Chapter 49

I don’t know how long I slept, because every time I stirred, I sensed different people around me.

“I failed her,” Gabriel’s voice.

“I need to go… take care of something,” a foreign voice.

“You need to go?” Gabriel sounded angry.

Then I faded back to sleep. The next time, the voices were different.

“You need to freshen up,” a feminine voice—Alice, I think.

“I’m not moving from here,” Gabriel replied. “The doctor said she’ll wake up any minute now.”

I wanted to wake up, but couldn’t. I felt trapped in an unending sleep cycle.

“Is there anything I can do?” Sam asked.

“Yeah… leave,” Gabriel again.

I wanted to laugh at Gabriel’s pettiness, tell him to stop being so harsh toward Sam, that we had resolved our past and moved on. I wanted to turn over because my back was stiff. I wanted to turn to Gabriel, who I knew was sitting beside me, his hand often caressing my forehead. I wanted to hold him and never let go. Once, he kissed my head, whispering, “Wake up now, baby?”

After what seemed like forever, I finally opened my eyes. Pain exploded. My stomach, head, throat, and back ached. Everything hurt. I blinked, parted my lips, trying to call for the man who had saved me, but I could only croak an inhuman sound.

My hand was squeezed. I turned my head, taking in the unfamiliar hospital room. Alice looked shocked, as if she hadn’t expected me to wake up. “Sofia, oh, you’re awake! Oh, thank Jesus.” She paused, pressed a button, then turned back to me, cupping my face. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

I tried speaking again, but only another inhuman sound emerged.

“Just wait, okay?” she said, stroking my hair. “The doctor’s coming.”

I tried talking again, but no sound came. I gave up, hoping Gabriel would hear I was awake and come with the doctor. He didn’t.

Chapter 49 (continued)

The doctor arrived. He asked me to nod instead of speaking. He asked if I knew who I was, what year it was, and how I was abducted. I nodded to each question.

He explained that I had screamed so loudly I’d swollen my vocal cords. Nothing serious—a few days of rest and warm water would heal it. But I needed to whisper, if I spoke at all.

I didn’t remember screaming that much. Just once, when the man hit me. Or maybe more. Everything was a blur, a pathetic, painful blur.

When the doctor touched my throat, likely to check for swelling, I flinched. I shook my head, pleading with my eyes to Alice. She understood what my kidnapper hadn’t. The male doctor was dismissed, and a female doctor called.

Alice was visibly sobbing while the female doctor helped me sit up and examined me. Once she confirmed the swelling was reducing and I’d heal in a few days, she left, and Alice broke down.

“I’m so sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry,” she sobbed. “I was so scared.”

I was scared too. I wanted to say that, but I couldn’t. I wanted to hug her, but didn’t want to be touched. So I held her hand and let her cry until the door opened. Zach entered, his wife, Anna, peeking from behind him.

Alice excused herself, and Zach and Anna stayed. They spoke, and I nodded. Anna kissed my forehead, reminding me she was always there for me and I could stay with her for a few days if I wanted.

That was a reference to the Lily drama, and although it had been only a week ago, it felt like a lifetime. It seemed trivial now.

I stared at Zach, and he knew why. He sighed. “He hasn’t left your side since he found you,” Zach said. “He’s outside.”

I pleaded with my eyes to send him in. Zach squeezed my hand before leaving.

Grandpa didn’t come, and a part of me wanted to believe he didn’t know I was missing. He would have been here immediately if he did. I didn’t want him to know, to worry.

The door stayed closed so long I began to believe he wouldn’t come, but finally, he did. The man I’d waited for since opening my eyes entered.

I had never seen Gabriel like this. He was always impeccably put together, but not today. His hair was messy, his stubble longer than usual, his clothes worn. But it was his eyes that caught my attention—hollow and bloodshot.

He walked to me and didn’t sit in the chair like everyone else. He sat on the edge of the bed, directly in front of me.

“I failed you,” his voice was a broken whisper.

Perhaps it was his voice, or just seeing him, but my heart fell. My chest hurt. Tears I thought I’d cried out welled up and fell before I could stop them. A sob escaped, and I desperately shook my head.

His hands held my face, his thumb gently wiping away my tears. “I failed you, Freckles.”

I continued shaking my head and sobbing until he leaned forward, holding me in his arms. I completely broke down. I wanted to tell him how scared I was, how I’d wished every second he’d come to save me, and then he did. I wanted to thank him, tell him how much everything hurt, how I never wanted him to let me go. But I couldn’t talk, so I cried.

I cried until my tears ran dry, and he held me until I calmed down, then he pulled away. Even then, I held his hands, afraid he’d disappear if I let go. He held one hand around me, as if he’d collapse if he let go. With his other hand, he cupped my face, kissing my nose softly.

“Freckles,” he mumbled, pausing. “Sofia.” He doesn’t call me Sofia; he never has.

I blinked.

“You are my wife, Sofia,” his voice was soft but firm, like a promise. “And anyone who tries to take you away from me will learn the hard way that I will never let you go.”