Chapter 9
1134 Words
Alex’s POV
I couldn’t make sense of the nurse’s words. Everything felt heavy, like the weight of the entire situation was pressing down on me, clouding my thoughts.
“No matching blood, and he’s already lost so much!” she said.
I sank onto the hospital bench, those words echoing in my head on repeat.
Simi, the maid, paced nervously in front of me. Her worry was plain on her face.
“Ma’am, what do we do now? He needs a blood transfusion immediately!”
I stood up, my mind made up.
“Test my blood. See if I’m a match.”
The nurse nodded. “No problem. Come with me.”
I took a deep breath and followed her, doing everything she instructed.
I couldn’t let him die. I couldn't just stand by and watch him lose his life.
When the results came back, we were a perfect match.
They began the transfusion, taking my blood and preparing it for him. I tried to rest in the waiting area, but sleep wouldn’t come. My body was exhausted, but my mind refused to settle.
I felt tense, drained, and deeply uncomfortable.
Simi came in a little later. “Ma’am, how are you feeling?”
I was more tired than I’d ever been. I gave her a weak nod and a faint smile.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked gently.
I glanced at the clock, then at my reflection in the mirror.
“It’s already late,” I murmured.
“It doesn’t matter. You haven’t eaten all day.”
I smiled again, trying to reassure her. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
But my vision was starting to blur. My body had reached its limit.
My eyes drifted closed, and sleep finally took me.
---
I woke to the sound of someone calling my name.
“Miss Alex.”
I blinked my eyes open to find a woman standing in front of me.
My voice came out soft, hoarse. “How can I help you?”
She looked like a nurse, dressed in the hospital’s blue uniform and a small white cap. Something about her presence was calming.
“Your husband is awake. He’s asking to see you.”
Damian was awake.
How long had I been asleep?
I smiled faintly and looked around the room—but Simi was nowhere to be seen.
I rose gently to my feet and followed the young nurse as she led the way.
The ward was quiet, warm, and filled with a stillness that almost felt sacred.
As I stepped inside, our eyes met.
He was awake. Alert. Alive. Though his body was wrapped in bandages, he already looked better.
I walked over to his bedside.
“Alex…” he whispered my name, his voice rough but full of relief.
I sat beside him, a soft smile tugging at my lips.
“You’re okay,” I said quietly, my heart full.
“Just a little pain,” he replied, his gaze steady. “But I’m grateful—for everything you’ve done.”
I nodded, trying not to let the warmth in my chest rise to my cheeks.
“You’re welcome,” I murmured.
His expression shifted. “What about my guards?”
That question hit like a sudden flash, dragging me back to earlier—the chaos, the fight, the betrayal. It all felt painfully fresh.
He studied my face. “What’s that look?”
“They’re all gone,” I said quietly.
“Gone?” he repeated, confusion lining his face. “You mean… dead?”
“No,” I shook my head, taking a steady breath. “I’ll explain everything.”
And I did.
Every word seemed to weigh heavier on him than the last. His jaw clenched. His eyes hardened. I could see it—the pain, the disbelief, the betrayal. It was written all over his face.
“I need to get out of this bed,” he said suddenly, trying to sit up.
I held his arm firmly. “No. You’re not healed yet.”
“I need to remind them why they call me Damian Blackwood.”
Before I could argue, a sudden, sharp pain tore through my stomach—so fierce it stole the breath from my lungs.
He noticed instantly. “Alex—what’s wrong?”
Before I could answer, another wave of pain gripped me—sharper, deeper. I doubled over slightly, clutching my side.
“Alex?” Damian’s voice was laced with panic now. He tried to sit up again, ignoring the IV line tugging at his arm. “Someone help! Nurse!”
“No—don’t…” I managed to say through gritted teeth, forcing myself to sit upright again. “I’m okay. I think I just… overdid it.”
He didn’t look convinced.
A nurse rushed in at that moment, drawn by the commotion. Her eyes darted between Damian and me.
“She’s in pain,” Damian said quickly, his protective instincts kicking in hard. “She donated blood to me. Has she even been checked since?”
The nurse gently guided me back onto a seat. “It’s likely just fatigue, but we’ll run a few checks to be sure,” she said kindly. “You need to rest, Miss Alex.”
“I’m fine,” I whispered, but my body said otherwise. My limbs felt like lead. My head buzzed with lightheadedness.
Damian’s hand reached out to me, firm and steady. “Don’t pretend you’re okay for my sake. You gave me your blood, Alex. You saved my life. At least let someone take care of you now.”
His words settled over me like a blanket—soft but grounding.
The nurse helped me lie back in a recliner beside his bed and checked my vitals. She scribbled something down and gave a reassuring nod. “Just rest, that’s all you need right now. You’re both stable, but you’ve both been through a lot.”
When she left, silence filled the room again.
Damian watched me, his eyes softer now. “You didn’t have to do it, you know.”
“I did,” I said simply, looking at him. “And I would again.”
He reached for my hand and held it, gently but with meaning.
“I’ll fix this,” he said, his voice low and certain. “Everyone who betrayed us… they’ll answer for it.”
There was no fury in his tone—just quiet resolve. And somehow, that was more terrifying than any shouted threat.
“I know you will,” I said, squeezing his hand back.
But in that moment, all I wanted was to keep holding it. Just like that. In the stillness. Where it was safe.
Where we were still whole.
- Writer
