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123
Chapter 123
Ethan's Visit 

Nikolas' phone buzzed again. 

A message. From an unknown number. He frowned and picked it. 

The message read: “She’s not safe even in the hospital. Watch your back.”

Nikolas’ eyes widened slightly. He showed it to Dre.

Dre cursed under his breath. “Boss.. it might be a trap. Or maybe Amelia again.”

“No.. Amelia doesn’t have the guts to send me this now..” Nikolas muttered. He saved the number quickly. “Trace this number now.”

“Yes boss..” Dre nodded, already working on it.

Simeon glanced at the mirror. “Boss.. should we go back to the hospital?”

Nikolas hesitated for a moment. Cassandra’s pale face flashed in his mind again. 

He clenched his fist. “Yes. Back to the hospital now. If anyone dares come close to her again, I’ll paint the walls with their blood.”

“Yes boss..” Simeon said and turned the car sharply.

As they sped back, Dre looked up. “Boss.. may I ask something?”

Nikolas looked at him. “What.”

“You love her deeply.. but.. what if she wakes and blames you for all this? What if she thinks it’s your fault Bruno came after her? What if she walks away from you?”

Nikolas froze. The question cut him like a knife. His heart clenched.

He took a long breath, then answered slowly. “If Cassandra wakes up.. and she says she wants to leave me.. then I’ll let her go. Because her happiness matters more than my life.”

Dre’s mouth opened but no words came out. He had never heard his boss speak like this.

Simeon tightened his grip on the wheel. 

Nikolas leaned his head back, closing his eyes for a moment. “But I’ll fight for her.. till my last breath.. I’ll fight every enemy, every shadow, every ghost.. just to keep her safe..”

The car went quiet again, but the silence was heavy.

Moments later, they reached the hospital. 

Nikolas stepped out first, his coat flowing behind him, his presence so strong that every nurse and guard were lost in his gaze.

Dre and Simeon followed, alert, scanning every corner.

Nikolas walked straight to Cassandra’s ward, his heart racing, his mind replaying that message. He opened the door slowly.

She was still there, lying pale, her chest rising slowly.

Nikolas walked to her side, sat down slowly, and took her hand in his. He held it gently, his thumb brushing her skin.

“Cassandra.. it’s me..” he whispered. “I don’t know if you can hear me.. but please.. wake up soon. I can’t do this without you.”

His eyes burned, but he held the tears back. “I almost lost you once.. I can’t lose you again.. please Cassandra.. fight.. fight for us.. for our baby..”

The room stayed silent except for the machines. 

Nikolas bowed his head, holding her hand tighter.

Behind him, Dre stood by the door, watching silently. Simeon stood guard outside.

Suddenly Nikolas’ phone buzzed again. Another message. He lifted it. It read: “You can’t protect her forever.”

Nikolas’ face darkened instantly. His grip on Cassandra’s hand tightened. He rose slowly, his eyes burning like fire.

“Dre.. find who’s behind this.. now!!” he growled.

“Yes boss!!” Dre said, already dialing numbers.

Nikolas looked at Cassandra one more time. His voice dropped, dangerous.

“They want to touch you again.. they’ll have to go through me first.. and I’ll kill every last one of them.”

__

OUTSIDE 

"Mar..." a voice called softly from behind, and immediately Mar raised her face. 

Her eyes widened, and her hand instinctively lifted toward the figure stepping forward.

"Ethan!! Good to see you…" Mar said warmly, stretching her hand out to him.

Ethan walked closer, dressed simply, but there was a heaviness in his eyes. 

He held her hand firmly, almost like he was holding on to strength itself.

"I came as soon as I heard…" he said, his voice low but sharp with concern. "How’s Cassy?!" He leaned sideways, trying to peek past the hallway toward Cassandra’s room.

Mar’s lips tightened. "The doctor said she needs to rest…" she replied.

Ethan nodded slowly. His jaw clenched as though battling his own emotions. "I’m a doctor too," he said suddenly, straightening. "I can go check on her… make sure she’s stable." He made a slight move toward the door.

But Mar quickly reached forward and grabbed his hand, her grip surprisingly firm. "There’d be no need for that… my son Nikolas already got the best doctors on ground," she said calmly, her tone carrying that authority only she could command.

