Page 133 of A Sinful Gravity

I stared at her reddened nose tip and moist eyes. Something squeezed my heart hard.

Her breathing was soft, even, occasionally frowning like she was dreaming. I didn't know what she dreamed of, but I hoped it was good. She deserved good.

I moved my fingers, brushing lightly against the back of her hand.

Luna woke instantly.

She jerked her head up. Those swollen eyes that could barely open met mine—first blank, then violently trembling. She stared at me, lips shaking, unable to make a sound.

"Cassian?"

"Yeah."

Tears fell immediately. One drop, two drops, landing warm on my hand.

"Cassian..." She finally broke down crying, voice completely hoarse. "You're awake... you're finally awake..."

I watched the tears streaming down her face, wanted to wipe them away, but my hand was too heavy to lift. I struggled to breathe. With the oxygen mask on, my words came out muffled.

"Don't... don't cry..." I forced out two words, each syllable pulling at my broken ribs. "I'm okay... don't be scared."

"You call this okay!" She shot up, fumbling for the call button, tears falling uncontrollably. "The doctor said three broken ribs, lung contusion, and multiple leg fractures. Thank God the car was speeding and skidded—it wasn't a direct hit...Do you know you were unconscious for two days and two nights? Cassian, you almost died!"

I watched her panic, weakly pulling my mouth into a self-mocking smile. "Can't die... heard you crying... how could I dare to die."

The weakness left me dazed. But inside, I felt a strange calm. I'd survived. And she was here beside me.

After the doctor finished a series of tedious examinations and confirmed that thanks to timely treatment, my vital signs had finally stabilized, the hospital room sank back into that delicate silence.

I removed the oxygen mask. Every breath still tasted like blood. Luna brought warm water, gently moistening my cracked, peeling lips with a cotton swab.

I looked at her, couldn't bear to look away for even a moment.

"Luna... I heard everything." I spoke softly, voice like it had been dragged across gravel. "When you stayed with me... what you said. I heard it all."

Luna's movements froze. She kept her head down, eyes flickering in avoidance, ears turning red.

"I heard you say... you love me." I struggled to shift closer to her. "Is that true?"

She pressed her lips together and didn't answer. I looked at her, dropped every defense for the first time.

"These past two days, I've thought a lot. Actually, in the instant I got hit, my mind was empty. Only you. I thought I'd changed recently, but really I still hoped you'd love me, hoped you'd stay. I was wrong. That was just my selfish possessiveness."

I caught my breath, cold sweat beading on my forehead. But I had to finish saying this.

"I shouldn't bind you just because I'm afraid of losing you. You have your dreams. You belong on stage. I shouldn't be your obstacle, so I won't use Laila to threaten you either."

"I know. Stop talking for now." She lowered her eyes.

"No. Let me finish." I looked straight into her eyes, tone more sincere and remorseful than ever before.

"Saving you was my choice. I owed you. And I did it willingly. Don't stay because of this. I won't cage you anymore. I've thought it through—as long as you're alive, as long as you're happy... even if I can only watch from afar, I'm content."

She looked up sharply, something melting in her eyes.

"As for Laila..." I paused, feeling my throat tighten. "She's your life. I won't take her. I only hope... in the future, can you not stop me from loving her? I don't need her to change her name right away, don't need her to call me daddy. Just let me appear in her life sometimes. That's enough."

As I said these words, I felt like my heart was being torn open, but there was also an unprecedented lightness.