Broken Promises

seven

|Sage's POV|

My eyes flutter as I move my head slightly to the side before blinking. The influx of light makes me scrunch my eyes shut once again. And once I think that I can adjust my vision, I allow my eyes to open slowly.

I am met by two deep raven orbs staring at me with a soft expression in them.

I find myself getting lost in them, wondering if I am dreaming about this extremely handsome man sitting by my bedside.

But that is when the memories from my birthday party come rushing to my head and my eyes widen when I meet his gaze again and I remember exactly who he is.

Xavier.

My fiancé.

I look around frantically and realise that I am in a hospital bed and the only person aside from me in this room is the man I was betrothed to.

"Don't worry, you're safe here. Your guards are just outside the room." He voices, his deep tone flitting into my ears like a rich tune as I slowly turn my head back towards him.

"What happened to me?" I ask softly, my voice feeling raspier than usual as I bring my hand to my temple, feeling a dull ache there.

Concern seems to shoot through his eyes as he tells me, "your father had just announced our wedding and you fainted."

My eyes widen at that as I feel raw fear freezing up my bones when I realise what my father is going to do to me because of this.

This must have been a PR nightmare for him, considering his only daughter fainted right after her engagement was announced in front of dozens of important people of New York.

And I know that the only reason he wasn't here was because he was clearing up the mess that I created.

He was going to kill me.

Fuck.

"Hey?" I hear Xavier's voice call out, much softer than I would expect a man like him to speak in. I look back at him and he asks, "are you alright now? The doctor said that you fainted because of anxiety."

I want to smack my head right now.

Couldn't I have taken a few more pills and none of this would have happened?

However, I stop my trail of thoughts when I realise that Xavier is still waiting for a reply from me.

I give him a small smile— obviously a fake one, and say, "I am not habitual to being in crowds that large. Perhaps that is why I got so overwhelmed." I told him sheepishly, trying my best to come off as silly and clumsy.

The more mellow you were in front of men like him, the lesser reasons they would find to be angry at you. Men like him liked being in control and silly little women hardly threatened them.

At least that is what I had learned in my twenty five years of life with Alistair Princeton.

Xavier stares at me for a moment, his expressions indecipherable as I lay there wondering what is going on in his mind.

"Would you like to have some water?" He asks me, his voice softer than anything I am habitual to. And staring at this stranger— the man I am supposed to marry— I cannot help but be confused.

I stare up at him, trying to figure him out for a short moment but even then, I am unable to do so.

What is this man?

However, my survival instincts kick in and I slowly nod my head, "yes, please." I whisper softly.

He stands up from his chair, his frame a looming presence in the room as I take in his broad shoulders and muscular built. He has taken off his suit and is currently wearing just a crisp white shirt and dress pants.

He walks around my bed and reaches the small coffee table placed in front of a sofa on my left, and picking up a glass of water, he comes back towards me.

I try to sit up on my own and realise that I am still in my gown. However, just as I try and fail to sit up, Xavier's hand comes to curl around my waist as he supports my back.

His comforting scent of citrus and smoked wood tickles my senses and I cannot help but feel the need to lean into him for comfort.

That is before I remind myself who he is.

And just as he adjusts the pillow behind my back, his hand holding the glass comes near my view and my eyes widen when I see the blood staining the cuff of his shirt.

I have seen those stains one too many times.

This is only a reminder of what my life is going to be.

It wouldn't be long before it is my blood staining his shirts. This is the life I had been born for and this is how I will die.

A familiar numbness spreads through my entire body and I welcome the frost that settles into my veins, considering the fact that I have trained myself for this.

I look up at him and I know that he has seen the way I stared at the blood stain. However, I give him a timid smile instead, gingerly taking the glass from his hands before bringing it to my lips.

I sip on the water but my eyes stare at the wall in front of me. I know that I cannot allow him to feel that I have any opinions on whatever he does. My father had always taught me to keep my head down and get through everything and that is what I am going to do.

And right when I am about to put the glass on the side table beside the hospital bed, Xavier takes it from my hand and quickly places it down before helping me lay down once again.

I look up at him, blinking at him in confusion, unaware of how to react to a situation like this.

But before I can say anything, the door of my room opens and the one man I am most scared of, enters.

My father.