Chapter 820 - He is awake (2/2)

It didn't take long to find him standing on the balcony. Aiden is facing the ocean, so she can take her time to look at him, unnoticed. Sarah can't see his features clearly because descending sun is on the opposite side of him, but Aiden's shape is as handsome as ever.

He was completely still for some time, and Sarah exhaled in relief when she saw him move to drink from a water bottle.

He was in such a bad state that morning, that he didn't react when she wiped his body with a wet towel, or when she cleaned and bandaged the cut on his left arm, or when she rolled him over in order to change the bedsheets.

And now he is standing, bending slightly so that his elbows rest on the rail and… drinking water. She can't help but smile at the thought that he is awake and… better.

Aiden's movements paused. As if he felt some presence behind him, he slowly turned toward Sarah. When he saw her loving gaze and a gentle smile, the only thing he felt was a heartache. After everything he did… she can still look at him like that.

Aiden didn't want to go inside, because he didn't know how to face her. Not after previous night. He spent more than an hour on that balcony trying to come up with something, anything that he can say to Sarah and convey how sorry he is. He came up with nothing.

His legs moved on their own, toward her. Probably because that is the only place his legs are willing to carry him: close to Sarah. And suddenly he was half a step away from her… and then his legs trembled for a moment before he collapsed and fell on his knees.

Aiden's arms were around Sarah's waist, and he was not sure how tightly he can hold her without hurting her… without hurting her more than he already did.

His shoulders shook for a second… and then tears started rolling down his cheeks uncontrollably.

Sarah was about to hug him around his neck, but then she realized that he is crying and her hands stopped midair. He is crying… She never saw him cry before. She saw him sad, distressed, raging, but never like this… broken.

She can tell that he remembers, at least some of it… and that there is no bigger pain for him than the knowledge that he hurt her.

Sarah wanted to tell him that it's not his fault, and that she is not angry… but she would be lying. Because she is angry. She is angry that all this happened and both of them ended up hurt because of one greedy woman who can't take 'no' for an answer. It is his fault for being careless, for taking all the dangers lightly, for not taking care of himself… and it's her fault as well. Because she is reckless just as he is, if not more.

That morning, before Sarah went back to sleep, Eve showed her the video when Liam and Thomas held Aiden so that Madison can scratch him. It was just for a split second, but with Eve's help, Sarah could pinpoint that moment… and she saw how both Liam and Thomas took advantage of Aiden's shock due to the drugs to take their jabs at him… and she saw how Aiden was dragged to Madison's room… and that Liam punched Aiden when he resisted to get inside...

What if they had some weapon? Or if they knew where and how to hit? Or if Aiden didn't have the presence of mind to resist the drugs until she arrived?

Since she found out that Aiden was drugged last night, her whole being is tense. An invisible rope tightened around her heart, not allowing her to dive into the abyss of rage, or cry and fall apart... making sure that she stays strong for him, for them. And now that she confirmed that he is out of danger, that rope which held her together ripped… but instead of feeling a relief she feels… anguish.

Sarah was so close to losing him that she felt her world cracking… and something did crack deep inside her because she fell on her knees right in front of him. Her head rested on his chest, and she cried.

All the tears that didn't fall previous night were falling now, and all the wails which she suppressed were released for everyone to hear. Everyone… and it was just the two of them… holding each other and sobbing.

Both of them needed this… to break down completely in order to collect their broken pieces and rise back up… together.

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