Page 119

Then, she turned and rushed inside.
Christian was lying on the hospital bed, his hands resting at his sides, his legs stretched out, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. He looked so lost. Detached.
Without thinking, she rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight.
At first, Christian’s body was stiff—frozen, like a statue. But then, slowly, as if her touch melted the ice within him, his tense muscles loosened. His eyes shifted to her.
"Christian," she whispered, her breaths uneven, her voice thick with pain. "Don’t worry. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere."
She felt his arms move. They hesitated for a moment before sliding around her waist, pulling her in. His body, which had been rigid like stone, softened little by little.
She tightened her grip on him, pulling him up slightly, helping him sit. The movements were awkward, but she didn’t let go.
As he sat up, something warm landed on her shoulder—his tears.
His grip on her waist tightened, his breath rough and uneven. His chest rose and fell sharply, like he was barely holding himself together. Then, in a voice so low and raw it sent a sharp ache through her, he rasped,
"You were gone for so long… Why did you leave me for five years?"
His broken voice cut through her like a blade.
“Christian, you left me. You were the one who—”
"Why didn’t you look for me? You knew how much I loved you!" He interrupted, his voice edged with pain. His burning gaze locked onto hers, his entire body tense, but his fingers dug into her arms, snatching her closer. He crushed her against him, burying his face in her neck as his body shook with silent, restrained sobs.
"You should have come to me, looked for me," he ground out. "Why the hell did you leave me alone for five fucking years, Ivy?"
Ivy’s chest clenched, her own tears falling freely. She reached up, her hands trembling as she cupped his face, forcing him to look at her.
"I won’t leave," she swore, her voice shaking but firm. "Never again."
Christian’s jaw tightened, but his tears came faster. His red-rimmed eyes bore into hers, raw, exposed. He looked nothing like the cold, controlled man the world knew. Right now, he was just herChristian—strong yet vulnerable, fierce yet breaking.
And yet, it shattered her.
Slowly, his tears faded, exhaustion taking over his body. His eyelids grew heavy. She carefully laid him back down, but his arms never loosened around her waist. He refused to let go.
So, she stayed.
She lay beside him on the hospital bed, their bodies pressed together, facing each other. His face was no longer wet with tears, but the redness around his eyes told her how much pain he had endured.
Her heart clenched.
The Christian of five years ago still lived inside him—this man who had been broken by the world yet still carried so much love for her. He had endured hell, yet he never wanted to see her suffer.
Her lips trembled. Leaning in, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
Her fingers trailed along his face, caressing him with gentle strokes. Even in his sleep, his hold on her never loosened.
And then, in the quiet of the room, a whisper escaped her lips, meant only for him.
“I love you, Christian.”
Her own eyes grew heavy, and before she knew it, she fell asleep beside him.
When she woke up, Christian had shifted. His arm was beneath her head, his other hand clutching the back of her head, keeping her pressed against his chest. He was already awake.
She blinked in surprise and sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes.