Page 32 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

“Emily!”

Her name tears out of my throat as I watch her fall. Immediately, I sprint toward her, skidding to my knees beside her, my guitar forgotten on the stage. Her face is pale, her eyes closed, and she’s frighteningly still.

Cass is also there, his face pale, and his voice panicked as he asks, “What happened? Is she—”

“She’s breathing,” I say, my voice shaking as I check for a pulse. It’s there, faint but steady. Relief floods through me, but it’s fleeting. She’s still unconscious.

“Paramedics!” someone shouts, and I hear the rush of footsteps behind us.

As if on cue, they rush in, their voices calm but urgent as they assess her. I’m shoved back slightly, and I want to fight them to be closer, but I force myself to stay out of the way.

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” one of them says, shining a light into her eyes.

Her face remains slack, her skin pale under the harsh glare of the stage lights.

“Is she going to be okay?” Cass demands, his voice rough.

“She’s stable, but we need to get her to the hospital,” one of the paramedics says, motioning for us to step back.

The crowd gasps as the stretcher rolls out from backstage. Cameras flash, and the low murmur of voices grows louder as the paramedics lift her onto it. Cass grabs her hand, his face etched with concern.

“Can someone ride with her?” I ask, pushing my way forward.

The lead paramedic looks up, his expression apologetic. “One family member can accompany her in the ambulance. Hospital policy.”

“I’m going,” Cass says immediately, stepping forward.

“No,” I say, the word sharp and instinctive as I move to block him. “I’ll go.”

Cass stares at me, confused and angry. “Sam, I’m her brother—”

“I’m her husband,” I interrupt, glancing at the paramedic, the words falling from my mouth before I can think better of it.

The silence that follows is deafening.

Cass blinks, his jaw tightening as he processes what I’ve just said. The rest of the band looks just as stunned, their wide eyes bouncing between Emily and me, the silence stretching like an uncomfortable eternity.

“You’re what?” Cass demands, his voice dangerously low.

“I’ll explain later,” I say, my tone firm. “Right now, I’m going with her.”

For a moment, I think he’s going to argue, but then he nods, stepping back reluctantly.

The paramedics gesture for me to follow, and I don’t hesitate. I’m vaguely aware of the flashes going off again and the crowd murmuring in confusion and shock, but none of it matters.

All that matters is Emily.

The doors close, and the noise of the outside world is replaced by the steady beeping of medical equipment and the low hum of the engine.

“Her vitals are stable,” one of the paramedics says, adjusting an IV line. “Has she been under any unusual stress lately?”

“She’s been working nonstop,” I say, my voice tight. “She’s exhausted.”

The paramedic nods, jotting something down on a clipboard. “We’ll run tests at the hospital to confirm, but it’s possible she collapsed from overexertion. Does she have any medical conditions we should know about?”

“No,” I say automatically, then falter. “At least... I don’t think so.”

The rest of the ride is a blur. I hold her hand in the ambulance, my thumb tracing gentle circles on her skin. She feels so small, so fragile, and I'm struck by an overwhelming need to protect her. The steady beep of the monitors becomes my lifeline, each sound confirming she's still with me.

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