My Enemy's Daughter (Edited)

chapter 53

Samuel's POV

She was bleeding.

I stood there, frozen in disbelief as Fiona's blood trickled down her forehead. Her eyes were wide, filled with a mix of shock and fear. For a moment, the world stopped-her stunned gaze locked with mine, and I could see something breaking in her. She touched the spot on her head, her fingers trembling as they came away smeared with crimson.

"Fiona," I breathed, the words catching in my throat as I moved toward her. My heart pounded in my chest, a sickening beat that made me nauseous. "I didn't mean-"

But as soon as I reached out to touch her, to check on the wound, she recoiled, stepping back as if I were poison. The look in her eyes gutted me-pure, unfiltered terror. She flinched as if my touch would burn her.

"Stay away from me!" she screamed, her voice trembling. "Don't touch me, Samuel!"

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. The woman that had once show defiance despite all my rage now screamed for me to keep my distance, and the fear in her voice-fear of me-made me feel like a monster. No, it didn't just make me feel like one. I was one.

"Fiona..." I tried again, stepping forward, hands raised in surrender. "Please, let me—"

"Get away!" she screamed again, clutching her head, her entire body trembling. "Bruno! Bruno!"

Her screams echoed through the house like shards of glass cutting through the air, and within seconds, Bruno came running down the hallway. His eyes widened at the sight of her, at the blood dripping down her face. He rushed past me without hesitation, completely ignoring my presence.

"Boss, step back," Bruno said sharply, his voice firm as he knelt beside Fiona. He took a look at her head and cursed under his breath. "You've lost a lot of blood, ma'am. We need to stop the bleeding."

I watched, numb, as Bruno helped her to the couch, quickly grabbing a towel to press against the wound. She allowed him to touch her-allowed him to care for her-while I stood on the sidelines, utterly helpless. The scene in front of me felt surreal, as though I were watching it through someone else's eyes, and yet the guilt weighed down on me like a crushing boulder.

"I can take her to the hospital," I said, my voice hoarse. I wanted to help. I needed to help. This was my fault-my mess to fix.

But Fiona shook her head violently, her eyes wild with panic. "No!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "You're not taking me anywhere! You'll-you'll kill me!"

The words sank into me like claws, each one dragging down my soul, leaving deep, festering wounds. Fiona thought I would kill her. She truly believed that I was capable of such a thing. And maybe she was right, I could kill when necessary but even in my rage and proclaimed hate towards her I never once considered doing her any physical harm.

Bruno exchanged a quick glance with me, and without another word, he scooped Fiona into his arms. She didn't fight him. In fact, she wrapped her arms around his neck like he was her lifeline, burying her face in his shoulder as though he were her only protection from the terror she felt.

I was powerless. Standing there like an outsider in my own home, watching as my wife was carried away from me. The house seemed to grow colder, the walls closing in, suffocating me with the weight of what I'd done.

"I'll follow," I muttered, stepping back as Bruno carried her out of the door.

He didn't respond. He just nodded, focused entirely on Fiona. And then they were gone, out the door, rushing toward the car. I jogged after them, my chest tightening as I watched Bruno place her in the passenger seat. I moved toward the driver's side, intending to take control, but as soon as I reached for the door, Fiona's screams pierced the night.