Chapter 36
Chapter 36: Bed Rest
**Rosalie‘s POV Estrella had made sure to take care of me, and once I had finished her medical protocols, she allowed me to return to my room– but under the condition that I stay in bed for two days and try to take it easy from now on The room the king had put us in was rather lovely, and had a separate living area with a sofa, fireplace, and other fin e furnishings. It was basically a small one– bedroom apartment that fit every need I could possibly have to some extent.
Letting out a sigh, I curled up against the pillows in the bed and felt impossibly alone. I hated how much my life had changed. Yes, it had its moments where things were wonderful— but I felt so conflicted.
A knock on the bedroom door drew my eyes toward the entrance. “Yes?” “Miss Rosalie, it‘s Mary, your servant. May I enter?” Servant? “Uh, yes, of course.” Slowly, I slid from my position to sit up and propp ed a pillow behind my back. I watched the door opened, and a petite blonde– haired girl with large blue eyes stepped in, carrying a tray with silver–domed dishes.
“I brought you food, miss,” she said softly, walking toward the bed and placing the tray on a nearby table. “Alpha Etha n indicated that you are under doctor‘s orders to rest, and I have been instructed to fulfill your needs fro m now until Miss Estrella releases you from that order.” I was taken aback and shocked. I had been given a servant! “Uhm– no, I think that will be okay.” I stuttered, feeling completely weirded out by the situation. “I‘m grateful for your help, but you don‘t have to do this.” Her blue eyes widened in shock, and she looked up at me. “It‘ s an honor, miss. Please, you don‘t have to thank me
– it‘s my job to serve those above me.” “Mary, I appreciate you. You don‘t have to fear judgment from me when you‘re around me. I‘m just not accustomed to having people serve me like this.” “Of course, miss. Is there anything else I can get for you?” she replied, giving me a small smile. “No, thank you for everything. I am sure it‘s perfect.” As Mary took her leave and headed out, I h eard a small gasp from the living room. Then footsteps came closer until Ethan‘s face appeared in the bedroom doorway. I hadn‘t expected to see him any time soon, considering that he had so much go ing on with his soon–to–be bride. “How are you feeling?” He asked as he took steps closer to me. “I see that the girl was able to bring you food.” “Mary,” I stated firmly, watching him. Ethan looked at me for a moment, confused. A smile played across my lips. “Her name is Mary, the maid‘s, that is. She is very nice. Than k you for having her help me. I appreciate it.” He seemed almost stunned at my reply, and simply nodded his head. “Did you eat?” Ethan was behaving completely out of his character, and had me ques tioning why he suddenly cared. After all, most of our conversations had been him giving his order and me doing as he had struggled. I wondered if he‘d changed because of the baby,
“I was about to,” I replied. I watched as he lifted the silver lids. My eyes widened at his action, and at the amount of food that had been provided for me, as well as drinks.
Taple! JU BUU REST He seemed almost stunned at my reply, and simply nodded his head, “Did you e at?”
Ethan was behaving completely out of his character, and had me questioning why he suddenly cared. A fter all, most of our conversations had been him giving his order and me doing as he had struggled. I wondered if he‘d changed because of the baby. “I was about to,” I replied. I watched as he lifted the silver lids, My eyes widened at his action, and at the amount of food that had been provided for me, as well as drinks. “I wasn‘t sure what you liked.” “It‘s all amazing.” My reply was so soft that when I looked up at him, I found that he was staring at me with a gl
int of something in his eyes I wasn‘t sure of. “Fruit would be lovely,” I added. Ethan kept staring for a lo ng moment, and then suddenly snapped back to the present. He frowned, hesitated for a second and, t hen murmured, “Of course. Here….” He lifted the white bowl of fruit, and as he handed it to me, our fing ers brushed gently together. The feeling of his touch on my skin made me want so much more of him, b ut I knew that it wouldn‘t be possible. I would have his baby, and he would expect me to leave when I was done. I would have to leave him, and I would have to leave my child. The thought broke my heart. “Estrella found out how far along you are,” Ethan finally said, breaking the silence between us as I fed myself a strawberry. “She did?” “Yes. She said you are a bout two weeks from conception, or something like that.” A chuckle left my lips upon hearing him try to explain it. Oh how I love his voice. “That‘s wonderful,” I said with a smile. “I‘m happy I am able to give y ou a child. Someone for you to always love, and to guide in life.”
My words stopped him in his tracks, and instinctively, he reached out his hand, laying it across my stomach.
“Yes, I will protect the child with my life.” The way he looked at me when he spoke had me feeling as if it was an unsaid promise he was giving me. That even though I would be gone, he would ensure that m y child was always protected. Even though the sentiment warmed my heart, I wanted more than anythi ng that I could alter my circumstances slightly. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
I didn‘t want to go – I wanted to be with him.
“Will… will you come back to visit me again?” I stuttered. “I enjoy having you… having you here with m e.” He looked at me. He arched an eyebrow, as if he couldn‘t imagine his company to be pleasing.
*Please. I feel safer when you‘re around.” My confession came out of nowhere–– and, subconsciously, I had wanted to say it. But when I actually spoke the words, I realized that it wasn ‘t my place to even think about it. Ethan didn‘t seem to mind, though. His fingers took my chin and turne d my gaze from my hands to his eyes. Slowly, be leaned down and captured my lips with his own.
The kiss wasn‘t rough and erotic as our past ones had been instead, it was soft and gentle. If I could ha ve deepened the kiss, I would have, like a greedy child wanting more of a good thing. I wanted more of him, always but at the end of the day, he wasn‘t mine to have more of. As his lips left my own, I saw a d ark hungry swirl of emotions lingering in the depths of his eyes. “I have to go now.” he said, and as he moved away, I knew my request had been rejected. Bed Rest I looked down, trying not to let my tears fall.
How foolish I was! “…But I will be back later…” he continued.
I looked up at him in disbelief. What had I just heard?
Sa
“Behave, and rest… It‘s all about the baby now. We must do what‘s right for him.” I nodded my head with a smile and tears in my eyes as I watched him rise to his feet and slowly make his way out of the ro about the baby now.‘
I knew it was about the baby and making sure that Ethan‘s heir came into this world healthy and safe, but at the same time… I wanted him to care for me as well. To care abo I only held my position in his life for as long as I was useful to him. Those revelations were the ones that late at night, shedding tears for a man I would never be able to have the way I wanted, for a life I could never have. “Why me?” I whispered as I wiped my cheeks. I knew why, but at the same time, I prayed it wasn‘t true. I prayed that one day, I would wake up, and Ethan would tell me he cared about me. That I was everything he wanted, and more than just his breeder. But those were the hopes o