Abel tenderly kissed Emmaâs check, his lips burning with intensity. âEmma, we canât die. I will take you to our new home, where no one will disturb us.â
A new home? Our new home?
Emmeline was stunned. She had thought Abelâs consciousness was already fading, and fear gripped her heart.
She held him tightly and struggled to speak. âAbel, you have to hold on. I will go home with you. You have to hold on and take me home!
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Then, he closed his eyes as if falling asleep, resting his head on Emmelineâs shoulder.
Emmelineâs world darkened, and she collapsed into Abelâs embrace, suffocated by the growing fire.
Asbestos tiles from the broken supports fell from the ceiling, covering them.
When Abel opened his eyes, he saw the white ceiling above him.
He was in the hospital.
He felt momentarily confused as he tried to recall what had happened.
Suddenly, a thought flashed in his mind. Emma, where is she?
He was trapped in the warehouse fire, and Emma had come in to find him!
She was in his arms, and he wanted to take her out, but everything went black.
Where is Emma?
âEmma!â Abel sat up abruptly.
âAbel! Youâre awake?â The man beside him was Tony.
âWhere is Emma?â he asked anxiously. âWhere is Emma?â
âSheâs in the next room, still unconscious. Tony said, âAt least sheâs out of danger!â
âI need to find Emma!â Abel jumped out of bed, opened the door without hesitation, and rushed out.
Two security guards stood at the entrance of the ward. When they saw Abel coming out, they immediately. said, âMr Ryker!â
Abel regained his composure and asked, âWhat are you doing here?â
The security guard explained, âMr. Harrison was worried that the family of the warehouse keeper, Elly, would cause trouble, so he arranged for us to be on duty.â
âElly?â Abel frowned, and then he remembered. It was the lady he couldnât save Is she dead?
Abelâs heart skipped a beat.
Although it had been an accident, he felt the weight of a life in his hands.
No, two lives!
In Abelâs mind, the night of gambling in Setwell five years ago flashed by He nodded and opened the door to Emmelineâs hospital room.
âAbel Janie was guarding Emmeline.
âHow is Emma? Is she injured?â He rushed to the bedside, kneeling on the floor.
âShe just came out of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Thereâs no major problem,â Janie replied.
âWhat have I done?â Abel sobbed, tears streaming down his face. âI sent her to the hospital twice in a month! Iâm such a dâmn idiot!â
âAbel thank goodness youâre both okay. Donât blame yourself,â Janie said.
Perhaps upon hearing Abelâs voice. Emmeline stirred slightly, emitting a weak sound from her throat.
Abel held her hand and urgently whispered. âEmma, Emma! Iâm here. Wake up!â
She let out another soft sound.
Abelâs heart suddenly tightened, and he instinctively felt something was wrong.
Emma would have softly called out his name in the past, not this difficult and hoarse sound.
âEmma?â Abel stared at Emmelineâs face, his eyes filled with concern.
Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
She saw Abel, and he was safe.
She reached out to touch Abelâs face, a hint of a smile appearing in her enchanting eyes.
Then she opened her mouth, wanting to call out his name, but instead, a hoarse sound came out.
Abelâs face instantly turned pale.
Emmeline had lost her voice!
âEmmaâ Abel panicked. He asked, Iâm here. Are you feeling better? Answer me.
Emmelines cracked lips opened, but still no sound came out.
Both of them had fear in their eyes.
She cried in her heart. How could this happent Where is my voice? Where is itt Her throat felt like it was being torn apart, a sharp pain piercing her heart, and two tears of fear rolled.
Erumeline struggled to sit up.
Abel rushed to the bed and held her in his arms. âDonât be afraid. Emmaâ Iâm here. There are doctors here too; donât be afraid!â
Janie and Tony saw the scene and hurriedly ran to find a doctor.į Emmeline looked at Abel in terror, shaking her head in disbelief. She didnât know what had happened.
Where is my voice? Why does my throat hurt so much?
Abel kissed her face, gently wiping away her tears. âEmma, donât be afraid. Nothing will happen to you!
The doctor will be here soon.â