Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 267 Fortunate in This Life

When the doc pulled that bloody bullet out of Emily's chest and dropped it in my hand, it felt like a ton of bricks.

When Jason heard the news, he bolted to the OR door, grabbed my collar, and slammed me against the wall. He was always the calm one, but this time, he snapped. Jason yelled, "Didn't you swear you'd stay away from her?"

I slid down the wall, staring at the red light above the OR door, feeling like all my strength had been sucked out of me.

I said, "I don't know why Emily showed up, and I don't know why it ended like this. If I could, I'd be the one in there instead."

Jason's breath hitched with grief, his eyes full of sorrow. After what felt like forever, he finally let go, and we both just stood there, waiting for that door to open. Thank God, Emily woke up.

Thank God, I got another shot at making things right with her.

I had her name engraved on that bullet and wore it around my neck.

It was a constant reminder that she almost died because of me.

Faris brought the babies from Seabreeze Harbor. He had every right to be mad at me, and honestly, I was mad at myself too.

But I was also grateful to him because behind his anger was a painful sacrifice and a sense of duty.

While Emily was recovering, I turned down all social events and stayed home with her, giving her my full attention.

I made her coffee, combed her hair, made formula for the babies, played with them, and put them to sleep. Doing these little things made me genuinely happy.

I figured maybe I hadn't done enough before, which made Emily feel so insecure. From now on, I wanted to be better to her, so she could really feel my love. Emily asked about Drew, and I had no idea how to explain it to her.

That day, Drew got hurt and jumped into the sea. We really thought he was a goner.

The distance between us had been smoothed out by Emily's efforts, and it seemed like all the storms had passed.

Our love grew stronger through all the trials, like the goldfish tattooed on her chest, vibrant and captivating.

I didn't want anyone to come between us anymore. Even when Faye came to me with her complaints, I didn't help her. When I left her at Fiona's grave, I told Faye she needed to stand on her own. Later, Faye chose to marry a wealthy businessman. Some setbacks were just part of the journey, and no matter how much others wanted to help, she had to go through them herself to learn.

If it weren't for that sudden earthquake, I think that secret might never have come out, at least not from Benjamin.

Emily found out the truth from years ago and stayed by her father's grave until she got heatstroke. When she woke up, she said some really harsh things.

She said marrying me was her biggest mistake, and if she could turn back time, she wished she'd never met me.

She barely ate or drank for those two days. I got her pain. I was hurting too, as things were going in the direction I dreaded the most.

In my most confused and helpless moment, Jason came to question me too. I showed him Benjamin's diary, letting him see the truth for himself.

I always thought Jason was the most level-headed guy I knew. He could always tell right from wrong, and I even hoped he'd vouch for me with Emily.

About that whole mess, it was Victor's fault. It was a life-and-death situation, and he should've faced the music a long time ago. Growing up, I always thought about our family ties, especially how disappointed and heartbroken Martin would be. So, I buried that secret.

Emily had every right to be mad at me. I should've given the Russell family an explanation ages ago.

Later, Jason had a talk with Emily, and she finally came downstairs.

She finally stepped out of her shell and started comforting the babies.

She'd been calm for so long, I thought she'd cooled off, so I got ready to have a real talk with her.

were related to me, wrong was wrong. Emily had her reasons to be angry,

my grandpa passed away, it was time to settle

drink we shared, was probably the

to prison with the evidence I'd hidden for years because he needed to own up to his past mistakes. This was my way of hating him, but also loving him. When they took him

I watched him disappear, my heart

me, but then he went down the wrong path. I always had this mix of hate and love

lives. But I felt he was actually relieved. Maybe carrying the weight of his sins all these years had been exhausting, and now it was a kind of release. I believed Emily truly loved me because I could feel her guilt,

up the guitar again that she truly

down the guitar for Fiona back then, and now I picked it up again for Emily. Because I loved her, I couldn't bear to lose her, and I really wanted to keep her. Because Emily was all

forgiveness and remembered

had already picked out the ring,

to a candlelight

turned out that Drew

I figured

wedding, but she

a long time, staring at the clock in the bottom right corner of my

keep her, and now, I had

the company,

don't want Emily

mess with

seriously, "Drew isn't dead. If you don't want her to get

went to the hotel we had agreed on,

a lot and said a bunch of heartless things. Emily was so humble, and I was just plain cruel. In the end,

moment Emily ran out of the room crying,

Only when I was drunk did the

up Emily to go to the courthouse. We passed by a bakery, and on a whim, I got out

the way, she asked if I had my reasons. She cried, saying

but I couldn't tell her. I had to keep being cruel, even if she

she was in me, the more decisive

her heart when she threw the toast I

divorce papers. She didn't

watched her get into his car and drive

my life was pretty miserable,

and keep Emily and the babies safe, it would all

and our once warm home became

At night, I hid at home, setting up the babies' room, playing the guitar,

my pain deep down, pretending to be a heartbreaker. Only in the dead of night could I reveal my scars and

the love of my life. Hurting her felt like tearing out my heart

in deep

was right because soon after,

named Long. We always thought Mr. Long was Rhyns, but now it seemed the real Mr. Long was Gideon. This time, Drew teamed up with Gideon. I knew they

took Emily to Seabreeze Harbor, and I was finally free to fight without any

didn't know how long I

at sunset, I would never see the

I thought of our babies' stumbling steps and their little voices constantly calling "Daddy." I fell hard,

and the others quickly moved me. Medical personnel were trying to

with the ring I hadn't had a chance to give Emily and the keys to the villa, entrusting them all to someone

had so much I wanted to say to Emily. If

I reached for my phone. Dennis, who had been with me for years, understood me well. He helped me

deep feelings could only be expressed in a single

had owed her those words all

of my concerns, I