The Royal Contract

He might be breathing through the vent, a machine helping him continue to live for a few more moments, but his soul was still very much alive. At least, that was what she would like to believe.

“Hi, Dad.” She finally held his fingers in her hands, massaging every single one with gentle strokes. “Remember the time you first held my hand.” Her eyes stared at his face, hoping against hope that she would see some sign that he could hear her.

But alas, she was still disappointed.

Miracles did happen to her a few times. She believed it did. She only failed to recognize it. But this time, she had not been fortunate.

Her father had no such luck as she realized she might not see his eyes again, how they sparkled when he looked at her mother. And the way they brightened every time she smiled at him.

She looked behind her, finally seeing the woman who had stood by his side most of his life, crashing on the sofa, too exhausted to cry.

.....

Alex had left the room to discuss the options with the doctors. While Gerald. Well, she had no idea where he went. But at the moment, she did not care about him.

All she knew was she had this moment, a small window to be alone with her father. She was grabbing it because it might be the last time he would hear her voice.

“I wish I did, but Mom said that was the first time she saw you cry.” She continued, holding her breath to control the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Instead, she laughed.

She promised never to cry in front of her father. Not if the cause of those tears was terrible pain and sadness. When her father wept upon seeing her, it was because of incredible happiness, not because he was sad to see her for the first time.

“I wish I had seen that because that is, literally, the only thing I had never seen you do.” She smiled at her father. “I never saw you once cry.”

Then, she felt it. A single drop touched her cheeks in a split second. Quickly, her fingers wiped the wetness, hoping to stop it before it became a full-blown sob.

“You always had to be strong, pulling us through all our dark days, showing us your tough love if we required a slight wake-up call. But you also wrapped us in your gentle care when we badly needed it, which was, in our case, almost all the time.

You never did give up on me, even when I did give up on you. You kept fighting for me, loving your prodigal daughter, taking all my blame, accusations, and hatred without complaint because...”

Another tear followed the first one, but she held the rest from falling. “you simply, undeniably, unquestionably... love me.” Her lips curved when a smile formed again on her lips.

But his only response was the continuous beeping of the machines. And the steady movements of the apparatus, making his chest go up and down.

But that would not stop her.

“I love you, Mr. Ethan Hamilton, King of this city and the best King of our home.” Speaking his name as her sign of respect to the man who had chosen to give her life and devoted his life to raising her to be the best person she could be.

“Now, let me hold your hand as I finally say goodbye if this is my last chance.” Her fingers caressed his skin, letting her warmth seep through his cold hands.

“You have done your part and left a tremendous mark on this world.” She softly uttered, leaning a bit closer until one of her hands touched his cheek, which had lost most of its colors.

“Go if you must.” Whispering near his ears, avoiding letting her mother hear her words. “I got Mom. I promise.”

Suddenly, she appreciated Alex’s decision to stay because she had no idea if she could leave her mother under this condition. She might act tough, but deep inside. Her Mom would be dying.

Her mother would need her now, more than ever. Once her father moved on to the other side, wherever that was. She had to stay and be there for the only woman who never stopped loving and believing in her, not even in her worse times.

“Don’t stay just because of us. You already suffered enough. It is time to rest, Dad.” She let her lips touch his forehead. “Let me take over.”

Suddenly, it sounded so evident in her mind what her father was trying to teach her all this time. What he always wanted for her. It was not just his legacy but for her to create her own, not Alex, but her mark on the world.

It was what Alex told her the other time he talked to her, but she did not want to listen. Ethan did not leave his Empire to Alex. Her husband was only safeguarding it for her. Until the time came that she would step into the plate.

It suddenly all made sense to her.

Then, the doctors came, entering the room with Alex. Soon, Gerald also followed. From the look on their face, she could tell it was time.

She walked toward her mother, knowing they had to deal with the inevitable. Her mother had a hard decision of pulling the plugs, but she would be there every step of the way.

“Mom,” Dani tapped her mother gently on the shoulders, which caused her to jerk a bit, unexpecting the sudden intrusion in her deep sleep.

She opened her eyes with confusion. But as soon as her eyes focused on her, realization flashed in their depths. She understood what was about to happen as her eyes scanned the other people inside the room.

“It is time.” How many times had she heard those words?

How many times she, herself, had uttered them so casually?

But at this very moment, it felt like they were heading to the electric chair, about to sentence an innocent man to his untimely death.