He Saw My Ghost All Along, And Grew Tired Of My Clinging Chapter 17

He Saw My Ghost All Along, And Grew Tired Of My Clinging Chapter 17

I couldn’t pry her fingers loose. My arms had nothing left. The edges of my vision went dark.

The last thing I saw behind my closing eyes was Reid’s face.

Something that might have been a smile crossed my lips.

At least now he’d know the truth. At least the person who destroyed us was caught. He’d be safe.

My eyes were sliding shut when his voice split the air behind me.

“Get your hands off her!”

A crash. Melanie screamed and hit the concrete.

She grabbed her stomach where the dagger was still buried, staring up at Reid in disbelief.

Reid was already on the ground beside me, pulling me into his arms.

I choked on air, gasping, and through the ringing in my ears, I heard him saying sorry over and over, his voice cracking.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t find you. This place is so far out that the tracker couldn’t pin your exact location fast enough. I should’ve been faster. I’m sorry.

He held me so tight it hurt. Like if he let go, I’d disappear again.

When the shaking in my body eased, I lifted my hand to his shoulder.

Melanie was on the floor behind us. The dagger was still in her stomach.

She was losing blood fast, but she dragged herself toward Reid anyway, fingers scraping against the

concrete.

“Mr. Vaughn, please look at me. You remember me, don’t you? You saved me. You changed my life. I’ve been grateful every single day…”

Reid tucked me behind him and draped his jacket over my shoulders. Then he turned to face her.

He looked down at the broken woman crawling toward him and put his foot on her hand.

She screamed. She had nothing left to fight with.

“If I’d known what you’d become, I would’ve let you rot.‘

“I never should’ve wasted a single cent on someone like you. You make me sick.”

Whatever was holding her together collapsed.

She broke. Sobbing, shaking her head, clawing at the ground.

No, no, you don’t understand. Those women don’t love you. Not like I do. I’m the only one who

ever really cared…”

“I never poisoned you. I would never. I spent every day trying to keep you healthy. Why couldn’t you just see me?”

Reid shoved her away, bent down, and lifted me off the ground.

Her sobs echoed through the warehouse behind us. He kept walking. He didn’t look back. Not once.

He looked down at me. His arms tightened.

“I’m taking you home. And no one is ever going to touch you again.”

I let my head fall against his chest. The world went soft and quiet, and I let it take me.

For the first time in as long as I could remember, I slept without dreaming.

I woke up in a hospital bed.

I tried to sit up. A hand was wrapped around mine, warm, solid, and refusing to let go.

Reid was right there. The second my eyes opened, he leaned in, his voice tight.

“How are you feeling? Anything hurt? I flew in specialists, the best I could find. They said the toxin didn’t go deep. With treatment and rest, you’ll be okay.”

“Melanie’s locked in a cell facing life in prison. It’s over. She’s gone.” He paused. “You were out for almost a week. I thought I was going to lose you again.”

I squeezed his hand and smiled.

“I’m okay. Honestly, that was the best sleep I’ve had in years. We’re going to be fine.”

Over the next few months, I worked with the specialists. The headaches faded. My strength came

back.

Reid handed the company off to his VP. He wasn’t leaving my side.

One afternoon, he took my hand.

“Come away with me. I bought a private estate overseas. Somewhere warm, somewhere quiet. Best private care money can buy. And honestly, I just want you to myself for a while.”

After everything he’d done, how could I say no?

I reached into the drawer of my nightstand and pulled out two matching rings.

“Before we go,

I have a question. If you’re willing, I’d like to marry you while we’re there,”

Reid stared at the rings. His eyes went glassy. Then he pulled me in.

“That was supposed to be my move. How’d you beat me to it?”

“Does it matter who asked? We’re here. We’re together. That’s all I need.”

We got married overseas. Just us.

Five years passed. My body healed completely.

I sat in the yard, sun on my face, one hand resting on my swollen belly.

Everything I’d lost, everything I’d fought for, and everything I’d died for was all here. And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of what came next.