Bound To My Husband

Chapter21

Logan

We just took our shower, luckily there is a bathroom in my office. She leaned into me as she wrapped her arms around my waist, her skin still warm and damp.

My breathing had finally leveled out. Honestly, just a little while ago, I genuinely thought I was going to lose my mind

I pulled on my clothes while she stayed on the couch, completely naked and seemingly at peace.

"Are you okay now?" I asked, keeping my voice soft to match the quiet in the room.

She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips.

I leaned down and pressed a quick, affectionate kiss against her mouth. "I have to get back to work, baby. Just let me know if you need anything."

"I need food," she muttered, her lips forming a playful pout.

A sudden laugh escaped me. I couldn't help it, the sudden shift was just so funny and sweet. In that moment, she looked exactly like a little kid begging for candy.

"I'll have Vera bring something in for you," I promised, combing my fingers through her tangled hair. "Just be a good girl."

I flashed her a quick grin and turned to head out the door.

*****

The day had gone by in a blur. My assistant, Allison, was supposed to be helping me with work, but she ended up just flirting with me all day. We used each other for a bit of pleasure, and honestly, I wasn't complaining.

It gave me a warm, peaceful feeling in my stomach, something I had been desperately craving.

After dropping her off at her friend's place, I waited until she safely walked through the front door before putting the car in drive. As I navigated the streets, my mind drifted straight back to Mr. Hayes.

That familiar, heavy sadness started sinking in again. It was a harsh reality I just wasn't ready to face, especially not after losing my parents and being left completely alone to figure out life.

When my father's family tried to convince the board to vote me out, claiming I was too young and inexperienced, Mr. Hayes was the only one who stood up for me. I still felt a deep sense of gratitude for that.

Determined to cheer him up, I stopped by a restaurant to pick up his favorite dish, along with a few extra treats I knew he liked. Then I drove straight to the hospital and headed right to his ward.

When I walked in, he was standing by the window, staring blankly out at the city. The moment his eyes landed on me, they lit up with genuine warmth.

"I didn't know you were this eager to see me," I teased gently, trying to keep the mood light. I set the bags down on the table and walked over to join him. "So... what are we looking at?"

"It's funny how fast life moves," he murmured, sniffing quietly as he turned his gaze to me.

Seeing him look so fragile and vulnerable sent a chill of fear through me. I had never seen him like this.

His expression turned incredibly solemn. "I just want to see my little girl happy. But what happens when I am no longer here?"

"Don't talk like that, Mr. Hayes. I still believe in miracles," I insisted, my voice tight with a mix of denial and hope. I stepped closer to the glass, gripping the edge of the windowsill as the cold evening breeze brushed against my face.

"You have to get better. I know you can," I muttered, almost under my breath, trying to convince myself more than him. Even though deep down I knew the truth, I absolutely refused to accept it.

"At least I am feeling a bit better today," he said, offering a faint, reassuring smile. "I guess those miracles you mentioned are already working."

He actually did look remarkably healthy, much better than he had the last time I saw him. I forced a smile back, though my mind was spinning in total chaos.

"When I am gone, my family will try to take the company away from Allison," he pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation. "Please, don't let them do that."

Hearing that sparked a fierce protectiveness inside me. It was the exact same nightmare I went through, and there was no way I was going to let it happen to Allison right in front of my eyes. I reached out and patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"That isn't going to happen, because you are going to be right here with us," I told him firmly, using a confident tone to mask my own anxiety. Desperate to change the subject, I added, "I am absolutely starving. I haven't managed to eat all day."

I walked over to the table and began unpacking the containers while he followed slowly behind me.

"Are you already running into trouble at work?" he questioned, looking concerned.

"Not at all," I assured him. I handed him his plate and gently guided him over to sit comfortably on the edge of the bed. "We just started a new project, and I want to do some thorough research to make sure it succeeds."

"Good," he nodded briefly, looking relieved as he began to eat.

I pulled out my phone and snapped a quick photo of him. "I'm going to send this to Allison so she can see her dad is recovering," I beamed, feeling a surge of genuine happiness as I messaged the picture to her.

Once we finished eating, he mentioned he was feeling drained. I helped him settle down beneath the covers. Since I still had piles of work left, I pulled up a chair, opened my laptop, and started typing away.

I pushed through the exhaustion until dawn, my eyes growing incredibly heavy. By 5:30 am, I couldn't keep them open anymore. I leaned forward, resting my heavy head on the edge of his mattress, and loosely held one of his hands.

It felt strange, cold and unyielding, and he didn't shift or react to my touch. Too exhausted to think anything of it, I closed my eyes and drifted off.

When the morning light woke me, I sat up straight. Mr. Hayes was lying in the exact same position, completely motionless. His fingers, which I had been holding all night, were now stiffly locked around my hand. I tried to pull away, but his grip didn't give.

Panic seized my chest.

There was no way. My mind screamed against the thought. I stood up quickly, leaning over him.

"Mr. Hayes," I whispered, my voice trembling. I was terrified that if I spoke any louder, I would make the nightmare real. "Please don't scare me like this."

I held two fingers beneath his nose. There was nothing, no air. Fighting a wave of nausea, I managed to free my other hand and pressed my fingers against his wrist to check for a pulse.

There was absolutely nothing.

My mind went completely blank. I just stood there, staring down at him, my entire body paralyzed with shock. I couldn't breathe, let alone move. It wasn't until the morning nurses walked in to do their rounds and firmly shook my shoulder that the terrible reality finally broke through.

Mr Hayes was gone, and I couldn't even begin to process it.