Alexander POV.
1 stood by Christiana’s bedside, my eyes locked on her fragile form. She lay there, unconscious, her face pale and bruised, lips cracked and dry. I could hardly recognize her. She looked like a shadow of the woman I once knew…once vibrant, stubborn, and full of fire. Now, she was broken, battered by whatever horrors she had endured.
I clenched my fists, the rage boiling beneath my skin, but I force it down. Not here. Not now. I had to be strong, for her. For the kids. But the sight of her made it nearly impossible to hold i. My fingers itched to wrap around the throat of whoever had done this to her, to make them pay for every second of her suffering
Gently, I reached for her hand. Her skin was cold against mine, her fingers limp in my grasp. “Christiana…” I whispered, my voice low, barely audible in the silence of the room. I traced the back of her hand with my thumb, trying to offer her some kind of comfort, even though she couldn’t feel it “I’m here.”
It had barely been three months since she’d returned, three months since I found her alive. And in that short time, she had been through hell. Her house had burned down, and I could still remember the panic in her voice when I’d pulled her from the flames. She had escaped death that night, only to be kidnapped and tortured days later. And now… this.
My chest tightened, and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat couldn’t let myself imagine what they had done to her. I didn’t want to think about the fear she must have felt, the pain. The anger was too much, threatening to consume me. I wanted blood. Whoever had taken her… I would make sure they regretted it. They would beg for mercy before I was done
with them.
But for now, all I could do was stand here and wait for her to wake up. My hand held hers tightly, as if my grip alone could tether her back to me, bring her out of whatever darkness she was trapped in. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.
The kids had been terrified when they heard. Emma wouldn’t stop crying, and Ethan..God, he was strong, but even he had broken down. I had left them in my mother’s care, knowing that seeing Christiana like this would only make things worse. They didn’t need to witness this. Not yet.
“Why did this happen?” I muttered under my breath, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My jaw clenched, my teeth grinding together. The hospital room was too quiet, the only sound the faint beep of the machines monitoring Christiana’s vitals. It was maddening
I lowered my head, pressing my lips to the back of her hand, hoping, praying, that she would feel it somehow, “Please…. wake up,” I whispered, my voice cracking with the weight of everything I couldn’t say. “The kids need you. I need you.”
My heart pounded in my chest, the helplessness clawing at me, tearing me apart from the inside. I wasn’t used to this, standing aside, waiting. I was a man of action, always had been. But now, all I could do was watch her lie there, still and
silent.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a nurse stepped in, her expression soft but professional. “Mr. Alistair?” she called gently.
I didn’t take my eyes off Christiana. “Yes?” My voice was flat, cold. I didn’t have the patience for pleasantries right now.
“The doctors are hopeful. Her vitals are stable. It’s just a matter of time before she wakes up” She hesitated for a moment, glancing between Christiana and me, as if sensing the storm brewing just beneath my surface. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
“No,” I said, still holding Christiana’s hand. “Just make sure she’s comfortable.”
ΠΗΓΕΣ
nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
I leaned forward, resting my forehead against the edge of the bed, still clutching her hand. “You’ve been through enough.” I whispered, my voice barely holding steady. “But you’re going to pull through this, Christiana. You have to. For them.”
1/4
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BK 66%
18:15 Fri, Oct 18
Chapter 90
I pictured Emma and Ethan’s faces, their worried eyes searchinganine for answers I didn’t have. I had promised them that their mother would be okay. Lhad to make sure that was true.
I tightened my grip on her hand, my breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts. “When you wake up, I’ll be right here. I’l make sure you never go through something like this again. I swear it.”
But deep down, the fury simmered. Someone was responsible for this, and I wasn’t the kind of man to let that go. Not when it came to the woman lying helpless in front of me. Not when it came to my family.
Whoever had done this would pay. And they would pay dearly.
The door swung open suddenly, breaking the stillness of the room. I turned my head, my grip tightening instinctively around Christiana’s hand. The air shifted as Daniel stepped inside. His eyes locked onto Christiana, and I saw the same expression I always hated the worry, the concern. Too much concern.
