Elliot lay in the hospital bed, a fresh gauze wrapped around his torso and a hospital gown replacing his torn shirt. The sterile scent of the hospital clung to the air, the soft hum of the heart monitor the only sound in the room. Sitting beside him, Aeisha gently wiped his face with a damp towel, her hands trembling slightly as her mind replayed the events of the past few hours.

Earlier, after escaping the ambush, Aeisha had thrown her arms around Elliot, overwhelmed with relief. But when she saw the blood staining his shirt, panic had set in. "You’re hurt!" she had cried, tears streaming down her face. Her heart had ached at the thought of losing him.

“It’s just a graze,” Elliot had assured her, his voice as calm as ever, though she could see the strain in his eyes.

“Could be more than a graze!” she had protested, frantic to get him to the hospital. When Lance and Ace had arrived with backup, Aeisha had begged them to take him in. Elliot had resisted at first, but the fear in her eyes had finally made him relent with a reluctant sigh.

Now, he sat propped up in bed, the calm indifference still visible on his face, but Aeisha knew better.

“I’m fine now,” Elliot murmured, breaking the silence.

Aeisha let out a long, shaky sigh. “Good,” she replied, though her mind was still far from at ease. She looked down at her lap, her thoughts swirling. “Why is this happening to us?”

Elliot’s gaze lingered on the wall, a rare sigh escaping his lips. “It’s my fault,” he admitted.

Aeisha’s head shot up, her eyes wide with confusion. “Your fault? How is it your fault?”

Elliot hesitated before speaking, his gaze still fixed on the wall. “I have enemies around me. Those people who ambushed us—they were after me.” His voice was steady, but there was tension in his jaw, something she had never seen before.

The weight of his words hit Aeisha like a wave, leaving her momentarily speechless. Before she could respond, he turned to her, his eyes serious, as his usual composure returned. “If you want to leave, I’ll understand. This isn’t what you signed up for. I’ve put your life in danger.”

For the first time since she’d met him, Elliot appeared vulnerable. It startled her, but it also steadied something deep within her. She reached out and took his hand, her heart racing in her chest.

“I’m not leaving you,” she said firmly. “I don’t care how dangerous it is. I’ll stay.”

Elliot stared at her, his expression unreadable, before a soft snort escaped him. “Even if it’s dangerous?”

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation, smiling at him despite the gravity of their situation. “And I’ll protect you too.”

A rare smile tugged at Elliot’s lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m not!” Aeisha pouted, crossing her arms.

Elliot chuckled softly, the sound so rare it made her heart flutter. He reached out and patted her head gently. “Thank you, Aeisha,” he said, his voice quieter. “I promise, I’ll protect you no matter what.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I believe in you.”

As Aeisha stood to fetch his paperwork, Elliot stopped her with a quiet command. “Let Lance and the others handle it. You should stay here with me.”

“I can’t just sit around—”

“Stay,” he insisted, patting the empty space beside him on the bed.

Aeisha hesitated for a moment, glancing at the chair she had been sitting in. “I’m fine here.”

“If you don’t join me, I’ll leave the bed,” Elliot warned, raising an eyebrow with a hint of mischief.

Aeisha sighed in defeat and climbed into the bed, careful not to disturb his bandages. Within minutes, the exhaustion from the day’s events caught up to her, and her eyes grew heavy. Before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

Elliot watched Aeisha as she slept, her breathing even and peaceful. Her face softened in sleep, and for a moment, his cold exterior melted. Something warm flickered in his eyes as he glanced at her, but the moment was short-lived when his phone buzzed.

He quietly called Lance and Ace into the room. The two men entered swiftly, their expressions serious.

“What’s the status?” Elliot asked, his tone all business.

Lance nodded. “We’ve captured a few of the attackers alive. They’re being interrogated now.”

Elliot’s voice was cold as he replied, “Good. I want to know who sent them.”

Ace stepped forward. “We’ve traced the attack back to the same person who tried to kill you a few days ago. Your uncle.”

Elliot’s lips curled into a smirk, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “My uncle still dares to make a move against me. How bold.”

“What’s the plan?” Lance asked.

Elliot’s gaze flickered to Aeisha, still asleep beside him. His expression hardened as he looked away. “Capture him. I’ll deal with him personally once I’m out of here.”

Both men nodded in agreement, their loyalty unwavering. “Understood,” they said in unison before leaving the room.

Elliot leaned back against the pillows, his mind already calculating his next moves. But as he looked at Aeisha, the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. For now, she was safe. And for her, he would make sure it stayed that way

Elliot was still in the hospital, much to Aeisha’s relief. After a lot of insistence from her, he had reluctantly agreed to stay. Despite his tough demeanor, Aeisha wasn’t about to take any chances with his health. While he recovered, Lance and Ace were now assigned to follow her everywhere, a precaution Elliot deemed necessary.

