Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kholod
"Did you do this?"
Lorenzo's voice echoed from the end of the hallway, thick with barely restrained fury.
I leaned against the wall outside the emergency room, my gaze fixed on that sealed door. The red light above it blazed harsh and unforgiving.
Hearing his accusation, I didn't turn around.
"Kholod Morozov!" Footsteps approached rapidly. "Answer me! Did you hurt her again?"
I slowly turned. Lorenzo stood several steps away, his face ashen, fists clenched. The light fell across the scar on his face—my handiwork.
"No." My voice came out hoarse.
"Then how the hell were you in Niaube? And just 'happened' to be there when she collapsed? You think I'd believe such a coincidence?"
"Believe what you want." I turned back to stare at that door. "But I would never hurt her."
"Bullshit!" He lunged forward, grabbing my collar. "You imprisoned her, tortured her, drove her to flee across the country! Now you're stalking her again—"
"Let go." My voice turned ice-cold.
"Like hell!" His grip tightened. "Get out of here, Kholod Morozov! Stay away from Noelle!"
I seized his wrist and twisted hard, forcing him to release me.
"Listen, Lorenzo. I'm not in the mood to fight you right now."
"You think I am?" He rubbed his reddened wrist. "I just want you gone! Noelle finally started a new life. What gives you the right to destroy it again?"
"I'm not trying to destroy anything."
"Then what are you here for?"
I fell silent. Was I supposed to admit I just wanted to watch over her from afar? To ensure she was safe, to see that she was well? Those thoughts of forcing her back had long since died. Now I only wanted to protect her in silence.
"Well?" He pressed closer. "What's your real purpose?"
"I just wanted to know she was doing well."
"And then what? Drag her back?"
"No, I—"
"Your promises are worthless."
I had no response. He was right. Where Noelle was concerned, my credibility was destroyed.
"Kholod Morozov, I'm warning you. If you hurt her again, I'll make you pay with my life if necessary."
"You won't need to." I met his eyes. "If I hurt her again, even slightly, I'll end it myself."
Lorenzo froze, clearly not expecting those words.
The emergency room doors opened. A doctor emerged, pulling off his mask. We both rushed forward.
"Doctor, how is she?" My voice trembled with tension.
"She's out of danger." The doctor said. "Acute asthma attack. Good thing you brought her in when you did. A few minutes later and..."
He didn't finish, but we understood. My legs nearly gave out.
"How is she now?" Lorenzo asked.
"Still unconscious, but her vital signs are stable. She should wake up soon."
"I need to see her."
"She still needs observation. Once she's awake, ten minutes visiting time each."
I sank back onto the bench to wait.
"Kholod."
"What?"
"These past two years... Noelle's had it rough." He took a deep breath. "Raising a child alone, running that little shop. She barely sleeps, cries constantly..."
"I know."
"You know nothing!" He grew agitated. "Do you know she trembles when she sees black cars? That she cries and begs for mercy in her nightmares? How terrified she is of seeing you again?"
Every word cut like a blade.
"Lorenzo, she's still my wife."
"You never acted like a husband."
"I love her."
That stopped him cold.
"What?"
"I said I love her." I looked him straight in the eye. "Lorenzo Conti, I know I have no right to say that. I know I hurt her beyond measure. But I need you to know—I love Noelle."
"Your love only destroys her."
"I understand," I admitted. "That's why I won't force her to come back."
"And about Leo..."
"I'll wait for Noelle to tell me herself. I respect her choice."
Lorenzo studied me carefully, shock written across his features.
"Kholod Morozov," he finally said, "I don't trust you. But I'll be watching."
"As you wish."
Noelle woke the next morning.
"The patient is awake." A nurse opened the door. "You may go in now."
Lorenzo and I both stood.
"I'm going in first."
"Says who?"
"I'm her husband."
"Bullshit!" Lorenzo snapped. "You're divorced! I'm the one who—"
"You're what?" I turned to face him.
He clenched his jaw, remaining silent.
"Lorenzo, I never signed those divorce papers."
Ignoring him, I pushed through the door.
Noelle sat propped up in bed, pale as death, the oxygen mask removed. The moment she saw me, her body went rigid, fear flashing in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid." I stopped at the doorway. "I won't hurt you."
She didn't speak, just watched me warily.