Ethan froze. 

His eyes stayed on the closed door down the hall, but he didn’t move. His breathing grew heavier.

"Mar…" Ethan whispered, almost breaking. His shoulders sagged as his next words forced themselves out. "You once told me to go after the one I love…"

Mar’s eyes softened, but her grip didn’t loosen. She shook her head slowly. "Cassandra?! She’s my son’s wife now… you don’t have to chase her anymore," she said gently, but firmly.

Ethan’s chest rose as he inhaled deeply, then exhaled with a heavy heave. 

"I know… I know, Mar. But I can’t switch my heart off like a lamp," he said, looking down at the floor tiles.

Mar studied him for a long moment, her eyes on him. "Ethan, love is strong… but timing, timing is stronger," she whispered.

He gave a broken smile. "That sounds like something you’d say," he replied, forcing himself to meet her gaze.

Mar patted his hand softly. "My son may be rough on the outside, but inside, he loves Cassandra more than his own breath. And now, with her carrying the heir of the DeSantos, she is bound to him in every way."

Ethan’s lips parted, his face tightening at the reminder. His voice cracked as he spoke. "I should have fought harder… I should have told her before… before…" His voice trailed off as his eyes shone with unshed tears.

Mar shook her head. "No. If it was meant, it would have been. Don’t blame yourself, Ethan."

Just then, Dre walked in from the side with two cups of steaming coffee, placing one in front of Mar. 

His eyes went to Ethan, analyzing, but he said nothing. He gave a short nod to Mar before stepping back, blending into the corner.

Ethan glanced at Dre, then back at Mar. His voice dropped low. "Does Nikolas even know? About… How much does Cassandra mean to me?"

Mar looked down at her cup before answering. "Nikolas knows everything. He sees things people think they’ve hidden."

Ethan’s throat tightened. "I know he hates me but I don't care…”

Mar tilted her head slowly. "No. If he hated you, you wouldn’t be standing here breathing freely," she said bluntly.

The truth in her words sank in like a stone in water. 

Ethan rubbed his face with his palm, pacing two steps before stopping again.

"I don’t want to cause trouble, Mar. That’s the last thing I want. I just…" He stopped, shaking his head. "I just needed to see her. To know she’s alive."

Mar’s eyes softened again. She reached forward, taking his hand once more, her voice softer now. "She is alive, Ethan. And she will be fine. But you must promise me… don’t complicate things. Cassandra needs peace right now."

Ethan swallowed hard, his jaw clenching. "I promise," he said, though his heart screamed otherwise.

For a long moment, there was silence.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably, then finally looked at Mar again.

"Mar… will you at least tell her I came? That I was here?"

Mar considered it carefully. She sighed. “I will tell her. But if not, let her heart rest. Don’t add fire to the storm already blowing around her."

Ethan nodded slowly, though the pain in his eyes was sharp. He turned slightly, ready to leave. But just before he did, the door opened and Nikolas stepped out.

His presence filled the corridor instantly. His face was cold, his eyes sharp.

He stopped when he saw Ethan, his gaze narrowing.

"Ethan…" Nikolas said flatly.

Ethan stood straighter, squaring his shoulders. "Nikolas."

Dre shifted from the corner, ready to act if things escalated.

Mar quickly rose, stepping between them. "Nikolas… Ethan only came to check on Cassandra."

Nikolas’ eyes never left Ethan. His lips pressed together. "She doesn’t need him," he said finally, his voice low.

Ethan’s jaw flexed. "Maybe not. But I care about her too," he replied boldly.

The silence grew heavier. Mar held her breath, watching both men like two lions circling each other.

Finally, Nikolas stepped closer, his voice dropping into something darker. "Cassandra is my wife… and the mother of my child. Stay away, Ethan."

Ethan swallowed hard but didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed locked on Nikolas’. "If staying away is what will keep her safe… then I’ll stay away," he said firmly, though every word broke him inside.

Mar exhaled, relieved. 

She touched Ethan’s shoulder gently. "Go now, Ethan. Before things get worse."

Ethan nodded stiffly. He turned toward the door, paused for a moment, then glanced back at Mar. "Tell Cassandra… I wish her strength," he said quietly before walking out.