Sorry if it took me forever to update. Guys, I really need your suggestions because I'm kind of running out of ideas for this story. They will be very much appreciated. I hope you are still interested in reading this. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy

I Don't Want to be a Bride

Chapter 21 - Roza

"Sorry, Miss Rosemarie, Mr. Mazur is not here. He left a few hours ago to meet a client," one of Mazur's bodyguards said.

"When he comes back, tell him I want to talk," I said before going back to the room I shared with Sydney.

There were no traces of blood in the room. Our sheets were even changed and the room smelled of lavender. In fairness, they had good house keepers.

I took a quick shower and changed into more comfortable clothes. I went to the hospital section of the building to check on Sydney.

Was it weird that I cared about my ex-fiance's other woman? Was it strange if I wished her well and wished that her baby survived? I know how she would feel. Multiple times, I lost the people I love and it hurt like hell. Physical pain was no match.

Physical wounds heal in time, but emotional ones didn't.

I spotted Dimitri on a chair across Sydney's room. He was staring at the ceiling blankly. I walked without a sound, but he still noticed. He was always so alert.

"Is she okay?" I asked him.

"Yes, she just needs to rest for a couple of days and she'll be fine," he answered.

My feet brought me closer to his, and soon, I sat beside him.

I still couldn't believe that he was here. It was surreal. After mourning for him for so long, I learned that he was not dead. What if this was a dream? What if this was just my mind tricking me, because I didn't want to accept the fact that he was really gone and not coming back?

"Dimitri?" I called him softly and his head snapped to my direction.

I cupped his cheeks with my hands and squeezed them. I pulled his ears slightly. I poked his nose and he grunted.

"What are you doing, Roza?" he asked, a bit annoyed.

"Just checking if you are real," I answered truthfully.

"I am, I told you the truth earlier," he said.

"You sure, it's true and I'm not hallucinating? Who knows you're lying to me again?" Bitch mode on.

He flinched. "From this day on, I'm never telling you a lie."

"I really can't trust you at the moment...but of all the things you told me, which of them were true?" I asked skeptically.

"I didn't lie about my family and how I felt about you. I care for you, genuinely." He sounded sincere. He always did, it was so hard to decide if he was lying.

He noticed that I was quiet, thinking about what he last said.

"Swear to God, I'm telling the truth."

"I don't know, Dimitri." I was still super uncertain.

"I never did anything to intentionally hurt you. It hurts me every time I lie you. It freaking hurts when I had to lie about my death. Knowing that I may never see you and my family again was a nightmare, but I had to do it. I spent half of my life protecting you, please, Rose, trust me again?" The look on his face was heartbreaking, he truly looked in pain.

"I never asked you to protect me," I spat at him. God, I sounded ungrateful, but with the way he spoke, it was as if I owe him my whole life. He might have helped me lot, but I recovered and stood up on my own.

"I know, but I just had to. I can't handle seeing you hurt."

"Why? You could have protected me without being too close to me, without getting attached. If you knew that there was a possibility of you leaving me, why did you make yourself closer to me? I could have grown up more independent if you left me earlier."

"You really want to know why?" His voice sounded really tired.

"Yes," I answered.

"It's because I lo-"

A nurse came out of Sydney's room, cutting off Dimitri. She gave us a brief smile and told us that Sydney was awake and we can speak to her but not for too long because she needs to go back to sleep.

I hurriedly went inside Sydney's room. She was sobbing.

"Sydney," I said lowly, but still loud enough for her to hear.

She ignored me and continued crying. She looked more miserable than when she woke from her nightmares. She looked very pale. Maybe, it was because of the blood loss.

I hesitated at first, but I still did it. I went to her side and hugged her. She only cried harder and buried her head on my shoulder.

"He's gone. I've got nobody now. I'm trapped here, all alone. Why can't I just die with my baby? Why did he have to leave me? I told him to hold on tight," she said through her sobs.

Sydney might have been a bitch to me, but she was only human. She made mistakes and she was vulnerable. She needed someone and I would be here for her.

"Were you on a mission? What do you think caused your miscarriage?" I asked her.

"I just came back...I got punched in the stomach by a man earlier and then I blacked out. This is my entire fault. I should have been more careful."

Before I knew it, I was crying with her. My heart was breaking and I was so angry. I really hate Abe now. He knew that she was pregnant and he still sent her to a mission? He was so cruel. I was starting to think that he wasn't who I thought he was. Now I understand why my mother didn't want me to meet him. I wouldn't ever be like him.

"Hush, it's not your fault. I promise I'll get you out of here so you can get back to your family," I promised her.

"I can't...they'll find me wherever I go. They will hurt my family and Adrian, I can't handle that."

She really loved him even more than I did. If I met her before I got her, I swear, I would've killed her for stealing my fiancé, but being in this stupid place changed everything.

Sydney cried herself to sleep and I stayed by her side the whole time.

Everyone here was powerless against Abe, but not me. I'd make sure that there would be some changes in here.

Dimitri walked me to my room. We were both silent as we walked, and honestly, though I was talkative and there were still so many things I wanted ask him, I wasn't in the mood to talk. I had too much to take for one night.

I was about to unlock the door when Dimitri spoke, "Roza, I'm really, terribly sorry."

My insides melt when he called me that name. The way he said it made me want to run into his arm and stay there forever.

"Dimitri..." He pulled me into his arms.

"I'm really happy to see you again, you have no idea," he mumbled, burying his face at the top of my head.

I closed my eyes and buried my head on his muscular chest. I was assaulted by the scent of his aftershave that I loved. God, I missed him so much.

This isn't right. Stop forgiving easily. All , he lied to you.

My head was telling me stay away from him, but my heart didn't like the idea of it.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave a review.

-Ishi