Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Collapse

Chapter 142: Collapse

“…What? Why not?” Keegan’s voice cracked under the weight of disbelief. His brow furrowed, eyes wide with hurt. “Grace, what do you mean no?”

Grace slowly stood from her chair, steadying herself against the arrest before walking a few steps away. Her bare feet padded softly against the floor as she wrapped her arms around herself and turned to face him.

“Why are you suddenly asking me this?” she asked in a trembling and fragile voice. “Can’t you see what’s happening to me right now?”

Keegan stepped forward instinctively, as if drawn by her pain. “Yes, I see exactly what’s happening. That’s why I’m asking,” he said. “Because I don’t want to wait another second. Because if I don’t ask you now, I’ll go crazy knowing that I could’ve

”

“You could’ve what?” she snapped, her voice rising just a little. “Made yourself feel better? Given yourself peace of mind that you married the dying woman before it was too late?”

He flinched. “Don’t say that,” he said, more wounded than angry. Don’t reduce this to pity or panic. I’m asking because I love you. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

Grace looked away, blinking quickly, her lips trembling. “You think love is enough to carry this?”

“Yes!” he shouted, surprising them both. He caught his breath and spoke again, lower, more desperate. “Yes, I do. I would rather have one day with you as my wife than a whole lifetime of anything else. Don’t you get it? This…us, it’s the only thing that makes sense to me anymore.”

“No… you’re the one who doesn’t understand…I don’t want to die as your burden…” she said through gritted teeth, tears finally spilling.

“You’re not my burden.” His voice was fierce now. “You’re my everything, Grace. I chose you knowing all of this. And I’d choose you again even if I knew you’d leave tomorrow.”

“I don’t want you to remember me like this.” She gestured helplessly to her body… to the weight she’d lost, the paleness of her skin, the thinning patches in her hair. “This isn’t me. This is what’s left of me. I want you to marry me, not what’s left of me!”

“You think I don’t know the real you?” Keegan asked, stepping closer. “I’ve seen you fight through hell. I’ve seen you laugh in the middle of pain. You think I care about hair? About weakness? I care about the heart that still beats when it should’ve given up a long time ago.”

She stood frozen, torn between wanting to throw herself into his arms and pushing him away so he wouldn’t have to suffer

beside her.

“I love you,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I love you so much it terrifies me. But I want to be whole when I become yours. I want to stand on my own two feet when I say yes to you…not sit in a chair looking like I’m halfway gone.‘

“But what if waiting means you never get the chance?” Keegan asked, stepping closer.

Grace didn’t answer.

Her lip quivered, and her shoulders shook slightly with the effort to hold herself together. Her lip trembled harder. Her knees wobbled.

And still, she said nothing.

That silence was worse than any rejection. Worse than her “no.” It was a silence soaked in fear, in guilt, in–grief so deep she couldn’t name it.

Keegan’s heart thundered in his chest. His hands clenched at his sides, trying to hold in everything that wanted to burst out of him.

Chapter 142 Collapse

He didn’t want to push her…but if he didn’t fight for her now, whe would he?

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“I’m scared, Grace,” he whispered. “I’m scared every time you close your eyes and sigh. I’m scared every time you wince, every time you lose another strand of hair, every time you look like you‘ somewhere I can’t follow. And now you’re pushing me away like you think I’ll love you less if you go bald or weak or forget how to smile.”

“But I won’t,” he said, louder now. “I won’t stop. Even if you forget yourself, I’ll remember for the both of us. Don’t you get it? You reject me as if telling me you’re leaving me anyway. Didn’t you want to fight for me?”

“Please, my love…I don’t know how to do this without you…” he sobbed.

It came out suddenly, sharply. Like something he’d been choking on for weeks finally clawed its way out.

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