His Toxic Addiction-Chapter 357: A Dance.

The women in the ward chatted with so much joy and giggles as they packed their stuff to leave the hospital with.

Mr. Stephen left a minute ago. He came to visit but kept it short for his wife’s sake and Arissa would say that there wasn’t a more beautiful sight that would amount to the happy view she sees whenever Adele bonds with her father.

Mr. Stephen doesn’t leave her out of it and she is happy about their smooth progress but she can’t help to sometimes wish she also had a father like him - like her own personal father. Unfortunately, the man whose blood runs through her veins is nothing but a greedy asshoe.

Mr. Stephen would pass as every child’s dream father. He cared so much about Adele’s life and asked questions about her down to her prom parties and high school challenges. Her parents never cared about these things.

Jocelyn was more of the chatterbox among them. She kept on giving hints of great weddings as if she would be the wedding planner herself and while they chatted about how they wanted her marriage to go, Arissa was lost in her world.

She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and continued thinking of how life would have been with her if things hadn’t turned out this way. Perhaps, if she hadn’t met Nicklaus and if Collins had proposed earlier.

A knock came on the door and Jocelyn went to get it. She opened the door wide when she saw who it was and Collins walked into the ward.

Jocelyn released a deep breath and flashed him her most enchanting smile as he walked in. Arissa turned to them and also gave him a welcoming smile.

Collins nodded to their smiles and walked in further. His feet took steps towards Arissa in all concentration and when he got to where she stood, he took both hands in his and stared down at her ring.

He smirked slowly, "So it’s true," when he heard the news from Mr. Stephen, he almost melted to the floor and the man called it happy news. He can’t believe he rushed down here because of news like that.

He felt stupid for rushing down here as if chased by a zombie but he couldn’t help it. His heart raced at that moment and it strengthened his feet.

Arissa thinner her lips and nodded, "It is,"

Collins tore his gaze off her ring and stared straight into her eyes, "So you intended never to let me know or when do you intend to tell me?" his voice sounded soft but pained.

"Umm... Collins," she placed a hand on his shoulders and pleaded, "Let’s step out for

a moment, please,"

Collins nodded and Arissa passed small nods over to Adele and Jocelyn for them to continue packing.

Collins walked before her and the moment she walked out of the ward, he closed the door behind her and slammed both hands in the door, trapping her between his arms.

"It still hurts," he informed her, staring down at her feet. Tears pooled in his eyes and his voice sounded broken as if he had been struggling, "I tried but it still hurts. Tell me, what should I do?"

Arissa was speechless.

Slowly, tears escaped Collins’s eyes and he immediately stared down at the floor, "You told me it might take you ten years to say yes to a man but you said yes to him in less than three months. You told me it would take you that much because your father was a good example of how bad some father can be and you won’t want that for your child.." he raised his face and stared into her brown eyes with his wet ones, "All these things you said to me during casual conversation made it hard for me to approach you and tell you how I felt. You had standards and I never saw myself up to those standards and now, it hurts each time I realize that I had more chances with you,"

Arissa released a low breath and raised her hands to his face. Using her fingers, she gently wiped his hot tears but more flowed as she wiped and it crushed her.

"I’m so sorry," she apologized as she tiptoed to place a soft kiss on his left eye. Collins shut his eyes and allowed her. She placed another on his right eye and pressed her forehead on his, "I’m so sorry,"

Collins swallowed.

He softly grabbed her by the waist and pressed her body into his.

"You would find someone better," Arissa assured him from the hug, "And when you do, please do not hold back,"

Collins pressed his head into her neck and nodded, "I hope so and when I do, I won’t hold back," he promised.

Arissa chuckled and wrapped her hands around him, "You are so dear to me and I want you to remain happy always,"

Collins’s face brightened. He felt appreciated. "Any plans for a baby?" he asked from her neck.

Arissa’s face reddened and she buried it in his chest, "There is but I’m a bit hesitant," she laughed at the end.

"I understand," he laughed with her, "It’s a daring changing phase,"

Arissa giggled and raised her face from his chest. Collins stared down at her and his lips parted slowly and with great difficulty, he held himself from kissing her.

"I love you," he confessed once again but this time, he sounded more platonic.

Arissa thinned her lips and nodded, "I know," she hugged him once more, "I’m so sorry,"

Collins nodded and patted her back, "Enough, I’m the one who should be apologizing this way and not you," he ran his hand through her hair, "Can I request a dance?"

Arissa pulled away from him, "Umm, I..." She looked a bit hesitant and Collins somehow caught wind of what she wanted.

"You can’t?"

Arissa shook her head, "Don’t take it that way, Collins. My wedding will come soon. And I want to give Nicklaus my first dance before anyone,", she explained.

Collins smiled at her and released a deep breath, "Does this mean you owe me a dance?"

Arissa nodded, "I do,"

Collins stared into her eyes, "You look happier, and for that, I promise to let you go. The only thing I ask from you is to always remember that I’m here and forever will be here for you,"

"I know this," Arissa smiled, and on a tiptoe, she placed a kiss on his right cheek and stepped away, "Remain happy and keep me happier,"

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