HONOR ME

THIRTEEN

SKYLER

Clearing my throat, I stepped forward.

“I’m his wife.”

“Alright. Make sure he takes his medication, gets enough rest, and follows the doctor’s instructions.”

She looked between us.

“Any questions?”

“I think everything is clear,” I replied.

She nodded, then pulled out her notes and scribbled something down.

“Thank you very much. Dr. Lee asked me to pass on his gratitude for the transfer arrangements and the generous contribution.”

I looked at Christine.

She looked back at me.

Both of our faces were filled with confusion.

The nurse handed me the prescription and left the room.

“What was she talking about?” Pamela asked.

Christine shook her head.

“I have no idea. I didn’t arrange any transfer or make any payment.”

“Neither did I,” I admitted.

Silence filled the room.

Then realization slowly crossed Christine’s face.

“I bet it was Rudolph.”

**ANDRÉ**

The fact that she was the first person I saw when I regained consciousness made my heart do something strange.

Skyler.

She looked like she hadn’t slept properly in days.

Dark circles surrounded her eyes, her hair was slightly messy, and her lips looked dry.

She looked exhausted.

And yet, she was still here.

After the nurse finished her checks, another hospital worker came in with my discharge papers and clothes.

“Thanks again,” Skyler murmured to her.

Apart from the aching in my head and the soreness in my shoulder, I was practically fine.

Pamela and Christine took the lead back into town while Skyler stayed beside me.

She helped me every chance she got, even after I repeatedly told her I didn’t need it.

Apparently, my opinion didn’t matter.

Once we got into the car, she started driving.

Slowly.

Painfully slowly.

“Why are you driving like this?” I complained.

She kept her eyes on the road.

“Because your migraine could get worse if I drive any faster.”

She adjusted the rearview mirror, glancing at the driver behind us who had been aggressively honking.

I laughed.

The car was clearly built for someone much taller than her.

“I might actually die if you don’t speed up, Skyler.”

“Gosh, these people...”

She groaned as the driver behind us continued honking, filling the road with unnecessary noise.

“Go faster.”

“No.”

She didn’t even hesitate.

“Not today. Your health comes first.”

I stared at her.

She sounded exactly like my old science teacher back in middle school.

Always lecturing us about safety and health.

Always convinced she knew better.

And somehow...

Skyler was doing the exact same thing.

Thankfully, the traffic cleared, and the angry driver behind us finally managed to pass.

As he drove by, he lowered his window and threw a rude gesture in our direction.

“Uncivilized i***t,” Skyler muttered under her breath.

I chuckled softly and leaned back against the seat.

What was supposed to be a two-hour drive was slowly turning into a four-hour journey.

She took another curve, slowing down even more when we reached a rough patch of road.

“At least go a little faster.”

I looked at her.

“For me.”

She groaned.

“Fine.”

She pressed down on the accelerator slightly, and the sudden movement pushed me back into my seat.

“Thank you.”

She wasn’t exactly speeding, but I’d take what I could get.

A comfortable silence settled between us.

Then I spoke.

“Thank you for being here.”

I looked out the window.

“Really means a lot to me.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

“You’re my husband, whether I like it or not.”

She kept her eyes on the road.

“I’m obliged to care for you.”

The words shouldn’t have bothered me.

But they did.

It sounded like she was saying she wouldn’t be here if she had a choice.

“You don’t have to make it sound like you were forced.”

Her eyes flickered toward me.

Surprise crossed her face.

“You’re making me sound like a bad person. I never said I—”

I never got to hear the rest.

A sudden impact jolted the car.

The force threw us forward.

“f**k!”

Skyler gasped.

“Are you okay?”

I immediately turned toward her.

A small cut had formed on her forehead, a thin line of blood trailing down her skin.

My stomach dropped.

“Shit.”

I reached up and gently moved her hair away to get a better look.

“You’re going to need stitches.”

She slapped my hand away.

“Stop being dramatic. I’m going to be f—”

“Hey!”

A voice interrupted her.

“You hit my prized possession.”

A large man stood outside the car, his expression furious.

I felt my jaw tighten.

I was already moving toward the door when Skyler placed her hands on my shoulders.

