Blossom in Winter (Blossom in Winter #1)(126)

I consider his request while observing his eyes fill with tears. “If God is merciful with her and grants her a second chance, you better forget this relationship once and for all,” I snarl. “She can stay with you in New York, but I’ll choose the physician who will monitor her condition on a daily basis. And once she wakes up, you tell her goodbye, and you are gone—for good. Are we clear?” He nods. “If you ever try to see Petra afterward…” I squeeze my lips together, head shaking. “I swear to God, I’ll make sure the entire world knows what both of you did.”

“Tess, enough! It’s time for you to leave.”

“That’s alright,” interposes Van Dieren. “I’m going outside to get some fresh air.”





Chapter 34





Manhattan, August 26, 2020

Petra Van Gatt





I don’t recognize my bedroom. It looks unfamiliar. My mind’s blurry, as if I’d overslept. Every movement is difficult, but I manage to turn my face enough to the right to see my mother sitting beside me, stroking my head.

“Mom?” She smiles, still focusing on me.

“Hey, my little angel.” Her voice is so calm and reassuring. She plants a tender kiss on my forehead. “I love you so much. You have no idea how many times I have prayed to see these beautiful eyes again.”

I smile at her words, but my curiosity takes over and I look around the room. “Where am I?”

“In your new home. I moved to Manhattan to take care of you. I’ll never leave you again.”

“To take care of me?” I repeat, perplexed, while sitting up in bed. “What about Alex? Where is he?”

Mom lowers her gaze, thinking something through. “Honey, your godfather made me a promise…”

“What promise?”

But Mom doesn’t reply. Words seem difficult as she keeps studying me. “To let you live in peace.”

“Are you kidding me? No! I don’t believe you!” I touch my neck, but my pendant is gone. I feel such a terrible pang in my heart that I cry instantly, devastated by the pain.

“Darling, shhh…” She hugs me tight. “I understand it’s hard now, but it was such a dangerous obsession. It nearly killed you. You finally have a second chance to live a happy and healthy life.”

“I have to talk to him,” I howl louder.

“Oh, my little angel, he left New York. He sold his estate. He…”

“He what? Mom, speak!”

Mom swallows hard. “He got married, Petra.”

I nearly faint. I try to drag precious air into my lungs, breathing in and out.

Because my goddaughter forbade me to marry anyone but her, I remember him saying in Brazil.

“I don’t believe you. He loves me. He’ll never marry anyone but me.”

“Oh, darling, you’ve been in a coma for so long… It was destroying him. He had to tell you goodbye and move on.” She pauses. “He’s now happily married to Amanda.”

No, no, no! Agony takes over my soul, and I start sobbing like never before. “I want to die... Oh, Mom…” I hold her tight and let myself go in her arms. “I can’t live like this.”

“Of course you can. I promise you can,” she says, while gently stroking my hair. “You’ll have the best psychiatrists to take care of you. We’ll ensure you fully recover.”

Mom tries to calm me down, but I know it’s impossible. “Where’s Dad? I need to see him.”

She lets out a sigh. “Well, since I won the case to transfer you with me, your dad sold his stocks and his penthouse on Park Avenue, and decided to retire. He bought an island in the Pacific and has been living there like a hermit for the past few months.”

What? I can’t believe it! I shut my eyes and try to wake up from this nightmare. The two most important men in my life are gone? Mom has to be lying! I take my iPhone, get out of bed, and head to the living room. There I try to call Alex, but his number is no longer available. I try Dad’s number. That line doesn’t go through either. I text Yara, Julia, and Maud, but no one replies. I call them—still nothing. It seems like no one from the Van Dieren clan wants to talk to me, Margaret included. They all left. Abandoned me. Deceived me. I close my eyes, tears falling. He’s really gone. Again.

Mom sits on the floor where I’m sobbing and holds me tight. “Mom, let me die...” I sniffle. “There is no point in being here...”

“Shhh, my little angel. Never. I will never give up on you. You will heal, I promise. You have your whole life ahead. I understand it’s hard now…”

She can’t understand, no. She can’t understand there’s no possible life. The life I want is no longer here. I lost everything I most cherished. “Let me talk to him,” I insist through my sobs. “He loves me, he needs me.”

“Petra, it’s over. Your godfather moved on with his life. You have to do the same now. Let him be happy with Amanda.” But I keep shaking my head in denial. “You’ll start therapy tomorrow,” she announces assertively.

“I don’t need therapy. I need him. He doesn’t love Amanda. This is bullshit!”

Mom lets out a breath. “He does. He just wasn’t ready to marry and needed a break. What happened between you and him was just a terrible mistake.”