Sakura and Sebastian stayed with Darcy throughout the morning, with Sakura entertaining Darcy by telling him about her family reunion and that Ned was actually her biological father and Beth her aunt. Of course, Darcy wasn’t surprised with this outcome, as he had known how much Ned loved Sakura. The same went for Beth.
It was some time later when Darcy asked the question he had wanted answered since he’d seen the news on the television early that morning. It was about Mrs. Clark, Tara, and Ray Woods, who had been taken into custody.
Sebastian said, “Tara might get a lighter sentencing than Mrs. Clark and Ray Woods. She’s only an accomplice.”
“And Mrs. Clark?” Sakura asked, her body tense.
“Probably life in prison for first-degree murder or something along those lines,” Sebastian said.
“For murdering Mrs. Taylor?” Sakura asked.
At this, both Sebastian and Darcy turned to look at her, surprised. Sebastian asked, “How did you know she was one of the victims?”
Sakura cast her eyes downward, her hands trembling. She licked her lips and then said, “Mrs. Clark told me.” She sighed sadly. “I mean, she boasted to me about what she’d done because she was going to kill me anyway. She told me Mrs. Taylor was the one who took me in when she found me on the doorstep of the orphanage.”
“I see,” Sebastian said.
Darcy asked, “Are you okay?”
Sakura raised her head and nodded. “I’m fine,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. “I mean, I was too young to remember much of the woman anyway.” But then again, she could still recollect the elderly woman’s scent, which was of spring and cherry blossoms, and her warmth.
Noticing that both men were still watching her carefully, she said, “You said victims? There’s more?”
Sebastian nodded. “She did a lot of bad things, Sakura, things that’d give you nightmares.”
At the sound of that, Sakura shivered in trepidation. “Then I don’t want to know,” she said, frowning darkly. After all, what she had experienced at Mrs. Clark’s hands was bad enough. She had no doubt the woman had the capability to cause a lot of harm to others, especially murder.
Noting Sakura’s troubled mood over the topic of Mrs. Clark and her victims, Darcy changed the subject and asked when everyone else was going to visit him. Sebastian told him they would be here in the afternoon.
Indeed, when that time came, the room was packed full with family and friends, along with Beth’s famous chicken soup, which Darcy said he’d keep for dinner that night.
While the Princeton brothers stood aside and watched, Brenda fussed over Darcy like a mother hen. Of course, she had been worried sick about him, even though James had told her numerous times that their son would be fine. When the woman finally let Darcy go from her tight hug, everyone was chuckling with amusement. Then it was Michael’s turn to ask Darcy what it felt like to get shot, which unsurprisingly, also caused everyone to laugh.
When everyone started leaving again some two hours later, because the nurse had suggested they do so as Darcy needed his rest to speed up recovery, Darcy grabbed Sakura’s hand. “Stay with me,” he said.
Sakura looked up to Sebastian, who understood and said, “Stay. I’ll come and pick you up in the evening.”
Sakura nodded, a bright smile on her face.
Once the door was closed behind Sebastian and the room was once again quiet, Darcy pulled Sakura to him. “Climb on.”
Sakura blinked. “You want me on the bed?”
He chuckled. “You don’t want to?”
She said, “That’s not it. You’re injured, and the bed is small. I mean, it won’t fit us both.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and made her sit on the side of the bed regardless. “I’m tired,” he said weakly. “And I want you beside me.”
Sakura felt her heart warm at his words. She stroked his dark hair lovingly and then said, “All right. Move over, then.”
Darcy did, eagerly, and once she lay beside him, he kissed her forehead. He whispered, “I love you, Snow.”
Sakura smiled and said, “I love you, too.”
Then he tucked her head under his chin and closed his eyes. In mere moments, he was fast asleep.
As Sakura lay there embraced in his arms, she felt his warmth radiating against her, which was comforting. She could also hear his beating heart, which told her he was very much alive and here with her, beside her, and that made her smile.
When Sakura opened her eyes again, she saw the nurse on the other side of the bed checking on the drips that were attached to Darcy’s arm. She frowned, suddenly realizing she had fallen asleep.
She gently moved out of the man’s embrace, her cheeks blushing red with embarrassment.
The nurse smiled at her and said, “You must be worried, eh? Your boyfriend getting shot like that.”
