123. Marriage Proposal

**123\. Marriage Proposal**

Eirene received the call and rushed to the hospital with Sia.

As soon as she arrived, her eyes landed on Samuel and Victor standing outside the ward, both visibly tense. The sheer number of men stationed inside and outside the hospital was impossible to ignore. Samuel had deployed them all for Lucy’s safety.

Then, her gaze stopped at the glowing red letters above a ward door—ICU.

Her world tilted.

Without thinking, she ran straight for the door, desperate to get inside, but Samuel caught her just in time.

“Lucia is fine. She isn’t in the ICU.”

He murmured, his grip firm yet gentle, trying to steady her.

Eirene froze. Her breath hitched as the weight of his words sank in. Tears had already streaked her face, but now she let out a shaky sob, whispering a prayer of thanks before looking up at him, her voice breaking.

“Where is she? Where is my baby?”

Samuel didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulled her into his arms, rubbing her shoulder lightly in an attempt to calm her. Then, guiding her toward a room at the far end of the hallway, he said softly,

“Come.”

More than five men stood guard outside the hospital room. As they entered, Eirene’s eyes immediately found Robin, slumped tiredly on the sofa.

Hearing them approach, Robin stood and wordlessly pulled back the curtain.

There, on the white hospital bed, Lucy lay asleep.

A thin glass IV line was attached to her hand, her face pale, a faint trace of blood still visible at the corner of her lips.

“She’s fine.”

Samuel reassured, watching as Eirene rushed to her side, sitting beside her and stroking her small face with trembling fingers.

“Just some superficial bruises. She fainted from shock and weakness.”

Eirene didn’t respond. Silent tears continued to spill down her cheeks, her body wracked with quiet sobs.

Samuel stood beside them, saying nothing.

Eirene wasn’t the only one feeling helpless; watching Lucy like this made his own chest tighten unbearably.

After a long moment, Eirene wiped her tears with the back of her hand, inhaling deeply as she struggled to steady her voice.

“Who’s in the ICU?”

She finally asked.

Samuel’s jaw tensed.

“The boy we saw on the CCTV,”

he said.

“He was badly beaten. Multiple broken bones.”

Samuel exhaled, glancing toward the hallway. He had initially assumed the boy was part of the kidnapping crew.

But looking at his condition now, the truth painted a far different picture.

“I’ve decided to leave this country and live somewhere Aurther can’t reach.”

Eirene said, gently caressing Lucy’s swollen face.

Samuel, already sensing where this conversation was heading, frowned.

“What are you talking about? You can’t just leave like this.”

“So, what should I do? Wait for my daughter to be killed?”

Eirene’s voice cracked, her frustration spilling over.

“He won’t stop as long as Lucy is alive.”

Samuel’s gaze darkened. There was something in her tone, something she wasn’t saying. His instincts flared with suspicion.

“Is there something I don’t know?”

Before Eirene could answer, a small, weak voice interrupted them.

“Mom… Mom…”

Eirene turned sharply, her heart clenching as Lucy stirred.

“Baby, I’m here.”

She grasped Lucy’s tiny hand as the child’s heavy eyelids fluttered open. Lucy’s gaze roamed her surroundings, her breathing unsteady, until she spotted her mother. Relief flooded her face.

“Mom.”

She whimpered, her voice trembling.

But the moment was short lived. Memories came rushing back, the shadows, the ropes, the cruel laughter.

Eirene barely had time to react before Lucy broke down in sobs, clinging to her as if afraid she might disappear. Samuel signaled Robin to call the doctor and then sat beside Lucy, stroking her head with rare tenderness.

“It’s okay, Lucia. You’re safe now.”

His voice was softer than ever, but the reaction he received was far from expected.

“Stay away from me!”

Lucy jerked his hand away with a force that stunned him. Her tear filled eyes, usually full of mischief, were now burning with something he had never seen before: fear, Hatred.

Even Eirene flinched at the intensity of her outburst.

“Lucia, what’s wrong, darling?”

Samuel’s chest tightened. His instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong. Ignoring the sting in his heart, he reached for her again.

But Lucy recoiled, burying herself into Eirene’s embrace as if he were a monster. Tears streamed down her face, her sobs turning frantic.

“Mom…”

She choked.

“Mom, tell him… tell him to leave. Please.”

Eirene’s gaze lifted to Samuel, pleading and helpless.

For the first time, she saw something raw on his face, an expression Samuel had spent years mastering how to hide, his emotions, but… the pain was clearly shown on his face.

Samuel had been trained from a young age to suppress emotions, to never let them slip through. But at that moment, he failed.

His hands clenched at his sides. He looked at Eirene, his silent plea evident. But he knew the answer already. Even Eirene couldn’t fight Lucy’s distress.

His eyes flickered back to Lucy one last time before he stepped away.

Then, without another word, he turned and left.

Eirene wanted to stop him, wanted to ask Lucy why her trust had shattered so suddenly. But before she could, the doctors arrived, politely asking her to step out while they examined Lucy.

With one last glance at her daughter, Eirene obeyed, though the unease in her heart only grew.

Samuel stood outside Lucy’s room; his head bowed. His face had returned to its usual blank expression, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking or feeling.

Eirene had no words of comfort for him, not when she herself didn’t even understand what had happened between him and Lucy. The situation was too chaotic for her to dwell on emotions.

As they both stood in silence, waiting for the doctors to finish the examination, it was Samuel who finally broke it.

“Why are you thinking of leaving? What can you do alone?”

His voice was cold, direct.

“I just want to take Lucy somewhere safe.”

Eirene replied.

“Aanya said she’d help me settle overseas with the company’s branch.”

It wasn’t a new offer. Aanya had mentioned it before, and Eirene had been considering it ever since.

“You don’t have to leave.”

 Samuel’s tone hardened.

“I can keep you and Lucia safe. I have that much power, especially now that I know who’s behind all this. I… I can—”

Eirene cut him off.

“And what do you get out of it?”

Her voice was calm but sharp.

“Eventually, I’ll take my daughter back, Samuel.”

She didn’t doubt anymore, Samuel had feelings for her. And he was far too attached to Lucy to ever let them go.

His gaze darkened, but his next words were quiet, sincere.

“It’s fine. Use me… just like I used you in the past. That way, we’ll be even.”

His voice dropped slightly.

“Eirene, let me be your shield. I wasn’t strong enough back then, but now… now I can stand face-to-face with Beatrix.”

A long pause followed. Then Eirene lifted her gaze to meet his.

“Alright,” she said.

“Let’s get married.”

Samuel froze.

“What?”

“Let’s get married as soon as possible.”

Her expression remained unreadable.

“I’ll use you.”