My Disabled CEO Husband

Chapter Five

The air in the room seemed to thicken with tension as Christian’s words hung between them. His proposal, so direct and unflinching, left Elena speechless. She stared at him, her lips parted slightly, trying to make sense of what had just been said.

“Marry you?” she echoed, her voice barely a whisper, as though repeating the words might help her understand them better.

Christian didn’t blink. His eyes were steady, but there was an undercurrent of something—something vulnerable lurking beneath the calm façade. He was making himself entirely too open, and it made Elena’s chest tighten in ways she wasn’t prepared for.

“Yes,” he replied, the word firm, like a decision that had been made long ago. “I need your commitment. Not just as a doctor, but as my... partner. For the surgery to work, for me to go through with it—I need to know that you’ll be by my side, fully. In every sense of the word.”

Elena couldn’t help but let out a small, incredulous laugh, though it wasn’t one of amusement. More like disbelief, a tension between shock and something else she couldn’t name.

“Christian, this isn’t—this isn’t a business deal. It’s not something you can just ask someone to do for the sake of a surgery.”

His jaw tightened at her response, and for the first time since they had started talking, she saw a flicker of frustration in his eyes. It was the first c***k in his armor, and it made her pause.

“No,” he said, voice low but steady. “This isn’t just about the surgery. It’s about trust. I’ve made a lot of decisions in my life, and I’ve always made them alone. But this time... I’m asking for help. I’m asking for someone to stand by me. And if you’re willing to help me with the surgery, I need you to be here. For me. For Liam.”

His words were heavy, but there was something more to them—something he wasn’t saying. Elena could see it in the way he clenched his fists on his knees, how his posture stiffened as if bracing for the rejection he half-expected.

Elena sat down, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to process what he was asking of her. Christian Blake, the successful CEO, the stoic businessman, was sitting in front of her, looking so... human. Vulnerable, even. It was a side of him she had never imagined she would see. He was giving her more than just a proposition; he was giving her a piece of himself.

She had to admit, she hadn’t expected this. Her professional life had always been a careful balance between healing and detachment. But now, the line between doctor and patient, between professional and personal, had blurred. And it wasn’t just the surgery that was weighing on her—it was the implications of this offer.

“I don’t know what to say,” Elena finally murmured, running a hand through her hair. “I didn’t come here for this. I came to help you. To make sure Liam’s okay. But... marry you?”

Christian’s gaze didn’t waver, but there was a hardness there now, an edge that wasn’t there before. “I can’t do this halfway, Elena. I can’t take a risk this big and not know that you’re fully committed. You see what this is for me. I’ve already lost my family. I can’t afford to lose more.”

Her heart twisted at the rawness of his words. It wasn’t just about his legs. It wasn’t even about the surgery anymore—it was about his survival. Emotionally. Mentally. He needed someone who wasn’t just a fleeting presence, someone who could help him rebuild his life.

But marriage? The idea of binding herself to Christian, even under the guise of this practical arrangement, sent a wave of unease through her. She had her own life to manage, her own dreams to chase. This proposal felt like a cage.

“Christian,” Elena began, trying to steady her voice, “This isn’t a small thing. Marriage... it changes everything. You can’t just ask someone to marry you because you need their help with a surgery. You can’t make someone your partner in this way, and expect it to work just because it’s convenient for you.”

Christian leaned forward, his voice steady but with an unmistakable undercurrent of pleading. “It’s not just for me. It’s for Liam too. You see how he looks at you. He needs stability, Elena. He needs more than just a guardian. He needs someone who loves him as much as I do. And I’m asking for you to be that person. If I have to trust someone with him, trust someone with my future... it’s you.”

The weight of his words struck her hard, as though she had been hit with something more than just a request. It was a challenge. And it was a promise. A promise that whatever she decided, it would change both their lives forever.

Elena knew the stakes were high. She knew this was a risk—perhaps the biggest she would ever take. But it wasn’t just about the surgery, or about Liam’s needs. It was about what this decision would do to her. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to give up the boundaries she had spent her whole life building, but she also knew that if she didn’t help Christian, if she didn’t take this step, it could mean losing both him and Liam to a fate of isolation.

“Do you love him?” Elena asked quietly, her gaze never leaving Christian’s face.

The question was simple, yet loaded with expectation.

Christian stiffened slightly at her inquiry, but he didn’t flinch. His voice was quieter now, tinged with emotion. “I’m not sure I know how to love anymore. But if I do... it’s because of him. Because of Liam. And maybe... you too, in a way. You’ve given me hope when I had none. I didn’t ask for this. But I need you to stay. I need you to be here with me. For us.”

The silence stretched, thick with the weight of his unspoken emotions.

Elena let out a slow breath, her mind racing. This wasn’t a decision she could make lightly. But there was something about Christian’s vulnerability, the way he had laid himself bare in front of her, that made her heart ache.

“I can’t promise that it will be easy,” Elena said softly, her eyes locking with his. “And I can’t promise that I’ll love you like you want me to.”

Christian nodded. His eyes softened, but his resolve didn’t falter. “I’m not asking for love. Not now. I’m asking for commitment. For help. For us.”

Elena closed her eyes for a moment, steeling herself for the decision she was about to make. “Then I’ll help you. I’ll do what I can to make this work. For Liam. For you.”

Christian let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His eyes softened, though there was still a trace of apprehension in them. “Thank you,” he murmured.

But Elena’s words held a silent promise, a promise that would come with a price. She hadn’t agreed to the marriage—not yet—but she was already tied to him in ways she hadn’t anticipated. And whether she liked it or not, the lines between duty and desire were becoming more and more blurred.