Chapter 85

Christian stood in the doorway of their bedroom, watching her sleep peacefully. It had been weeks since she had recovered, but he still couldn't shake the fear that gripped him every time he thought about her getting sick or possibly being poisoned again. It wasn't just the thought of her falling ill that kept him up at night; it was the fear of losing her that paralyzed him with terror.

He had never felt so helpless in his life, watching the person he loved most in the world suffer. And now that she was better, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her side.

Victoria had tried to reassure him that she was fine, that he didn't need to worry about her anymore. But he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that loomed over him like a dark cloud. He knew that there were probably people out there who would stop at nothing to harm her, to take her away from him. And he couldn't bear the thought of facing the world without her by his side.

He had always been a fiercely protective person, always putting Victoria's safety and well-being above his own. But now, the fear of losing her consumed him in a way he had never experienced before. He couldn't bring himself to leave her side, to go back to work, and face the world without her.

As the days turned into weeks, Christian's absence from work began to raise eyebrows among his employees. They couldn't understand why he refused to return, why he seemed so consumed by fear and anxiety. But Christian couldn't find the words to explain the depth of his terror, the overwhelming need to protect Victoria at all costs.

As the boss of a successful company, Christian had the luxury of taking as much time off as he needed. But if he had been just an employee, he knew he would have been fired by now. His employees were starting to grumble about his extended absence, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. All he could think about was Victoria and how he needed to protect her at all costs.

He spent his days and nights by her side, never straying too far from her. He would hold her hand as she slept, whispering words of love and comfort into her ear. He would read to her, play her favorite music, anything to keep her spirits up and chase away the shadows of fear that haunted him.

Victoria could see the toll that her hospitalization had taken on Christian, the way it had shaken him to his core. She tried to reassure him that she was fine, that she was strong and resilient, and that she would never let anything come between them. But Christian's fear ran deep, a dark river of dread that threatened to drown him in despair.

One night, Victoria sat him down and gently confronted him about his refusal to go back to work. She could see the fear in his eyes, the worry etched into his furrowed brow. She reassured him that she was fine, that she was strong and healthy, and that she didn’t need him hovering over her every second of the day.

As they sat together in the dim glow of the bedside lamp, Christian finally found the courage to voice his fears to Victoria. He told her about the sleepless nights, the paralyzing anxiety that gripped him every time he thought about losing her. He told her about the nightmares that haunted him, the visions of a world without her that left him gasping for breath.

Victoria listened quietly, her heart breaking for the man she loved more than life itself. She reached out and took his hand, holding it tightly in her own. "I will never leave you, Christian," she whispered, her voice filled with love and determination. "I will fight for us, for our love, for the life we've built together, for our children. You don't have to be afraid because I am here with you, always."

Christian felt a wave of relief wash over him, like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. He looked into Victoria's eyes, seeing nothing but love and unwavering support. In that moment, he knew that he didn't have to face his fears alone, that they would conquer them together, side by side.

As the days passed, Christian's fears began to loosen their grip on him, like a hand slowly unclenching its hold. He started to venture out of their home, to take short walks around the neighborhood, to breathe in the fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun on his skin.

Slowly but surely, he began to rebuild his life outside of the protective cocoon he had created around Victoria.

But still, with a heavy heart, he finally made the decision to go back to work. His employees welcomed him back with open arms and understanding smiles. And as he sat at his desk, typing away at his computer, he knew that he was finally ready to face the world again, to live his life with courage and hope.

But no matter where he went or what he did, Christian never strayed too far from Victoria's side. He knew that his fear of losing her would always be there, lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at the slightest hint of danger. But now, he also knew that he had the strength and the love to face that fear head-on, to protect the woman he loved with every fiber of his being.

Christian found it harder and harder to concentrate on his job. His mind was always on Victoria, worrying about her safety, about what could happen to her when he wasn’t there to protect her. He tried to bury himself in work, to distract himself from his fears, but it was no use.

One evening, as he sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen, a thought crossed his mind. What if he could hire someone to watch over Victoria when he was at work? Someone to keep her safe, to ease his mind, and allow him to focus on his job without constantly worrying about her?

The more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him. He knew it was a bit extreme, a bit over-the-top, but he couldn’t help himself. He loved Victoria more than anything in the world, and he would do whatever it took to protect her.

And so, Christian set out to find the perfect person to hire as Victoria’s bodyguard while he also asked his great-grandparents to move in with them. He interviewed countless candidates, looking for someone trustworthy, reliable, and above all, capable of keeping his beloved wife safe. Finally, he found the perfect fit—a former military man with years of experience in security.

From that day on, Christian went back to work with a sense of relief. He knew that Victoria was in good hands, that she was being looked after by someone who would do everything in his power to keep her safe.

After finding a bodyguard and his great-grandparents moving in, Christian slowly began to relax, to let go of his fears and trust that everything would be okay.

Victoria noticed the change in him, the way he seemed lighter, happier, more free. She knew that hiring a bodyguard had been a big step for him, a sign of his love and devotion to her. And she was grateful, touched by his willingness to go to such lengths to protect her.

Victoria was just happy that her husband was starting to relax; she didn't want to keep worrying about him while he was at work.