Page 133 of Kiss Me Like I Didn't Kill You

He turns and stalks down the corridor, his men following in his wake.

I turn to face my father. His expression is unreadable at first, then it softens in a way I barely recognise… pride.

“I came to help,” he says quietly. “But it seems you didn’t need me. I’m proud of you, son.”

I don’t know what to say, so I just nod.

He glances toward the door. “How is she?”

“Critical,” I answer. “But stable.”

He exhales. “Can I see the woman who made you buy an entire hospital, a perfume company, and pour your inheritance into building Vass Lab Grown Gems?”

I huff out something close to a laugh. “Sure. You can meet your future daughter in law.” I pause, looking him straight in the eye. “Because, dad, I’m marrying that girl.”

He smiles faintly, clapping a hand against my back. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Vass.”

When I go back into the room, my eyes find her immediately.

I take a seat beside her bed and wait.

She’ll wake up. She has to. We’ll get through this.

I’ve made mistakes—unforgivable ones—but I’ll make it right. I’ll spend the rest of my life doing it if I have to. Because she’s mine. And I’m not letting her go.

Within the hour, the papers are signed.

Ophelia Belanti is officially my fiancée.

Tomorrow, I’ll have my people start on her ring, and figure out how to undo all the damage I’ve done to the woman I love.

Chapter 48

Ophelia

When I open my eyes, the first thing I hear is the soft, rhythmic beeping of machines.

The ceiling above me is pale and unfamiliar. It takes a few seconds to realise I’m in a hospital room. The light is dim, night, I think, and when I turn my head slightly, I see the moon outside the window.

I try to make sense of it. Why I’m here. What happened.

But everything feels muddled.

My eyes drift to the side, and that’s when I see him.

Arlo.

He’s slumped in a chair beside the bed, his head tilted slightly forward, his hand tangled with mine. He’s asleep, but even in sleep, there’s tension in his jaw.

I glance around the room. There’s no one else here. Just him and me.

My throat burns, my mouth feels dry. I try to move, to reach for the glass of water on the table, but the moment I shift, pain ripples through my body. A soft sound escapes me before I can stop it.

Arlo stirs immediately. His eyes open, wild for a moment before focus returns. The relief that flashes across his face is almost unbearable.

He leans forward, his voice breaking on a whisper. “Ophelia.”

He then stands so quickly that the chair scrapes against the floor. “You’re awake. Just stay still, don’t move. I’ll call the nurse.”