The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 454

It was her. It was really her. His Nicole was alive, and that was all that mattered.

"Nicole," he whispered.

"I'm here."

"Nicole..."

"I'm right here, Jasper."

His trembling hand reached out to trace the lines of her face, his tears falling uncontrollably. Nicole felt a wave of helplessness; she had never seen Jasper like this before.

"Nicole, it's really you, isn't it?"

"Of course it's me!"

"I made it," he choked out. "I kept my promise. This isn't a dream, is it?"

Seeing him so battered and broken, Nicole's own tears flowed freely. "Please, let's get you to a doctor."

Instead, Jasper pulled her close by the waist and kissed her with a desperate intensity. Amidst the torrential rain, they clung to each other. He was numb to the pain in his body, consumed only by the knowledge that the woman he loved was in his arms.

Around them, the rainwater on the pavement was stained red with his blood.

Jaron and Amelia arrived at the scene with doctors trailing behind them. At the sight of the two lovers embracing in the downpour, they both broke down in tears.

"Amelia, our Nicole is still here," Jaron choked out.

"I see her," Amelia sobbed. "She's really here."

Under the heavy rain, the four of them pulled into a desperate group hug.

"Why is everyone hurt?" Nicole asked, her heart breaking as her own tears joined the mix of rain and blood.

"Nicole," Jasper whispered.

"Nicole," Jaron said.

"Nicole," Amelia added.

"I'm here, I'm here, I'm right here," she replied, her voice echoing through the storm.

Jasper leaned heavily against her, his body finally giving in to the pain. "Nicole... I feel dizzy." He was terrified that if he closed his eyes, the entire moment would vanish like a dream.

"We have to get you to the hospital right now!" Nicole said, helping him into the car.

Jaron and Amelia had essentially run away from the hospital to get there. They flatly refused to go back with the medical staff, insisting on squeezing into the car with Nicole instead. So, Nicole—the only one with minor injuries—took the wheel, driving the three patients toward the ER.

Jasper was at his limit.

"Jasper?" Nicole called out.

"I'm fine... I'm okay," he murmured. He forced his eyes open, his face covered in blood and grime, but he was smiling.

He was happy. His Nicole was still with him.

Her desperate escape from home earlier that night had terrified the two boys. When word reached them that Jasper had attempted suicide to avoid tomorrow's engagement, they became frantic. Fearing for Nicole, they had snuck out into the storm to find her. They had searched the Moore estate and the university campus; it was only after seeing the blood-stained rainwater beneath the cherry blossoms that they had raced to the hospital.

Kenneth had tried to be brave, but the fear of losing her had broken him during the car ride. Now, throwing his arms around her, he sobbed openly. Nicole knelt and gently tried to pull back, worried the damp chill of her clothes would make him sick.

"I'm okay," she whispered, her eyes brimming with tears as she stroked his hair. "I must have scared you both so much tonight."

Frederick watched her, his eyes full of heartache. Though he was still young, he already carried himself with the gravity of a family heir. He turned to a bodyguard with sharp authority. "Go buy a change of clothes for Nicole. Now." He glanced at the three operating rooms. "Actually, get another set for a woman and two more for men."

"Right away, Frederick."

Frederick then took off his small suit jacket and draped it over Nicole's shoulders. It was too small to truly cover her, but the gesture warmed her nonetheless.

"Nicole, news of what happened at the Moore house tonight is already leaking," Frederick said solemnly. "The fact that you're all here at the hospital won't stay a secret for long. They'll be coming for you soon."

"I know," Nicole said with a faint, weary smile, reaching out to cup their faces.

At her touch, Frederick's composure finally slipped, and his eyes reddened. No matter how precocious he was, he was still a child, not yet ten years old.

"I'm all right," Nicole promised. "I'm so sorry I put you through this."

"Don't leave us, Nicole," Kenneth pleaded through his tears. "Please don't go. When I grow up, I'll make tons of money so we can just buy Jasper and keep him!"

Despite the gravity of the night, Nicole couldn't help but let out a small, watery laugh.

Just then, the bodyguards returned with the clothes.