Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The hospital smelled of antiseptic and quiet desperation. Evelyn paced the hallway, her arms wrapped around herself as if that could keep her from falling apart.

It had been hours since Luca was wheeled into surgery. Hours of waiting, of staring at the clock, of replaying every moment leading up to this.

Adrian sat across from her, his elbows resting on his knees, watching her with unreadable eyes. "You should sit," he said.

He sighed, leaning back. "Luca is stubborn. He'll fight."

Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut. "What if he doesn't?"

For the first time, Adrian hesitated. "Then you'll have to decide what comes next."

A doctor finally appeared, pushing through the double doors, pulling down his mask. Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as she rushed forward.

"He's alive," the doctor said, and her knees nearly buckled.

The word cut through the relief, slicing through her hope before it could fully bloom.

"But?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He lost a lot of blood. His body is weak. The next 24 hours are critical."

She nodded quickly, desperate for action. "Can I see him?"

The doctor hesitated, then nodded. "Only for a few minutes."

Luca looked too pale against the hospital bed. Wires and tubes ran from his arms, his breathing slow and steady. But he was alive.

Evelyn sat beside him, taking his hand. It was warm, even if his grip was weak.

She squeezed his fingers gently. "Hey," she whispered.

His eyelids fluttered, his brow furrowing slightly before his eyes opened—just a sliver, just enough.

Evelyn swallowed against the lump in her throat. "You scared me."

His lips twitched into a barely-there smirk. "Wasn't... the plan."

A laugh bubbled up, choked with tears. "No, I imagine it wasn't."

He squeezed her hand back, just a little. Just enough.

And for the first time in hours, she let herself breathe.

Next Chapter: A Love Worth Surviving For

Luca wakes up fully, but the danger isn't over yet. Can they move forward when so much still stands in their way?

The Cost of Love