‘What I need in this life to be happy is you, Arissa.’
His gaze was so sincere. He wasn’t sad. He was smiling. It was almost as if saying the words out loud and making his declaration had taken a weight off his shoulders.
A shout came from the side.
‘Corinez needs this reform. The healthcare system has to change. The people of Corinez can’t trust anyone as much as they trust you.’
‘The Independent Press Standards Organisation will get to the bottom of this. It won’t happen again.’
‘Arissa, what can we do to persuade you to stay?’
The question came from an older man with grey hair. Arissa’s skin prickled. The attention was on her.
For a few seconds she couldn’t think straight. Then her focus shifted to the man she loved standing in front of her. He’d offered to give up everything for her. What could she give up for him?
Or maybe she didn’t need to give up anything, maybe she needed to compromise. That didn’t seem quite so terrifying.
She stared at the podium with the microphone. Maybe it was time to take control. To tell her own story. To use the press attention to bring the focus entirely on the safe haven scheme and its value. If she owned her story and told it herself then she wouldn’t need to worry about the press revealing it to the world for her.
She closed her eyes for a second and concentrated on the heat of Philippe’s skin next to hers. The strength. The passion. This was hers. This was hers to take.
She straightened her back and relaxed her shoulders, purposely pushing them down.
She squeezed Philippe’s hand and kept holding it as she stepped up to the podium. She could do this. She could do this for her, and for him.
What kind of life did she want? One where she had to live a life without the man that she loved? Or one where she faced the world and told them the truth?
There it was. She’d admitted it to herself—even though she’d known it for the last few days.
He had more strength and determination than she could ever have dreamed of. He could have walked away from someone like her. Walking away from his country might have never even entered his head. But for Philippe, it had. He was clear. He would stand up for her no matter what.
He tugged at her arm. ‘Don’t. You don’t need to say anything. Don’t be forced into the spotlight—I know that’s not what you want.’
She reached back and touched his cheek with her free hand. ‘Maybe we can both get what we want,’ she whispered.
She stood behind the podium and faced the press. They silenced much quicker for her than they had for Philippe.
She lifted her chin. ‘Prince Philippe is right. I’m a doctor. That’s what I am and what I want to continue to be. But I have a story to tell you. One that I preferred to keep private. But somehow—’ she glanced around the room at the expectant faces ‘—it seems that today might be a good day to tell it.’
She took a few moments to collect her thoughts. ‘I was an abandoned baby. Thirty years ago I was left outside an unmanned clinic in Temur Sapora.’ She tilted her chin upwards. ‘‘I was lucky. I was found. I was sick, but recovered in hospital and was adopted by a loving couple who gave me the best life they could.’ She gave a little smile. ‘I miss and think about them every day.’
She could see the exchange of glances.
‘And here I am. I’ve grown up, trained as a doctor and now I specialise in children’s blood disorders, with a particular focus on cancers. I know there’s a need in Corinez. I saw a patient only yesterday who needs accessible treatment that could save their life.’ She put her hand on her chest. ‘What will it take for me to stay? I know you only ask because you want to keep your Prince. I don’t want to keep a prince.’ She turned and met his gaze. ‘I want to keep the man I fell in love with, Philippe Aronaz.
‘I want you all to publicise the safe haven cot. I want you to tell how it can save lives. I want you to reassure women that there is someplace safe that they can leave their babies. And...’ she paused and smiled at Philippe ‘...if the plans for maternity care work out, maybe we will be able to offer all kinds of support to women in need.’ She took a final breath. ‘And it goes without saying that I expect integrity from every person in the room to respect the rights of any patients that I see.’