The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 298

Drip.

A drop of warm, viscous liquid fell from above, landing heavily onto her cheek.

The fluid slid slowly down the contour of her face, leaving a horrifying streak of dark crimson in its wake.

Then came the second drop, and the third.

The scalding touch, accompanied by the overpowering metallic scent of blood, quickly spread across her skin.

"Gideon..."

Nora lay paralyzed in his arms, her brain instantly short-circuiting as only a faint, trembling whisper escaped her throat.

His usually stoic face—always radiating the commanding authority of a leader—was now ashen, coated in dust and a fine layer of sweat.

Bright red blood flowed relentlessly from his temple, trailing down the bridge of his straight nose before dripping onto her face.

That blinding shade of scarlet seemed to possess some magic capable of tearing through the walls of time, dragging her forcefully back to that dimly lit, suffocating alleyway ten years ago.

On that rainy day a decade past, a gang of street thugs had cornered her younger self.

Back then, a teenage Gideon had done the exact same thing, wielding a steel pipe as he stepped in front of her without a second thought.

Blood mixed with rainwater had dripped from his fingertips into the puddles below as he turned his head, his clear eyes looking at her terrified face while he coldly ordered her to run.

The boy from ten years ago and the man shielding her with his life today bridged the vast expanse of time, merging into one single entity against the backdrop of his blood.

"Gideon!"

Nora's voice cracked completely, her harrowing, desperate scream tearing from her throat and echoing through the dust-filled workshop.

The man pressing against her let out a low, muffled groan of agony.

Gideon's brows knotted fiercely, the veins on his forehead bulging as he suppressed the unbearable torment.

Seeing her face drenched in tears, Gideon fought through the agonizing pain of his fractured bones, trying to lift his arm to wipe the grime and blood from her cheek—wanting to make absolutely sure she hadn't been hit by any flying shrapnel.

But the second his arm lifted an inch, the sheer agony drained every last ounce of strength from his body.

His bloodied, dust-covered hand fell limp, slamming heavily onto the freezing concrete.

"You're safe..."

Gideon's eyelids began to droop uncontrollably as an endless void of darkness swallowed his consciousness. Summoning the last shred of his lucidity, he forced out a few comforting words.

"Don't be afraid..."

As soon as the words left his lips, his towering frame lost all support, collapsing heavily against Nora as he shielded her securely in his embrace, falling utterly still.

"Gideon!"