Chapter 141: Ready To Start Afresh
She looked at him then, really looked at him—his expression raw, vulnerable. It wasn’t the Stefan Winters she’d grown used to, the one who always had control of everything. No. This was different. He seemed scared and it was visible.
"You thought what?" she asked softly, even though she already knew.
"I was nearby, you know?" Stefan began, his voice tight. "I was following from a distance, content with just catching a glimpse of you. When I saw that the car stopped, I’d wanted to come help but I didn’t know if you’d want that. But then I saw it—that car speeding straight at you. Ruby..." He looked down, his voice catching. "I thought I was going to lose you. I didn’t even think. I just ran from my car. I didn’t even have a second thought. All I could think at that moment was your safety."
Ruby blinked, her throat tightening. She remembered it now—those arms, that warmth, the pressure of the fall. He had saved her. He’d been there right in time. What if he hadn’t been there?
"I guess I owe you my life now," she whispered. Her hand moved instinctively to her belly. "Our baby’s life too. We both owe you our life now."
Stefan shook his head. "What, no. Don’t say that. You don’t owe me anything."
"But it’s true," she said. "If you hadn’t been there—"
"I was there," he interrupted gently. "And I’ll try to always be there. That is if you’d let me."
After he said that word, silence stretched between them for a few seconds, filled only by the hum of the machines. Then Stefan took a deep breath and said, "Ruby, I need you to know something."
She turned toward him slightly, listening.
"I’m sorry," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "For everything. For pushing you away without knowing it was you all this while. I’m sorry for not seeing what was in front of me. For making you feel like you had to hide. I failed you and I failed our baby."
Ruby blinked quickly, her throat tightening again.