Maliya's Recovery

Andrew and Maliya arrived at the Clifton palace, and Maliya's eyes widened in shock.

She glanced from the grand palace to Andrew, her voice barely above a whisper, "Is this where you stay?"

Andrew gave her a curt nod, his expression unreadable. Maliya was stunned. This was the most luxurious villa in all of Klinland, a testament to the Clifton family's wealth and status.

She had thought Andrew was just a vain man, but now she realized there was more to him.

"Shall we?" Andrew asked, gesturing to the entrance. Maliya nodded, still in awe.

As they walked in, Andrew wrapped his hand around her waist, but Maliya stiffened, uncomfortable with the sudden intimacy.

Andrew noticed and quickly removed his hand, allowing her to walk beside him as they headed to their room.

The moment they closed the door behind them, Andrew spoke, his voice firm but gentle.

"Remove your veil."

Maliya swallowed hard, wishing the floor would open and swallow her whole. She felt a mix of fear and vulnerability.

Andrew walked in front of her, his hands crossed behind his back.

"Remove your veil," he repeated, his voice a little softer this time.

Maliya's heart raced as she slowly reached up and removed her veil, her eyes still closed. She knew he would definitely need a price for saving her from her grandfather's wrath but she didn't expect it to be this way.

She rubbed her sweaty palms against her clothes, trying to steady her breath.

As she opened her eyes, Andrew's gaze met hers, and for a moment, they just looked at each other.

Then, his eyes dropped to her scars, and his expression changed. Compassion etched on his face, he took a step closer to her.

Without a word, Andrew reached out and gently began to trace her scars with his fingers, his touch soft and gentle.

Maliya's eyes closed, savoring the gentle touch, but it was short-lived. Andrew's hands withdrew, and she opened her eyes to find him standing with his arms crossed, one hand resting on his jaw.

"Undress," he commanded, his voice firm but calm.

Maliya's heart sank, thinking Andrew wanted to humiliate her. With no place to go and no one to turn to, she felt trapped. She knew she had no choice but to obey.

With trembling hands, Maliya removed her clothes, standing naked before him. Andrew's gaze swept over her, his expression unreadable.

He circled her, his voice whispering in her ear, "Lay on the bed."

Maliya's body trembled as she moved towards the bed, her mind racing with uncertainty.

She lay down, feeling vulnerable and exposed, waiting for Andrew's next move.

Andrew sat down beside Maliya, noticing her discomfort.

"Relax, I won't harm you," he reassured her, and she nodded, trying to calm herself.

He gently traced the scars on her body, his touch soft and caring. Then, he stood up, walked to his wardrobe, and retrieved some medicine.

Returning to her side, he began to apply the medicine to her scars, his hands moving with precision.

Maliya winced in pain, and Andrew apologized, leaning closer to her. He blew air on her skin to cool it, his breath gentle.

After a while, he asked, "Are you okay now?" Maliya nodded, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling a mix of emotions.

Andrew smiled and said, "It's nothing."

But Maliya felt a deep sense of gratitude. No one had ever taken care of her like this before. They were always disgusted by her scars.

As Andrew wrapped her body with gauze, Maliya felt a sense of shyness wash over her.

***********

During the ten-day recovery period, Maliya and Andrew grew closer, spending countless hours together.

He was always available to tend to her needs, ensuring she was comfortable and stress-free. Maliya found herself falling deeply in love with his kind and caring nature.

Andrew walked into the room with a smile. "It's time to remove the gauze," he said, his eyes sparkling with warmth.

He helped Maliya sit in front of the mirror, his hands gentle as he began to unwrap the gauze. As they reached her face, Sophia's reluctance was palpable.

Andrew leaned in, his voice whisper-soft. "Regardless of the outcome, you don't have to hide your face. You are beautiful just the way you are."

Maliya's hands trembled as she placed them on his, her eyes locking onto his. She nodded, steeling herself for what was to come.

"Ready?" Andrew asked, his voice filled with encouragement.

Maliya nodded again, taking a deep breath as Andrew continued to remove the gauze, revealing her face.

"Open your eyes," Andrew whispered, his smile radiant.

Maliya slowly lifted her eyelids, and her eyes widened in astonishment. She gasped, hardly recognizing the person staring back at her.

The gauze had hidden her transformation, but now she saw a stunning beauty, her scars greatly diminished.

She placed her hands on her face, touching it softly, as if to ensure it was real. She moved closer to the mirror, pinching herself to confirm she wasn't dreaming.

"Ouch!" she winced, laughing in delight. "Oh my, it's true!"

Overjoyed, Maliya turned around and flung her arms around Andrew, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes.

Andrew hugged her back, his voice filled with emotion.

"I promise to never let anyone harm you again," he vowed, holding her close.

After a while, Maliya left to take her bath, leaving Andrew alone in the room. A knock at the door broke the silence.

"Come in," Andrew said, his voice calm.

Pete walked in, bowing slightly as he handed Andrew a file.

Andrew opened it, scanning the contents with a discerning eye. The file contained information about the four powerful families.

Andrew let out a sigh, dropping the file onto the table. "Go to the south," he commanded, his voice firm.

Pete nodded, understanding the message.

Andrew's mind was elsewhere, though. He only wanted to spend peaceful time with Maliya.

After Pete left, Maliya stepped out of the bathroom, her hair damp and her skin glowing.

She and Andrew spent the rest of the day together, opening up to each other, sharing stories, and laughter.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Andrew said, his eyes locked on Maliya's.

"I want that too," Maliya replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

And so, they decided to get married.