Chapter 191

Chapter 191

That bone-deep fear suffocated her worse than the threat of death during a fire.

"No... please, not my child... my baby is innocent..." Emily strained against the leather restraints binding her wrists to the operating table. Tears streamed down her face as she used her last ounce of strength to plead with the surgeon. "Doctor, please, you can't do this... this is murder..."

The surgeon's eyes flickered with momentary doubt, visibly troubled, but he ultimately looked away and muttered, "I'm sorry. We can't afford to cross Mrs. Wilson. Just... it'll be over soon."

As the cold instruments slowly approached, the last glimmer of hope in Emily's eyes extinguished completely, plunging her into endless darkness and despair.

With all four limbs restrained, Emily's struggles were useless.

She closed her eyes, almost seeing her unborn child slipping away from her.

Just as the cold surgical instruments were about to touch Emily's skin, as she resigned herself to hopelessness—

"Stop!" A weak but furious shout exploded like thunder from the doorway.

The operating room door flew open. Michael stood there, deathly pale, his forehead slick with cold sweat from weakness. The bandaged wound on his back had begun bleeding through his hospital gown from his sudden movements.

He had clearly forced himself awake, ignored his doctors' warnings, ripped out his IV, and rushed here.

Michael's assistant had already arrived, removing Victoria's doctors and clearing away the so-called security guards from the doorway.

Michael's steps faltered, each one a battle against death itself. His chest heaved with rapid, shallow breaths.

The pain in his back burned like fire through his nerves.

Every muscle contraction brought tearing agony, but he couldn't stop. The mere thought of the danger Emily and their child faced gave him the strength to keep going when he should have collapsed.

"I swear to God, anyone who touches her; who touches my child!" His voice was hoarse but carried undeniable authority and murderous intent. His gaze swept across everyone in the operating room like ice blades, finally locking onto Victoria's suddenly changing expression.

"Michael! What are you doing here? You're seriously injured—get back to bed right now!" Victoria was startled seeing her son in this condition. Her initial concern quickly morphed into anger at her interrupted plans.

"If I hadn't shown up, would you have killed my child with your own hands?" Michael approached step by step, though unsteady and needing the doorframe for support. The cold aura emanating from him seemed to drop the temperature in the entire room.

He stared at Victoria, his eyes filled with unimaginable heartache and absolute coldness.

"Mom—I'll call you that one last time. If you so much as touch Emily or our baby today, we're done. From now on, we won't be mother and son anymore, but... enemies for life!" His words struck Victoria's heart like a sledgehammer!

She stared in disbelief at Michael's unfamiliar, resolute expression. Her body swayed, her face instantly draining of color.

She could disregard Emily, even the unborn child, but she couldn't bear her only son—the future heir of the Wilson family—becoming her sworn enemy!

"You... for this woman, you would actually..." Victoria pointed at Emily, her finger trembling, too furious to finish her sentence.

Michael ignored Victoria's accusations. His gaze fell on Emily strapped to the operating table—her pale face, tear-streaked cheeks, and wrists bound by restraints.

His heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe.

He could imagine the terror and despair she had just experienced, and overwhelming guilt crashed through him.

Michael fought through the searing pain and dizziness wracking his body as he made his way to the operating table. With movements incredibly gentle yet absolutely determined, he unfastened the restraints binding Emily.

"I'm sorry, Emily. I should've been here sooner..." His voice was hoarse and filled with remorse as he carefully helped the trembling, nearly collapsed Emily off the table and pulled her into his arms.

"It's okay now. You're safe. I'm here. No one's going to hurt you or our baby again."

Emily leaned into his embrace—weak yet still solid—feeling his familiar warmth and heartbeat.

The icy despair in her heart gradually melted away, replaced by tears of relief and lingering fear that soaked the front of his hospital gown.

She could feel the trembling of his embrace, smell the faint scent of blood and antiseptic, and sense the pain in each of his labored breaths.

She clung tightly to his waist, terrified that if she let go, he would disappear again. "Michael, I was so scared. I thought I'd never see you again, I thought our baby would..."

Her words dissolved into sobs.

Michael didn't even acknowledge Victoria, who stood frozen with a rapidly changing expression. He lifted Emily and walked out of that cold, sterile operating room—each step difficult yet determined.

But he hadn't made it far from the operating room when his willpower finally gave out.

Michael suddenly swayed, his vision going black as blood unexpectedly spilled from his mouth, staining Emily's clothes. His body went limp and began to fall.

"Michael!" Emily screamed in terror, using all her strength to hold his collapsing body, herself sinking to the floor under his weight.

"Help! We need a doctor! Please, somebody help!"

Medical staff rushed over immediately, lifting the unconscious Michael onto a gurney and rushing him to emergency care.

After tense moments of resuscitation, Michael's vital signs finally stabilized.

The attending physician spoke gravely to Emily, who waited anxiously outside. "Mr. Wilson has severe burns and impact injuries to his back that may have affected his lungs and spine. He was only conscious and moving earlier through sheer willpower. His emotional state and physical exertion have caused internal bleeding and worsened his injuries.

His condition is extremely fragile right now. He needs absolute bed rest and must avoid any further stress."

Emily listened to the doctor while watching Michael's pale, peaceful face through the emergency room window, her heart breaking.

She nodded firmly, her voice choked but determined: "I understand. I'll take good care of him. I won't let anything happen to him again."

She gently stroked Michael's bandaged hand while instinctively shielding her belly with her other hand.