Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 106: For Now

Tears gathered in his eyes as he looked at her, his fingers tightening around hers as though sheer willpower could tether her to him.

"You're everything to me," he continued, his voice trembling. "Stay with me please. If you stay with me, I swear I'll cherish you forever."

He lowered his head, his lips brushing her knuckles in a tender kiss, his tears falling freely as his heart beat increased.

And then, to his surprise and relief, Emma stirred. Her eyelids fluttered weakly, and a faint, broken whisper escaped her lips.

"Alex...?"

His head snapped up, his heart leaping at the sound of her weak voice. "Emma! I'm here. I'm right here."

Relief washed over him as he watched her face, fresh tears dropping from his eyes. He had never felt this vulnerable toward anyone since he after he lost Sofia.

Her gaze found his, unfocused but searching. "Did... you come to my rescue?"

Alex raised her hand to his lips again, his heart swelling with relief. "Shush.... Don't talk now, okay? Save your strength for the hospital. You sound weak," he said, shaking his head.

Emma's lips curved in a weak smile, but she shook her head ever so slightly. "No. I need to say this... in case I don't make it...."

"No," Alex said quickly, his voice firm but tender as he cut her off. "Don't even think like that. I won't let anything happen to you."

But Emma pressed on, her voice soft yet determined. "I know I'm weak and my head is bleeding since I can smell it but I need to tell you something now. Alex... I love you. I have for so long. I don't know when it started and even though I kept telling myself it wasn't right because of the circumstances surrounding us, I just kept falling deeply. Maybe if I had stayed to confess how I felt to you after Chris told me you both were friends, then none of this would've happened. We would've probably been out at some lounge or club celebrating... How can I even say that when I'm not sure you feel the same. Regardless, I want you to know I love you and thank you for always being my knight in shining armor."

Her words struck him like lightning, his breath catching in his throat. He had wasted way too much time thinking his love was one-sided that the delay had almost cost Emma her life.

If he has probably just stopped her that night and had just told her he loved her that was why he kissed her then maybe things wouldn't have spiraled so out of control. It was his fault he almost lost her but more than that, he needed to let her know he loved her too.

"I love you too, Em. I have loved you right from the onset. I didn't know. I had thought I was just trying to protect you and care for you as I've promised but then, I came to realize it was more than that when I'd go to work and be worried about you being alone. I couldn't control it no matter how hard I tried and after that kiss and you telling me our marriage was just an arrangement, I almost lost my mind worrying that if I confessed my feelings you'd run away. I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier to save us both from putting you in harm's way," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Emma, I'd come to your rescue a thousand times, even if it means putting my life on the line as long as you're okay. You mean everything to me, Em."

Emma's heart fluttered at his words. Her smile grew faintly, and her eyes sparkled despite her weakness. "Then kiss me again, Alex."

He hesitated, his heart pounding. "Emma, you need to rest. Save your strength, please."

But her gaze didn't waver. "No. I need you to kiss me. Please, Alex. Just once."

Unable to deny her, Alex leaned in, his lips brushing hers in the gentlest kiss. It was soft, warm, and filled with all the love and pain he'd carried for her.

When he pulled back, Emma's smile was radiant despite her exhaustion. "Even if I die now," she murmured, "I won't have any regrets."

"Don't say that, please," Alex said, his voice breaking. "If you go, I'll follow you. I'll die and follow you to the underworld if I have to. I don't ever want to have to live without you, Em."

Emma shook her head weakly, her fingers curling around his. "You don't have to, Alex. Now that I know you love me, too, I won't let death come near me. I'll fight. For you and our new found love."

His throat tightened as he looked into her green eyes, so full of quiet determination. "You'd better," he said, his voice low and fierce.

Emma's eyes closed again, her breathing steady but still shallow. Alex held her hand against his chest, his resolve hardening.

The ambulance pulled into the hospital driveway, and the paramedics rushed to unload her. Alex never let go of her hand, his heart pounding with both fear and hope.

Though he knew she was okay and was just weak from the blow to her head, he still couldn't help the anxiousness he felt.

As they wheeled her inside, he whispered one last promise.

"I'm not letting you go, Emma. Not now. Not ever."

Away from there, Claire sat stiffly in the passenger seat as Chris drove toward the hospital. The tension in the air was palpable, heavier now that the immediate danger had passed.

The hum of the car engine filled the silence, but it did little to distract her from the awkwardness of being alone with him.

Her hands fidgeted in her lap, her eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead. She couldn't bring herself to look at him, not after everything.

Chris, ever observant, noticed her unease. His grip on the steering wheel tightened briefly before he exhaled, breaking the silence.

"You don't have to sit there like I'm a stranger, Claire," he said, his tone light but with an undertone of seriousness.

Claire glanced at him quickly before looking away. "I'm not treating you like a stranger even though you're a stranger to me," she murmured.

"I thought we were way past that especially after everything that happened today," Chris said and Claire shrugged.

"It's precisely because of everything that happened today that I'm treating you a little bit different from how I'd treat a stranger....."

"You say that but look at you. You're uncomfortable," Chris said bluntly, his eyes flicking to her before returning to the road. "I can feel it."

Claire's lips pressed together, but she didn't deny it.

Chris sighed, his tone softening. "Look, I know I make things awkward for you, but I won't apologize for it."

Her head snapped toward him, her brow furrowed. "What?"

"I'm not sorry," he repeated, meeting her gaze briefly. "I like you, Claire and I'd do anything to make you see that."

Claire's chest tightened, and she turned her eyes back to the window. "You don't understand," she said quietly.

"You're right," Chris admitted, his voice steady. "I don't understand everything about you. But you don't understand me either."

Her head turned back toward him, confusion flickering in her eyes.

"I love you," Chris said simply. The raw honesty in his voice startled her. "I've tried to keep it in, to hold back because I know you're might be startled especially since we barely know each other. But I can't pretend it's not true. I love you, Claire. And I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. I won't pressure you, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm even more glad knowing Alex is your brother. Tells me that fate is on my side."

Claire's throat felt tight as she struggled to process his words. She couldn't meet his gaze anymore, her mind racing with conflicting emotions.

"Chris..." she started, her voice soft. "I can't let this go that far."

"Why not? What happened with you? Why are you scared?" he asked, glancing at her. His voice wasn't accusatory, just curious.

"Because..." she hesitated, searching for the right words. "You won't understand."

Chris chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Try me."

She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond or tell him her reasons. How could she even start telling him what happened to her all those years ago because she decided to believe someone loved her?

"Look," Chris continued, his tone softening. "If all you can give me right now is friendship, then I'll take it. But don't think for a second that I'm planning to stay in the friend zone forever."

Claire couldn't help the small, startled laugh that escaped her. She glanced at him, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.

"Confident, aren't you?" she said, shaking her head.

"I have to be," Chris replied, grinning. "You're worth it."

The awkward tension began to ease, replaced by a tentative understanding. Claire leaned back in her seat, exhaling slowly.

"Fine," she said after a moment. "We can be friends."

Chris smirked and added. "For now."

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As they neared the hospital, the silence between them felt less heavy. Claire still felt unsure of what lay ahead, but for now, she let herself enjoy the brief reprieve of companionship—however complicated it might be.