Page 58 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

“Can you stay with me for a while?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course,” Martin replied, pulling a chair closer to the bed. “I will be right here.”

“Martin,” she said softly, looking into his eyes. “I… I am so grateful that you are here. You always seem to be right here when I need you the most.”

He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that made her heart ache. “I would not be anywhere else. You are important to me, Susanna. More than you know.”

Susanna felt a warmth spread through her, banishing the last remnants of fear and pain. “And you to me, Martin. You mean so much to me.”

Martin leaned closer, his forehead resting gently against hers. “We will get through this together, Susanna. We will heal, and we will move forward. But right now, you need to rest. The physician said you need to take it easy.”

She parted her lips, about to say something terrifying. Something she did not think that she would ever say to anyone.

“Martin,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “There is something I need to tell you. Something I have been holding back for so long, and after everything that has happened, I cannot keep it to myself any longer.”

Martin’s expression shifted, a mix of curiosity and concern playing across his features. “What is it, Susanna? You can tell me anything.”

She took a deep breath, feeling her heart pound in her chest. The words she was about to say were the most important she had ever spoken.

“I love you, Martin. I have loved you for a long time,” she gasped out desperately, a weight lifting from her chest. “I thought I could keep it to myself, that it would be enough to just be near you, to be your friend. But when I saw that gun pointed at you, I realized that I could not bear the thought of a world without you in it. I love you, and I needed you to know.”

For a moment, there was silence, the weight of her confession hanging in the air. Susanna could feel her pulse quickening, the fear of rejection almost overwhelming. But then, Martin’s hand tightened around hers, and he leaned in closer, his eyes locked on hers.

“Susanna,” he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. “I have loved you too. I was always too afraid to say anything, afraid it would complicate things, that it would ruin our friendship. But seeing you risk your life for me, it made me realize how precious you are to me. I love you, Susanna. More than words can express.”

This time, she knew he was not teasing. She could see the genuine emotion in his eyes as they both expressed feelings they did not think they would be able to.

He was being careful with her heart now, and she would do the same for him.

It might not have been easy for either of them to get to this place, but the danger that Edwin had presented forced them into it.

Perhaps that was for the best, even if it was horrifying at the time. Otherwise, they might never have had the courage to speak their truth.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, but this time they were tears of joy. “Martin,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I never dared to hope that you might feel the same way.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch tender and loving. “I do, Susanna. And I promise you, I will be by your side, always. We will face whatever comes our way together.”

Susanna’s heart swelled with happiness, the pain and fear of the past few days melting away in the warmth of Martin’s love. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, feeling a sense of completeness she had never known before.

“Rest now,” Martin said gently, kissing her forehead. “We have all the time in the world to talk about this, to build our future together. But for now, you need to heal. I will be right here, watching over you. I am not going to go anywhere, I can promise you that.”

With a contented sigh, Susanna let herself drift off to a peaceful sleep, her hand still clasped in Martin’s, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, bound by a love that had been tested and proven true.

The next few days passed in a blur of rest and recovery. Susanna was tended to by the physician and doted on by Mary, who refused to leave her side for long. Martin visited frequently, bringing news and keeping her spirits up with his gentle humor and unwavering support.

One evening, as Susanna sat up in bed, she was surprised to see Luke enter her bedchambers, especially at this late hour. His usual jovial expression was tempered with concern, but he smiled warmly at her.

“How are you feeling, Susanna?” he asked, taking a seat beside her bed.

“Better, thank you,” she replied. “I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused.”

Luke shook his head, his expression serious. “You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, we should be thanking you. You saved Martin’s life and helped us stop Edwin before he could do any more harm.”

Susanna looked down, feeling a mix of emotions. “I just did what I had to do.”

“And we are all grateful for it,” Luke said firmly. “I just wanted to let you know that it is not all for nothing.”

Susanna sat up a little straighter in her bed. “What do you mean?”

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