Rebirth of Billionaire's Wife (Eveline)

Chapter 402 402: End

"Eveline—no, no, no—stay with me!"

Gabriel's voice cracked as he cradled her in his arms, pressing hard against the gunshot wound. Warm blood pooled beneath his hands, soaking through her shirt and onto the floor. Her breaths were shallow, each one a struggle pulled from the depths of a failing body.

"Don't you dare close your eyes," he growled, voice shaking.

Around them, chaos unfolded in blurs—Kaden cuffing Jedrick, shouting into his comms for emergency extraction, and sirens growing louder as backup closed in. But all Gabriel could see was Eveline. Her face pale, her lips parted, blood-streaked fingers twitching weakly.

"Gabriel," she whispered, barely audible.

He leaned closer, his heart splintering at the sound of her voice.

"I'm right here, Eve. You're going to be fine. Just breathe. Just stay awake."

Her eyes fluttered open, glossy and dazed. "You're crying…"

Gabriel let out a strangled laugh that sounded more like a sob. "Of course I'm crying, you stubborn woman. You walked straight into the lion's den and still thought you'd walk out without a scratch."

She smiled faintly, but her breath hitched, and her body went limp for half a second that made him panic.

"No, Eveline!" He gently shook her. "Don't. Don't fade. Help's almost here. You've made it this far—you don't get to give up now!"

But Eveline was slipping. He could feel it. Her pulse beneath his fingers was thready. Fading.

And all at once, the terrifying weight of his fear hit him in full force.

He was going to lose her.

The woman who had defied every enemy, who had outwitted Jedrick himself, who had walked into darkness and pulled them all toward light—she was dying in his arms.

couldn't do a

you better," he whispered, his voice raw. "I told myself I could handle you being in danger. That you didn't need saving. But I can't—I

weakly. "I wasn't… yours to

if you didn't ask me to. Even if you never want me

tried to speak, but

her

stopped. "No, Eveline,

room then, breaking through the haze of dread with shouts and orders. They pulled him back, and he fought it, screaming at them not to touch her too roughly, not to let her go under—but Kaden

Kaden said firmly, but even he didn't sound

to make

helplessly, his hands stained red with her blood, his soul

even death—but none of it had

Not like losing her.

***

grief. His bloodstained hands hung at his sides, trembling slightly, the only sign he

in his arms. The weight of her. The warmth of her blood seeping through his fingers. The faint, heartbreaking smile she gave

It was too familiar.

him for years—the recurring dreams that left him breathless in the dead of night. Visions that had once felt like nightmares from another life but now… now

then, she

Twenty stories. Straight down.

hadn't reached

scream, not from her lips but from his own, as he watched

leaving him alone in the pain that increased

here he was again—helpless, watching fate try to steal her from him

the point of second chances if the ending never

Was this some kind of punishment from the universe? A cruel circle he was doomed to walk over and