Chapter 63 Don’t you dare leave me
Chapter 63 Don’t you dare leave me
Both of them turned sharply at the sound of Blake’s voice. He stood in the doorway, clapping slowly, his face twisted with an ironic smile.
“Oh, so you two love each other this much?” he sneered. “Wow, Zara, you’re lucky.”
His words dripped with venom. Adrian’s arms tightened protectively around Zara, who clung to him, trembling yet defiant.
Blake took a few steps forward, bitterness darkening his eyes. “You know, in the past, I built a company from nothing. It was thriving. But then I made one mistake. I fell for you, Zara. And the moment I did, everything started falling apart.”
Zara frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Blake’s laugh was hollow. “Don’t act clueless. You see this man is your perfect husband? He took everything from me. My partners, my investors, they all left for him , he did this when he found out I liked you .”
“That’s not true!” Adrian barked. “
Blake ignored him, turning back to Zara. “And as if that wasn’t enough, when he saw me at the park , he punched me so hard I lost my teeth you saw that didn’t you ?Look.” He pointed at the side of his mouth with a twisted grin.
Adrian’s smirk flickered. “So, I’m that good.”
“Adrian, don’t,” Zara whispered, “He’s dangerous.”
But before Adrian could speak, Blake’s smile dropped. His hand darted to his jacket, and in an instant, a gun gleamed in the dim light.
The room fell silent.
“You mock me,” Blake snarled. “You took my life from me. This ” he waved the gun wildly “this is what I’ve wanted all along. To end you myself.” So this was a trap for you !
Adrian instinctively stepped in front of Zara. “If you take one more step,” Blake warned, “I’ll shoot.”
Adrian stopped, chest heaving, but didn’t move aside. “If you want me, take me,” he said. “Leave her out of it.”
Blake’s face twisted. “Zara, let me kill him, and we can finally be together. I’ll give you the life you deserve. I saw how he treated you cold, distant, like you were nothing.”
Zara met his eyes, voice shaking but fierce. “You call this love? Threatening to kill someone? You’re insane.”
“Shut up!” Blake screamed. “If you won’t come with me, then I’ll”
“Don’t do this,” Adrian cut in, calm but sharp. “Blake, stop before it’s too late.”
But Blake’s finger trembled on the trigger. “If I can’t have you,” he hissed, “then he won’t as well”
Zara’s breath hitched. In that second a heartbeat stretched into eternity she saw Adrian standing firm, protecting her without fear. The same man who’d shielded her a hundred times before.
Her mind flooded with memories the way he’d stayed up with her when she was sick, how he’d refused to let her walk home alone that night, how he’d always faced danger first. He had always protected her, even when she didn’t listen.
He’s not getting hurt because of me, she thought fiercely. Not again .I won’t let him pay for my mistake.
Then the gun fired.
A thunderous crack split the air.
For a heartbeat, silence swallowed everything. Adrian didn’t feel the pain and that’s when he knew.
“Zara…”
She stood in front of him, eyes wide, a soft gasp leaving her lips before her knees buckled.
He caught her instantly, panic flooding his veins. “No… no, no, no,” he whispered, lowering her gently. Blood spread across her back, warm and terrifying. “Why would you do that? Why”
Her trembling fingers brushed his face. Her smile was faint, fragile. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice barely audible. “I didn’t listen to you…”
“Zara, please don’t say that,” he pleaded, pressing his hands over the wound. “Stay with me. Please.”
Her breathing slowed, her eyes fluttering as she went limp in his arms.
Across the room, Blake’s face turned pale. The gun slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. “No… I didn’t mean to shoot her,” he muttered, trembling. “I wanted to shoot him, not you, Zara. Not you.”
But before he could take another step, the sound of boots thundered through the hallway. Officers burst in, weapons drawn. Blake didn’t resist as cold handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
Adrian barely noticed he had already called the police before entering the building, knowing what Blake was capable of.
Now, all that mattered was Zara.
He lifted her into his arms, her head resting against his chest. “Hold on, please,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Just hold on.”
He ran outside, ignoring the shouting officers, the flashing lights, and the chaos. All he saw was her face pale, peaceful, fading.
He hailed the nearest cab, shouting at the driver to move. Inside, he cradled her close.
“Don’t you dare leave me,” he whispered over and over.
When the cab screeched to a halt at the hospital, Adrian burst through the doors, his voice raw. “She’s been shot! Help her! Please!”
Nurses rushed forward, taking her from his arms and placing her onto a stretcher. As they pushed her through the corridor, Adrian followed until the emergency doors shut between them, cutting him off.
He stood there, chest heaving, his hands covered in her blood, his world collapsing.
Adrian prayed not for revenge, not for strength, but for one thing only.
That she would live.