CHAPTER 143: "I WOULD WALK INTO HELL ITSELF TO PROTECT YOU!"

Claire’s POV

"Evan... where are you?" I whispered under my breath, the name slipping out like a prayer. My entire body trembled, not just from fear but from the pain I was feeling in my neck.

I slid into the large jacuzzi tub, curling myself into a ball as I tried to make myself as small as possible. The cold surface of the tub pressed against my skin. I wrapped my arms around my knees, biting my lip to keep from sobbing.

That’s when I heard it—a soft knock at the room door.

The sound sent a jolt through me. My heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst out of my chest. I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from making any noise, my eyes darting toward the door.

"Who is there?" I muttered under my breath, though I knew they wouldn’t hear me. My pulse thundered in my ears as the knocking grew more insistent.

I froze, every muscle in my body tense. Could it be Evan? Or was it someone else? The fear of the unknown was paralyzing, and all I could do was go out there in the room and take a look.

Damn it! If only I had my cell phone! I thought, frustration bubbling inside me. Still trembling, I forced myself to gather some courage. Staying hidden wouldn’t solve anything, and I needed to make sure the noise outside wasn’t a threat.

I quietly unlocked the washroom door and stepped out. The room was dimly lit, the faint glow from a bedside lamp casting long shadows. My heart raced as I scared to hear any sounds.

"Are you in there?"

The voice was faint but unmistakably familiar.

Evander!

Relief surged through me, but caution held me back. I hurried to the door, careful not to make any noise. Instead of opening it immediately, I leaned against the peephole, squinting to confirm what I thought I had heard was right.

And there he was.

Through the tiny circular glass, I saw his familiar figure. Evander’s face was etched with worry, his brows furrowed and his eyes scanning the hallway as if he could sense my presence.

Tears welled up in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks before I could stop them. It was him. He had come for me.

I hesitated, my trembling fingers hovering over the door’s lock. My throat tightened as a sob threatened to escape. I wanted to fling the door open and throw myself into his arms, but fear still clawed at my mind.

"Claire," his voice called again, firmer this time but still filled with concern. "I know you are in there. Open the door."

It was the reassurance I needed. My hands moved on their own as I twisted the lock and slowly opened the door.

Evander stood there, his sharp eyes immediately softening the moment he saw me. Without waiting for an explanation, he pulled me into a protective embrace.

"Thank God," he muttered against my hair, his voice shaky with relief. "I was so damn worried."

For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt safe, and I broke into sobs, clutching onto him as if my life depended on it.

"Shh, shh! Don’t cry," Evander whispered, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. His hand gently caressed my hair, offering a comfort I hadn’t realized I desperately needed. "I’m here now. Nothing will happen to you," he reassured me, his words like a lifeline pulling me out of the darkness.

The word of his reassurance made my knees buckle. I had been holding on for so long, forcing myself to stay strong. I had climbed across that perilous balcony, ready to fight tooth and nail against whoever dared to harm me. But now, wrapped in his arms, the dam of my emotions broke, and I let myself fall apart.

Evander held me tighter as though sensing my collapse. Without a word, he scooped me up into his arms, carrying me as though I weighed nothing. His warmth enveloped me, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt safe. He laid me gently on the bed, his movements careful and deliberate, as though I were something fragile that might shatter under the slightest pressure.

He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "You’re safe now," he murmured, and I believed him.

As he sat at the edge of the bed, Evander pulled out his phone and made a call. His tone was calm but authoritative. "Take care of them," he said curtly, his voice laced with a barely restrained fury. "I’m with her, and she’s fine." He hung up with a sharp click.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, throwing the phone to the other side of the bed. He loosened his tie in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

"What... What’s wrong?" I asked as my voice trembled. My body still felt weak from the effects of the drug I had inhaled, though thankfully, it hadn’t been enough to incapacitate me fully. But something about Evander made me uneasy.

He sighed heavily, his usually sharp eyes clouded. "I’ve been drugged," he admitted, his voice laced with frustration.

"What!?" My eyes widened in shock as my heart sank. The drug was meant for me. Somehow, I had escaped its full effects, but Evander... he had taken on the danger meant for me.

"I was in the room next door," he explained, his words deliberate, though his voice wavered slightly.

My mind raced as the pieces fell into place. The air purifier, the drug, the trap— it had all been set for me. And instead, Evander had walked right into it.

"You shouldn’t have come for me," I said, guilt washing over me like a tidal wave.

He reached out, his hand warm and steady as it rested on mine. "I would walk into hell itself to protect you," he said softly, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering determination. "This? This is nothing."

Tears welled up again, but this time, they weren’t born of fear or despair. They were for the man in front of me, who had risked everything without hesitation.