Chapter 78 078
EMILY
Aaron’s voice cut through the chaos like a knife.
“Leave her.”
The two security guards gripping my arms paused. Their fingers loosened slightly, their eyes shifting toward the source of the command.
Aaron stepped forward with calm authority, his shoulders squared, his expression controlled. “She’s with me.”
For a moment the guards hesitated, clearly weighing whether to listen to him or drag me away anyway. Then one of them exhaled and slowly released my arm. The other followed.
The second their hands let go, my arms dropped heavily to my sides. My entire body trembled, adrenaline still racing through my veins.
Aaron turned to me immediately.
“Come on.”
His voice softened a little, but there was urgency behind it.
“You need to move before someone changes their mind.”
I did not argue. I did not even think.
I moved.
Morgan fell in step beside me as Aaron led us quickly down the hallway. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst through my chest.
Ryan.
The name echoed through my mind with every step.
The door to his room appeared at the end of the corridor.
Just a few feet away.
Aaron stopped in front of it and turned toward me.
“Listen to me,” he said quietly.
“I’m here because I want to see Cecilia,” I snapped immediately. My voice came out hoarse, raw from the screaming earlier.
Aaron shook his head.
“She stepped out with Miranda.”
Miranda.
Just hearing her name made my stomach twist.
“Then where is she?” I demanded.
“Not here right now.”
His gaze locked onto mine.
“Ryan is alone in there.”
My chest tightened.
“Then I’ll wait for her.”
I turned slightly, ready to plant myself outside the room if I had to, but Aaron reached out and grabbed my arm gently.
“Emily.”
Something in his tone made me pause.
“You should go see him now.”
“I just said I want to see Cecilia.”
Aaron leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“You don’t understand.”
My eyes narrowed.
“This might be your only chance.”
The words landed like a heavy stone in my chest.
“Only chance?” I whispered.
“They won’t let you near him again if they catch you here,” Aaron said quietly.
The hallway suddenly felt colder.
Ryan was right behind that door.
The man who used to be my entire world.
The man who now looked at me like I was a stranger.
Pain tightened around my ribs.
Aaron slowly pushed the door open.
“Go.”
My legs felt like they were made of stone as I stepped inside.
The hospital room was quiet. Too quiet.
Ryan sat up slightly in the bed, leaning against a stack of pillows. The soft blue glow from the monitors lit the side of his face. Bruises darkened his cheekbone. The bandage wrapped around his head made my stomach twist painfully.
For a long moment, I simply stood there.
Looking at him.
Memorizing every inch of his face like I was afraid he might vanish if I blinked.
Ryan glanced up when the door shut.
His eyes landed on me.
That same confusion returned instantly.
“Hey,” he said slowly.
His voice sounded rough, strained.
My throat tightened.
I walked toward him slowly.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
“Ryan.”
The moment I reached the bed, something inside me cracked open.
I threw my arms around him.
“So sorry,” I whispered.
The words poured out before I could stop them.
“I’m so sorry.”
Ryan’s body stiffened slightly beneath my arms.
But I did not let go.
I buried my face into his shoulder and breathed him in. His familiar scent mixed with the sterile smell of the hospital.
My Ryan.
My hands immediately moved to his face as I pulled back.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
My fingers brushed the bruise on his cheek.
Then the bandage near his temple.
My chest ached.
“Does it hurt?”
Ryan stared at me silently.
Confused.
Distant.
Like he was trying to solve a puzzle he didn’t understand.
But I could not stop.
I kissed his cheek.
Then the other side.
Then his forehead.
My lips moved quickly across his face in desperate little pecks.
“Thank God you’re alive,” I whispered.
Behind me I heard Morgan shift slightly.
Aaron cleared his throat.
Then Morgan spoke softly.
“We’ll give you a moment.”
I barely noticed them leaving.
The door clicked shut.
And suddenly the room held only two people.
Ryan.
And me.
I wrapped my arms around him again and held him tightly.
“Please,” I whispered against his chest.
“Please remember.”
My voice shook.
“You have to remember us.”
Ryan’s hands rested awkwardly against the mattress.
“Remember what?” he asked slowly.
The question crushed my heart.
“Our life,” I whispered.
Tears slipped down my cheeks again.
“Our daughter.”
Even saying her name felt fragile.
“Zara needs you.”
Ryan gently pulled away from my embrace.
His hands rested lightly on my arms as he looked at me.
“Who are you?”
The words sliced straight through me.
Everything inside me froze.
For a moment I could not breathe.
“It’s me,” I whispered weakly.
“Emily.”
Ryan’s brows pulled together.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
“I don’t remember you.”
The room spun.
Before I could answer, the door suddenly opened again.
I turned.
Miranda stood there.
Her eyes landed on me instantly.
And hardened.
“What are you doing here?” she asked coldly.
Ryan looked between us.
“You know her?” he asked.
Miranda stepped further into the room.
“Yes.”
Ryan waited.
Miranda’s voice sharpened.
“You cheated on me with her once.”
The words exploded through the room.
Ryan’s head snapped toward me.
Miranda continued, her tone calm and cutting.
“She got pregnant.”
My entire body went rigid.
“She had your child.”
Ryan shifted away from me immediately.
The distance was small but devastating.
Like a wall suddenly rising between us.
My chest tightened painfully.
“What are you saying?” I whispered.
Miranda crossed her arms slowly.
“She can’t seem to let you go since then.”
Ryan stared at me differently now.
Suspicion flickered in his eyes.
Wariness.
Like I was someone dangerous.
Someone trying to manipulate him.
My entire world tilted.
“You’re lying,” I said quietly.
Miranda’s lips curved slightly.
“Am I?”
Something inside me snapped.
Anger surged through my veins.
I stepped toward her.
“How dare you.”
Miranda didn’t move.
She just stood there watching me.
My hand lifted.
All I wanted was to wipe that smug look off her face.
But before my hand could move further, another voice sliced through the room.
“Try it.”
The voice was calm.
Cold.
Commanding.
Every muscle in my body froze.
Slowly, I turned.
Cecilia stood in the doorway.
Her posture was elegant, composed, completely in control.
Her sharp eyes locked onto mine.
And a slow, dangerous smile curved across her lips.
“I dare you.”