Addicted Love (VALENTINE SERIES #1)

Chapter 49

F O R T Y - N I N E

FAYE

I sat on the cold, hard floor, knees pulled to my chest. Blood, dried and dark, stained my clothes and hands, but I didn't care. All I could think about was Ae, somewhere beyond those ER doors. The image of her crumpling to the ground wouldn't leave my head.

I'd held it together through the fight, through the panic. But now, waiting here with nothing but silence, I was falling apart. Every second dragged on too long, and the weight of not knowing pressed down on me.

I should've been faster, stronger-anything to stop this from happening. But now I couldn't do anything. I couldn't fight for her. I couldn't help. I was just here, covered in blood, waiting for news that could destroy me all over again.

"Faye..." Ae's mom called out to me, and I hadn't even realized they were already at the hospital. My mind was so preoccupied that I didn't notice a thing.

The silence between us felt heavy, filled with unspoken fears. I stared at my hands, stained with dried blood, still trembling. How was I supposed to say anything when I felt like I'd failed?

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking. I couldn't bring myself to look at her. "I should've been there sooner... If I'd just gotten there faster, Ae wouldn't have-" My voice trailed off, choking on the guilt.

She shifted beside me, turning so her knee brushed against mine. "Faye, stop," she said softly but firmly. "This isn't your fault."

I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut. "But I could've done more. I could've-"

"You did everything you could," she interrupted, her voice steady despite the pain she must've been feeling. "You got her here. That's what matters."

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it just wouldn't go away. "I should've protected her better," I said, barely above a whisper. "How can I deserve to be loved by Ae when I couldn't save her sooner?"

Her mom placed a hand on my arm, her touch warm, grounding me at the moment. "You're here now," she said gently. "And that's enough. We'll get through this together, Faye."

I finally glanced at her, seeing the same fear in her eyes that I felt in my chest. She wasn't blaming me. She wasn't angry. She was just... there, beside me, and for a moment, that made it all a little more bearable.

"Sorry to interrupt, but can I excuse Kenzie?" Triz said to us.

I immediately understood what she meant and stood up to excuse myself to Ae's parents.

"I'll be quick, Mrs. Valentine. I'll return soon. Some personal business needs handling," I said, and she nodded, turning to speak with her husband.

When Triz and I got off the elevator, Chia was waiting by the car in the parking lot.

"Everything is ready. Your father and Sylvia are waiting for you," Chia said with a smile.

"Even your pet is ready and waiting for them," Triz added.

A dark resolve settled over me. I would make them suffer twice as much as Ae had endured because of their actions. They were about to learn how ruthless I could be they would face the full extent of my wrath.

I stepped into my game room, the cold air welcoming me like an old friend. Everything in here was arranged just the way I liked it-precise, orderly, and lethal. My knives, hanging on the wall, were more than just tools, they were extensions of my will. Each one served a different purpose, each edge honed to perfection. My guns, resting behind glass, gleamed under the dim lights, ready for their next use.