No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase! novel Chapter 516

Without him, another man would still risk his life to save her, to protect her.

He stared as Claudia sobbed uncontrollably for another man. His own reddened eyes filled with a mixture of resentment, despair, and pain.

"Aunt Claudia, waahhh…"

"Daddy, waahhh…"

Hawley, crying hysterically, scrambled out of the car and ran to Claudia and his father's side.

Claudia pulled Hawley into her arms, comforting him.

York clenched his fists, suppressing the turmoil churning inside him as he walked over to Claudia. His usually cold, arrogant voice was now hoarse and low.

"The ambulance will be here any second," he said. "He'll be okay."

It was as if Claudia hadn't heard him. She held the little boy, staying by Hugh's side, calling his name over and over, trying to wake him.

Standing next to her, York felt completely redundant.

He wanted to be the one to risk his life to protect her, to make amends.

But fate wouldn't give him that chance.

No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, he was always a step too late.

Someone else always took his place at Claudia's side.

Time and again, it was a reminder that to her, he was already an unnecessary person.

Two paramedics emerged from the ambulance and asked for help getting Hugh onto the stretcher.

York stepped forward to stop Claudia. "The child is young. You take him in the car, I'll go with the ambulance."

Claudia glanced at Hawley, his face a tear-streaked mess, and didn't refuse.

In the early hours of the morning, Hugh was settled into a hospital room.

Claudia put the sleeping Hawley to bed in the adjoining family room and came back out.

He was haunted by regret, dreaming of it every night.

He regretted what he had done.

That affair was an unbreakable knot between them, one that could never be untied.

Claudia reminded him, "York, in a few months, I will have known you for twenty-seven years. For Wendy and Darleen's sake, I don't want to make this too ugly."

"York," she said firmly, "don't forget what you promised me on the island."

The two stared at each other in silence.

Finally, York managed to rasp out, "Get some rest."

The moment York turned and left the room, Claudia immediately shut the door behind him.

York stood outside, watching through the small glass window as Claudia kept vigil by Hugh's bedside, gently moistening his lips with a cotton swab.