Chapter 180 CHAPTER 180:BACK TO YOU
The room was quiet.
Not the heavy, suffocating silence Wayne had grown used to over the past days but a softer one.
A fragile calm that hung in the air like something sacred.
Morning light slipped gently through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the hospital room. It touched Elara’s face, brushing her skin with a soft golden hue.
Wayne sat beside her, as always.
His chair hadn’t moved much in days.
His hand still held hers.
His eyes still watched her like she might disappear if he blinked too long.
But today…
Something felt different.
He didn’t know why.
Maybe it was instinct.
Maybe it was hope.
Or maybe it was just that quiet, persistent voice in his chest telling him
She’s coming back.
Wayne leaned forward slightly, his thumb brushing softly against her fingers.
“Good morning, baby,” he whispered.
His voice was gentler than usual, like he didn’t want to disturb something delicate.
“I’ve got updates for you.”
A small smile tugged at his lips.
“Our daughter is doing better again.”
He exhaled softly.
“She moved her hand yesterday… just like you did.”
He paused.
“You two are really trying to outdo each other, huh?”
His voice softened further.
“You should see her… she’s so tiny, Elara.”
A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.
“But she’s strong. Just like you.”
Silence followed.
Wayne didn’t mind.
He had learned how to sit in silence.
How to speak into it.
How to hope inside it.
He gently adjusted his grip on her hand.
“I went to see Calvin again.”
A brief pause.
“He’s exactly where he belongs.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“But don’t worry… he’s not coming near you. Not ever again.”
He leaned closer.
“I made sure of that.”
And then
It happened.
So small.
So quick.
But unmistakable.
Elara’s fingers moved.
Wayne froze.
His breath caught instantly.
“Elara…?”
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
Her fingers twitched again.
This time, a little stronger.
Wayne shot up from his chair.
“Elara!”
He leaned closer quickly, his heart pounding so loud it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
“Baby, can you hear me?”
Her eyelids fluttered.
Just slightly.
Like she was fighting something deep inside.
Wayne’s hands trembled.
“That’s it,” he whispered urgently.
“Come on… come back to me…”
Her breathing shifted.
Not drastically.
But enough.
Enough for Wayne to feel it.
To see it.
“Elara…”
Her lips parted slightly.
A faint, broken breath escaped her.
Wayne’s heart shattered and rebuilt itself in the same moment.
“You’re doing so good,” he whispered.
“I’m right here.”
Her eyelids fluttered again.
Slower this time.
He leaned closer, his voice soft but desperate.
“Open your eyes, baby… please…”
And then
She did.
Slowly.
Weakly.
But she did.
Her eyes opened just a little.
Unfocused at first.
Clouded.
Confused.
Wayne felt tears instantly fill his eyes.
“Elara…”
Her gaze shifted slightly, trying to understand her surroundings.
The machines.
The light.
The unfamiliar heaviness in her body.
And then
Her eyes found him.
For a moment…
They just stared at each other.
Like time had stopped.
Like the world had disappeared.
“Wayne…?” she whispered faintly.
His name barely left her lips.
But it was enough.
Wayne let out a broken breath.
“I’m here.”
His voice cracked.
“I’m right here.”
Tears slipped down his face as he gently squeezed her hand.
“You’re okay.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, confusion clouding her expression.
“What… happened…?”
Her voice was weak.
Fragile.
Wayne swallowed hard.
“You got hurt.”
He didn’t want to overwhelm her.
Not yet.
“You’ve been resting.”
Her eyes moved slowly around the room.
The machines.
The tubes.
The unfamiliar environment.
Fear flickered faintly in her gaze.
“Where…?”
“You’re in the hospital,” Wayne said softly.
“You’re safe.”
That word.
Safe.
It seemed to ground her just a little.
Her breathing steadied slightly.
Wayne gently brushed her hair away from her face.
“I’ve been here the whole time.”
Her eyes returned to his.
And for the first time…
Recognition settled fully.
“Wayne…” she whispered again.
He nodded quickly.
“Yeah.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“You’re okay…”
Wayne’s chest tightened.
“I should be saying that to you.”
Her lips trembled slightly.
And then suddenly
Her eyes widened.
“The baby.”
The panic was immediate.
Raw.
Her hand tried to move instinctively toward her stomach.
Wayne quickly leaned closer.
“Hey hey, it’s okay.”
His voice was firm but gentle.
“She’s okay.”
Elara froze.
“…she?”
Wayne smiled softly through his tears.
“A girl.”
Elara’s breath hitched.
“She’s alive…?”
Wayne nodded immediately.
“She’s alive.”
Tears began to fall freely from Elara’s eyes.
“Is she… okay…?”
Wayne squeezed her hand.
“She’s strong.”
He smiled.
“Just like you.”
Elara let out a shaky breath, her entire body relaxing slightly.
“Can I… see her…?”
Wayne’s expression softened.
“Not yet.”
He brushed his thumb gently across her hand.
“She’s still in the incubator. She came a little early.”
Elara nodded faintly.
“Okay…”
Her eyes filled again.
“But she’s okay…?”
Wayne leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“She’s perfect.”
Elara closed her eyes briefly, tears slipping down her temples.
Relief.
Pure, overwhelming relief.
When she opened them again, she looked at Wayne differently.
Softer.
Fuller.
“I thought… I lost everything…”
Wayne shook his head immediately.
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“You didn’t lose anything.”
He leaned closer, resting his forehead gently against hers.
“You saved me.”
Her breath caught.
“What…?”
Wayne’s eyes filled again.
“You stepped in front of me.”
Her brows furrowed faintly.
And then
The memory hit.
The gun.
Calvin.
The shot.
Her body tensed slightly.
Wayne noticed immediately.
“Hey…”
He gently cupped her face.
“It’s over.”
Her breathing quickened slightly.
“Calvin”
“He’s in prison.”
Wayne’s voice was steady.
“He can’t hurt you.”
Elara stared at him for a moment.
Trying to process it all.
“He’s… gone?”
Wayne nodded.
“Gone.”
Her body slowly relaxed again.
Wayne stayed close, his hand never leaving hers.
“I’m here,” he whispered.
“You’re safe.”
A long silence followed.
But this time…
It wasn’t heavy.
It wasn’t empty.
It was full.
Full of survival.
Full of love.
Full of something new.
Elara looked at him again.
Really looked at him.
The exhaustion.
The pain in his eyes.
The tears he hadn’t hidden.
“You didn’t leave…” she whispered.
Wayne let out a soft, broken laugh.
“Not a chance.”
His voice softened.
“I told you… I’m not going anywhere.”
Her lips trembled slightly.
“I felt… like I was lost…”
Wayne squeezed her hand.
“But you found your way back.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“Back to you.”
Wayne leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
Soft.
Careful.
Full of everything he couldn’t put into words.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers.
“Always,” he whispered.
And for the first time since everything fell apart…
They were finally back together.