Page 76 of When Hearts Surrender

Unwanted.

I’ll just not fall in love with her. As long as we don’t fall in love with each other, we’ll be fine. It won’t be like Sydney. It won’t be like my parents.

I jump out of the car before it stops and dash into the hospital, not caring as attendants and doctors try to stop me from running down the halls. I only pause to find out Belle’s room number and in a matter of seconds or minutes, as everything feels exactly the damn same right now, I burst into room 508, my thundering pulse a frenzied rumble in my ears.

My wife is lying still on the bed, her eyes closed. She looks so fragile, so breakable. My heart freezes in my chest.

Her friends are gathered around her bedside, but I barely pay them any attention as I shove my way in between them to my wife. “Belle! Please tell me you’re all right.”

She opens her eyes and gives me a tired smile. “I’m fine. It was an accident, that’s all.”

She’s alive.My shoulders sag in relief as I curl my body over hers, my hands clasping her clammy ones tightly but a taunting voice inside me whispers,the accidents are starting again, just like before. Remember when Sydney nearly drowned in the swimming pool and—

I shut down my thoughts—I can’t think about that right now. My eyes rove over her body, noticing a bandage on her forehead, a few red scrapes over her face and arms, purple bruises already forming on her pale skin.

“Fuck,” I heave, the nausea churning inside me still making me want to throw up my lunch. “Thank God you’re okay. Fuck, you scared me, Belle.”

“I-I’m fine, Maxwell,” she whispers, her hand slides out of my clasp and curls around my face.

She gently wipes the sweat off my brows and upper lip as if she knows I’m hanging on by the thinnest thread.

A swift current of emotions floods up my spine, and I want to tell her how she’s an indelible part of my life, how she’s the sunshine in my never-ending night, the spring in my barren winter. I want to tell her I need her by my side, that I married her because I couldn’t stand the idea of her being with another man.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Someone clears his throat, and I finally pay attention to the other people in the room. That bastard Cole is standing there, his arms crossed over his chest, his glare threatening to murder me on the spot.

Something dangerous glints in his eyes, but I couldn’t care less. He can go fuck himself.

Blowing out a breath, I ignore him and turn back to Belle.

I murmur, “I’m glad you’re okay, little muse.” An endearing flush blooms on her face.

Standing back up, I see Grace and Millie with beaming smiles on their faces and Taylor with a sly grin on hers.

Taylor twirls a lock of raven hair around her finger and says, “Doctor said she’s fine. Only some cuts and bruises. They checked her out and did a bunch of scans and everything. Not even a concussion. But they’ll watch her for a day or two just in case. As soon as they found out she istheMrs. Maxwell Anderson, they gave her the VIP treatment and pampered her like the queen she is.”

“I told them they didn’t need to,” Belle mumbles, clearly flustered.

“I’m glad they took care of you.” If they didn’t, I’ll sue the shit out of them.

“It was so weird…oil on the stairs? Who the fuck would spill oil on the stairs and not clean it up afterward? Bastards. Youshouldsue them,” Taylor snarls, and my head snaps up.

“Don’t! If they go under, what will happen to the animals?” Belle sneaks a worried glance at me.

“It was probably that asshole boss of hers, Bob something. He’s always cutting corners and making a mess of the shelter.” Millie scowls.

“Thank goodness Cole found her quickly,” Grace chimes in.

My gaze darts to the blond in question, only to find his frosty glare still pinned on me. Stiffening, I meet his gaze straight on.She’s my wife and she’ll never be yours.

“Thank you.” I manage to utter the bare minimum.

He grunts and turns away.

I’m going to find this Bob and unleash my wrath on him. For every bruise I find on Belle’s body, I’m going to give it back to him tenfold.

A growl slips out of my mouth, and I curl my hands into fists.

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