Bound by lies Trapped by Desire novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Elena’s POV

“Mom“” My voice cracked as I pushed through the hospital room door, my heart pounding in my chest like it was trying to claw its way out. The sterile scent of antiseptic and faint traces of medicine wrapped around me instantly. The room was softly lit, shadows cast across the pale green walls by the gentle sunlight trying to peek through the half–drawn blinds.

Her head turned toward me slowly, her face pale and thinner than I remembered, but her eyes–those eyes I knew better than my own reflection- lir up the moment they found me.

I rushed to her side, my hands wrapping around hers as my knees hit the floor next to her bed. Her fingers felt fragile in mine, like porcelain warmed by love and wear

“Oh my God, Mom.” I could barely breathe. My throat tightened as tears spilled down my cheeks. Im so glad you’re okay. I’m sorry, I wasn’t here when you woke up. 1-1 should have-

-Shhh,” she whispered, her voice hoarse but filled with that familiar sternness, Her lips curved into the faintest smile as she squeezed my hand “That’s okay Sit down, Elena.”

Even in her weak ness she managed to hush me the same way she always had.

I blinked back the rest of my tears and stood slowly, dragging the chair closer to her bed, never once letting go of her hand. My chest still felt right, and my fingers trembled with leftover panic. I took in the details of her face–the faint lines on her forehead, the silver streaks threaded through her blonde hair.

But her eyes still held fire.

Then her gaze fackered around the room in confusion, her brows furrowing. “Where’s George!”

My breath caught.

My blood turned cold.

She didn’t remember!

A wave of dread washed over me, soaking every inch of me like icy rain. My fingers tightened around hers as I leaned forward, my voice trembling.

“Y–you don’t remember!”

A pause.

And then I watched it happen. The shift in her eyes, the faint tremor in her lower lip. She remembered.

Her hand shook in mine. “Ah. right.” Her voice broke, cracking like thin glass. “Right.”

The grief hit her all over again, and I saw it. The exact moment the loss settled over her like a shadow. Her body deflated with a soft exhale, eyes suddenly unfocused

“Mom,” I whispered, heart aching. “I’m so sorry.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and her lips trembled, but she gave a small shake of her head, like she didn’t want me to cry for her.

“Don’t be,” she said, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “It’s not in our hands. There’s no banquet in this world that doesn’t come to an end.”

That line.

She’d said that to m

to me so many times over the ye

years.

And yet hearing it now, with her lying in a hospital bed after losing the man she’d loved for over a decade, it hit harder than I expected.

I nodded, lips pressed tight as I blinked furiously. I hated crying in front of her. Hated showing weakness. But this wasn’t weakness, was it? This was loss. This was love that had nowhere else to go.

She closed her eyes, and I knew it wasn’t just sadness–it was exhaustion. Her body still hadn’t recovered, and even holding a conversation seemed to drain her

I reached over and gently wiped the tears that silently trailed down her cheeks.

1/3

1:35 PM

Chapter 13

“I’m sorry I left you with all of this,” she whispered again, her words barely audible. “You must have been so scared

I shook my head quickly, choking back the sob in my throat. “As long as you’re okay now, I don’t care. Please, just focus on getting better.”

It was the truth. All I needed was her..

In

Because the idea of facing this world completely alone, without a single person who saw me as their first priority, was suffocating

I was afraid of

have anyone either, did he

The door creaked open, and a doctor walked in holding a clipboard.

With every sentence, I felt Mom tensing

When the doctor left, promising to return for her afternoon vitals, I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

She rubbed her temples and pushed herself up in bed. I scrambled to adjust her pillows, trying to buy myself a few seconds.

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