POV: LAUREN
“You can’t… Ethan, you can’t do this…” Violet stammered. “You can’t side with her. I’m your wife, I’m the mother of your daughter, I’m…”
Before she could finish, the sharp sound of a slap cut through the air like a gunshot. A loud, precise crack echoed off the courtroom walls, prompting several onlookers to let out low, shocked gasps.
The impact was forceful. Violet’s body staggered slightly backward, and the dark sunglasses she wore clattered to the floor with a faint snap. Her eyes widened. A heavy silence settled for a moment until she slowly turned her face, her expression a mix of pure shock and outrage.
The bruises previously hidden became visible: swollen eyelids and purplish marks around her eyes, exposing the extent of her deception and self-sabotage. She seemed utterly exposed, body and soul. Stripped bare
POV: HENRYTheodor kept his eyes down, biting his lip, clearly still trapped in that feeling of guilt. My heart tightened.“Theodor…” I called calmly, reaching out my hand to him. I waited until his eyes met mine. “You’re like a son to me.” My voice came out firmer, thick with emotion. “And nothing, absolutely nothing, would make me think twice about protecting you.”He hesitated, his eyes welling up with tears. I squeezed his hand, wanting him to feel the strength behind my words.“Never blame yourself for this again, do you hear me?” I continued with all the certainty I had. “What I did was because I’m your father in my heart, and I’d do it all over again. Without thinking, without hesitating, a thousand times if I had to.”“Uncle Henry…” Theodor’s voice came out soft and choked, his lips trembling as he tried to hold back tears. He couldn’t wait any longer and threw himself against my neck, hugging me with all the strength he could muster. I groaned at the impact, feeling a slight
POV: HENRY“I can walk on my own, you know. I don’t need this,” I grumbled for the thousandth time, trying to keep up my tough-guy act while Lauren stayed resolute, her arm linked with mine, helping me make my way to the bed in our room.“Stop being so stubborn, Mr. CEO,” she said, shooting me a sideways glance with that playful smile that always dismantled any argument I had. “There’s no shame in accepting help, especially after taking a bullet.” Her voice carried a sweet but firm tone, one she had perfected just for me.“Bullet or no bullet, I’m still the same strong, healthy man,” I shot back, raising an eyebrow to tease her, though I couldn’t resist the warmth of her hand on my waist.“Strong and healthy, sure, but stubborn as a rock,” she laughed, and the sound of her laughter always seemed to ease any pain I felt. “Besides, this gives me the perfect excuse to stay even closer to you and feel your warmth.”I paused for a second and looked at her, a slow smile spreading across my
POV: LaurenI squeezed his hand even tighter, as if I could transfer all the life I had into that weary body.“Mrs. Carter, we’ll monitor him closely and perform all the necessary tests to understand what happened,” the doctor explained cautiously, resting his hand on my shoulder in a gesture of support. “Don’t worry, we’ll do everything to take care of him.”“Thank you, doctor,” I whispered, my voice choked, unable to tear my eyes away from Henry. He was so pale, so vulnerable… nothing about him resembled the strong, imposing man I had always known. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a moment with my husband… please.”The doctor nodded, as did the nurses, and they all left the room in silence. As soon as the door closed, I sat beside the bed, feeling my chest tighten as if the pain were consuming me from within.Gently, I began to stroke his blond hair, running my fingers through each strand, as if the gesture could remind him he was safe, that I was there. I took a clean gauze and
POV: LaurenAt some point, exhaustion overtook me, and I fell asleep in the armchair beside Henry’s bed, my hand still entwined with his. The steady hum of the machines was almost like a mantra, keeping me alert even in my light sleep.Suddenly, a piercing alarm echoed through the room, shattering the fragile calm.“Code blue, code blue!” a firm voice announced over the intercom, and my heart stopped for a second.“No…” I murmured, waking up abruptly, my chest pounding, the air catching in my throat. I saw the medical team and nurses rush into the room in a race against time, surrounding Henry’s bed.“What’s happening?!” My voice came out almost as a scream, trembling and desperate, as I tried to get closer.“Mrs. Carter, please step back,” a nurse said, blocking my path with her arm, her expression professional but firm.“No!” I tried to push forward, feeling despair burn like fire under my skin. “Tell me what’s happening to him!”“Your husband went into cardiac arrest, but the docto
POV: LAUREN“Go on, I’ll stay with him,” Kate said softly, noticing Theodor lean back against the chair, exhausted, his eyes drifting shut again. She ran a gentle hand through his hair.My heart raced as if it might explode. My hands were clammy with sweat, and I had to rub them on my pants before taking my first steps toward the doctor. Each movement felt like it weighed a ton.“Please…” My voice wavered as I approached him. “How is he?” My chest rose and fell rapidly, almost out of breath. “My husband… he…”I swallowed hard, the salty taste of tears still lingering in my mouth.“Is he alive?”“Mr. Carter is a very strong man,” the doctor began, his tone firm, making me hold my breath. “The surgery was a success, but he’ll remain in the ICU under observation, as
POV: LAUREN“Officer, I’ll answer your questions,” Lucian interjected quickly, his voice firm and authoritative. He stepped forward, blocking the agent’s path, and nodded at me, signaling for me to follow the paramedics. “Let her go with her husband; his condition is critical.”The officer hesitated for a second, glancing from the stretcher to me, then nodded.“Alright,” he said finally, turning to Lucian. “We’ll take her and the child’s statements later.”I didn’t wait for another word. I moved past them with my chest tight, my body trembling from head to toe. Every second felt too precious to waste.Henry lay on the stretcher, unconscious, his face pale, an oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose. One paramedic adjusted the equipment while another administered medication through his IV. The sound of the heart monit