Chapter 28

Lucian was rushed into the emergency room, his blood-stained shirt sending a jolt of fear through me. Nicole was also wheeled in, though I barely spared her a glance—my entire focus was on Lucian. "Lucian, stay with me!" I cried out in panic, clutching his hand tightly. Through the pain, he managed a faint smile. "I'll be fine," he assured me. "Don't worry. Just wait for me—I'll be back before you know it." As the medical staff wheeled him into the emergency room, the door shut behind him, cutting me off. My legs trembled, and I stumbled back, collapsing onto a nearby chair. Tears spilled down my cheeks as the weight of what had happened sank in. He had thrown himself in harm's way to protect me. He could have been severely injured—or worse, he could have died. But he hadn't hesitated. He hadn't cared about the danger. "How could you be so reckless?" I whispered, my voice shaking. "You could have lost your life..." The mere thought of him dying because of me sent a chilling wave of ter