Sakura nodded as she tidied herself up. “I was worried sick. I thought he wasn’t going to make it.”
“Luckily, they weren’t deep, those bullets,” the nurse said. “That woman must be a maniac to do something like that. I saw in the news she’s in custody and is probably serving life in prison for all the bad deeds she did. And that man who works for her, too. It’s karma.”
Karma, eh? Sakura had to agree with that. It comes and bites you in the butt in the end.
Sakura was just putting her feet on the floor when the nurse said, “By the way, there’s a young woman waiting outside. She looks a lot like Darcy, so I assume she must be his sister.”
That piqued Sakura’s interest. She knew without a doubt the woman was Alaina.
“How long has she been waiting?”
“About half an hour,” the nurse said. “I did tell her to leave, but she wouldn’t. I assume she must really want to see him.”
Sakura nodded in understanding. Obviously, Alaina couldn’t be by Darcy’s side because Sakura herself was with him.
Once the nurse left, Sakura went outside to look for Alaina. She found the woman in the waiting room, staring into space. After mustering up some courage, Sakura came to sit opposite her and said, “Hi.”
Alaina jumped in her spot. When she managed to calm down, she said, her eyes avoiding Sakura’s, “How’s Darcy?”
Good Lord, Sakura thought in astonishment, but this was going to be the first time ever that she had a decent conversation with Alaina.
“He’s fine. The surgery was a success. Didn’t Nicolas tell you?”
“He did. He phoned me yesterday. I just want to see him for myself.”
Sakura nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry about what happened to Tara.”
Alaina raised her eyes to Sakura then. “Well, she did dig her own grave. She’s obsessed with you and Sebastian and Darcy.” She sighed. “Our friendship has always been a bit rocky, if you know what I mean, especially with Tara’s insane behavior. But it turned sour after you came back during Mary and Peter’s wedding a year ago. I mean, I did my best sticking by her side and helping her, thinking it was the best way and everything. Of course, I have my own reasons as well.”
With Sakura sitting there listening silently, Alaina continued, wanting to get things off her chest.
“Let’s face it, Sakura, I just never liked you simply because, well, you kind of took Darcy from me. I mean, he’s my twin and we’ve always been together, and then you just show up and he’s smitten. That pissed me off, you know. I mean, I was young back then, and I get pissed easily.
“When Tara became my friend and told me all these bad things about you, that you misbehaved, stole all her friends, made fun of her, and bullied her at the orphanage, well, I disliked you even more and looked for ways to hurt you, I guess.”
So that was how it was. Tara had lied to Alaina about Sakura’s character, which didn’t surprise her one bit.
Alaina continued. “Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I’ve grown up. I don’t dislike you as much as I used to. I mean, I know for certain that we won’t be friends, but Darcy and Sebastian, they love you, as all my other brothers love you. Technically, you’re family.” She sighed. “It’s too much work for me to continue to dislike you, Sakura, since we’re going to be seeing a lot more of each other and everything.”
Again, Sakura nodded in understanding.
“So that’s why…” She paused, her cheeks growing red suddenly. “That’s why I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you. I was young and stupid and…” She sighed again, finding it difficult to express her feelings.
“I regret what I’ve done. I wish I hadn’t. I wish I hadn’t listen to Tara. I wish I was stronger and could make up my own mind and…” She paused again. “That’s all, I guess. So… I’m sorry, Sakura, for hurting you.”
Then she looked directly into Sakura’s eyes and said, “Darcy and Sebastian love you. Please take care of them.” She even bowed her head, which surprised Sakura into speechlessness.
Then suddenly, she stood and said, “I’ll visit Darcy tomorrow. Tell him I dropped by.”
Sakura nodded, and a moment later, Alaina was gone.
Alone, Sakura was stunned. Finally, she thought, Alaina was accepting her as a part of the family. That, of course, made Sakura smile.
She was still grinning from ear to ear a few minutes later when she returned to Darcy’s room.
Darcy, who had just woken up, noted her happy vibe and asked, “You’re in a good mood, aren’t you?”
Sakura came to sit on the side of the bed and moved her face toward his. She whispered, “I love you.” Then she kissed him gently on the lips.
When she was about to move back, Darcy would have none of it and stilled her by wrapping his hand behind her head. Then he proceeded to kiss her passionately.