Chapter 10 Scars Left By His Words
My eyes remain closed, but I’m not completely unconscious. A faint awareness still lingers. I try to open my eyes. Everything looks blurred. Through that haze, I see Michael’s face.
A faint smile appears on my lips. A thought crosses my mind, maybe this is just my illusion… maybe I’m already dead… and this is only a dream.
But then his expression changes. I see anger in his eyes. I try again to open my eyes. This time, Michael’s face becomes clearer, he is glaring at me angrily.
The next moment, he lays me down on the ground. His hands press against my stomach, hard. Suddenly, I start coughing violently. In one sharp rush, water comes out of my mouth. I begin coughing uncontrollably.
I jerk upright into a sitting position, still coughing again and again. Breathing becomes difficult. Then I feel someone’s warm, strong hands on my back, steadying me, supporting me.
Slowly, my coughing eases. I take a deep breath. When I finally lift my gaze… I can’t believe what I see.
I’m in Mr. Wilson’s arms.
My heart starts pounding wildly. I can’t believe I’m alive… and that he’s right in front of me. He bends slightly toward me and asks, “Are you okay?”
I weakly nod my head in response.
Then my eyes shift to the other side. Diana is standing there, furious. Hatred and jealousy are clearly visible on her face. One of her cheeks is completely red, as if someone has slapped her hard. Just looking at her makes it clear that this anger goes far beyond words.
I look at Mr. Wilson. He looks at me for a brief moment, then fixes his gaze on Diana and says in a firm, cold voice, “Get out of here.”
Diana storms away, stomping her feet in rage, grinding her teeth. The sharp sound of her heels echoes through the garden until she disappears from sight.
Mr. Wilson then turns back to me. There is anger in his eyes, but also concern. In a low yet stern voice, he says, “I told you not to do this… I clearly told you not to tell her about our relationship.”
I silently lower my head. My heart starts beating faster.
Then he says, “I’m asking you something.”
With his words, a strange fear creeps into my heart, as if a storm is about to break. I slowly lift my head and look at him.
My eyes are filled with tears.
I have already lost my parents once… and now I don’t want to lose him too. My throat tightens, my voice trembles, yet I gather all my courage and say, “I love you.”
The moment these words leave my lips, he looks at me in shock, as if he can’t believe what he has just heard. Questions, anger, and confusion rise together in his eyes. But at that moment, I’m not afraid, neither of Diana nor of the world.
Suddenly, I can’t stop myself. I step forward and cling to his bare chest. He is shirtless, but I don’t even realize what I’m doing. For me, it’s enough that he’s alive… that he’s right here in front of me.
With a choked voice, I say, “Please… don’t give me any explanations. I truly love you. And I will never leave your side in this lifetime. I understand the value of love… and I promise I will honor this relationship with complete honesty. Just… accept me once.”
My lips brush against his chest. A strange warmth spreads from there straight into my soul. My soft lips grow warmer, and I don’t even understand how far I’ve gone. For a brief moment, I feel his body tremble slightly.
But the very next second, everything changes.
He suddenly pushes me away forcefully. I stumble back and stare at him in shock. His face is flushed with anger, his eyes hard and cold.
In a sharp voice, he says, “Have you lost your mind? Have you forgotten what kind of deal exists between us?”
His words pierce straight through my chest.
“Do you remember? You are my bride only for safety and money, the one who needed financial support. You are this billionaire’s billion-dollar bride, nothing more. In our terms, you yourself said, no love, no intimacy, no emotions. Then where is all this suddenly coming from?”
He doesn’t stop.
“Have you forgotten that I’m engaged? Do you really think that just because you say this, I’ll break my engagement?”
His voice grows even harsher.
“What exactly did you see in me that you fell in love in just a few days? My money? My position? Or is it your lust that’s forcing you to feel this way?”
The moment I hear these words, I freeze completely. My heart shatters into pieces. I never imagined he would label my love as something so cheap, so disgusting. I only wanted his presence… just him.
Angrily, he adds, “So tell me, what do you want? Money? I’ll give it to you. As much as you ask for. But don’t put on this drama of love in front of me.”
His words stab my soul.
Tears roll down my cheeks silent, soundless. I remain standing there, broken, quiet… and for the first time, truly alone.
I stand there, trembling, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. His words burn like fire, yet somewhere deep inside, I feel an undeniable pull toward him. My hands clench at my sides as I fight back sobs, but the ache in my chest only grows stronger. I want to explain, to tell him that my feelings are real, not for his money or power, but for him, the man who saved me, protected me, and became my whole world. Yet the words stick in my throat.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!