Chapter 108 She's awake
CHAPTER 108
She's awake.
The hospital remained unusually busy that night. Doctors and nurses moved quickly through the hallways while soft conversations echoed beneath the bright white lights. Outside, rain continued falling steadily against the large glass windows, making the atmosphere feel calmer than the chaos everyone had experienced over the last few days.
Richard had just been admitted into one of the VIP hospital suites upstairs.
Several doctors surrounded him immediately while running tests and checking his condition carefully.
Inside the hallway, Blake leaned against the wall with his arms folded while Alex spoke briefly with one of the doctors.
Leo stood nearby quietly, but his attention wasn’t fully there. His mind remained elsewhere. Or rather…With someone else.
Blake noticed immediately. “You’re not listening to anything they’re saying, are you?”
Leo looked toward him briefly. “Hm?”
Blake laughed softly. “Exactly.”
Alex returned a moment later. “Sir, the doctors said your father’s condition is stable for now.”
Leo nodded absentmindedly. Blake smirked knowingly. “You want to go see Ruby.”
Leo didn’t deny it. Instead, he adjusted his jacket slightly before turning away.
“I’ll be back.”
Immediately, Blake pushed himself off the wall. “I’m coming too.”
Leo stopped walking and slowly turned back toward him. Then he gave Blake a look. A very clear look.
Blake blinked once before realizing exactly what that expression meant.
His mouth fell open dramatically.
“Oh.”
Leo raised one eyebrow slightly as if saying, Seriously?
Blake scoffed loudly. “Wow. So that’s the look now?”
Leo remained silent.
Blake pointed accusingly at him.
“You’re basically saying, ‘That’s my girl I’m going to meet.’”
Leo finally smirked faintly. “She is my girl.”
Alex immediately burst into laughter beside them.
Blake placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “This friendship is sickening.”
Leo ignored him completely and walked away down the hallway.
Blake shouted after him quietly.
“If you start kissing in the hospital room, I’m reporting both of you!”
Leo simply lifted a hand without turning back.
Alex shook his head while laughing.
“He’s gone.”
Blake sighed deeply.
“That man is in love beyond recovery.”
~~
The hallway leading toward Ruby’s room felt quieter than the others. Carl still stood guard outside the room like a silent bodyguard, immediately straightening when he saw Leo approaching.
“Boss.”
Leo nodded once. “How is she?”
Carl glanced toward the room. “No changes. The doctor said her condition is improving steadily.”
Leo released a small breath. “Good.”
Carl stepped aside immediately, allowing him inside.
The moment Leo entered the room, silence greeted him softly.
Ruby still lay peacefully against the hospital bed beneath the dim lights.
The machines beside her beeped steadily while the soft rain outside created a calm atmosphere inside the room. Leo slowly walked closer and at the moment he truly looked at her again something inside him broke.
He carefully pulled a chair beside the bed before sitting down quietly. For several seconds, he simply stared at her.
Her face looked pale but peaceful.
Leo slowly reached for her hand.
The warmth of her skin instantly tightened his chest painfully. His fingers wrapped around hers gently.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered softly.
The words came out shakier than expected. Leo lowered his head slightly while rubbing his thumb against her hand carefully.
“I failed you.” His voice cracked.
And suddenly all the emotions he had been suppressing for days finally surfaced at once.
Leo shut his eyes tightly while tears slowly escaped despite every attempt
to stop them.
“You almost died because of me,” he whispered painfully.
The room remained silent except for the sound of his uneven breathing.
“I should’ve protected you better.”
His grip on her hand tightened slightly.
“But even after everything…” he continued softly, “you still stayed beside me.”
A weak laugh escaped him. “You really love me that much, huh?”
Another tear slipped down his face.
Leo leaned closer carefully until his forehead rested lightly against her hand.
“I don’t deserve you sometimes.”
The vulnerability in his voice would’ve shocked anyone who knew him, because Leo Carter rarely cried, who
rarely allowed himself to feel this deeply. But Ruby had become his weakness completely.
“I promise I’ll make things right,” he whispered. “I’ll protect you better. I’ll stay with you no matter what happens.”
Then slowly…. “I love you, Ruby.”
Silence followed again and suddenly Leo felt slight movement.
His head lifted instantly. At first, he thought he imagined it. But then Ruby’s fingers twitched weakly inside his hand.
Leo froze completely. “Ruby?”
Slowly Ruby’s eyes fluttered open.
Leo’s breath caught instantly.
For a second, both of them simply stared at each other in complete disbelief.
Ruby blinked weakly as though trying to understand what she was seeing.
Then her eyes slowly widened.
“Leo…?”
Her voice came out soft and hoarse.
Leo looked completely shocked.
“You’re awake.”
Ruby stared at him carefully and then she noticed the tears on his face. Her expression changed instantly.
“You cried?”
Leo immediately looked away slightly in embarrassment but Ruby already saw everything. A soft smile slowly appeared on her lips despite her weakness.
“You actually cried.”
Leo laughed shakily while wiping his face quickly. “You scared me to death.”
Ruby’s eyes softened completely, before she could even speak again, Leo leaned forward and pulled her gently into his arms.
Ruby gasped softly at the sudden movement before hugging him back immediately and the moment she held him everything finally felt real again.
Leo buried his face lightly against her hair while holding her carefully like he was afraid she would disappear again.
“You’re awake,” he whispered repeatedly.
Ruby smiled weakly against him.
“I’m awake.”
Leo pulled back slightly just to look at her again as if needing reassurance she was truly conscious.
Then suddenly Ruby laughed softly.
“You really cried.”
Leo groaned quietly. “Don’t start.”
But Ruby’s eyes became emotional too.
“I’ve never seen you cry before.”
Leo gently held her face. “That’s because I thought I lost you.”
The honesty in his voice instantly melted her heart. Without thinking, Ruby leaned forward and kissed him softly. Leo froze briefly before kissing her back immediately. The kiss felt emotional, full of everything they couldn’t explain with words. When they finally pulled apart, Leo rested his forehead gently against hers while smiling through lingering tears.
“You have no idea how much I missed you.”
Ruby smiled softly. “I missed you too.”
Then suddenly Leo carefully wrapped one arm beneath her legs as if about to lift her completely from the bed.
Ruby’s eyes widened immediately. “Leo!”
He ignored her protests. “I’m carrying you home.”
Ruby burst into weak laughter. “You’re injured too!”
“I don’t care.”
“You’ll reopen your stitches!”
Leo smiled for the first time in days. “Still worth it.”