Page 93 of Sold to the Devil
Yet I don't let my tears flow or my anger explode. My beautiful wife needs me, and I won't break down in front of her. However, I can't stop my body from shaking with rage and sadness because all my broken mind can think about is destroying O'Connor and his followers for what they did to my wife.
To us.
I know better than to say anything, so I stay silent, promising myself that I will avenge her and me for the loss of our unborn child.
The healer rummages through his briefcase before pulling out a small vial filled with pink liquid, his features drawn with compassion. He offers it to me, and I take it, nodding my thanks.
“For the pain,” he explains. “The bleeding has already stopped, so she doesn’t need to be monitored, but she does need rest. Perhaps you should stay here at the Manor for the next few days.”
I nod again, staying silent because I don't trust my voice. He offers his apologies and condolences, and then the nurse does the same, putting the towel, now reddened by Aelys's blood, back into the nurse's bag.
They let us know they are available if needed, and leave the suite, unable to do anything more for my wife. So I assume the bruises adorning her milky skin re only superficial.
I look down at my wife, not responding to Carmen who tells me she’s giving us some space but to call for her if we feel the need. Aelys is still shaking and crying against my chest, her small hands on my back and gripping my shirt tightly. I let a tear roll down my cheek before wiping it away with an angry gesture and hugging her tighter, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Hours have passed since everyone left us alone. Aelys hasn't stopped crying since we learned of the loss of our child, and I haven't let go of her, cradling her against me.
A few tears rolled down my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away before she could see them. She needs me; I must stay strong for her, even though I, too, am suffering from this tragic loss.
I spent forty minutes trying to convince her to take the vial for the pain left by the healer before she finally agreed and drank it. She kept refusing, repeating that she deserves to suffer because she was responsible for the loss of our baby. I had to tell her over and over again that she was not guilty of anything and that she doesn’t deserve to suffer or go through this. I also told her about the promise I made myself earlier: to avenge our baby.
It's now dinnertime, and she's just fallen asleep, her head on my chest, her arms still around my torso but her grip on my shirt looser. I carefully lift her, trying not to wake her, and lie down under the sheets of our bed, pulling her close. She snuggles closer to my body and lets out a small, content sigh. It normally would have made me smile, but right now, I can't. All I can think about is the miscarriage and what our lives would have been like if we hadn't lost the baby.
Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind and I frown, wondering whether or not to do what my head is begging me to do. I know she won't talk about what happened with O'Connor and her torturers, but I need to know.
I want to destroy the bastard who hurt my wife and caused her to have a miscarriage.
After several long minutes of pondering the pros and cons of diving into her mind, I let out a soft, resigned sigh and close my eyes, infiltrating her mind and memories.
I'm looking for those after our wedding first, but a memory from before catches my eye. I look at it and grit my teeth when I see my brother. I listen attentively and clench my fists as he explains his plan.
This little shit wants to kill me?
I take a deep breath and let go of the memory, deciding I'll deal with it later, then I go to her memories with O'Connor and my blood begins to boil with rage.
Fucking Rick Law.
I open my eyes, emerging from her mind, and rest my brown irises on her angelic face. She looks beautiful even with the puffy eyes and stained cheeks. I place a soft kiss on the top of her head and hug her tighter.
My mind drifts to my brother and his plan. I should take care of him myself. If my father finds out, he'll kill him, and I won't let that happen. Even though he betrayed me, he's still my little brother.
As for Rick Law, I am going to tear that bastard to pieces.
No one hurts my wife and lives to tell the tale.
CHAPTER 36
Mattheo
The day after our loss...
I barely slept all night, my mind kept going back to the torture Aelys endured at the hands of O'Connor and Law, as well as the miscarriage. I feel so much anger and grief for what they did to my wife. Not once did I let go of her. I held her tightly in my arms every second, stroking her hair tenderly and soothingly, slowly caressing her back to help keep the nightmares away, but it wasn't working. She had them all night, waking up several times, terrified, screaming and crying.
Sunlight now streams into the room through the loosely closed curtains, my eyes falling on my wife. My heart breaks even more when I see her staring blankly into the room, her head resting on my chest.
“Hello, angel,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. “Are you in pain?”
She sighs and nods silently, her lips pursing and her eyes filling with unshed tears. I nod and grab the vial left by the healer, enchanted to refill when empty, and help her sit up. She drinks it and kisses my cheek in thanks, then lies down on top of me. I hug her tightly and stroke her back, knowing we won't be leaving the bed anytime soon.
