The smell of antiseptic lurked in every corner of the room. He used to hate how this smell would always make him feel nausea. But he had no other choice. She had been only an inch away from death and he just can’t part from her even for another second, especially not after everything that they've went through to finally be together.

He stared at her unconscious figure with mixed feelings. It was his fault that this happened. To see her laying on the bed pale and bruised, he felt like hitting himself continuously until his flesh tore open. At least, that might have felt a bit less painful than how his heart was feeling.

“Milord, this level has been cleared. I’ve also allocated our men on every floor, just as you’d wished.”

Changmin reluctantly turned his gaze towards the man at the door. The man looked at him expectantly as if waiting for further instructions, or at least a word of praise for his hard work.

“Thank you. You’ve done a good job," Changmin smiled half-heartedly. His attention was still focused on his wife. “You may leave.”

The man bowed a good 90 degrees and retreated towards where he came from. Changmin heard the door closed and he sighed. He still had her hand in his for the last few hours, wishing that he could lend her his energy and health through the touch of their skins. Then his eyes focused on her face, where he could still witness wires and tubes coming in and out of her body. He cursed himself.

“Please… Come back to me,” he whispered into her hand before lightly kissing the spot.