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22

Emmanuel's POV

Three days had passed since the harrowing events, yet his wife remained in a slumber. Emmanuel sat by her bedside, his heart aching as he observed her pale complexion.

His parents were consumed by worry. The doctor had assured them that the wounds had not inflicted any vital organs, a sliver of solace amidst the chaos. They were also aware of the developing pregnancy, a fragile hope amidst the storm.

"Son, she will be alright. How are you holding up?" Ana, his mother, asked, her voice filled with concern.

He merely nodded, his gaze fixed on his wife.

His mother placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You didn't know."

Emmanuel stared at his wife, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Emmanuel, get some rest. You look exhausted," his father urged.

"Padre, how can I rest when I can't seem to rouse her from this slumber?" he replied, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Stop being stubborn. She's simply resting. Give her time," Andrea's father, Patrick, insisted.

A bitter laugh escaped Emmanuel's lips. "I don't have time." He clasped her cold hands, his heart heavy with sorrow.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He withdrew it, his fingers trembling slightly. It was a call from the head of the police. He declined.

"Who was that, Nuel?" his father inquired.

"The police," he replied, his voice flat.

A collective gasp from the women filled the room.

"What do they want?" his mother inquired, her voice trembling.

"I have influence within the government, mother. It wouldn't hurt to make a donation every few months, considering the missing people and deaths that have been plaguing our city," Emmanuel replied, his tone calm and calculated.

His mother's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"I killed Sam. He was the snitch. And Jane was the one who shot my wife," he confessed, his voice devoid of emotion.

She took a deep breath, her expression a mix of shock and acceptance. "At least you did it with good intentions," she murmured.

A heavy silence descended upon the room.

"Well, I'm going to get some food. Does anyone need anything?" Emmanuel's father asked, trying to break the tension.

Andrea's mother declined, preferring to take a walk in the fresh air with Emmanuel's mother. The men retreated to discuss their next move, leaving Emmanuel alone with his wife.

He leaned over and kissed her hand. "Please wake up, my love," he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. "I can't be brave anymore. I need you. Our child needs you. We need to end this together. I'm so sorry for not talking to you. I should have spoken to you in the car. I was just so angry. Please forgive me. Wake up, my love. I need you. Your child needs you."

He held her hands tightly, his heart pounding in his chest.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. As she adjusted to the light, she looked at him with a mixture of confusion and anger.

"Here goes nothing," he whispered, bracing himself for her reaction.

Andrea touched her throat, her voice hoarse. "I should have let you kill her the first time I saw that bitch," she rasped, her words filled with a venomous intensity.

Despite her weakened state, her words elicited a chuckle from Emmanuel. He hugged her gently, careful not to cause her pain.

"Seriously, love?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.

She sighed. "She nearly killed me. I'm furious. I want to rip her to pieces."

He smiled. "I already did that, love. I emptied all my bullets into her."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "I'm pleased. How long have I been here, and where the hell am I?"

"Three days. This is my hospital and warehouse," he replied, his tone casual.

Confusion etched her face. "What do you mean, warehouse?"

"I manufacture and store drugs here," he explained.

Her eyes narrowed. "Do you even have enough legal business to avoid landing us in jail, Nuel?"

He laughed. "Of course, I do. I own clubs, newspapers, hospitals, investments, and much more. I even have influence within the government."

She scoffed. "No one has that much money to control the government, love."

He chuckled. "Babe, you're looking at the godson of the president. My father knows how to make friends and invest wisely."

She teased him. "No wonder Cristiano wants your empire."

They shared a laugh until the room fell silent once more.

"I came to your office that day to apologize," she began, her voice filled with sincerity. "You had every right to be angry. I didn't like Austin, but it was wrong of me not to tell him I was married. I'm so sorry, Nuel."

He hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry we let things escalate to such a dangerous point."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and gratitude. "When I entered your office, she told me you had sent for her. When I saw what she was wearing, I got angry."

He took her hands in his. "You have to listen to me. I never called her. I haven't seen her since the day you threatened her with a gun."

"I trust you," she replied, her voice firm. "I told her to get out of my house before you killed her because I knew you wouldn't do that to me. I've already misjudged you multiple times. I couldn't make that mistake again, my love."

They shared a tender kiss, oblivious to the curious eyes watching them.

"Can you give her some air, son? She needs to breathe," Giovanni teased, breaking the moment.

Andrea jumped, startled by the sudden interruption. The room erupted in laughter as everyone turned to look at them.

"Finally, you're awake, my son was losing his sanity," Madeline teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Nuel warned her with a look. "Go easy on your mum," Andrea scolded.

"What? I'm just telling the truth," Madeline retorted, her laughter infectious.

"Andrea, when you were asleep, did you hear anything I said?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of hope and trepidation.

She nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "About you professing your undying love to me and begging me to wake up?"

He warned her with a look. "Andrea."

She continued, her tone teasing. "You said you needed me and also about a child needing... what did you do?"

He released her, his smile playful. "I put a baby inside you, that's what I did, love."

A collective gasp filled the room.

She finally understood. "You mean I am?" she asked, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"We are pregnant, love," he smirked, his heart overflowing with joy.