BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 37: Ties That Bind

Chapter 37: Ties That Bind

As we lay there in the dimly lit recovery room, the steady beeping of advanced medical equipment serving as a constant reminder of our situation, Luke's gaze turned distant. In his eyes, a storm of emotions was brewing, each one reflecting the turmoil churning inside him. Each silent moment between us was heavy with unspoken words, echoing the tension and concern that filled the room.

"Luke," I whispered, my voice trembling with concern and fear, "I was so worried about you. The thought of never seeing you again, of a life without you... it terrified me." Tears streamed down my face, the thought of losing him still raw and painful.

He turned to me, his expression softening. Gently, he wiped away my tears, his touch tender despite the strength that lay beneath. "Emily, don't worry. I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere." His voice was a soothing balm to my frantic heart.

But my concern for him was relentless. "How did you get hurt? Are you in pain? Should I move? Am I hurting you?" The questions tumbled out, one after another, a testament to the anxiety that gripped me.

Luke gave a weak but reassuring smile. "I'm okay, babe. Just relax. Don't worry about me, okay?" His words were meant to comfort, but the sight of him, bandaged and wounded, kept the worry gnawing at me.

"But you're hurt, Luke. What happened? Are you sure you don't want me to move? I feel like I might be hurting you," I persisted, my voice laced with nervousness and care.

He looked away for a moment, his eyes shadowed with the memory. "It was in the midst of the chaos," he said, his voice strained as if reliving every moment. "We had gained the upper hand, but my father... he was like a cornered animal, desperate and dangerous. I tried to tackle him, to subdue him without lethal force. I wanted to see him face justice, to pay for his crimes in a way that lasted. I wanted to capture him alive, Emily. I wanted him to suffer, to pay for everything slowly, painfully. But in the struggle, he... he stabbed me." Luke's voice cracked with a blend of anger. "I didn't have the time to give him the death he deserved. I had to end it quickly."

The revelation sent a chill down my spine. "Oh, Luke..." I murmured, my heart aching for him.

Luke's hand trembled slightly as it instinctively moved to the bandage that adorned his wounded torso, a stark and grim reminder of the violent encounter. "It all happened so fast," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was bleeding out, the world was spinning, fading into darkness. That's when your father's man came through. They saved my life, Emily."

His voice cracked with emotion, a mix of gratitude and lingering shock. "I'm damn thankful your dad sent his man to help us. If it hadn't been for him, I might not be here right now. His men got to us just in time with the medical help we desperately needed." The image of him, wounded and vulnerable, played relentlessly in my mind, unleashing a flood of tears that I couldn't stem.

Shaking my head, I clutched at him, my voice laced with a raw, desperate plea. "You better not ever leave me again, Luke. I can't... I just can't do this without you." My words were choked by sobs, each one echoing the depth of my fear and love for him.

He pulled me closer, his embrace a refuge in the storm. "I know, babe. I'm not going anywhere. I will never leave your side. I love you more than this life itself." His reassurance was a balm to my frayed nerves, his presence a testament to the strength of our bond.

Luke's eyes, usually a beacon of strength and resolve, now mirrored the tempest of emotions he was navigating. "Emily" he started, the pain and fierce determination in his voice intertwining. His words painted a vivid picture of the ordeal he had endured, each sentence a glimpse into the depth of his struggle.