Chapter 163 FOR ONCE

Chapter 163 FOR ONCE

OWAIN

"It doesn't matter anymore, Owain." Her voice sounded steady, but I caught the crack buried beneath it. "I've moved on." She swallowed hard. "You have to. You have a family now... and so do I." Her eyes hardened as she looked at me. "So tell me... what difference does any of this make now?"

I stared at her as she shook her head. "If you really want to make up for what happened, then stay out of our lives." Her next words hit harder than anything else. "I won't let you come anywhere near my son."

My breathing stopped. "Are you threatening me?"

Her jaw tightened. "You started this!" she snapped. "None of this would've happened if you'd just stayed away. If you'd remained Marco... and gone back to your family the way I built mine."

Something inside me broke. I dragged a trembling hand through my hair, trying to steady myself. It didn't work. Before I even realized what I was doing, my fist slammed into the wall. The crack echoed through the hallway.

Karry gasped behind me. Pain exploded across my knuckles. I barely felt it. I hit the wall again and again until warm blood ran over my hand, streaking the white paint.

Only then did I stop. My chest rose and fell violently as I fought for air. The familiar pain in my side flared, sharper than before, but I ignored it. When I turned around… Karima looked frozen. Like she'd just watched a stranger lose control. Her eyes never left my bleeding hand.

"Is that really what you want?" I asked, my voice hoarse. "For me to walk away? To forget that my son exists? I can't." I shook my head. "You can hate me for the rest of your life if that's what you need. But don't ask me to pretend he isn't mine. I won't do it."

Her lips parted. She wasn't looking at my face anymore. She was staring at the blood dripping steadily from my knuckles. "O... Owain..." Her voice trembled. "Your hand..."

I gave a hollow laugh. "It doesn't matter."

"It… it matters to me." She shot back firmly. Before I could react, she hurried toward me. She caught my wrist carefully, turning my hand over. "You're bleeding." The panic in her voice was unmistakable.

I instinctively pulled away. "Stop, Karry." I met her eyes. "You don't have to pretend you care." The words came out quieter than I'd intended. "Not anymore.”

As if she hadn't heard a single word I'd said, she grabbed my arm again, this time more firmly. Her fingers paused against my skin then her expression instantly changed.

"Wait..." Her eyes snapped to mine. "Why are you so cold?"

I gently pulled my arm free. "How about you stop changing the subject—"

"Owain." Her voice sharpened.

Before I could stop her, the back of her hand brushed against my forehead. She frowned immediately. "What's happening to you?"

I stared at her. Just seconds ago, she'd been trying to push me out of her life. Now… The woman standing in front of me didn't look like the Karima who hated me. She looked like my Karry. The woman who used to worry over the smallest scratch on my hand. The woman I'd spent four years dreaming about. The woman I still loved far more than I ever wanted to admit.

Seeing her look at me like this… It hurt. Because I knew those eyes belonged to someone else now. If I let myself believe this meant anything… I'd never be able to let her go.

My gaze drifted to the hand still wrapped around my wrist before lifting back to hers. "You have no idea how much losing you already hurt," I said quietly. "And now..." I laughed bitterly. "I'm losing both of you."

I shook my head. "This?" I glanced at my bleeding hand. "This is nothing compared to watching you look at him the way you used to look at me." Before I could stop myself, my hands rose and gently cupped her face.

She froze. Every muscle in her body stiffened beneath my touch. I searched her eyes. "Tell me the truth, Karry." My voice barely came out. "Do you really want me gone?"

She went completely silent, then she looked away. Of course she did. I knew that habit too well. Gently, I turned her face back toward mine. "Look at me. Just say it and I'll walk away."

Her jaw tightened. There were a thousand emotions fighting behind those eyes. "I..." Her voice trembled. "Owain..." She swallowed. "I love Isaiah." Those words landed firmly. Sure.

Something inside me cracked. I nodded once. Slowly, then my eyes drifted to her lips before finding hers again. "Then..." I whispered. "Why do your eyes keep telling me something different?"

She scoffed, trying to pull away. "You're insane. Let me go." I didn't. "I swear I'll scream."

I tightened my hold just enough to stop her from leaving. "I don't care. Answer me."

She drew in a sharp breath, ready to argue again. I knew she wouldn't say it. I knew I was running out of time..Maybe this was selfish. Maybe I'd hate myself afterward. But I'd rather know the truth once… Than spend the rest of my life wondering.

The moment her lips parted, mine crashed against them. She went completely still. Like time itself had stopped. For one impossible second… She didn't push me away.

Then… "Owain!" A violent force tore us apart.

I staggered backward. My eyes landed on Isaiah. His face was twisted with fury. Karima stared between us, too stunned to move. "Isaiah..." she whispered.

His fist slammed into my jaw before she could breathe the next words. Pain exploded through my head. I stumbled but stayed on my feet.

He came at me again. "Isaiah, stop!" Karima shouted, grabbing his arm but he shook her off. The second punch landed harder.

A sharp pain ripped through my side. Far worse than before. My vision blurred. The hallway tilted and the strength drained from my legs.

I heard Karima scream my name. Then… Everything went black.