Chapter 13 - THE MAN WHO WOKE UP AGAIN
Adrian woke in the hospital twenty hours later.
The bullet had passed through his shoulder.
No artery.
No spine.
No permanent damage.
Grace was asleep in the chair beside his bed.
Her head rested against the wall.
Eli sat curled beside her.
Adrian watched them.
Something inside him shifted.
Not dramatically.
Not like in movies.
It simply became clear.
For most of his life, Adrian believed strength meant never needing anyone.
Then the accident took his legs.
Betrayal took his certainty.
And Grace showed him something no business deal ever had.
Being helped was not the same as being weak.
Grace opened her eyes.
She immediately stood.
“You’re awake.”
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed and cried at the same time.
“You idiot.”
“Nice bedside manner.”
“You walked into a warehouse with a cane.”
“I had Daniel.”
“You had half a functioning body.”
Adrian smiled.
“Three-quarters now.”
She hit his uninjured arm.
“Ow.”
“Good.”
Eli walked closer.
“Mom said you saved us.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Your mom saved herself. I mostly got shot.”
The boy smiled.
Then surprised Adrian by hugging him.
Adrian froze.
Slowly, he put one arm around the child.
Grace watched.
Her eyes filled again.
Three weeks later, Adrian returned to rehabilitation.
This time publicly.
The newspapers went insane.
BILLIONAIRE WALKING AGAIN AFTER SABOTAGE SCANDAL.
COLE FAMILY EMPIRE ROCKED BY ARRESTS.
But Adrian ignored them.
He had bigger problems.
Standing.
Balance.
Pain.
Fear.
Every morning Grace sat across from him.
“Again.”
He took a step.
“Again.”
Another.
“You enjoying this?”
“Very much.”
“You’re evil.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Three months later, Adrian walked fifty feet without assistance.
When he reached the other side of the rehabilitation room, Grace was waiting.
He stopped in front of her.
No wheelchair.
No cane.
Just Adrian.
She smiled.
“You made it.”
He looked at her.
“No.”
Grace frowned.
“What?”
Adrian reached for her hand.
“We made it.”
Her smile disappeared.
The moment changed.
Adrian stepped closer.
Grace whispered, “Adrian.”
“I know.”
“This is complicated.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“You’re my boss.”
“I can fix that.”
She laughed nervously.
“That sounded terrible.”
“I meant I can transfer you out of my household staff.”
“Still terrible.”
He smiled.
Grace shook her head.
Then she kissed him.
For one perfect second, Adrian forgot pain existed.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
Adrian answered.
“What happened?”
May you like
Daniel’s voice was tense.
“Vanessa escaped custody.”
