Another strike. My body gave out and I collapsed forward, barely able to hold myself up.
Through my fading vision, I saw him again. Still standing there. Still talking. Still not turning around. Not even once.
A small, broken thought crossed my mind. Was I ever anything to him? Or was I just… someone he could lose without noticing?
Everything started going dark. And just before I lost consciousness, I felt something strange.
Relief.
Maybe… this was good. Maybe after this, I wouldn’t feel anything for him anymore.
…
When I woke up, I was already in a hospital bed. Everything felt heavy, and my back burned the moment I tried to breathe a little deeper.
“Mr. Hayes, the injuries are quite severe,” someone beside me said. “The leather strikes cut deep. Some areas reached the dermis. It’ll take time to heal.”
“Then use the best damn medicine,” Hudson’s voice came, low and cold. “I don’t care what it costs. Get the best doctors and make sure she doesn’t get scared.”
“Yes, of course.”
Footsteps faded, and the room went quiet.
I slowly opened my eyes.
He was there.
Standing beside the bed, looking down at me.