Oops! My Secret Baby Is Caught By His Top-Lawyer Daddy! Novel

---- Chapter 87: If Only He Could Take Her Place A crowd of people came rushing in. Clara didn't even have time to register the pain. Her legs were shaking, but she staggered forward, desperate to check on Sebastian. Blood soaked both of Sebastian's hands, and it was still dripping from between his fingers. He was pressing one hand against his wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but it looked bad-really bad. Clara panicked. "How's your hand?" At the same time, Sebastian asked, "How are your injuries?" They spoke in unison, their voices overlapping.

Clara tried to give him a smile-just a small one-then her knees buckled, and she collapsed into darkness. She didn't know how long she'd been out before she finally woke up. Outside, it was already dark. The lights in the room were dim, and she was lying in a hospital bed. A dull, throbbing ache pulsed through her head. She let out a low groan and reached up instinctively to touch it- ---- Aaron's voice came right away. "Where does it hurt?" He gently caught her wrist, stopping her hand before she could touch the wound.

Her fingers brushed against Aaron's cheek-he was close, and his familiar warmth grounded her. It was real. He was really here. For the first time, Clara finally felt safe. Her whole body relaxed-and the next second, her tears started to fall uncontrollably. She hadn't cried when she was bleeding or when she was terrified. But now, the dam broke. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, clinging to the heat of his body like it was her only anchor. Aaron held her carefully, not daring to jostle her. "Is it your head? Or your neck? Where does it hurt?" "I'm okay...

it doesn't hurt," Clara sobbed. "I was just... so scared..." Aaron wanted to say: I was scared too. I've never been so terrified in my life. The moment he got the call, it felt like his blood had turned to ice. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. He'd been in the legal field for years. He'd faced down. all kinds of criminals and even taken a bullet once. But ---- he'd never been this afraid. Not until now. Asher hadn't succeeded in his plan-but he'd still managed to hit Aaron where it hurt the most. Aaron's hands trembled faintly as he hugged her, trying to keep it together.

"It's alright now. It's over. You're safe." But those words felt hollow. Because in that moment of danger, the most terrifying moment of her life... he hadn't been there. And the worst part? It was all because of him. If he could've taken her place, he would've done it ina heartbeat. But he couldn't. All he could do was hold her now, after the fact, and live with the guilt. Anger, regret, helplessness-they all surged through his chest, an unbearable storm. What right did he have to sit here pretending to be calm, offering her comfort? Clara cried for a long time before finally calming down.

"What time is it?" "Two in the morning," Aaron answered. "Do you want some water?" She nodded, careful not to move her head too fast. Her neck was wrapped in gauze, and even the tiniest shift made it burn and sting. ---- Aaron got up and turned on the light, then brought her a cup with a straw. She took several long sips, downing over half the cup in one go. Only then did some of her strength return. She tried to sit up, and Aaron gently helped her, tucking a pillow behind her for support. Finally upright, Clara got a good look at him. He looked absolutely wrecked.

His hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot with dark circles under them, the corners red and weary. He hadn't even shaved-his stubble shadowed his jaw-and his shirt was wrinkled and creased like he hadn't taken it off in days. He must've come straight from work. Clara leaned over and hugged him around the waist. "lm okay now. Just a little sore and shaken up. It looks worse than it is." She was a doctor-she knew her injuries weren't serious. Her head wasn't showing signs of concussion, and she hadn't lost consciousness for long.

The neck wound looked scary, but it had missed all the major blood vessels. She'd passed out more from shock than anything else. Aaron already knew all that. The doctors had explained it to him hours ago-just surface wounds, nothing life-threatening.