“Let me handle it.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You’ll only start a fight.”

I stared at her.

She wasn’t completely wrong.

She unbuckled her seat belt and stepped outside.

“Hello, sir.”

Her voice remained calm.

“I’m very sorry about the damage.”

“I don’t care if you’re sorry.”

The man pointed at the car.

“This is going to cost me a fortune.”

I dragged a hand down my face.

This man was testing my patience.

“How much?”

I stepped forward.

“I’m sure we can sort this—”

“SHUT UP, IDIOT.”

Skyler froze.

A small hitch escaped her breath.

Something she did when she was scared.

That was enough.

I opened my door and stepped out.

“André—”

I ignored her.

The man turned toward me.

Even with his size, I was taller.

“Say that again.”

My voice lowered.

I stepped in front of Skyler.

“I asked you to stay in the car—”

“Shh.”

The man scoffed.

“You must be the boyfriend.”

His eyes moved toward Skyler.

“Your useless girlfriend here—”

I didn’t let him finish.

My fist connected with his jaw.

“ANDRÉ!”

Skyler panicked.

“Come on, big guy. Say something else so I can—”

He didn’t get to finish.

The man charged at me, and his weight sent us crashing to the ground.

Pain shot through my body.

“Get off him!”

I heard Skyler scream.

The man swung at me, his anger getting the better of him.

“How dare you f*****g hit me?”

I managed to push him away and scramble back onto my feet.

A small crowd had gathered around us, phones raised as people recorded the scene.

My anger took over.

Before I could think clearly, I was on him again.

“Speak to my wife like that again, and you’ll regret it.”

“Are you insane?”

“Enough, André.”

Skyler’s voice cut through everything.

She reached for my arm.

Her eyes were filled with worry, tears threatening to fall.

That was when I finally stopped.

I got back on my feet and walked away.

This time, I was the one driving.

The entire ride was silent.

Skyler refused to speak to me.

She barely even looked my way.

The moment we arrived, she walked straight to her room and shut the door.

Hard.

“f**k me.”

I stood outside her door for a few seconds before knocking.

Once.

Twice.

No response.

Eventually, I opened the door.

“Skyler?”

She stopped pacing and turned toward me.

Her expression was unreadable.

“I’m looking out for you.”

Her voice was controlled, but I could hear the frustration underneath.

“I’m trying to keep you safe, and you’d rather pick a fight.”

She shook her head.

“That man was rude. He was angry. But he didn’t deserve that.”

I stayed quiet.

Because the worst part was...

she wasn’t completely wrong.

“I know.”

My voice lowered.

“I’m sorry.”

She scoffed and walked over to sit at the edge of her bed.

“Sorry isn’t going to fix anything, André.”

Her eyes met mine.

“I need you to care about yourself the way I care about you.”

I nodded.

She studied my face for a moment.

“How’s your head? Any migraine?”

I moved closer and lowered myself in front of her.

“Hey.”

My voice softened.

“Look at me.”

Her expression changed.

She had been holding back tears for longer than she wanted me to notice.

“I’m fine.”

I gave her a small smile.

“A little migraine, that’s all. I’m going to be okay.”

She sniffed and reached out, cupping my face.

“No fights.”

I gently took her wrists, my thumb brushing over her skin.

“No fights.”

She held my gaze for a moment before finally nodding.

━━━━━━ ✧ ━━━━━━

Skyler and I were supposed to hate each other.

That was the arrangement.

Haters didn’t worry about each other.

Haters didn’t stay awake at night making sure the other person was breathing.

Haters definitely didn’t care.

And yet, for the past week, Skyler had been impossible to understand.

She was sweet like caramel one moment and sharp like lemon the next.

Everything I did came with either a reward or a punishment.

And somehow, I found myself looking forward to both.

The bathroom door opened.

Skyler stepped out carrying a small tub filled with steaming water, a towel hanging over her shoulder.

“Lay back.”

A strained sound escaped her lips as she placed the tub down.

“That’s heavy,” she muttered to herself.

I raised an eyebrow.

“You could’ve just asked for help.”

She shot me a look.

“Shut up and lay back.”

A laugh escaped me.

I did as I was told.