Lance and Ace, Elliot’s most trusted men, never missed an opportunity to tease him. Earlier, they had joked about him being “under his wife’s control.” Elliot, clearly unimpressed, had delivered a punch to each of their shoulders. Aeisha had stifled a laugh, knowing full well how much Elliot hated losing face, even in jest.

“I’m heading to the canteen,” she had said to Elliot. “I’ll grab something to eat.”

Ace had immediately stood up, his loyalty to Elliot never wavering. “I’ll come with you,” he had said.

As they walked down the corridor, Ace had broken the silence. “Thank you,” he had said, his voice sincere.

“For what?” Aeisha had asked, confused.

“For staying with Elliot,” he had clarified. “It means a lot to him… and to us.”

Aeisha had smiled faintly. “Elliot’s the one who accepted me first, Ace. I’m just doing what feels right.”

Ace had nodded, but his expression remained thoughtful. “I hope you’ll keep sticking with him, no matter what.”

His words had lingered in Aeisha’s mind as she had replied, “I’m not someone who leaves the people I care about. I’ll stay with Elliot until the end.”

Ace’s expression softened slightly. “I hope so.”

Just as they reached the corner of the hallway, a voice had called out, freezing Aeisha in her tracks.

“Aeisha!”

She had turned slowly, her heart sinking when she saw Zeus and Daisy standing there. They were near the obstetrics clinic, which had made her stomach churn. Of course, they’d be there together.

Daisy’s eyes had landed on Aeisha first, then shifted to Ace, who stood protectively at her side. Her lips had curled into a cruel smirk, clearly looking for trouble. “Why did you leave the wedding?” she had asked, her voice trembling as tears had formed in her eyes.

Aeisha had raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Daisy’s theatrics. Ace, meanwhile, had regarded Daisy with the same look one gives a pest—mild annoyance mixed with disdain.

“Are you serious right now?” Aeisha had asked, shaking her head.

“I don’t understand why you left,” Daisy had said, her crocodile tears threatening to spill over. She had glanced at Zeus, clutching his arm pitifully. “Mr. Ackerman, I apologize for my sister. I’m so sorry for her being unfaithful to you.”

Her words had caught Aeisha off guard, but not in the way Daisy had intended. Aeisha couldn’t help but laugh—a real, full-bodied laugh that echoed through the hallway. Ace had joined in, his booming laughter making Daisy’s face twist in irritation.

“Why are you laughing?” Daisy had snapped, her tone sharp.

Wiping a tear of amusement, Aeisha had replied, “How dare you stand there and talk about being ‘unfaithful’? You cheated with Zeus while he was supposed to marry me. And now you’re standing here, pregnant with his child, saying you're apologizing for me because I’m unfaithful? You make me laugh so bad!”

Daisy’s eyes had widened, her hand instinctively covering her stomach. Zeus, on the other hand, had looked livid.

“You’re lying!” Daisy had shrieked. “How do you even know about that?”

“I saw you,” Aeisha had replied coldly. “And I heard you. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? You wanted to humiliate me in front of everyone at my own wedding. That’s why I left. Not because of guilt, but because I have self-respect.”

“That’s not true!” Daisy had cried.

Zeus had stepped forward, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. “Where’s your proof?” he had demanded. “If Daisy is pregnant with my child, where’s the evidence?”

Aeisha had rolled her eyes and smirked. “I don’t need evidence. Just wait a few months, and you’ll see for yourself. Don't act like you're stupid, Zeus. You and Daisy made the child together—don’t act like you're the victim here.”

She had turned to leave, satisfied with her words. But as she started to walk away, Zeus had grabbed her arm.

“Don’t act so high and mighty,” he had hissed. “You cheated on me first!”

Aeisha had frozen, the audacity of his accusation making her blood boil. She had spun around, ready to give him a piece of her mind, when she had felt a strong arm snake around her waist.

Startled, Aeisha had turned her head to find herself face-to-face with Elliot. His expression was cold and calculating as he stared Zeus down.

“Who’s this?” Elliot had asked, his tone sharp. “And why are you taking so long? I was waiting for you.”

Zeus had glared at Elliot, his jaw tightening. “I could ask you the same question. Who are you?”

Elliot’s lips had twitched into a smirk, but his grip on Aeisha’s waist had tightened. “I’m her husband,” he had said casually, his words like a dagger aimed at Zeus.

The color had drained from Zeus’s face as the reality of the situation hit him. Daisy had looked equally stunned, her earlier bravado completely gone. Elliot had taken Zeus’s hand off Aeisha’s arm, his presence commanding.

Elliot had glanced down at Aeisha, his expression softening slightly. “Are you ready to go?”

Aeisha had nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. “Yes. Let’s go.”

Without another word, Elliot had turned them around, guiding her away from the scene. Aeisha could feel Zeus and Daisy’s stunned gazes boring into her back, but she hadn’t cared.

