Chapter 97 The Tears of the Living

Chapter 97 The Tears of the Living
He pressed his fingers into his palms until his nails hurt, as if pinching himself might restore the world to a sensible order. Then, with a humorless little twist of a smile that did not reach his eyes, he slid the gun back into his pocket. The motion was so casual it was almost an act of denial. 

Her cruelty didn't even leave her own nameless daughter, her own blood and flesh. 

“You made a grave mistake, Emma,” he said, his voice brittle but steady. “You should have kept your secrets buried. There’s nothing left inside me to bind me to you now.” He let those words hang in the air, each one a small, deliberate blade. “Look after yourself… until I come back.”

He rose to leave, and for a second , just a heartbeat , he allowed himself to imagine the face of the people who had been taken from him, to give them names, faces, a place beyond the story she had spun. Anger warmed behind his ribs, slow and resolute. It would not consume him, it would be the engine. He would be careful, he told himself. He would be deliberate.

____________

Present

Alex’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke, though his eyes remained steady.

“After the accident, only you and Sam survived. You were both still in comas, and I made the decision to keep it from you. With Brother Rowan’s help, I arranged to transfer Sam to this island under a new identity and began his treatment.”

He drew a long, measured breath, as though trying to steady his own memories before continuing.

“I know you’re wondering why I didn’t tell you. Even though she was in prison, that woman still had people watching you. If you had tried to meet Sam, they would have found out. I couldn’t protect you both. You were so vulnerable back then, I couldn’t risk leaving you unprotected. And Sam’s condition was critical. With Emma’s brother being the mayor, it was too easy for them to bribe a doctor and…” His jaw clenched, cutting the thought short. “You know what I mean.”

Alex reached for Rainee’s trembling hands, his touch careful, almost reverent, as though she might shatter.

“So, I made them believe he was dead too, left no room for doubt. Even the slightest risk could have been fatal for him, and I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t save your parents, Rainee, but I had a chance to save Sam, even if it meant lying to you a little longer. He woke up last month and wanted to see you, but I explained everything to him and promised I’d bring him to the States once things settled. He’s still in the hospital, recovering well, and in a few months, he should be able to walk again.”

As his words fell away, Rainee’s heart pounded so loud she could hear it in her ears. Her fingers tightened on his arms, eyes wide with a mix of shock, hope, and relief.

“I want to see him, Alex… please… take me to him.”

Alex exhaled slowly. It was late, but he couldn’t refuse her after spilling everything.

“All right. He’s probably sleeping, so you’ll have to be very quiet.”

________

The ride to the hospital felt endless. Alex sat in the passenger seat, Rainee's palms slick, her mind a whirl of images, Sam as a boy, Sam laughing, Sam lying broken in that hospital bed after the crash. By the time they arrived, her throat ached from holding back sobs.

When she stepped into the dim hospital room, her footsteps faltered. The scent of antiseptic, the soft beep of machines, and the faint hum of the air conditioner wrapped around her. She was trembling now, her entire body cold despite the warm air. Her hands flew to her mouth to stifle the sobs that clawed their way up as she finally saw him.

Sam.

His injuries had mostly healed, though faint scars mapped across his skin like delicate cracks in porcelain. His chest rose and fell steadily. Rainee moved closer, every step feeling like a lifetime. She lowered herself into the chair beside his bed and carefully took his hand, startled by how familiar its warmth still was.

Sam stirred at the touch, his eyelids fluttering open. His gaze met hers, and in that instant, time collapsed. Her tears blurred everything, but she could still feel the shock and joy radiating from him like sunlight. He sat up slightly, eyes darting to Alex, who stood behind her with a faint, bittersweet smile.

“Rainee?” Sam whispered, his voice hoarse, disbelieving.

Rainee broke down completely with a half smile then, pulling him into her arms gently as possible. Sam clutched her back with trembling fingers, both of them crying silently, the sound of their grief muffled in each other’s shoulders. For the first time in years, the weight of their loss loosened. Pain, relief, and love braided together in that embrace.

When at last she pulled back, she cupped his face with trembling hands, brushing her thumbs over his cheeks as though memorising him all over again.

“How are you feeling? I’m so sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

Sam gave her a small, sad smile and shook his head. “It’s okay. Alex told me everything. He’s been taking care of me, visiting me every day. When he didn’t come today, I thought he must’ve been busy.” His eyes flicked over to Alex again. “Sister, Alex… he’s not a bad guy. He--”

“I know,” Rainee interrupted softly, her voice breaking. “I understand now.”

They spoke for a long time, sharing memories, unspoken fears, and pieces of their hearts they had locked away for too long. At some point Alex slipped out, leaving them alone.

When Rainee finally stepped outside, she found him sitting quietly on a bench in the cool night air. His posture was composed but his eyes held exhaustion and a strange softness she’d never noticed before.

She smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. Words failed her, she didn't know how to express the gratitude

she felt. Finally, she knelt down in front of him and took both his hands, her touch light but desperate.

“You’re back?” Alex asked gently.

She nodded, tears streaking down her cheeks, but no words came. Gratitude swelled inside her like a tide too big to hold back. Finally, she placed his hands on her damp cheeks, letting the tears fall freely as she sat there on the ground. Hearing her sobs, alarm flickered across his face.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” His thumb brushed against her temple.

“Tha… thank you,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how I-- I’ll ever repay you…”

“Repay me?” Alex’s brow furrowed as he stood, pulling her up by the arms. “Come on, get up.”

He guided her to sit beside him on the bench and gently wiped away her tears with his thumb, lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

“No more crying,” he murmured. “Every time you cry like this, it feels like I’m dying inside.”

To be continued