Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 397: To play the final leg of this game..

"Dave Raven?" Julian called tentatively, his voice both probing and doubtful. For some reason, there shouldn’t be any connection between Dave Raven and Davis Allen.

Davis nodded lightly, his hand still stretched forward. He was certain he wasn’t being rude nor trying to ignore him, but the shock had been far heavier than expected.

Julian stepped forward, accepting the handshake. "Are you really Dave Raven?" he asked again, needing to clear his doubt.

"Julian, you don’t have to look so shocked. It’s nothing but a mere name," Davis tried to pacify.

At that moment, he had no luxury of arguing about names or their origin, nor was he ready to explain the reason behind his dual identity.

Julian took a deep breath. "It’s nice meeting you. My father must be really happy to see we finally met."

"I met him a few days ago," Davis answered, his gaze darting toward the closed yet transparent door. "Let me see her."

Julian gave a slight nod and stepped back.

Davis stepped closer to the glass door, his warm and gentle gaze fell on the lady on the bed. "Where is the doctor?" He asked no one in particular.

"I will call him over," the guard said as he left and headed towards the Dean’s office.

Julian lingered behind Davis. He wanted to see Jessica first; he had only gone to the Dean’s office to ask about her condition and get a clear report of her situation.

More than that, he had hoped to fly her back to Country Z both for personal and medical reasons.

But with Davis suddenly in the picture, that possibility had crumbled unless later diagnosis proved otherwise.

"Sir, the Dean is here." The guard’s voice cut through the silence and tension that was tightening around Davis.

"Can I go in?" Davis asked, not once retracting his gaze from the frail woman on the bed.

It was as though everyone present was just a backdrop to the moment. His fist clenched briefly. It was clear he was fighting to hold himself together.

"You can go in," the Dean answered, pushing open the door. "But only two family members at a time."

Davis stepped into the ICU in long strides. The sterile fragrance of antiseptic, the warm and piercing white light of the ICU was not even noticed by him as he entered. Julian walked in behind him.

With the lady on the bed now in clear view, Davis found himself rooted at a spot, his feet refusing to move forward.

Both men’s hearts thumped hard and painfully, their throats tightening around unspoken words.

and had come to memorize over the years, now pale, weakened, almost unrecognizable and

forced himself forward, dragging his feet to her bedside. Each step tightened his chest until he thought it

sight before him, he

her nose. Machines beeped rhythmically, tubes and wires

under the bed cover, her skin ghostly pale due to blood loss was in stark contrast to the

tried to speak, but his lips quivered, unable to form any word as they dissolved in

it were made of porcelain. Her skin was

His tears fell freely.

temperature had always been peculiar, warmer than most. It had taken him

even in their worst moments of life and death, she had not

breaking. "Can you

promise

and softly as if handling an expensive porcelain doll that breaks at the

she hit her head?" he asked hoarsely, though his

himself silently blaming himself

he shouldn’t have left. Maybe

shouldn’t have gone to the summit." He muttered "Maybe I shouldn’t have tried so hard to understand your point of view. But then... wouldn’t that mean

him from his spiral. "It was a gash, something pierced her forehead and

have hurt a

toward the doctor. "When is

shook his head slowly and ominously. Davis’

She slipped into unconsciousness before

I hope you’re not

a ninety-five percent chance, given the stress on her brain. But ultimately... it depends

his voice raw. "You’re wrong. She can’t

could tether her soul. Julian stood nearby, helpless, watching the cold, commanding man from

but Davis shoved

tried another approach. "Davis, aren’t you going to ask about the child she was carrying

"When she lies like this... should I still

this way won’t solve anything. Why don’t you

smile tugging at his lips. "What is the essence

that!" Julian snapped. "She fought to protect them. The driver gave his life to save them.

"See the children. Then decide what comes next.

Davis

Julian nodded.

cheek gently. "Babe, did you hear that? There were two..." His voice