Chapter 109: Shy And Ashamed
The steady rhythm of the heart monitor filled the quiet hospital room, a soft but relentless reminder of the fragile life lying on the bed.
Alex stood near the window, arms crossed tightly over his chest, staring out without really seeing the view beyond the glass. His gaze drifted back to Emma, her face pale against the stark white of the pillow, her chest rising and falling with each measured breath.
She was indeed alive and safe. Yet so vulnerable. So vulnerable that anyone could enter there and attempt to kill her again and she wouldn't even fight back. He wasn't going to leave her again for a moment. He told himself.
His eyes traced the soft curves of her face, the faint bruise marring her temple, the bandage wrapped around her wrist where the rope had bitten into her skin.
Seeing her like this—so broken, so still—made something ache deep in his chest, a tight, unbearable pressure that refused to ease.
He had almost lost her just like he had lost Sofia only this time it was because of people he regarded as family.
The thought struck hard, cold and unforgiving. He clenched his jaw, trying to shake it off, but the image of her tied to that chair, Vanessa standing over her, haunted him.
He hadn't seen it first hand but the bruises on her wrist made it easy to picture. It played on repeat, tormenting him. The thought of how close she'd come to being taken from him forever—it was suffocating.
All because of what? People he considered family? All for what? For some stupid revenge over a crime they committed themselves and refused to accept.
And then there was Claire. How could she even dream of saying something like that him after everything?
"I think we should forgive Jake."