As Dylan approached, a hint of a smile played on his lips. “Sorry to interrupt,” he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners, “but I need to examine her.”
Raymond, who was still holding Lina in his arms raised his left brow in anger, but remembering the right thing to do after Lina wakes up was for a doctor to do a thorough check on her, and not getting all lovey-dovey, he gently extracted himself from Lina’s side, allowing Dylan to take over.
Dylan’s examination was thorough, his questions gentle but probing. Lina’s responses were sluggish, but she seemed to be recovering. As Dylan finished up, he let out a soft sigh, his shoulders relaxing in relief.
But his respite was short lived. He had been aware of the burning gaze at the back of his neck some minutes ago. He could feel the weight of Raymond’s stare even when he wasn’t looking at his eyes.
“She is okay now. Thanks to the earlier hospitalization, she doesn’t have any after effects from the incident.” Dylan informed Raymond the results of his examination on Lina, which he curtly nodded as he walked back to Lina, who was now resting her back on the hospital bed.
“All she needs now is enough rest, and within a week, she will be discharged if nothing unexpected happens.
“Thank you.” Raymond finally thanked his friend, Dylan after all this while, his eyes fixated on Lina as he sat on her bed.
“No need to thank me Raymond. It is my job to save peoples lives. Just make sure you take care of your sister-in-law.” After giving some instructions, Dylan left the room, giving the couple space to catch up. The pungent smell of antiseptic and disinfectant hung in the air, a harsh reminder of the hospital’s sterile environment.
“How are…”
“Thank…”
They both spoke at the same time, their eyes meeting in a warm smile. “You first,” Raymond said, his voice low and gentle, as he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind Lina’s ear.
Lina’s eyes fluttered closed, her face tilting into his touch. “Thank you for saving and taking care of me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Raymond’s face softened, his eyes filling with emotion as he caressed her cheek. “No need to thank me. You are my wife, and as my responsibility, I was supposed to take care of you, but I failed to do that, “he sighed, his eyes filled with sadness, “but I promise, from now on, I will always protect you.” His tone was filled with determination.
Lina’s eyes drifted up to his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the determination etched on his face. Her chest felt tight, as if her heart was expanding with feeling. After her mom’s death, apart from Ria, Raymond was the second person to show her such affection. She was very touched.
“Raymond,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You didn’t fail me. You saved me. If not for your earlier arrival that night, I would have died by…”
“Shush.” Raymond shut her up, covering her mouth with his palm. “You are not allowed to speak about death. No one is going to die and I promise that.” He uncovered her mouth, caressing her face with his fingers, his touch gentle and soothing. The room was silent, but it wasn’t awkward at all. The beep sound of the machines in the room adds some life to the atmosphere.
Some minutes passed before Raymond finally opened his mouth, his fingers still caressing Lina’s face. “Lina,” her name left his lips in a whisper, making Lina who had closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his fingers on her skin open her eyes slightly.
“Hmm, she answered, her eyes having a hint of sleep in them.
“Can we become a real couple and live together without being banned by any contract?” Those words tumbled out of Raymond’s lips, making Lina’s sleepy eyes wide open, as she gazed at Raymond’s face who didn’t seem like he was joking.
“Are you joking?” Lina weakly said, trying to seat up from the bed. Raymond stood up, helping her sit up right, after much difficulty. “Easy.” He cautioned.
After Lina sat up right, Raymond also sat beside her, their gaze locked unto each other. “I’m not joking Lina, I’m being serious.”
As he stared at Lina, Raymond realized that his feelings for her went far beyond mere obligation or responsibility. He had been blinded to it for so long, blinded by his own stubbornness and desire to use her for revenge on his ex-girlfriend. This life incident makes him want to cherish her more.
But now, as he looked into her eyes, he saw the truth. He saw the way she had quietly endured his coldness, the way she had still managed to touch his heart despite his best efforts to keep her at arm’s length.
He remembered their first night together, the way she had melted into his arms, the way her body had responded to his touch. He had tried to tell himself it was just physical attraction, but deep down, he had known it was more.
And yet, he had let his pride and his anger get the better of him. He had wanted to use her as a pawn in his game of revenge, never stopping to consider the cost to her, or to himself.
But now, as he looked at Lina, he knew he couldn’t keep pretending. He couldn’t keep denying the way he felt. She was the one for him, and he was ready to admit it, to make their relationship work.
“Raymond,” Lina finally spoke after a long silence, her eyes searching his face. “I… I don’t think I’m ready for any romantic relationship right now. Lina’s hands felt clammy, her palms growing sweaty as she struggled to respond to Raymond’s declaration.
Ria’s words echoed in her mind: “Getting married to a man like Raymond is the best thing that could ever happen to you.” But Lina’s past experiences had left her scarred, and the thought of entering a real relationship terrified her.
She remembered the pain of being cheated on, the humiliation of being betrayed by her own sister. The fear of going through that again made her heart racing. Looking into Raymond’s eyes, she saw a disappointed look on his face, showing he wasn’t happy at her rejection.
Raymond’s face fell, his eyes clouding over with disappointment. But to Lina’s surprise, he didn’t get angry or upset. Instead, he smiled wryly and reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I expected as much,” he said, his voice low and gentle. “You’ve been hurt before, and I don’t blame you for being scared. But I want you to know that I’m not giving up on us. I’m going to pursue you, Lina. I’m going to make you see that I’m worth taking a chance on.”
Lina’s beat caught in her throat as she looked into Raymond’s eyes. She saw a determination there that made her feel both excited and terrified.
Seeing her dazed look, Raymond continued. “I’m going to show you that I’m not just a husband, but a partner, a friend, and a lover.
A shiver coursed through her body, her skin prickling with goosebumps as she listened to Raymond’s words. She knew that she should be scared, that she should be running away from him as fast as she could. But a part of her, a part that she couldn’t ignore, was drawn to him, to the passion and conviction in his eyes.
And as she looked at him, she knew that she was in trouble. Because Raymond was right, he was going to pursue her, and he was going to make her fall in love with him. And Lina wasn’t sure if she had the strength to resist him.