanking her and letting her rest again. The doctors turned to them and informed them of her recovery.
"She's recovering fine and should be out of the hospital by the end of the week, normally I would keep her here longer but since these three would be watching over her in your home, I am allowing her to go home and continue her recovery in your home" the head doctor said, before bidding the family goodbye.
The family spent the whole night together before it was time to go home, Azriel left Nesryn with a promise that he'll be back the next day and with a sweet kiss, the three departed, leaving Nesryn alone in her own thoughts.
Once she was sure that they wouldn't be coming back, she broke down into tears. She wanted to scream, her whole body hurt, every joints in her body ached. Her doctors also seemed to notice her unusual pale complexion.
Nesryn also tried her best to hide her battered and bruised body from her parents and lover under the hospital blanket.
Her doctors didn't say anything to her family and she gave them her thanks. Her main doctor was also informed of her deadly condition. She knew Azriel started noticing things about her, appetite loss, swollen gums, prolonged bleeding from minor cuts, pale complexion and bruises from simple things.
It only pointed to one thing and one thing only, she wasn't anemic. No, it's much worse than that. Nesryn Aelin Lorcan is suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, though acute, it was difficult to treat and Nesryn already resigned to her fate of dying.
Her mother and father teamed up in convincing her to start her treatment right away when they found out but seeing as her father was also suffering with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and was undergoing therapy at that time, sucking them dry financially.
Nesryn pushed through college as her condition worsened every year, then she started working for Azriel, the stress and fatigue doubled but she had no choice but to grit her teeth and push through. She kept telling herself that she needed to do it for her father, she pushed herself to her breaking point, till one day, even her medicine wasn't enough to sustain her.
She was gone from the office for a whole week while her mother took her to her father's doctor to try talking her into accepting medical treatment before it was too late. Alexis pleaded that Nesryn also start her treatment alongside him but she simply smiled and returned to working without any more words.
Nesryn knew she was killing herself in order to save her father, she didn't care. In her mind, her mother needed her husband more than her. With that mindset she ignored the pleas of her parents and continued killing herself slowly everyday.
Nesryn knew her condition, she researched it and talked with other doctors behind her parents.
Everyone of them wanted her to start treatment as soon as possible but she was stubborn, paid the doctor and left, without ever coming back.
She wasn't spending money on her treatment as long as her father needed his treatment first. Alexis protested at this but his daughter was stubborn and didn't allow for it to happen.
Nesryn was brought out of her thoughts when a knock interrupted her internal monologue. "Madam your doctors are here" Nesryn allowed them to come in, she flashed them a sad smile.
"Nesryn, it's really time for you to start your treatment, if not now then you'll surely lose this battle" One of doctors said, his name is Maxon if she remembered correctly her smile disappeared from her face.
"That's fine, my father needs the money more than I do, I am fine" she reassured them but she knew she won't convince them. "Nesryn, you're near the critical stage, we really need to start your treatment' one of Azriel's friend - Carter- said.
"Does Azriel know about this?" Aspen asked but Nesryn shook her head. "You need to tell him, he'll be hurt if you don't tell him about this," Aspen continued before her main doctor Dr. Deimos, stopped the three.
"Let her decide her path, she knows what she needs to do and it's up to her. We can't force her to this and we can't take this to her parents since she's no longer a minor, she'll have to decide on her own"
Nesryn stared at Dr. Deimos "How long?" she asked, her seriousness made the other's stare at her "6 months, if we don't start the treatment now" Nesryn let out a mock laugh before leaning back to her bed, placing an arm over her eyes.
"6 months left to live huh?" she whispered to herself "More than enough time to work and have my father treated before I am gone"
"Nesryn, your father is in his last stages of treatment and soon enough his battle with leukemia will be treated, it's time to think about yourself now, your stubbornness will kill you earlier than we expected.
You'll be leaving your family behind and you think your father won't blame himself over this?!" Demios harsh words were like an iced bucket dumped to her whole being.
"For once in your life be selfish and think about yourself more than others, you need this and you know it" Demios continued, he might seem harsh but he knew that Nesryn needed to hear this before it was too late.
"Azriel is your lover yet once you're gone, who'll be taking care of him? You know he doesn't have a family to go home too, you're the only one he has, except for his grandmother" Carter said. Nesryn raised a hand and they stopped talking,
"Get out" she simply said, before carefully turning to her side, turning her back towards them. Her doctors let out a sigh before leaving her alone.
Azriel didn't know her tears, her family doesn't know. She tried being strong for them but at moments like this, she felt alone and suffocated. It did flash to her mind to just wait it up and pass on peacefully, leaving the world behind with no regrets but Azriel's face would always flash to her mind.
Carter's earlier words rang in her mind and slowly Dr. Demios words also started sinking in. His words were true, she needed to start thinking about herself from now on, she did her best to support her father financially and now it's her time to take care of herself.
With enough courage, she started thinking about things she needed to do. First, she needed to tell Azriel the truth and from then on, submit herself to medical treatment and therapy.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
KuranVic21
KuranVic21 Hi guys!! I am now back and writing, exams are finished. Follow my instagram about my schedule update. I'll be updating all my books now every week....I hope you guys could support me on every way!!
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