Chapter 139
Waking up in a hospital had become an all–too–familiar scenario for me. But this time, when my eyes fluttered open, instead of the sterile white ceiling or the indifferent faces of nurses, it was Richard who came into my blurry vision. His grip on my wrist was tight, his face etched with concern. As soon as he saw signs of consciousness in me, his eyes lit up with unbridled joy.
“Claire, you’re finally awake.“}
I took a quick look around the room, kinda expecting to see Max, but he was nowhere in sight. My heart sank a little as I reached up to feel the bandage wrapped around my head, then looked back at Richard, contemplating the turmoil that lay ahead.
If Richard ever found out that the person he had been tirelessly searching for was also the one who wanted me dead, what dreadful choice would he have to make between me and Tracey? It was a thought too cruel to bear.
“Am I okay? Did you figure something out?” I asked, avoiding the direct mention of what I was really inquiring about. But Richard, catching my drift, hesitated for a moment before understanding dawned on him.
“Do you really want to see him? Considering your current state…” He trailed off, implying I was already in a good place.
But he couldn’t finish his thought.
“Looks like I’m a magnet for trouble, huh?” I said with a bit of sarcasm.
“I’ll have someone protect you during this period. You won’t get hurt again,” Richard declared, immediately making a call. No sooner had he hung up than two bodyguards appeared at the door, a clear sign they were assigned to keep me safe.
“Richard, the enemies I’m dealing with aren’t going to back down just because I step back. They won’t stop,” I analyzed calmly.”
“Then I’ll drag him out into the open, throw him in jail, so no one can ever hurt you again. And if someone tries, I’ll be the first to take the hit for you,” he said earnestly, his voice thick with emotion.
I believed him. Just like in the past, when the whole world doubted me, Richard stood by my side, ready to face death for me.”
“Richard, I don’t want you taking hits for me.“}
This time around, I didn’t want to be a passive player in the shadows, nor did I want to wait in the light only to be stabbed from the dark.
“What do you feel like eating? I’ll go get it for you,” he said, trying to change the subject, his body language betraying his readiness to escape the heavy conversation.
“Richard, if you don’t take me to see him, I’ll go myself,” I threatened.
He sighed deeply, eyes closed, as if making a painful decision. But he knew well enough that once I set my mind on something, there was no turning back. Just like how I had loved Claude in the past, a love that knew no bounds.
“Next week, the Hilton Group is hosting a launch event for a new prosthetic line. It’s a project Max has been personally overseeing, and he might show up. I’ll take you there. Now, focus on getting better,” he reassured me, then handed me a few cherries. “Eat these, you need to regain your strength. You won’t be able to charm Maximilian looking like this, let alone me.”
His attempt at lightening the mood with a joke didn’t miss its mark. He knew all too well why I was desperate to find Maximilian.
I took the cherries, feeling a sudden urge to cry. How was I supposed to tell Richard that the person who had hurt me in two lifetimes was the one he cherished? And how could I protect Richard, ensuring he remained unharmed in this battle?
“As long as you’re okay, I’m okay. Nothing else, and no one else, matters more than you,” he assured me, patting my head as if he had read my mind.
But I still didn’t have the guts to tell him the truth.
“Alright, I’ll grow stronger. And Richard, you’ll stay behind me this time. No taking hits for me,” I said, mustering a smile filled with newfound confidence, which only made him chuckle.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“What do you want to eat once you’re out? I’ll make it for you,” he offered.
“You know my favorite,” I teased, raising an eyebrow, deliberately leaving it unsaid.
He responded with a mischievous grin, playing along, “I have no idea.“}
It was at that moment, amidst our light–hearted banter, that Max knocked and entered the room.