"Why are you here?" Her voice was weak.
"I arrived a month ago."
"What?"
"I bought a house near yours," I confessed. "I've been living there."
"You... you've been watching me?" Her face grew even paler.
"Protecting." I corrected. "I just wanted to ensure you were safe."
"Please leave."
"I will." I took several steps closer, stopping beside her bed. "But first, you need to know the truth."
She closed her eyes. "I don't want to hear it."
"Noelle, listen to me." I moved closer, stopping at her bedside. "I uncovered everything."
She opened her eyes, looking puzzled.
"About the attempted murder—Kieran threatened your safety to force your father into leaking some trivial information."
Her breathing quickened.
"Your father's death wasn't suicide either. Kieran killed him and staged the scene to frame me."
"No..." Tears slid down her cheeks.
"And Isabella. She was colluding with Kieran, orchestrating every deception. That day at the café—she tricked both you and Lorenzo into meeting there, then led me to witness it."
"I already know all this." She turned away. "If there's nothing else, please leave."
"Noelle, I was wrong about everything."
"Too late!" Her emotions erupted. "What gives you the right to say you were wrong after destroying everything?"
"I understand." I took a deep breath. "I know no apology can heal your pain. But I must tell you—"
I dropped to my knees.
Noelle stared in shock, eyes wide.
"Kholod! You—"
"I'm sorry." I bowed my head, voice breaking. "Noelle, I'm sorry."
"Get up." Noelle stammered.
"I shouldn't have doubted you." I raised my reddened eyes. "Shouldn't have believed Isabella's lies, shouldn't have been deceived by fabricated evidence, and I never should have... hurt you like that."
"Kholod, get up..."
"No." I shook my head. "Noelle, I must apologize on my knees."
"Kholod Morozov!" She raised her voice. "Get up!"
"Not unless you forgive me."
"Never!" She pounded the bed rail in fury. "You think kneeling erases what you did? I would never—"
She stopped mid-sentence, her face flushing red, breathing becoming rapid again.
"Kholod! You promised you wouldn't hurt her anymore!"
Lorenzo burst in, shoving me aside and quickly placing the oxygen mask over Noelle's face. He glared at me with blazing eyes.
I'd messed up again. My fists clenched until my knuckles went white. Once again, I'd hurt her.
Lorenzo hauled me to my feet and drove his fist into my face. The impact sent me staggering backward, my lower back hitting the wall.
"You bastard!" He landed another punch to my stomach. "You promised you wouldn't hurt her again!"
Nausea churned through me. Instinctively, I raised my fist to retaliate—
But seeing Noelle struggling to breathe on the bed, all fight drained from me.
It was me.
I did this to her again.
I unclenched my fist, dropping all resistance.
Lorenzo hesitated momentarily, then unleashed even more violent punches.
One, two, three...
My lip split, blood poured from my nose, my eye socket swelled. Each blow carried his hatred. I didn't dodge or defend, just let him vent his rage.
"You know how much she's suffered!" He roared. "And now you do this to her again! She's lying in a hospital bed, you bastard!"
Another punch struck my face.
"Do you know what she—"
"Enough."
Noelle's weak voice interrupted him. She removed the oxygen mask, struggling to sit up.
"Noelle!" Lorenzo rushed over. "Don't move, you need to rest—"
"Stop, Lorenzo."
She looked at me, eyes cold as frost. "Kholod, please leave."
I wiped blood from my mouth. "I still have things to say—"
"No need." She cut me off, voice weak but firm. "Kholod Morozov, I never want to see you again."
"Noelle..."
"Leave." Tears streamed down her face. "For saving my life, I'm begging you to disappear from my world forever."
"I..."
"If you don't go," she took a shaky breath, voice trembling, "I'll jump from that window. Kholod, I'd rather die than see you again."
Those words extinguished all hope like ice water. Seeing the finality in her eyes, I finally understood—
"Alright." My voice was hollow. "I'll go."
Step by step, I backed toward the door, each movement tearing through me like agony.
At the threshold, I stopped, my back to her. "Take care, Noelle."
I pushed open that door that would forever separate our futures. Nick's subordinates waited in the hallway.
"Boss, you—"
"We're leaving."
"But—"
"Now."
"Yes, sir."
One final glance at that closed door, and I knew this was the ending I deserved.