'I Do' For Revenge-Chapter 90: Tried To Kill My wife

My eyes fluttered open to blinding white light. The strong smell of disinfectant stung my nose, and for a split second, I had no clue where I was. Then the sharp pain hit, throbbing behind my forehead, my body aching like I’d been slammed against something hard.

Beeping monitors, the hum of machines, the faint hiss of oxygen, and a bandage was wrapped around my head. Slowly, my surroundings came into focus.

Hospital.

Then it all came rushing back: the screech of tyres, Cassandra’s car swerving into mine, the impact, the sound of metal, the spin, and the sickening silence afterwards.

I groaned softly, shifting on the bed. My voice came out as a rasp. "That was..."

"Calm down? She tried to kill my wife!"

The familiar voice coming from outside was Axel’s? And from the tone of his voice, he wasn’t pleased.

Cassandra’s shrill voice followed. "That’s not what happened! I’m the victim..."

I pushed myself up on my elbows, ignoring the sting in my ribs as I headed for the door. The guards outside tried to stop me, but I reassured them. "I’ve got this."

The guard had no choice but to offer himself as support as I headed for where their voices were coming from.

"Axel?" I said as I entered the room. Cassandra was there, along with two police officers, a doctor, nurses, and Axel.

He turned at the sound of my voice, and his eyes softened in a way that made my heart ache.

"Oh, thank God," he said as he broke free from the officers, coming to my side in seconds. "You’re awake. Are you okay?" he asked, his hands cupping my face gently. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

I nodded slowly, wincing at the movement. "I think so. What..."

Before I could finish, Cassandra’s voice cut through from the room. "She hit me, officer! She caused this! Look at what she did to me!"

Something snapped inside me. I pulled away from Axel’s support, steadying myself against the doorframe. "She’s lying," I croaked; my voice sounded rough but it was clear. "She rammed me. Twice. Deliberately."

Axel’s jaw tightened. "Layla, you should be in bed, I’ve git this."

"No. I need to say this." I turned to the officers still in Cassandra’s room. "Check the highway cameras. They’ll show exactly what happened. Her car came out of nowhere and hit me twice."

Cassandra scoffed from her bed, her hands cradling her belly dramatically. "That’s not what happened! You swerved into me because you’re jealous, because you can’t stand that I’m having Daniel’s baby!"

"I was driving in my lane when you attacked me!"

One of the officers held up his hand. "Ladies, please. We’ll review all available footage. Mrs. Hart, you mentioned witnesses?"

"Yes! Other drivers must have seen her..."

"Actually," the other officer interrupted, looking at his phone, "we just received words from the station in charge of the highway surveillance cameras. Unfortunately, the cameras were out on scheduled maintenance. So we got nothing."

"Seriously?"

"How convenient that the cameras, the only piece of evidence that could confirm her claim, were under maintenance at that particular time window."

Cass scoffed. "So are you trying to say I staged all these? Why would I intentionally harm myself just to get at you?"

"Because it’s you, Cass," I replied. "You have a track record of doing just that."

"That’s your cup of tea. I’m waiting for my test results," Cassandra said quickly, changing the topic. "When they come back showing what she did to my baby, I’ll know what charges to press."

"What you did to yourself, you mean," I said coldly.

Suddenly, Daniel burst through the door, looking frantic and dishevelled. He glanced around at everyone before fixing his intense, angry gaze on me.

"If anything happens to our baby, Layla, you’re done. Finished. I’ll make sure of it."

Axel moved so fast I barely registered it. One moment, he was beside me, and the next, he was in Daniel’s face, holding him by the collar of his. "Threaten my wife again, and you’ll regret it. Do you understand me?"

"Your wife caused this..."

"Your wife caused this. And I’m pressing charges right now: attempted assault, reckless endangerment, possibly attempted murder depending on what the investigation shows."

The room tensed, officers scribbling notes. Daniel backed down, moving to Cassandra’s bedside, where she clutched his hand, playing the victim perfectly.

Axel turned to Nurse Patterson. "Discharge her. I’m not leaving my wife in the same hospital as someone who just tried to kill her."

The nurse nodded, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "She’s stable, Mr. O’Brien. Just cuts and shock. No admission needed. I’ll get the discharge papers and prescriptions for pain management."

"Do it quickly, please."

Twenty minutes later, papers signed and medications in hand, Axel guided me out of the hospital. I was still shaky, my head was still pounding, but the anger coursing through me kept me upright.

In the car, he drove carefully, his eyes flicking to me every few seconds. "How are you feeling? Really?"

"Furious. Sore. But okay."

"Would have preferred you stayed for observation? We can turn around, or I can take you to another hospital."

"I’m not staying in the same building as her. I’d rather be home."

He reached over, squeezing my hand. "Fair enough."

When we pulled into the driveway, I reached for the car door handle, but Axel was already out and coming around to my side.

"I can walk, you know."

"I know." He opened my door and, before I could protest, he scooped me up bridal-style.

"Axel! Put me down!"

"No."

"This is ridiculous. I’m not an invalid."

"You were just in a car accident. Humour me."

I half-laughed despite myself, wrapping my arms around his neck. "You’re being dramatic."

"And you’re being stubborn. What else is new?"

He carried me through the front door, past Mrs Martha, who looked alarmed, and headed straight for the stairs.

"Where are we going?" I asked, though I suspected I already knew.

"My room."

"I thought yesterday was a one-time thing."

"Security’s not a one-time thing," he shot back firmly. "And after what just happened, you’re staying where I can see you."

He set me down gently on his bed, arranging pillows behind my back. His hands were careful, tender, and when his eyes met mine, they were filled with something that made my breath catch.

"I’m so glad you’re okay," he said softly.

I tilted my head, studying his face. "Were you worried?"

He let out a breath that sounded like a laugh and a sigh mixed together. "Couldn’t help it. When they called and said you were in an accident..." He sat beside me on the bed. "I... I was a bit terrified."

"I’m sorry for making you worry."

"Don’t apologise." He shook his head. "I’m sorry I wasn’t there. If I had been driving you..."

"Then you might have been hurt too. Or worse." I reached out, touching his hand. "This isn’t your fault, Axel. It’s Cassandra’s."

"I know. But that doesn’t make it easier."

A thick silence fell between us, filled with things left unsaid. When our eyes met, I could feel the tension. I could see a mix of emotions playing across his face: relief, anger, fear, and something deeper that made my heart race.

"Layla," he whispered, his hand coming up to cup my face, careful of my injuries.

"Yeah?"

"I need you to know something."

"What?"

But instead of words, he leaned in, and our lips met.