晚上睡不着看点害羞的连接

Chapter 118 - SAFE AT LAST

What was left of my strength started to diminish as I stood there and watched the car burn in front of my eyes. Monstrous fear I never knew I was capable of struck my ice-cold body paralyzed.

This is not happening... I told myself over and over again.

I pressed my eyes tightly until I saw star bursts. I told myself when I opened them I would wake up from this nightmare. When I thought I was ready my eyes fluttered open but the scene was just the same. The car was still there.... Burning.

This was reality.... And it was so painful I could scarcely breathe.

The last of my strength escaped my body. My legs collapsed and I slumped to the rough pavement with shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Tears would not stop flowing lown my flushed cheeks.

I haven't spent much time with Ace. Why does it need to happen? Why? We are so happy but suddenly things ended this way..

My heart was being torn into shreds. I wanted to run to the burning car to save Ace but my legs refused to move. I couldn't even summon the courage to ask for help. I couldn't even scream no matter how bad I wanted to.

A crowd gathered around the scene. I heard someone call an ambulance. I lost track of my surroundings when there was a sudden piercing pain inside my chest. It was so worse that I couldn't breathe properly.

My vision started to blur until I couldn't see anything except the darkness starting to engulf me. I heard a woman's voice screaming for help until it became so distant it no longer reached my ears.

The last thing I remember before I lost my consciousness was the horrible dream I had last night…. Ace was lying on the ground with blood leaking from his grievous wounds while the car burned brightly in the background. He extended his hand to me and I did my best to reach his hand but it was too late…. he breathed his last and closed his eyelids.

"Ace…. Ace….Ace…" I woke up from the sound of my wretched sobs. My whole body was trembling while I twisted and turned on top of a soft bed. The memories before I lost consciousness came back to me and my cries only intensified.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and came in contact with a pair of exquisite blue eyes worriedly looking at me. "Ace…." My voice trembled. A loud sob escaped my lips. Disbelief was written all over my face as I scanned his face.

Aside from a small wound on his forehead and a few bruises on his arms he was surprisingly fine. I can't believe he was not brutally wounded… I really can't believe it… Thank you Lord. I mumbled repeatedly, blinking back the tears from my eyes.

"Hush… Please stop crying. Please don't make me worry again." He whispered. His arms came around my shoulders and he pulled me tightly into his arms that I feared he would crush me.

He trembled as he held me. I wonder why… but when I lift my face to look at him again I realize he was scared. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying while I was unconscious.

We are inside the private room of the hospital. He must have brought me there after I passed out.

"W-what h-happened A-Ace? H-how d-did you survive.. I-I t-thought you d-died inside the burning car."

My fingers clutched the soft fabric of his shirt as if I could retrieve some strength by holding onto them. I was still holding my breath when I heard him respond.

"When we left the Lady Ravenwood Mansion, there was a black car tailing us, I became suspicious because I felt something was wrong. I stopped the car in front of a restaurant and parked it in a safe spot where it's far from any other car so that in case something happens it would minimize the damage and no passerby could get hurt. I secured your safety first by leaving you inside the restaurant and then I returned to the car to check it's overall condition and that's when I realized that one of the tires was slightly inflated. When I peered underneath, I saw the device attached underneath. When I realize what it was I ran just right in time before the thing exploded."

My hands flew to his neck and I pulled him closer. I buried my head at the crook of his neck where I started to cry all over again. I almost lost him today. The thought filled me with pain and anguish. If he wasn't able to run in time I wonder what would have happened.

Faith Vienne was still too young to lose a father. Thinking that she would grow up without Ace by her side was more frightening than I imagined. I'm just glad that Ace survived the incident unscathed.

"Please stop crying, Phoenix. It would be bad for your heart." His hand gently caressed my back while he whispered gentle words to my ears until I calmed down.

"I was so scared, Ace… I thought I would never see you again."

"I will not allow it to happen, Phoenix. I still want to spend the rest of my life with you and our daughter. I will not die that easily, especially I still have to protect you and Faith Vienne from people who are trying to hurt you."

"I-I want to see our daughter, Ace."

"Don't worry, love. Madam Stella's limousine will be here in the hospital soon after an hour. Just wait a little while, okay. For now, you need rest. I'm sure you're still as shocked as I am by the unexpected turn of events."

Ace gingerly placed me back on the bed. I didn't object when my head landed on the pillow and his arms loosened around me. He laid a soft kiss on my forehead before he started moving to the door.

Panic seized me while I watched him leave. What if this was all just a dream. What if he will be gone when I wake up?

"Ace?"

He stopped walking and turned towards my direction. He tried to give me a soft, reassuring smile but when he saw the worried look on my face the smile on his face faded. It was then replaced with a look of alarm.

Within seconds, he was already beside me holding my cold palms around his fingers. "Is something wrong, Phoenix?"

"I-I'm scared, Ace…. Please stay by my side until Madam Stella arrives. Please…." I bit my lower lips and fought the urge to cry.

"Do not worry, my love. I'm not going to leave so please rest." He murmured.

When Ace climbed on the top of the hospital bed and gathered me into his arms, I calmed down. The warmth of his body pressed to mine was reassuring since it reminds me that he's real and not just my imagination.

He didn't speak further. He just continued to run his fingers through my hair until I fell asleep.

***

When the limousine finally arrived at the estate, I hurriedly climbed out of the car without waiting for Ace to pull the door open and I dashed to my room on the second floor where Faith Vienne was waiting.

A huge sigh of relief escaped my lips when I saw Faith Vienne lying inside her crib with a sweet smile on her lips. When she saw me, her arms flailed eagerly. The smile on her lips broadened showing the deep dimples on her cheeks.

Without me realizing, tears start to flow down my cheeks when I pick her up and wrap her fragile body into my arms.

I thought I would never hold her in my arms again. I can't help but wonder what could possibly happen if Ace didn't realize what's happening and didn't pull into a stop in front of the empty parking lot. I wonder what would happen if he didn't see the time bomb concealed under the car and he continued to drive until the bomb exploded while we're inside the car.

There's so many questions on my mind right now. But it's not as important as holding my precious baby into my arms.

For the first time since I entered the room, I noticed that Elisa was seated on the bed and watching me intently with a worried look on her face.

She quickly rose from the bed and ran to my side. She didn't ask any questions. Instead she gently laid her palms on my shoulders as if telling me everything's going to be fine.

I pulled Faith Vienne closer and kissed the tip of her nose. Now that I'm with my daughter I feel a lot better and I was able to breathe more calmly this time.

I thought I would not be able to hold her into my arms again.?I was so scared because Faith Vienne almost?lost me and Ace.