Chapter 7
At that moment, tears of joy slipped from the corners of my eyes.
I was the only one who truly knew how much Lucas had suffered during his recovery–every tear he shed, every ounce of pain he
endured.
Watching him slowly get better made me happier than anything.
But even so, there were nights when I would wake up in a cold sweat, haunted by nightmares.
In my dreams, Xavier had me and Lucas tied up.
Right before my eyes, he raised a knife and slashed at Lucas again and again.
Blood splattered everywhere, flesh torn apart, until Lucas was unrecognizable.
Then, slowly, Xavier turned to me.
Ignoring my desperate pleas, he lifted the blade and severed my head in one clean stroke.
And in my final moments, as my vision blurred, I saw Wendy standing there. Her foot was crushing Lucas’s lifeless body as she
smirked.
“Summer Carter, did you really think someone like you could marry into the Smith family? Keep dreaming.”
Every time I jolted awake from that nightmare, my heart would pound with lingering terror.
My gaze would immediately fall on Lucas, sleeping peacefully in his crib.
And I would hold him tightly, grateful that he was still alive.
But what I never expected was to run into Xavier again and under such circumstances.
That day, I had just left the grocery store with Lucas in my arms.
I was planning to take him to his rehabilitation appointment at the hospital.
But the moment I stepped outside, I saw Xavier.
He was standing at the entrance of the supermarket.
He looked nothing like the man I once knew.
His usual polished appearance was gone–his suit wrinkled, his face exhausted, his eyes clouded with weariness.
Yet the moment he saw me, those same eyes lit up with hope.
“Summer, I’ve been looking for you.”
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Chapter 7
His gaze shifted to Lucas.
“Is this Lucas? He’s grown so much. Let me hold him.”
I glanced at him, expressionless, unwilling to waste time.
Without a word, I turned away, holding Lucas close as I walked past him.
But before I could leave, his hand caught my wrist.
“I’m sorry.”
He spoke with urgency, his voice trembling with a hint of emotion.
In that moment, when our eyes met, he looked at me like I was the only light in his darkness.
“I forgive you.”
I brushed him off with a casual remark and continued walking toward the hospital.
Lucas couldn’t afford to be late for his therapy.
But to my surprise, my words seemed to ignite something in him.
His eyes filled with joy, and he tightened his grip on my wrist, attempting to pull me into his arms.
I didn’t hesitate.
