After talking with my mom and Timur, I feel somewhat different. A lot of information has opened up, and I've managed to summarize and determine what awaits in the future. I understand that it's not worth building airy dreams about Saint again. The man knows what he wants on his own; my desire to be with him won't change his decision... So now, I have a question — how to build my own life after solving these problems? What will I do when mom and my brother are safe, and Vlad says goodbye to me? Education will remain, of course. Vlad won't let me abandon the dream; I'm sure of that... But how do I provide myself protection against the Wild's revenge? What if Saint can't handle it and he returns to my life to make me his puppet again?
For a while, I tear myself away from these thoughts. Mom is making breakfast with Timur. My little brother is running around us, asking question after question. He really liked that he is also Timur. Perhaps, the Good has impressed him.
I'm sitting on the sofa in the living room. I was sternly instructed to wait for the doctor in bed, but since my husband is not here, I can allow myself to spend some free time in front of the television screen. To be honest, I haven't watched anything in ages. I either studied, followed my father's orders, or secretly drew. Now, it’s even strange to sit like this, not fearing that I'll be caught in the act. I constantly expect the door to open and the Wild to appear on the threshold, immediately with complaints, as always…
I smile. At first, I don’t even realize it while flipping through the channels. Yet it's so nice to hear the conversation behind me, the laughter and joyful exclamations of my brother. As if... we are normal. As if... it has always been this way. Our family is around, with whom we gladly spend weekends in the countryside…
I hope it's like this in the future… This is such a small and secret dream that I can never get rid of because I've always wanted to spend a day like this, in pleasant company and feel warmth in my soul. Partially, it has come true; it's a pity that only for a short time.
The front door unlocks. Following it, I hear Vlad's voice and that of an unfamiliar man. They quickly enter the living room. Saint immediately finds me with his gaze, sternly examines me, showing with his eyes that I should have been lying in the bedroom, and then turns to the stranger:
— Here is our patient.
— Glad to see that she doesn’t look as terrible as you described, Vlad, — he hums. — I thought your wife was dying from pain, — laughter dances in his brown eyes.
I smile amicably. The man, probably around thirty-five years old, has light brown hair, is tall, pleasant, and sweet. I like him immediately and feel trust.
— Vlad was worried, — I reply and get up from the sofa.
I start walking towards the doctor, but he quickly says:
— No, no, Juliana. You’re the patient; I will come to you.
And indeed, he walks over to me and sits on the couch.
— This is Yevgeny Olegovich, Juliana, — Saint introduces the man. — My doctor and good friend.
— Nice to meet you, — I nod.
— And how about me, — he smiles slyly. — Vlad didn’t even invite me to the wedding. Who would have known that his heart was captured… To be honest, I didn’t even know how to imagine you, Juliana, but upon seeing you, I immediately realized — it's hard not to fall in love with someone like you.
I hear that my mom and the two Timurs are listening from behind us. I shift my gaze from the doctor to Saint. He doesn't hide his eyes, his expression unchanged. On the contrary, he looks at me in a way that’s… strange. As if seeing me for the first time. His blue eyes are dark, contemplative.
— Thank you, — I reply quietly.
— Shall we examine you? So that the newly married husband doesn’t get too nervous.
— Of course.
— Then, would you mind coming to the bedroom?
I nod. I get up and step into the room first. The men follow behind. I don’t know what exactly Yevgeny has to examine that requires hiding. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice my brother. He rushes after me, a look of worry on his face. Vlad stops beside him when I turn to say that everything is fine, squatting down and saying that the doctor is going to examine his sister. Timur nods. Serious, concentrated. However, he nods to Saint and turns back to my mom.
In the bedroom, Yevgeny asks me to come to the window. First, he examines my face and head, then asks me to show my back and stomach. He presses in some places and asks how much it hurts from the bruises. Everything finishes quite quickly. Saint observes us the whole time, leaning against the wall by the door. His arms are crossed over his chest, his gaze calm and firm.
— What? — he asks when the doctor nods to me and steps away from the window.
— You can take some ointment for the bruises. Overall, the condition is satisfactory. If there’s no nausea, no dizziness, then everything will pass. You don’t need to go to the hospital, Vlad.
— Are you sure? — he asks sternly.
I sit on the couch and observe the doctor’s back and Vlad's stubborn face.
— One hundred percent.
— You didn’t ask her if she feels weak, for instance, — Saint presses.
— I don’t feel weak, — I throw out and get up from the bed. I step closer to my husband. — My head is not spinning. I’m not nauseous. Everything is fine.
His dark blue gaze looks reproachful, and then he turns back to the doctor:
— Thank you. I’ll take her.
Yevgeny smiles and turns to me:
— Let Vlad know that overprotectiveness is too much, of course if it bothers you.
I smile in response:
— It doesn’t bother me.
— Then there are no questions. Let’s go, — he turns to Saint.
The men leave the bedroom, and I return to the bed. I fall back on it and smile like a fool. At first, I don’t even understand why… Then I remember Vlad's clarification. Could this really be overprotectiveness? Is he truly concerned about my condition? Really concerned? Not because he has to, due to the agreement, although it's unlikely that it stipulates he must care about my state. Not because he feels guilty about my father's attack. But because he truly cares as one cares for those who are important…