Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 719

+25 BONUS

Hayden had faked his death and taken brutal beatings to keep his identity hidden. Deini? She'd sacrificed her entire future, paying a price so unimaginable it made my chest ache. If we called the cops now, all of that could be for nothing And let's be real-If the police could fix this, DracoLux would've been shut down ages ago.

This couldn't go unchecked, though. Especially not for Lena. She'd always been fierce about protecting women, and seeing someone like Demi humiliated and broken like this? It wasn't something she'd ever tolerate. "How's Demi? Has she woken up? Can I see her?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Without a word, Lena led me to Demi's room.

Seeing her hooked up to all those machines, tubes everywhere, an oxygen mask covering her bruised face... It broke me. Lena's earlier description of her injuries echoed in my head, every detail slicing me open. "I'm... fine," Demi whispered weakly, as if she could sense my heartbreak and wanted to

comfort me.

Tears spilled down my face as I held her hand. "Demi, I swear, I'll make them pay for this. I will. I promise."

She gave me the faintest smile, but it was like a knife in my chest. Demi used to smile all the time, her laugh lighting up everything around her. Now, her smile was hollow-a shadow of who she used to be. "You need to report this," Lena said, her voice sharp, cutting through my pain.

Demi's smile wavered. "No... I... won't," she said softly.

insane," Lena snapped, her frustration

Demi murmured, her voice steady. "But

Not

emptiness. Yet I could feel the weight of what she'd

have to... take them all down," she said,

argue. Instead, her voice softened. "I'll do everything I can to treat your

closed her eyes, finally

tissue as I wiped my face, my voice barely steady. "Demi's

and stopped the bleeding. But I can't guarantee she'll be able to have

Children.

After all she'd

life shattered-would

love someone again? Could she trust anyone after

anything, just stared at the bloodstains

doesn't want to report this because she's planning to

I nodded.

Lena sighed. "That's reckless."

was reckless, but it was also the only option. Even Hayden had done it. That's how deep DracoLux's darkness ran-it forced people to risk