Chapter 175
Norah’s POV
“Lucien!”
+5 Pearls
His body went completely limp, falling straight back. I lunged forward, catching him with all my strength, his full weight collapsing into my arms. His skin was burning with fever, his forehead slick with cold sweat.
“Call an ambulance!” My scream cut through the backstage chaos, instantly silencing everything.
I held him tight.
The familiar scent of cedarwood on his skin was now mixed with the sharp, metallic tang of blood.
My hands shook uncontrollably.
My whole body trembled.
I thought I hated him.
For his lies, his arrogance.
But watching him fall, I realized the terrifying truth: I was more afraid of losing him.
Leaning against the cold wall outside the ER, I stared at the glowing red light, feeling my own strength drain away with each passing second.
“Norah.” Katarina offered me a cup of water. I didn’t take it. My eyes remained locked on the doors.
I don’t know how long passed before they finally opened.
The doctor looked exhausted as he removed his mask.
“Significant blood loss. Severe soft tissue contusions from blunt force trauma to the back. Three cracked ribs. There’s also evidence of past major trauma. He’s stable now, but he needs absolute
rest.”
My legs buckled.
Irina and Katarina caught me, holding me up on either side.
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10:29 Sat, Jan 3
Chapter 175
77
+5 Pearls
Lucien was moved to a VIP room on the top floor. He lay still in the hospital bed, an oxygen mask over his face, surrounded by the steady beeps of monitors. His handsome face was pale as a vampire’s.
I sat beside him, reaching out to touch him, then pulling my hand back, afraid to cause him more pain.
“Norah…” His voice was a faint thread. His brow furrowed in delirium. “Norah… be careful!”
He was calling my name, unconscious.
A sharp, sour ache twisted deep in my chest.
I leaned down, took his cold hand, and pressed it against my cheek. “I’m here, Lucien.”
He seemed to feel my warmth.
The tension in his brow slowly eased, and he sank into a deep, quiet sleep.
The door opened softly. Madame Kathy walked in. She looked at Lucien, then at me, undeniable pain in her eyes. “What did the doctor say?”
“Stable. Needs rest,” I rasped, my voice hoarse.
She walked to the bedside, gazed at him for a long moment, then turned to me.
“You’ve been through a lot, child.” I shook my head, words failing me. “I’ll handle things at the conglomerate. For now, I must ask you to look after him.” Her tone was a request. She was giving us space. “Alright.”
After she left, silence reclaimed the room.
I held Lucien’s hand, just watching him. Watching his pale face, the angry welts on his body.
I remembered what Irina once said: these past three years, Lucien hadn’t lived–he’d existed only to work and search for me. How had he endured it?
Deep into the night, Lucien’s skin grew burning hot with fever.
I fetched alcohol swabs and began carefully wiping him down.
He muttered my name, delirious, the words too slurred to hear. I bent closer.
“Norah… don’t go…”
“Don’t get in that car… the wedding was fake… don’t believe her…”
10.29 Sat, Jan 3
Chapter 175
:
$77
+5 Pearls:
I looked at his tormented face, at the brutal, intersecting wounds he’d taken for me. The hatred
and resentment in my heart began to recede at that moment. Tears fell uncontrollably, dropping onto his chest.
Whatever the truth was three years ago… right now, he was hurt. He needed me.
Seeing the fever flush on his cheeks, the heavy dark circles under his eyes, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to his burning forehead. “Lucien, I’m back.”
Exhausted, I slumped by the bedside, holding his hand, and fell into a fitful sleep.
Sometime later, I felt a gentle pressure pulling me closer to the bed.
Then another hand covered mine, pressing our intertwined hands firmly against his hot chest.
I instinctively tried to pull away, but the grip tightened, refusing to let go as if afraid I’d vanish.
“Don’t move.” His raspy voice came from above me.
My eyes snapped open. He was awake, looking down at me.
“You…”
“I’m thirsty.” His voice was weak.
I hurried to pour him water.
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