Chapter 303

CHapter 297

Emilia nearly ran into the room. “Adrian!”

He turned his head at the sound of her voice.

She stopped just inside the doorway.

For a moment, she couldn’t move.

He was awake. His eyes were open. He was looking at her.

She had spent hours imagining what it would feel like to see him again. She had imagined being angry with him for going back to face Dante alone.

She simply stood there, with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Adrian’s expression softened. “Hi, sweetheart.”

Emilia made a broken sound.

Then she crossed the room.

She reached the bed and bent over him, careful not to touch his injured shoulder, and pressed her face against his chest.

Adrian lifted his good arm around her. “Careful, Sweetheart.” he murmured.

She laughed through her tears. “Don’t you dare.”

He closed his eyes. “All right.”

She pulled back just enough to look at him. “You absolute idiot.”

His mouth twitched. “That’s a warm welcome.”

“You left me!”

His expression changed.

Emilia shook her head, tears falling faster now.

“You told me you’d come back, and then you left me in that car while you went back to face him. You told me you would come back, Adrian.”

“I did come back.”

“I thought you were dead.”

His eyes softened. “I’m sorry.”

She stared at him.

For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to say something else. Then she bent and pressed her forehead against his.

“I love you.”

Adrian’s hand moved gently over her hair. “I love you too.”

She began to cry again.

He held her as best he could. “I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m here, Mi’lady.”

Emilia shook her head against him. “You don’t get to promise that and then scare me like this.”

“I know.”

“You don’t get to leave me alone with all of this and expect me to be reasonable.”

A faint smile touched his lips. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She drew back. Her eyes were red, her nose was running, and she looked furious.

Adrian looked at her with so much tenderness that her expression crumpled again.

He lifted his hand and brushed a tear from her cheek.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

She caught his hand and pressed it against her face. “I don’t want you to do that again.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Adrian.”

“I will talk to you before I make decisions that affect both of us.”

She searched his face. “And you won’t decide that protecting me means leaving me behind?”

His expression grew serious. He held her gaze.

“I can’t promise that nothing bad will happen. I can’t promise I’ll never be afraid. But I can promise that I won’t keep treating my fear as if it gives me the right to decide everything for you.”

Emilia’s eyes filled again. She nodded.

He brushed her hair back. “Come here.”

She leaned down and kissed him carefully.

It was a small kiss. Tender, and relieved.

When she drew back, Adrian rested his forehead against hers.

“How is Kylie?”

Emilia closed her eyes. “She’s stable.”

His expression softened. “What happened in the ship?”

“Bad things.” She rubbed his cheek. “She’s still unconscious, but the operation went well. Christian is with her.”

Adrian nodded faintly. “He’s going to need someone to make him eat.”

Christian scoffed from the doorway. “I can hear you.”

“Good. Then you can hear that you’re being dumb.”

“You’re the one in a hospital bed.”

“And yet I remain correct.”

Emilia laughed through her tears.

Adrian smiled at her.

For the first time that night, she felt something loosen inside her chest.

…..

Christian returned to Kylie’s room shortly before dawn.

He had changed his shirt, and had washed the blood from his hands.

He had drunk a cup of coffee that tasted like burnt water and eaten half a sandwich because Emilia had threatened to call his security team and order them to restrain him until he finished it.

He had also checked on Adrian twice.

His friend was awake, stable, and being monitored. Emilia was with him, and Selena had finally allowed herself to step away long enough to speak with the doctors.

For the first time in hours, Christian felt as though he could take a full breath.

He entered Kylie’s room quietly.

She was still unconscious.

He sat beside her and took her hand.

“Well, Blue.” He glanced at the monitor. “You’re missing a lot.”

He gave a tired smile. “Adrian woke up. He’s being annoying already, so you can stop worrying about him.”

He paused.

“Emilia nearly cried herself sick, but she’s with him now. Your mother and Mrs. Hayes are safe. And, as far as I know, nobody has managed to destroy the world while you’ve been asleep.”

He looked at her face.

“Though I wouldn’t put it past you to wake up and complain that I didn’t bring you breakfast.”

He brushed his thumb over her fingers.

“I’d bring you breakfast.” His smile faded. “I’d bring you anything.” He leaned closer. “Just wake up.”

He watched her for a moment. Then he looked down at their joined hands.

He remained silent for a while.

Then he said, “I don’t know what our future is going to look like.”

He stared at her face.

“I know you want to finish your studies. I know you want to be a lawyer. I know you want to make a name for yourself, and I know you’re going to be brilliant at it.”

His mouth twitched.

“I also know you’re going to be impossible about it.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead. His eyes grew serious. “But I know I want to find out about our future.”

He looked down at her hand. “I want the life we haven’t had yet.”

His voice grew rough.

“I want the boring parts, Blue. The ordinary parts. The things that don’t make good stories.”

He swallowed.

“I want to argue about what to watch. I want to take you to dinner and have you spend half the evening stealing food from my plate. I want to see you graduate. I want to hear you complain about people who don’t understand how brilliant you are. I still want us to race together, and get the cat you want.”

His eyes burned.

“I want to be there when you win your first big case.” He bowed his head. “I want you to come home to me.”

He pressed his lips to her fingers.

“And I want you to know that home doesn’t mean you have to stop being who you are.”

He looked at her.

His voice softened. “I love you exactly as you are.” He smiled through the ache in his chest. “Even when you’re annoying.”

He sat with her hand in his.

The monitor continued its steady rhythm.

Christian watched the numbers for a moment, then looked back at her face.

“You’re going to wake up, and you’re going to tell me that I’ve been talking too much.” He leaned closer. “And I’ll tell you that you started it.”

He waited. His smile trembled. “Come on, Kylie.” He pressed her hand against his cheek. “Give me something to argue with.”

The room remained quiet.

Christian lowered his head and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Blue.” He straightened, still holding her hand.

“Take your time.” His voice softened. “But come back to me.”