Chapter 4Shameless for You: Claiming the Broken Heir

The news of my upcoming wedding to Declan spread like wildfire.

The vultures and hyenas circling him immediately backed off.

I visited the hospital every day.

Always bringing fresh flowers.

Today, it was a bouquet of sunflowers.

Declan was sitting up in bed, working on his laptop.

His long fingers tapped rapidly across the black keys.

His expression was calm and focused.

After arranging the flowers, I just stared at him.

Feeling uncomfortable under my gaze, he frowned. "Can you stop staring at me?"

I gave him an innocent look. "I can't. I can't control myself."

"Unless you let me kiss you, then I'll stop looking."

Declan shot me a side-eye.

He saw right through my little tricks.

He pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Deciding to just ignore my staring.

I sighed, making no effort to hide my disappointment.

The clicking of the keyboard was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

I knew he was racing against time to take back what was his.

Even with ruined legs, Declan wasn't going to be crushed so easily.

He was wearing a light blue hospital gown that hung loosely on him.

He had lost a lot of weight recently.

It made his facial features look even sharper and more profound.

His collarbone was prominent, rising and falling slightly with his breaths.

The small, dark mole right between his collarbones stood out starkly against his pale skin.

It drew my eyes like a magnet.

Just as I was thoroughly distracted.

A pair of long, elegant fingers reached up and buttoned his collar all the way to the top.

I looked at him, frustrated.

There was absolutely no need to guard against me like this.

It wasn't like I was going to unleash my inner beast and devour him right here in the hospital.

Even though I'd been drooling over him for years.

I huffed, "You won't let me look now, but once we're married, I'm just going to rip it right open."

Declan’s fingers paused.

He looked at me, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

"Hazel, what exactly did you learn abroad these past few years?"

In the past, I used to be a bit of a spoiled princess.

Between my own brothers and my cousins, I had nine older brothers. I was the only girl in my generation.

I was sheltered, fiercely protected, and definitely had a bit of a temper.

But in front of Declan, I used to blush so easily.

I was so well-behaved.

Nothing like how I was acting now.

"I learned a lot. I can send you my syllabus if you want," I teased, playing with his words.

He gave me a look and ignored me.

Turning his attention back to his screen.

I cut up some fruit and handed it to him.

He took a few bites and stopped.

He closed his laptop, massaging his temples in exhaustion.

I volunteered eagerly, "I can massage them for you."

I reached out, but Declan grabbed my hand mid-air.

He looked at me, his expression serious.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He said somewhat abruptly, "Go downstairs and buy me a drink."

"What kind?"

"...Coffee."

I was a bit surprised. "Coffee?"

He never liked coffee. He only drank tea.

Facing my confusion, Declan confirmed, "Yes, coffee."

I didn't think too much about it. Five years had passed; it was normal for habits to change.

I got up and left the room.

I took the elevator down.

Just as I stepped out of the elevator, I slammed on the brakes.

I forgot my phone.

Sighing, I turned right back around.

When I returned, I noticed the privacy curtain around Declan's bed was drawn closed.

My heart tightened.

Afraid something had happened, my mind was filled with panic and worry.

I rushed in frantically.

And yanked the curtain open.

The scene before me made me freeze completely.

My pupils contracted, my mind going entirely blank.

I stood there, paralyzed, unable to react.

The sound of a toilet flushing echoed from the bathroom.

My eyes were glued to Declan’s hands.

With one hand, he was holding himself, and with the other, he was using a wet wipe to clean up.

The moment I burst in, he froze.

Declan closed his eyes, fighting to suppress his emotions.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he ground out, "Get out."

His tone was restrained but simmered with hidden rage.

I snapped out of my daze, turning around in a blind panic and stumbling out.

With my back to him, my thoughts were a chaotic mess.

After a brief flash of embarrassment, my overwhelming feeling was anxiety.

I worried that barging in had injured Declan’s pride.

I worried I had humiliated him.

I cursed myself for being so reckless.

I racked my brain for something comforting to say.

Something to ease the tension and lighten the mood.

After agonizing over it, what blurted out of my mouth was: "Um... it's really big."

The hospital room fell dead silent.

Just as I was internally slapping myself for being an idiot.

Declan’s voice drifted coldly through the curtain.

"What, have you seen other guys' to compare it to?"

I was stunned for a second.

Other guys?

I've been wronged!

I quickly defended myself, "I have not!"

I mean, even if I hadn't eaten pork, I’ve seen pigs run. I had some basic conceptual knowledge.

I turned around and yelled at the curtain, "I've only ever seen yours!"

Silence fell over the room again.

I realized this conversation was taking a very weird turn.

Why was I arguing with Declan about this?

"Ms. Sterling?"

The caretaker stepping out of the bathroom shattered the silence and the awkwardness.

When the curtain was finally pulled back, Declan was fully dressed.

He shot me a fleeting, unreadable look.

I was too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

I rushed over to the nightstand, snatched my phone.

And dropped a hasty, "I'm going to get your coffee."

Then I practically sprinted away.