Desmond


    I watched as he exined what had happened after the resetting, unable to help but stare in awe at him. Who would have thought that he would encounter another version of me, one that was cruel and harbored animosity towards him?


    "I thought I might never see you again," he said.


    I smiled and gently grabbed his hand, nting a kiss on it. "I''m so d that you''re back. I have to admit, I truly missed you, and when we were apart, it felt like hell," I confessed, heaving a deep sigh. "When your heart stopped beating, I thought it was the end until..." I paused, locking eyes with his mesmerizing blue gaze.


    Goddess, I couldn''t deny how much I missed those eyes. Looking into them again, I remembered why I was drawn to their beauty, they were the most captivating eyes ever.


    "What should we do about the rumors circting?" I inquired.


    He stared at me for a moment, not uttering a word or even blinking. Concern crept in, making me wonder if something was wrong until he gestured beside him. "Sleep beside me," he suggested.


    I nodded in response, settling beside him on the tiny bed that couldn''tfortably amodate two people, yet somehow, we managed.


    He rested his head on my chest and sighed. "I missed this. Those few days spent in the fantasy world created by Hecate were hell, and I have to admit that at first, I thought it was real."


    "You did?" I asked, my fingers gently stroking his hair.


    He raised his head to look at me. "Yes," he said and ced his head back on my chest. "Who would have thought that it was all a lie?" He chuckled and rubbed my chest. "I''m really d that I''m back with you, my love, and I''m going to make sure that nothing ever happens to us again."


    "Me too," I kissed the top of his head.


    "About the press, when you were gone, the council of elders, they..." My words were cut short by the opening of the door. I almost jumped out of bed if Randy''s head was not on my chest. I feared it was the king, but when the door opened, it was Sonnia and Noah.


    "Goodness, Randy!" Sonnia shouted his name.


    "I''m really d that you''re alive and nothing happened."


    Randy chuckled as he raised his head from my chest and, with my help, sat upright on the bed. "Good to see that you''re still as bubbly as ever," he said as she hugged him.


    "They said that your heart stopped breathing," she whimpered as she let go of him, then ced her hand on the left side of his face. "I''m really d that you''re alive and nothing has happened to you."


    Randy smiled and pinched her cheeks. "As you can see, I''m doing fine."


    Sonnia hugged him again and then turned to face me. "Thank you for standing by his side," she told me.


    "What do you mean by that?" Noah questioned, sounding annoyed. His tone was harsh, and I made the mistake of looking at him, realizing he was frowning at me. "He''s not even supposed to be here when he''s the cause of all this," he said. "You made someone record Randy, and now, all of this is happening."


    I took a deep breath, averting my gaze from him. I knew he''d use me of something I hadn''t done, but I couldn''t me him; it was what he believed. He genuinely thought I was involved in the recording, but truthfully, I had nothing to do with it. Why would I send someone to record Randy and me? There was absolutely no reason for me to do such a thing.


    "I didn''t do anything, and you..." I started.


    "Shut up!" he yelled, seizing the cor of my shirt, yanking me up from where I sat.


    "How dare you lie when I can see through you!"


    "Noah, stop this!" Randy shouted at him.


    "Stop ming Desmond when he''s innocent!" He coughed, and we both turned to face him. "I..." He coughed again, and I pped Noah''s hands away from my cor, rushing to Randy''s side.


    "Pumpkin," I called him by the nickname. He smiled at me and nodded weakly. I nced at Noah, clenching his fists angrily, staring at me. "Noah, if you think I''m responsible for that audio, then you''re mistaken!" "How dare you call me that!" he seethed.


    "Are you forgetting I''m your prince? Just because you and Randy are together now doesn''t mean you can speak to me however you wish!"


    I frowned, unfazed by his threats. My priority was ensuring Randy''s well being. I wasn''t ready for his petty arguments; my boyfriend was my concern above all else.


    "I love Randy," I confessed, turning to face him. "I''m so deeply in love with him that I''dy down my life for him. I don''t care what you think, but remember, he''s my boyfriend, and we''re destined to be together. Whatever you''re thinking is none of my concern."


    Noah mmed his hand against the wall.


    "You put him in trouble before, and now, it''s happening again!" he used. "He almost died thinking about you. I won''t allow it!"


    "Enough!" Randy interrupted before Noah could finish. "I don''t care what you or anyone thinks. I choose Desmond. I''ming out as gay!" he dered.


    "What?" Everyone in the room, including the king and the queen at the entrance, eximed.


    "Have you lost your mindpletely, son?" The king yelled. "What do you mean bying out? Do you want a lifetime of stigma? Do you understand what it means to be an outcast forever?"


    "I don''t care about any of that," Randy retorted. "I''ve already said I''ll give up my position if necessary."


    "They''ll never ept you," theking argued.


    Randy scoffed, forcibly removing the wires connecting him to the life machine.


    He struggled to climb out of bed, my arms supporting him. "Thank you, my love," he said.


    When he said "love," I couldn''t help but smile, having missed hearing that from him. Together, we walked towards the entrance where the king and the Queen were standing.


    "What are you nning to do right now?" the king inquired.