“Stop crying,” Denovon said, his voice weak but firm as he reached out his hand toward her.Emily remained squatted beside the hospital bed, her shoulders trembling as quiet sobs racked through her body. Her heart was drowning in guilt and shame. She had prepared herself for the worst—that he would wake up angry, cold, and distant. She had braced herself to be pushed away, blamed, or ignored.But here he was… telling her to stop crying.“I’m not dead yet, am I?” Denovon gave a soft sigh, watching her through tired eyes. “You’re acting like you lost me already.”Emily’s sobs softened, but the tears wouldn’t stop. “I’m sorry…” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I’m so sorry for what I said that day. I didn’t mean it… I wasn’t thinking straight. I wasn’t emotionally stable but… I never wanted you to get hurt.”“Shhhh,” Denovon cut in gently, his fingers brushing over her trembling hand. “I said it’s okay.”He looked pale, weak… but his eyes were calm, understanding. Not cold. Not accusi
Denovon’s eyes slowly opened as he frowned, looking around the room. His head throbbed, and his body felt like he had been hit by a truck.Well, he had been hit by one.He groaned in pain as he tried to sit up, his muscles protesting.“You’re awake!”“Denovon!”“Thank goodness.”“You’re finally awake.”Voices filled the room, all talking at once. Familiar voices. Voices full of relief.Denovon blinked, his throat dry. He could feel he was in the hospital. The sheets. The machines. The soft beeping beside him. It all made sense.“How do you feel?” his mom, Sophia, asked with worry in her voice.“Let the doctor check on him,” Richard, his father, said, pulling Sophia gently aside so the doctor could come closer.The doctor moved quickly but carefully, checking his vitals and asking him questions.“Can you hear me?”“Do you feel pain here?”“Can you move your fingers?”Denovon didn’t speak. He only nodded whenever the doctor asked something. He kept his face calm, showing no emotions.Th
"Honestly, Emily, you are messing up your life," Val said with a disappointed face.They were sitting quietly somewhere in the hospital, away from the others. The sun had come up, but the day didn’t feel bright. It was a new day, yet Denovon hadn’t woken up. The night had dragged on slowly, heavy with silence and fear. They had all taken turns staying in the room with Denovon, watching, waiting, praying. But Val had noticed something—Emily’s strange behavior. Her quietness. The way she sat with guilt on her face like a heavy mask. So Val had called her out, asked her to step aside and talk.Emily had told her the truth. What had happened between her and Denovon before the accident. The fight. The words. Her regrets.Val couldn’t keep calm after hearing it."And honestly again, if I knew you would still be holding up to your past like this, I wouldn't have allowed you to get involved with Denovon," Val said with a strong voice. "You can't be this damaged and be damaging someone else’s
The hospital corridor was too quiet. It was the kind of silence that made your heart beat louder. Emily sat still on the cold, tiled floor. Her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the doors of the emergency room. Her hands were shaking badly, and her chest felt tight like she couldn’t breathe.People were walking by. Nurses. Doctors. Visitors. She didn’t see them. She didn’t hear anything. Her mind was stuck on one thing.Denovon got involved in an accident.That was what Amelia had said.“Emily,” Val called gently, kneeling beside her and trying to help her up.But Emily didn’t move.“Let her sit,” Grandfather Gregory said from where he stood, though his voice was calm, his eyes were filled with fear. He looked older than usual, like he had aged years in just a few minutes.Emily tried to speak. “How… how…”The words got stuck in her throat.“How did it happen?” she finally asked, though her voice was barely a whisper.Leo, who stood nearby with his fists clenched, answered
"Your office is so perfect, just like you," Val said as she walked into Mason's office with a dramatic tone, making Mason laugh so hard."I wasn’t perfect, but you have made me a perfect man," Mason said, walking towards her.Val immediately threw herself at him just as he got closer. Mason caught her, and now her legs were wrapped around his waist, his hands on her butt, and her chest pressed against him, making him groan."I missed you so much," Val said with a pout. She missed him—even though it was just yesterday they returned from their getaway. But for her, it seemed like ages."Not as much as me, babe," Mason replied, carrying her to sit on his chair. He sat down with her still on him."You didn’t," she said, faking a sad face. "Because if you did, you would have kissed me as I walked into the office."Mason's lips twitched a bit. What type of woman did he fall in love with, he wondered, shaking his head."I’m sorry, babe," Mason apologized with a smile. "Here." He pulled her b
It was 3 p.m. when Denovon got home. From the police station, he had gone back to the company to finish up his work. Even though all he wanted was to go home straight from there, he had a scheduled meeting with an investor. He couldn't cancel or miss it."Welcome, sir," Gloria greeted.Denovon nodded in acknowledgment. He looked around the sitting room, but there was no sign of Emily. She was probably in their bedroom."Sir, Ma locked herself in the bedroom since she came back," Gloria said in a worried tone. She had knocked on the door a few times but got no reply only the sounds of crying. She didn’t know what was wrong, but hearing Emily cry broke her heart.Denovon sighed. "Go back to what you were doing. I will check on her," he said and went upstairs.He tried to open the bedroom door, but it was locked. He breathed out and went to the storage room beside their bedroom and got the spare key. He opened the door and walked in, taking in the state of the room.Her bag was lying on