Chapter 10

Eleanore POV:

I slept, truly slept, for the first time in years. Deep, dreamless, restorative sleep. The morning sun, bright and golden, streamed through the windows when I finally stirred. I glanced at the ornate clock on the bedside table. Almost noon. My old meticulous habits, born of anxiety, had vanished.

A jolt of guilt shot through me. I was late! I scrambled out of bed, my still-healing ribs protesting, and rushed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I threw on a simple silk robe, my hair still damp, and hurried downstairs, expecting to find an empty house, perhaps a stern housekeeper.

Instead, the spacious living room was alive. Kayson's parents were reading the morning paper, sipping tea. Lily, the young cousin, was engrossed in a game on her tablet. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries wafted from the kitchen.

"Good morning, Eleanore!" Mrs. Knight, Kayson's mother, looked up, her smile warm. "No need to rush, dear. We told you to rest."

"Yes, we had a lovely breakfast, but we saved some for you," Mr. Knight added, his voice kind.

Lily bounced up. "Good morning! Did you sleep well? I told them not to wake you!"

Their genuine concern, their easy laughter, was overwhelming. I felt a blush creep up my neck. "I... I overslept. I'm so sorry."

Mrs. Knight waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense. You needed it. Come, let's get you some breakfast." She gestured to a small, elegant dining nook. "Everyone else, perhaps you could find something to do for a little while? Eleanore and I have a few things to discuss."

The others, understanding, quietly excused themselves. Mrs. Knight sat opposite me as I slowly ate a delicate croissant. "First," she said, her eyes serious, "we're going to the doctor to check on your injuries. Kayson is very insistent about your health."

My stomach fluttered. Kayson.

At the private clinic, the doctor, a kind-faced woman who spoke softly, examined me thoroughly. "Remarkable recovery, Ms. Spence," she said, beaming. "Your ribs are healing beautifully, the arm fracture is mending, and no residual issues from the concussion. You're a strong young woman."

A collective sigh of relief escaped both Mrs. Knight and me. "Thank you, doctor," I said, a genuine smile finally touching my lips. My body was healing. My new life was beginning.

Next, Mrs. Knight directed the driver to a sprawling, serene facility nestled amidst manicured gardens. "This is where Kayson has been recovering," she explained, her voice soft. "He's made incredible progress. But he's been very eager to meet you."

My heart began to pound. My palms grew sweaty. I was finally meeting the man I was marrying. The comatose man I had envisioned. I steeled myself, picturing a frail, unresponsive figure. I would be kind. I would be patient. I would honor my word. This was my penance, my purpose now.

Mr. Davies, the butler, met us at the entrance. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Knight, Miss Eleanore. Kayson is expecting you." He offered me a small, reassuring smile. "He's been very much looking forward to this. He's been awake and mostly aware for some time now, Miss Eleanore. For weeks, in fact. We've just been letting him build his strength."

My head snapped up. Awake? For weeks?

Mrs. Knight led me down a long, sunlit corridor to a spacious room overlooking a vibrant rose garden. "Kayson, darling," she said, her voice filled with affection, "look who's here."

I stepped into the room, my gaze fixed on the figure by the window. He was sitting in a wheelchair, facing away from us, his shoulders broad, his dark hair gleaming in the sunlight. He wasn't lying in bed, hooked up to machines. He was... alive.

He turned. My breath hitched.

Kayson Knight. Tall. Dark-haired. His eyes, a piercing shade of hazel, met mine. They were intelligent, observant, and oddly familiar. Not the vacant stare of a comatose man, but the intense gaze of someone who saw everything.

"Eleanore," he said, his voice a low rumble, rich and deep.

My mind reeled. He's not a vegetable. He's not comatose. Every assumption, every expectation I had carefully constructed, shattered into a million pieces. My parents. Josie. Their lies. Their manipulation. It all flooded back.

I tried to keep my face neutral, but I felt a tremor run through me. Mrs. Knight, sensing my shock, stepped forward, a gentle smile on her face. "Kayson, this is Eleanore Spence. Eleanore, this is Kayson Knight."

He extended a hand, strong and warm. I hesitated for a fraction of a second, then reached out and took it. His grip was firm. "Eleanore," he said again, his thumb brushing my knuckles. "It' s good to finally meet you, properly."

My mind reeled. Properly? Had we met before? And why was he looking at me like he knew every secret I kept?

Mrs. Knight clapped her hands together, a happy glint in her eyes. "Well! Now that you two have finally met, we can set a date! How about two weeks from now? Enough time for a beautiful, intimate ceremony, wouldn't you say?"

Kayson looked at me, a question in his eyes. I was still reeling, but a strange sense of defiance, a quiet resolve, settled within me. This was my escape. My new beginning. And he was my partner in it, whether he realized it yet or not. I nodded, almost imperceptibly.

He smiled, a slow, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Two weeks sounds perfect, Grandmother."

My mother's eyes, wide with a confusion I once might have pitied, landed on Kayson's arm around me. "He's... he's awake?" she stammered, the word hollow. It was then, seeing their faces, that I knew my departure wasn't just about my freedom; it was about their reckoning. And it had only just begun.