As they walked away, Elliot had leaned down and whispered, “Next time, don’t wander too far. I don’t like waiting.”

Despite the tension, Aeisha couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

For the first time in a long while, she felt like she had the upper hand. And with Elliot by her side, she was ready for whatever came next.

The kitchen was filled with the warm, savory aroma of food as Aeisha stood at the counter chopping vegetables. Lance and Ace hovered nearby, occasionally helping her. Elliot had left early for work, promising to catch up on what he’d missed during his recovery.

“I’ll make something for him later,” Aeisha muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.

“Make sure to include his favorites,” Ace suggested with a faint smile.

“Speaking of which,” Aeisha asked, “does Elliot have any allergies?”

Their answers were vague—Ace shrugged while Lance muttered something about Elliot not being picky. It reminded Aeisha of how Elliot himself often danced around personal questions.

She paused and looked at them seriously. “You’re still wary of me, aren’t you?”

Ace glanced at Lance, letting him take the lead. Lance didn’t hesitate. “I am.”

His honesty stung, but Aeisha nodded. “I understand. I’m still new to all of this, and I get why you’d be cautious. But you should know I trust you both with my safety. If we’re going to protect each other, you need to trust me too.”

They exchanged a look, something unspoken passing between them. Ace finally nodded, though his posture remained tense. Lance seemed thoughtful but unconvinced.

Before the conversation could go any further, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Lance said, heading toward the entrance.

Moments later, the sound of Lance’s voice reached them. It wasn’t his usual calm tone—it was sharp, startled. The room fell silent as they turned to see Lance backing into the room, his hands raised.

Men dressed in black poured in, their movements swift and calculated. Guns glinted in their hands, all aimed at them.

“Hands up,” one of them barked.

Ace stepped in front of Aeisha without hesitation, his frame shielding hers. Her heart raced as she raised her hands, trying to process what was happening.

“We’re here for the girl,” the leader said, his voice cold and commanding.

Ace’s jaw tightened. “Not happening.”

Chaos erupted.

Lance lunged at one of the men, and gunfire filled the penthouse. Ace pushed Aeisha to the ground, covering her as bullets ricocheted off walls and furniture. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst.

The fight was brutal. Lance and Ace fought with everything they had, but they were outnumbered. Blood spattered across the marble floor, and it was clear they were growing weaker with each passing moment.

It all came to a halt when one of the men grabbed Aeisha, pressing the cold barrel of a gun to her head.

“Stop, or she dies,” the leader growled.

Lance and Ace froze, their eyes darting to her. They were battered and bleeding, but their determination to protect her hadn’t wavered.

Before they could react, another man struck them both from behind. Lance crumpled to the floor, unconscious, and Ace followed moments later.

“No!” Aeisha screamed, struggling against her captor.

A needle pricked her arm, and the world spun. Her limbs grew heavy, and darkness consumed her as she collapsed.

Elliot stepped out of the elevator, a bouquet of tulips in hand. He had chosen them after remembering Aeisha’s favorite flower, hoping to surprise her.

But as he reached the entrance of the penthouse, his steps faltered. Blood smeared the doorframe.

A chill ran down his spine. His heart pounded, a mix of fear and dread spreading through him. He threw the door open, his eyes scanning the scene inside.

The once-pristine penthouse was in shambles. Furniture was overturned, bullet holes marred the walls, and bloodstains trailed across the floor.

“Aeisha!” Elliot called, his voice laced with urgency.

No response.

He moved quickly, searching every corner of the penthouse, his desperation growing. Finally, he found Lance and Ace lying on the floor near the kitchen.

“Get up!” Elliot barked, shaking Ace by the shoulder.

Ace groaned, his movements sluggish. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead as his eyes fluttered open.

“Where’s Aeisha?” Elliot demanded, his voice a mixture of fury, fear, and anguish.

Ace’s face twisted in guilt. “They… they took her away.”

Elliot froze, his mind flashing back to a memory he had buried deep—a younger version of himself finding his parents dead, their lifeless bodies sprawled in pools of blood. The same helplessness and rage he felt then surged through him now.

“They who?” Elliot growled, his hands gripping Ace’s shoulders tightly.

Ace shook his head weakly. “Didn’t… see. Too many of them. They wanted her.”

Elliot clenched his jaw, his breathing ragged. The tulip bouquet fell from his hands, forgotten on the blood-streaked floor.

He stood, fists trembling at his sides. His mind was already racing with plans, but the gnawing fear for Aeisha’s safety clouded his judgment.

Lance stirred, groaning as he regained consciousness. Elliot turned to him, his voice low and dangerous. “Find out who did this! I want them dead before sunrise! Find Aeisha! Find her!”

Lance nodded weakly, his resolve matching Elliot’s fury despite his injuries.

Elliot’s gaze hardened as he looked toward the penthouse door. Whoever dared to take Aeisha would pay dearly. He swore to himself that he would bring her back—no matter the cost.