He didn’t belong here.
“What the hell are you doing here, Daniel?” I growled, my voice low but full of warning. I straightened up, my shoulders tense as he walked further into the room.
He ignored me, his focus entirely on Christiania as he moved to her side. “I came as soon as I heard,” he said, his voice laced with worry–His jaw was clenched, but his eyes. God, his eyes had that look I despised. That softness. As if he had any right to be feeling this way. “What happened to her?”
“She’s not your concern,” I snapped, stepping closer, blocking his view of her. My blood boiled at the sight of him standing so close to her, like he had any claim on her. “I’m handling it. You can leave.”
Daniel’s eyes flicked from Christiana’s unconscious form to me, his lips pressing into a tight line. “Alex, this isn’t about you or me right now. It’s about her.” His voice was steady, but I could hear the edge. The tension between us was thick, always had been, but right now, it was ready to explode. “I care about her too.”
I barked a bitter laugh, stepping closer, invading his space. “You care about her?” My voice was cold, mocking. “Since when did your feelings matter here? Christiana is mine to protect,”
Daniel’s face darkened, and for a moment, I could see the frustration boiling just beneath the surface. But then he glanced down at her again, and his expression softened. He reached out, his hand moving toward hers. “I’m not here to fight with you, Alex.”
I slapped his hand away before he could touch her. “Don’t,” I warned, my voice a deadly whisper. “Don’t you dare touch her.”
He shot me a hard glare, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. “You think you’re the only one who cares?” His voice broke a little as he squared his shoulders, meeting my gaze head–on. “You think you’re the only one who wants her to be okay? I might not have your money, your power, but I care about her just as much as you do.”
I scoffed, taking another step forward, practically chest to chest with him now. “You’re delusional. You can’t even offer her anything.” I sneered, my voice dripping with contempt. “What? You think she’ll run off with a nobody like you? She’s been through enough, and the last thing she needs is you making things worse.”
Daniel’s eyes flared with anger, and for a second, I thought he might actually throw a punch: God knows I was close to it. But instead, he swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to Christiana again. This isn’t about une, he muttered, his voice low but filled with emotion. “And it sure as hell isn’t about you. It’s about her. Look at her, Alex. She’s been through hell, and all you can think about is your damn ego.”
I felt the sting of his words, but I pushed the emotion aside. He didn’t get it. He didn’t understand the weight of what had happened to her, what I had been through just to make sure she was safe. He had no idea the lengths I’d go to for her. And now, seeing him here, pretending he had some sort of claim, some kind of right to her..it made my blood boil.
“She came bark on her own.” I said through gritted teeth. “She made it to the hotel, not because of you, not because of anyone. And now, she’s safe. I’m making sure of that”
2/3
18:16 Fri, Oct 18
Chapter 90
Daniel’s face hardened, but there was something vulnerable in his eyes. “Safe? You really think she’s safe now? Look at hi Alex!” His voice rose, and he pointed at her unconscious form. “She’s barely holding on, and you’re standing here acting you’re the only one who can save her!
I was done. My fist clenched, and I stepped forward, ready to throw the punch that had been building since the moment walked in. But then. Christiana shifted, just slightly, her hand twitching in mine.
It was enough to stop me. Barely.
“Get out.” I said through clenched teeth, my voice barely controlled. “I won’t tell you again, Daniel. Get. Out.”
Daniel’s eyes flicked between me and Christiana, his face a mixture of anger and hurt. But then he nodded, stepping back “I’m not going to fight with you, Alex. Not when she’s like this. But don’t think for a second that I’m going to disappear. I care about her. And you know it.”
Before I could say anything else, he turned and walked out of the room, the door clicking softly behind him. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, my heart still racing with the adrenaline of the confrontation.
But then I looked–back down at Christiana, her fragile form lying still in the bed. I squeezed her hand gently, the anger fading just a little.
“I won’t let him take you from me,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I won’t let anyone take you from me.”
And with that, I sat back down, my eyes never leaving he
r. Waiting. Watching. And ready to destroy anyone who tried to take her away from me.