Page 83 of Broken Bonds

He shook his head, determination lighting up his eyes. “You will.”

I licked my dry lips. “What if I don’t wake up?” Panic crept into my voice, and my fingers wrapped around his hand.

He shook his head again, pressing the back of my hand to his stubble-covered cheek. “You will, Celine.”

My lips trembled as tears burned in the backs of my eyes. “You don’t know that,” I croaked.

“I know you’re the strongest person I’ve ever met, and youwillsurvive.” Conviction lined every word he spoke. “You’re a survivor, Celine.”

Dr. Alex walked into the room with my parents, ending our conversation, but Ace squeezed my hand, doing his best to ease my nerves.

“It’s time, dear.”

I nodded numbly at Dr. Alex. Ace’s hand slowly pulled away from mine as my mom took one, my dad the other, and they whispered their love for me. Kisses were placed all over my face, and tears dropped from my mother’s cheeks to mine. I had to bite my lip to prevent my own from falling. Couldn’t she hold herself together until I was wheeled from the room?

Looking at Ace over my parents’ heads, I held his gaze. “Will you be here when I wake up?” All the attention in the room went to him as he hesitated.

He hesitated.

Please, please, please don’t leave me, I silently begged him.

“Where else would I be, princess?” Relief flooded my shaking body. He wouldn’t break his word, would he? He would still be here.

Only once I was wheeled out of the room and away from my family, friends, and Ace did I allow my tears to fall, my body trembling as panic seized my body.

Struggling to open my eyes, I only snapped them shut again at the blinding white light, groaning. Why was the room so damn bright?

“She’s awake!” I heard a familiar, excited voice exclaim near my head.

“Call the nurse!”

Trying again, I slowly opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the fluorescent, white lights in the room. It was sobright. Ugh.

A woman’s face blocked my view of everything, and my mind was groggily trying to remember where I was. “Celine, my baby.”My mother’s voice.

“Mom?” I choked on the word, my throat dry, my voice hoarse. A glass of water was brought to my lips, and I took small sips.

“You’re okay, baby. You’re going to be okay.” She wrapped a warm, comforting hand around my cold one as familiar faces flooded into the room.

Amber’s red hair caught my attention first. It was pulled back into a messy ponytail, and her green eyes gleamed in happiness, making me smile. She was still here, just like she’d promised she would be.

Ryan, a step behind her, looked tired but relieved to see me awake. He placed a tentative hand on my blanket-clad foot. “Hey, you.” His voice was thick with sleep. Clearly, he’d been napping while I’d been in surgery.

And then, my eyes fell on my usually collected father who was in a state of disarray—hair standing up just like it did after a stressful day at work from running his fingers through it. His eyes were wide with alarm, and his clothes were rumpled. “She’s okay,” he whispered more to himself than anyone.

My eyes kept searching, not finding the last person. Where was he? Sweeping the room again, I caught Ryan’s infuriated look when he noticed who wasn’t in the room as well.

“Where…” I swallowed thickly, fearing the answer. “Where’s Ace?”

Mom grabbed my hands in hers, pain filling her expression. “He left, baby. He… left.” My mother’s hand tightened around mine as she relayed the news.

He left me.

He left me just like Aidan did.

He broke his promise to me.

chapter twenty-nine

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