Chapter 1582
If that were the case, it further proved that the person wanted her dead.
Her thoughts spiraled, but Lucas’s voice pulled her back. “What are you thinking about?”
She gave a faint smile and shook her head. “Nothing really. Just… realizing I made you worry again.”
Her hand reached up gently to touch his face, her eyes full of quiet concern. “Did you stay up all night watching over me? Look at those dark circles under your eyes.”
“I’m fine,” Lucas murmured, his voice low.
He took her hand from his cheek, holding it softly before pressing a tender kiss to her fingers.
His gaze locked onto hers—stormy with guilt, heavy with unspoken fear. “Stay with me. Don’t leave me again. Please.” His plea was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of everything he hadn’t said.
Belinda felt her chest tighten. She knew exactly what he was thinking—if they hadn’t split up to look for Faye, she might never have been attacked. He probably blamed himself for letting her look for Faye alone. But this wasn’t his fault. Not at all.
It had been Belinda’s idea to split up and search in the first place. Lucas had objected, but she wouldn’t back down—she had insisted on going her own way.
Besides, no one had expected such a thing to happen.
Belinda grasped Lucas’s hand firmly and nodded. “Okay, I promise you.”
Lucas drew in a long breath, his eyes fixed on her with a kind of solemn intensity. “I’m truly sorry for what happened last night. I should’ve stopped you. Letting you go alone to find Faye—that was my mistake. It won’t happen again. Ever.”
Of course, he’d blame himself. Belinda had expected it.
She bit her lip and gave his hand a firmer squeeze. “Lucas, this is not your fault. I made that call, not you. No one could’ve seen this coming, so stop blaming yourself.”
Lucas didn’t respond, but the way his gaze softened said more than words ever could.
Before Belinda could say more, the door to the hospital room swung open.
Bethany, Johnson, and the others stepped inside.
“Belinda, how are you feeling now?”
“Does anything still hurt?”
Bethany and Catherine rushed to Belinda’s bedside, their voices overlapping with concern as they bombarded her with questions.
Belinda offered a warm, reassuring smile. “I’m okay. Just a slight headache, that’s all. Nothing serious. You know me—I bounce back quickly.”
“Belinda.” A soft, tearful voice cut through the noise.
Faye stood at the foot of the bed, eyes rimmed red, shoulders tense with guilt. Her voice broke as she stepped closer. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. You got hurt because of me.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, raw and unfiltered, her guilt evident.
Belinda reached for a few tissues and handed them over, her tone part stern, part weary. “Don’t cry. Look at me; I’m alright. But Faye… please don’t ever pull something like that again. You scared everyone.”