Chapter 192
Chapter 193
VENUS
ឌ ៩ ៤58 )
The hospital had its own kind of rhythm. A cruel, predictable heartbeat.
The steady hum of the machines. The shuffle of shoes against polished floors and the muted murmur of nurses at their stations, voices low but never warm enough to cut through the sterility.
I hated it.
I hated how everything here seemed to move forward-doctors filing charts, stretchers wheeling past, the world insisting on moving-while Aaron lay still, locked away in a silence he never would’ve tolerated if he had a choice.
But I came anyway. Every day. Every night.
Because even if the world moved forward without him, I refused to.
So here I was again, curled up in the same chair I always claimed beside his bed, my hand wrapped around his like it was the last thread tethering me to sanity.
The monitors blinked their endless messages of stability. Beep. Beep. Beep. His heart, his body, his pulse- all still fighting. And I clung to that sound, even as my own chest ached for something louder, something more alive.
I leaned closer, resting my cheek against the back of his hand, and started my updates.
“You’ll laugh at this, Aaron,” I whispered, the words spilling into the quiet like a secret. “But Dorian…he’s actually being kind to me. Can you believe it p>
I chuckled softly, though it didn’t last long. My throat tightened around the sound.
“He checks in on me, on the twins. Brings me tea sometimes. And don’t roll your eyes, I know you want to. He doesn’t admit it, but he’s worried. I see it in the way his jaw ticks when I’m too quiet, or the way his eyes linger on me before he leaves the room. He doesn’t know how to say the words, so he does little things instead. And I…I guess I’m grateful for that. I think you would be too, though you’d never let him hear the end of it p>
I smiled faintly, brushing my thumb over his knuckles. His hand was warm, heavy in mine, so solid and real.
“And Connor? God, Aaron, you’d lose your mind if you saw them. He and Dorian are practically acting like brothers. They bicker, sure-sharper than knives sometimes-but it’s…good. It’s the kind of clashing that makes things work better, somehow. Connor respects him. Dorian respects him. They’ll never say it out loud,
but I see it p>
My lips quirked upward, but it was fragile.
“I teased them once. I said Dorian might just steal your best friend away if you don’t wake up soon. Connor actually smirked. And Dorian? He glared like I’d said something offensive, but I saw the flicker in his eyes. He liked the idea more than he’ll ever admit. You should’ve been there to see it. You would’ve thrown a fit p>
20:51 Wed, Jan 14
Chapter 193
Silence stretched. Machines hummed.
I leaned in, lowering my voice to a whisper meant only for him.
“But Sabine…she’s adjusting. Healing. Slowly. Rosemary has been her anchor God, that woman is relentless. She drags her to counseling, makes her eat, makes her talk, even when she doesn’t want to. And it’s working. I see it in her eyes. She’s still Sabine. Not broken, not ruined. Just…finding her way back. Connor’s her shadow, of course. He’d burn the world before letting her slip too far. You’d be proud of them both p>
I paused, inhaling the faint antiseptic scent that clung to the room. My chest rose and fell around the weight of words I didn’t want to say.
“And Caroline and Gerald? Justice finally has its claws in them. Shackled. Humiliated. The whole world saw it, Aaron. They’re not shadows in the dark anymore. They’re carcasses dragged into the light, with everyone circling, tearing pieces away. Reporters, prosecutors, the public-everyone wants to taste their downfall. And for once…I don’t mind it. I thought it would make me feel…vindicated. But instead it just feels empty. Because you’re not here to see it. They were convicted last week p>
I swallowed hard, my throat burning.
“They took so much from us. And yes, they’re paying for it. But it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough. I need you here to see it. To feel the victory of it. To tell me, in that steady, unshakable voice of yours, that it’s finally over. But instead…” My words faltered, cracked. “…instead I’m talking to machines p>
The silence pressed in. Heavy. Suffocating.
I closed my eyes, gripping his hand tighter, as if I could wring answers out of him.
“I miss you, Aaron.” The words came out raw, unpolished. “I miss your voice. That low growl you use when you’re annoyed, or when you’re trying not to laugh, or when you’re telling me I’ve crossed a line. I miss your presence, the way you fill a room without even speaking. I miss your steadiness. You don’t even know how much I relied on that. On you. I thought I was strong, Aaron. I thought I could survive anything. And maybe I still can, but not like this. Not without you p>
The tears came before I could stop them, hot and blinding. I pressed my forehead to his hand, letting the sobs tremble through me in silence.
“Do you hear me? Do you feel this? Because I need you to. I need you to know that you’re not allowed to leave me here. Not when we’ve fought this hard. Not when we have so much left. The twins need you. I need you. You promised me forever, and I’m holding you to it. Do you hear me, Aaron Sinclair? You don’t get to break that promise p>
The monitor beeped steadily in response, cruelly indifferent.
I lifted my head, kissing his knuckles, my tears wetting his skin.
“I’d give anything just to hear you boss me around again. To feel your hand on the small of my back, steering me like I belong to you. To see that fire in your eyes when you look at me like I’m both the problem and the solution to everything. God, I miss it. I miss you p>
I let the words hang in the air, soft, desperate confessions woven into the fabric of this sterile room.
20:51 Wed, Jan 14 d
Chapter 193
“I’ll keep coming back. Every day. Every night. I’ll keep telling you everything you’re missing. I’ll keep holding your hand until you squeeze mine back. Because I don’t know how to stop loving you, Aaron. I don’t want to know p>
I leaned forward, resting my lips against his temple, breathing him in.
“So come back to me. love. Please. Come back p>
And for the hundredth time, I let myself believe—just for a moment-that I felt his fingers twitch against
mine.
AD
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.