My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

The implication was clear. Tereny would listen to me. Maybe only to me.

“I’ll tell him,” I promised. “Right after I kill him for scaring me like this.

Dr. Reeves smiled slightly. “Fair enough. I’ll have a nurse come get you when he’s settled in ICU.”

After she left, I sank into one of the waiting room chairs, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline that had been keeping me going for the past three hours evaporated, leaving me shaky and drained.

“You should eat something,” my father said, already pulling out his phone to order food.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Emma-”

“Dad, I can’t. Not until I see him. Not until I know he’s really okay.”

He sighed but didn’t argue. Just sat beside me, his presence solid and comforting.

Alpha Richard paced near the window, his phone pressed to his ear. “Yes, Jeremy’s stable. No, we won’t resume the trial until he’s recovered. I don’t care what the council wants-my son nearly died today. They can wait.” A pause. “And Vanessa? Keep her in holding. Maximum security. After that stunt today, after laughing while Jeremy collapsed-” His voice turned cold. “Make sure she understands that her actions today just guaranteed the council will vote for execution.”

Good. The vicious thought surprised me with its intensity, but I didn’t try to suppress it. Vanessa had laughed. Had rocked Jeremy for nearly dying. Had shown absolutely no remorse for anything she’d done.

She deserved whatever she got.

A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Emma Smith? Jeremy Trent is asking for you.”

“He’s awake already?” I stood quickly, my exhaustion forgotten.

“Barely. The anesthesia hasn’t fully worn off, so he’s pretty disoriented. But he keeps saying your name.” She smiled. “I think you’re the only thing that will calm him down.”

I followed her through the sterile corridors to ICU, my heart pounding. The nurse stopped outside a room. “Five minutes. He needs rest, but I think he needs to see you more.”

I pushed open the door.

Jeremy was pale against the white sheets, IVs running into both arms, monitors beeping steadily. But his eyes were oper unfocused and glassy, searching the room with increasing agitation.

“Emma,” he mumbled. “Where’s-need to-Emma-”

“I’m here,” I said, moving to his bedside. “Jeremy, I’m right here.”

His eyes found mine, and his whole body relaxed. “You’re okay. You’re-” He tried to sit up and immediately grimaced in pai “Don’t move, you idiot,” I commanded, gently pushing him back down. “You just had emergency surgery. Again. Because you’re too stubborn to listen to doctors.”

“Had to testify,” he slurred, the pain medication clearly affecting him. “Had to tell them. Had to make sure you knew-

“I know. I was there. I watched you nearly die on the floor of the pack house.” My voice shook with anger and fear. “Do you have any idea how terrifying that was? Watching you collapse? Having your blood all over my hands?”

“Sorry,” he whispered. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Chapter

+25 Bonus

“Well, you did. You scared Tre half to death.” I took his hand, careful of the IV. “Jeremy, you can’t do this. Can’t keep hurting yourself to prove a point. I need you alive, okay? Even if I’m still angry, even if I haven’t forgiven you yet, I need you alive.” “You need me?” His eyes were drifting closed again, but there was wonder in his voice. “Really?”

“Yes, you stubborn, self-sacrificing idiot, I need you.” The admission felt like tearing open frry chest, exposing my heart. “so you need to rest and heal and stop trying to die sy me.”

“Okay,” he agreed sleepily. “Won’t die. Promise. Love you too much to die.”

“I-“The words caught in my throat. I wasn’t ready to say them back. Not yet. But I squeezed his hand. “Just rest. We’ll talk when you’re not high on pain medication.”

“Emma?” His eyes opened slightly. “The trial. Did I finish? Did I tell them everything?”

“Yes. You told them everything. Now sleep.”

“Good.” A small smile crossed his face. “Love you. Sorry. Love you.”

Then his eyes closed and his breathing evened out.

I stayed there, holding his hand, watching his chest rise and fall with steady breaths. Proof he was alive. Proof he wasn’t leaving

Not yet. Not today.

And as I sat there in the quiet ICU room, listening to the monitors beep and watching Jeremy sleep, I realized something.

I’d made my decision.

I didn’t know when it had happened-maybe when he collapsed, maybe when I’d refused to leave his side, maybe weeks ago in that first hospital room.

But somewhere along the way, I’d chosen him.

Chosen to forgive, even though it terrified me.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify