Chapter 43 43

Chapter 43 43
Episode 43

...

"Hah!" His breathing came out harsh and ragged. Fear and rage had merged into a single overwhelming emotion... Matthias was terrified. He had taken down the thugs guarding the outside in mere moments, beating them down without mercy as he rushed forward.

And then...

Bang!

The cabin door was kicked open with brutal force. The wood splintered and the door flew inward. Matthias stood there, breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell violently as his eyes landed on Luna.

She was staring back at him with wide, tear-filled eyes... Eyes that looked painfully fragile. "M-Matthias...?" Luna's voice trembled.

"Don't... don't come any closer!"

"Don't come near us, or I'll..." The cut on Luna's neck had already drawn blood. A thin stream of crimson slowly trickled down her pale skin.

The moment Matthias appeared, Valery immediately moved behind Luna and pressed herself against her captive, making sure Matthias couldn't reach her.

The knife remained dangerously close to Luna's throat.

The wound stung, it burned but strangely... Warmth flooded Luna's heart.

'You really came.'

'I prayed with all my heart... and you really came.' A fresh wave of tears filled her eyes. 'This is the first time...'

'The first time someone has come for me. The first time someone didn't abandon me.'

'The first time someone didn't leave me behind.'

'Thank you.'

'Thank you...' Luna broke down into sobs. Compared to the pain in her neck, she was far happier to see Matthias standing before her.

All her life, she had only known betrayal. She had been framed. Thrown into prison and abandoned.

Not a single person had stood beside her. Not a single person had fought for her.

So seeing Matthias come for her after she desperately begged for help... Made Luna feel as though she had finally found the right person.

The one person who would come when the whole world cast her aside. The one person who would hold her hand when everyone else betrayed her.

At the same time...

Matthias looked absolutely terrified. The blue eyes that were usually cold and sharp now held unmistakable fear.

His body trembled and his chest hurt.

The sight of blood flowing from Luna's neck felt like someone had driven a knife straight into his heart.

"What the hell are you doing, Valery?!"

"Let her go!" Matthias's voice thundered through the cabin. His jaw clenenched tightly. Every muscle in his body was tense.

Slowly, he raised both hands then he began stepping forward.

One careful step at a time.

His eyes never left the knife in Valery's hand. He moved cautiously, trying to get closer... Trying to find an opening... Trying to take the knife away before Luna got hurt any further.

At that moment, Valery, who had completely lost herself to jealousy and regret, screamed at Matthias. "I told you not to come any closer!"

"You're the one who forced me to do this, Matthias!" Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. "Why won't you forgive me?"

"I already told you it was a mistake!"

"I was with that man because you were always busy!"

"Because you never had time for me!" Valery's shoulders trembled violently. Her emotions were completely out of control now. "I even got rid of the baby I was carrying for your sake!"

"I did that because of you!"

"But you still abandoned me!"

"You still left me behind!"

"Even though I loved you so much!"Her eyes were bloodshot... Filled with obsession... Filled with resentment.

"No! I won't accept this!"

"I won't accept another woman standing beside you!"

"I won't let it happen!"

"I have to get rid of her! I have to make her disappear so you can belong to me again!" Valery laughed but tears continued to fall from her eyes.

The sound was disturbing... A laugh that sounded more like a sob. She had completely lost her sanity. She had done countless crazy things because of Matthias. Yet after a single betrayal, Matthias had thrown her away without hesitation. As if she were garbage.

Valery would never accept that... Never!

"Aah..." Luna whimpered in pain.

Valery's grip on her grew tighter and the blade pressed closer against her skin.Luna could already feel death breathing down her neck.

If Valery moved even a little more... Her life would be over.

Matthias's entire body trembled, he had never been this afraid before, not once in his life.

His eyes were fixed on Luna— On his wife, on the tears running down her face.

And yet... She was smiling... Smiling simply because he had come for her.

That sight nearly shattered him.

"No!"

"Don't do this!"

"I'm begging you, Valery!" For the first time in his life, Matthias begged someone, his voice was shaking — raw desperation filled every word.

"Please don't do this!"

"If you hurt her..." His jaw tightened violently. The veins on his neck stood out, his eyes had turned frighteningly dark. "I swear I'll do something that will make you choose death over living."

"If you leave even one more scratch on her..." His voice broke. Yet the threat behind it became even more terrifying. "I'll kill you myself."

"I swear I will." Tears filled Matthias's eyes. For the first time — He cried, not because of anger, not because of frustration but because he was terrified — Terrified beyond reason.

He couldn't imagine losing Luna right in front of him. He couldn't imagine watching her die while he stood there helpless. He didn't want to lose this happiness... This warmth... This home he had finally found. He had spent so many years searching without realizing it. And now that he had finally found the woman he loved — He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

"Y-You..." Valery stared at him in disbelief, her lips trembled. "You're begging me?"

"You're actually begging me because of her?"

"Aaaaaah!" Her scream echoed through the cabin. "What does she have that I don't?!"

"What is so special about her?!"

"Why are you crying for her?!"

"Why are you begging for her?!" Her voice became shrill and desperate.

"Hahaha!" Valery laughed again then cried and then laughed again. She looked completely insane. Her eyes were dark and hollow as she stared at Matthias.

The man she had loved. The man she had obsessed over. The man who was now crying for another woman.

Slowly, Valery raised the hand holding the knife. The blade gleamed coldly beneath the dim light. "If that's the case..." Her lips twisted into a smile. "Then she really has to die." The words came out as little more than a whisper.

A whisper filled with madness. Then she swung the knife toward Luna's throat. Everything seemed to slow down... The world fell silent.

Luna closed her eyes. She stopped struggling. Stopped resisting. Somehow, at that moment, she felt strangely calm.

If this was where her life ended... Then perhaps it had always been her fate.

Valery's hand moved... The knife cut through the air.

Closer... Closer... And just as the blade was about to reach Luna, Matthias lunged forward without hesitation.

"Ah!" A cry rang out. Then came the sickening sound of flesh being pierced. The knife never reached Luna.

Instead, it buried itself deep into Matthias's hand, blood immediately spilled down his wrist.

Valery froze, her eyes widened and her entire body went rigid. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

She had never imagined — Not even once— That Matthias would throw himself in front of the blade. That he would willingly sacrifice himself. That he would use his own body to protect another woman.

A woman who had once been nothing more than a stranger to him.

...
As for Luna...

"Haaah!" Her eyes flew open when she realized someone was holding her tightly... So tightly that she could barely breathe. Before Luna even had the chance to notice that her husband had been injured because of her, Matthias had already pulled her into a fierce embrace.

His arms wrapped around her as though he was afraid she would disappear if he let go. Luna could feel his body trembling violently. She could hear his ragged breathing against her ear. Heavy breaths filled with relief.

"Thank God..."

"Thank God I made it in time." His voice was shaking. "I'm sorry."

"I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you properly." The words sounded painfully sincere. As though he truly blamed himself. "But everything's okay now."

"I'm here."

"I've come to take you home."

"We'll be going home soon, alright?" Matthias spoke gently. So gently that Luna's heart trembled.

Slowly, he loosened his embrace. His hands moved to her cheeks. His thumbs brushed against her skin as he looked at her from up close. His eyes searched her face carefully, checking every inch of her, making sure she was truly alright and making sure she was still here. Only after confirming that did the tension in his body begin to ease.

"Hic!" The moment Luna heard those words, she cried even harder. Her shoulders shook and her tears wouldn't stop.

A moment ago, she had been terrified... Terrified that she was going to die... Terrified that she would never see him again and now... Now she was crying because Matthias had told her he was taking her home.

"Aaaah..." Her voice broke. "So I really do have a place to go home to now..."

"Aaaaah!" Luna burst into tears. She cried so hard she could barely speak.

The emotions inside her heart were too complicated to put into words.

For so long, she had wandered alone... For so long, she had lived with nowhere to belong. Yet now... Someone was telling her he was taking her home.

A home that was waiting for her. A home she could return to. A home where someone wanted her to stay.

Quickly, Matthias began untying the ropes around Luna's wrists. The moment the bindings came loose...

Clang.

The knife embedded in his hand slipped free and fell onto the floor. Only then did Luna realize it had still been there all this time. Without hesitation, Matthias immediately kicked the knife away. It slid across the cabin floor and disappeared into a distant corner. Far enough that Valery could never reach it again.

"B-Blood..." Luna froze and her eyes widened. "So much blood..." Her voice trembled. "Y-Your hand..." Only now did she finally see it.

The wound, the blood and the knife had pierced deeply through Matthias's hand. Blood continued to drip onto the floor. Yet Matthias acted as if it were nothing.

"It's fine... It doesn't hurt at all." His tone was casual. Almost dismissive. "Right now, we need to treat your neck first. After that, I'll take care of my hand."

"And I still need to deal with this woman." His expression darkened. "And clean up this entire mess." His icy gaze landed on Valery.

She was still sitting on the floor. Completely frozen.

The shock was so overwhelming that she couldn't even move. She simply stared at them... Motionless... Unable to believe what had just happened.

Smack!

Luna suddenly slapped both of Matthias's cheeks... Not hard... Just enough to force his attention back to her. Then she grabbed his face and made him look directly into her eyes.

"Hospital!"

"NOW!" Her voice echoed through the cabin.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME!"

"JUST GO TO THE HOSPITAL!" Tears streamed down her face. Her entire body was shaking. "I know this isn't the right time, but I..." Her voice faltered, for a second, she couldn't continue. Then she gathered her courage. "I like you too."

Matthias froze.

"And I'm afraid of losing you too." Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "So stop scaring me..."

"Please..."

"Let's go to the hospital." Luna was still crying. Everything had happened too quickly and seeing the wound in Matthias's hand terrified her more than she wanted to admit.

"Hmm?" Matthias stopped breathing for a moment... His eyes widened and his heartbeat slammed against his chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

He had finally received an answer... An answer to the confession he had made earlier... An answer he hadn't dared to hope for.

Because of Luna's words... The pain in his hand vanished completely. He couldn't feel it anymore.

"Come on."

"Hurry!"

"Let's go to the hospital!" Luna immediately stood up. She grabbed Matthias's uninjured hand and pulled him toward the door. Completely forgetting how dangerous the situation had been moments ago. All she could think about now was getting him treated.

"Huh?" Matthias blinked.

"U-Um... Hmm!" His face instantly turned red... His heart pounded wildly. Yet he obediently stood up and followed behind his wife as she hurried out of the cabin.

She practically dragged him toward his car.

Matthias stared at the hand holding his, unable to stop smiling.

'She's holding my hand and dragging me away.'

'That's adorable.'

'She really loves me.'

'Oh my God.'

Even now... Even while blood continued dripping from his injured hand, Matthias was blushing like a fool.

He was so happy simply because of what his wife had done.

Afterward, Matthias remained the one driving.

Luna still didn't know how to drive and during the trip, Luna immediately tore part of her skirt and wrapped it around his injured hand to stop the bleeding. She carefully tied the makeshift bandage despite her trembling fingers.

After that, she contacted Matthias's assistant.

She informed him about Valery. She even sent their exact location so Matthias wouldn't have to worry about dealing with the aftermath himself. Every single thing Luna did made Matthias's heart pound harder.

Again... And again...And... again. "She's really worried about me..." He whispered softly. A smile tugged at his lips as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel and drove toward the hospital.

...

To Be Continued...