Chapter 8: Chapter Eight

Tyler's POV

My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. Beep... beep... beep... What was that annoying sound? I cracked open my eyes, wincing at the bright light. Hospital. Great.

"Mr. Marsh? Can you hear me?" A blurry face swam into view.

I grunted, my throat dry as sandpaper. "Unfortunately."

The nurse chuckled. "Good to see your sense of humor survived. How are you feeling?"

"Like I went ten rounds with a freight train," I croaked. "Water?"

She held a cup to my lips, and I sipped greedily. As my vision cleared, I remembered why I was here. Lena. The bridge. The water.

"Lena!" I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my body. "Where is she? Is she okay?"

The nurse's smile faded. "Miss Del Mario is... stable. But her condition is still critical."

My heart sank. "What happened? I thought I got to her in time."

"You did, Mr. Marsh. You saved her life. But she inhaled a lot of water, and there were some... complications."

I slumped back against the pillows, guilt gnawing at me. If only I'd been faster, stronger...

"Can I see her?" I asked.

The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you need to rest. Doctor's orders."

I wanted to argue, but exhaustion was already pulling me under. As I drifted off, I made a silent promise to Lena. I'd make this right, somehow.

The next time I woke up, a familiar face was glaring at me from across the room.

"Well, well. Look who decided to play hero," Richard drawled.

I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my brain. "Richard? What are you doing here?"

He laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "Checking on my wife's would-be savior, of course. How noble of you, Tyler."

Something in his tone made my skin crawl. I pushed myself up, ignoring the ache in my muscles. "Cut the crap, Richard. What's really going on?"

He stood, pacing the small room like a caged animal. "What's going on? You tell me, Tyler. Why were you with my wife on that bridge?"

The accusation in his voice was clear. I felt my temper rising. "Are you seriously asking me that? I saved her life, you ungrateful ass!"

Richard's eyes flashed. "And why did she need saving in the first place? What did you do to her?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What did I do? Are you kidding me?" I struggled to keep my voice level. "Richard, your wife tried to kill herself. She was miserable, desperate. And it's all because of you."

He scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Please. Luna's always been dramatic. She probably just wanted attention."

The casual cruelty in his words made my blood boil. "Her name is Lena, you jackass. And she wasn't being dramatic. She was terrified of you!"

Richard's face darkened. "Watch your tone, Tyler. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" I countered. "I saw the bruises, Richard. I heard her crying. What kind of monster are you?"

For a moment, something like shame flickered across his face. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold anger.

"You don't know anything about our marriage," he spat. "Lena, Luna, whatever her name is – she's my wife. What happens between us is none of your business."

I shook my head, disgusted. "It became my business when I had to fish her out of that river. She deserves better than you, Richard."

He laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "And I suppose you think you're the one to give it to her? Don't make me laugh, Tyler. You're nothing but a sad, pathetic little man playing at being a hero."

His words stung, but I refused to let him see it. "At least I'm not a coward who beats his wife."

Richard's face twisted with rage. He lunged forward, grabbing the front of my hospital gown. "Say that again. I dare you."

I met his gaze, unflinching. "You're a coward, Richard. And Lena deserves better."

For a moment, I thought he might hit me. But then he let go, stepping back with a sneer. "You're not worth it. Stay away from my wife, Tyler. Or you'll regret it."

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I slumped back, my heart racing. What had I gotten myself into?

The next few days passed in a blur of tests and worried nurses. I was healing, they said, but slowly. Every time I asked about Lena, I got the same vague answers. She was stable. She was resting. She couldn't have visitors.

It was driving me crazy.

On the fifth day, I finally had enough. I waited until the night shift change, then snuck out of my room. The hallways were quiet, only the occasional squeak of a nurse's shoes breaking the silence.

I found Lena's room easily enough. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door.

She looked so small in that hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines. Her face was pale, with dark circles under her eyes. But she was alive. I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

"Tyler?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

I moved closer, careful not to disturb any of the wires. "I had to see you. Make sure you were okay."

She gave a weak laugh. "Okay is a relative term, I guess." Her eyes filled with tears. "Tyler, I'm so sorry. You could have died because of me."

I shook my head, taking her hand gently. "Hey, none of that. I'm fine. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Lena bit her lip, looking away. "You shouldn't say things like that. It's not... it's not safe."

"Because of Richard?" I asked softly.

She flinched at the name. "You don't understand. He's... he's not who you think he is."

"I think I'm starting to get the picture," I said grimly. "Lena, what he's doing to you... it's not right. It's not your fault."

A tear slipped down her cheek. "You don't know what I've done. The mistakes I've made."

"It doesn't matter," I insisted. "Nothing you could have done justifies this. You deserve to be happy, Lena. To be safe."

She looked at me then, really looked at me. "Why do you care so much? You barely know me."

I swallowed hard. How could I explain the connection I felt to her? The overwhelming need to protect her?

"I just do," I said simply. "And I want to help. If you'll let me."

Lena's eyes widened. "Tyler, no. You can't get involved in this. Richard, he... he'd hurt you."

I squeezed her hand gently. "Let him try. I'm not afraid of him."

She shook her head, panic in her eyes. "You should be. Tyler, please. Just forget about me. Go live your life."

"I can't do that," I said softly. "Not now that I know the truth. We'll figure this out together, okay?"

Before she could respond, the door burst open. Richard stood there, his face a mask of fury.

"What the hell is going on here?" he growled.

Lena yanked her hand away from mine, terror written all over her face. "Richard! It's not... we weren't..."

He ignored her, stalking towards me. "I warned you, Tyler. I told you to stay away from my wife."

I stood my ground, even as my heart raced. "And I told you she deserves better than you."

Richard's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You just made a very big mistake, old friend."

As we faced off, the machines around Lena started beeping frantically. She gasped, clutching her chest.

"Lena?" I turned, panic rising in my throat. "Lena, what's wrong?"

Her eyes rolled back in her head as she started convulsing. The room erupted into chaos as nurses and doctors rushed in.

"Sir, you need to leave," someone was saying, pushing me towards the door.

"No, wait! Lena!" I called out, struggling against them.

The last thing I saw before the door slammed shut was Lena's pale, lifeless face as the doctors worked frantically to save her.

What had I done?

As I stumbled back into the hallway, my mind was reeling. The beeping of the machines echoed in my ears, mixing with the shouted orders of the medical staff. I slumped against the wall, my legs suddenly weak.

"This is your fault," Richard's voice cut through the chaos. He was standing there, his face a mask of cold fury. "If you had just stayed away like I told you to..."

I felt a surge of anger, pushing myself off the wall. "My fault? Are you kidding me? You're the reason she's in there!"

He stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "Watch your mouth, Tyler. You have no idea what you're dealing with."

"Oh, I think I do," I shot back. "You're nothing but a bully, Richard. A sad, pathetic little man who can only feel big by hurting others."

For a moment, I thought he might hit me. His fists clenched at his sides, trembling with rage. But then a nurse burst out of Lena's room, her face grim.

"Mr. Paxton? We need to speak with you," she said urgently.

Richard's eyes never left mine as he spoke. "This isn't over, Tyler. Not by a long shot."

As he followed the nurse back into Lena's room, I was left alone in the hallway, the weight of everything crashing down on me. What had I gotten myself into? And more importantly, how was I going to get Lena out of this mess?