Reclaiming Her Heart
Chapter 546 It Would Be Great If You Were My Wife

Selena's gaze darted upwards, landing on the intricate tapestry of scars that marred his arm. Throughout their journey, she had remained unscathed, untouched by the thorns of their predicament. He had borne the brunt of it all. With a start, she scrambled out of the vehicle, her voice a tremulous whisper, "Raymond?" He had momentarily succumbed to unconsciousness, the brunt of the impact falling solely on him. Selena's hand quivered, a gnawing fear that they were still being pursued, gripping her heart. Hastily, she reached for his hand, intending to flee, but his weight proved too much for her to bear.

Tears welled up, blurring her vision. In her disoriented state, she heard him murmur, "Are you crying?" She lifted her gaze, meeting his pale countenance, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's wrong?" he asked.

With great effort, he rose to his feet. Selena's eyes widened in horror as she noticed his back, slick with blood, mirroring the rock he had been sprawled upon. The final impact had hurled him against the stone. His eyes bore a chilling resemblance to a lone wolf in the wilderness. "Let's go," he commanded.

They were being pursued by two formidable forces, both armed and ready. As Selena supported him, her voice barely a whisper, she asked, "Are you in pain?"

He was indeed in agony, but pride often silenced men, especially in the presence of a woman they cherished. Even if the pain threatened to consume him, he would not admit it.

Selena aided Raymond in moving forward, her mind fraught with worry for John who had leaped in a different direction. Eventually, they reached a flat, sheltered area.

Selena suggested that Raymond rest while she examined his wounds. Raymond, however, dismissed her concern. "It's okay, no need to check," he assured her.

"But you're bleeding," she insisted.

With Raymond conscious, her anxiety had somewhat abated. Alone in this desolate landscape, anyone would be gripped by fear. Raymond rose, took her hand, and proposed they move deeper into the wilderness. "The trees are tall here, and it will take time for those people to replace us. My people and Paul's people must have arrived, but we've lost our phones. It will probably take them some time to locate us," he reasoned.

Selena nodded in agreement and followed him.

Suddenly, the heavens opened, and rain began to pour. Selena caught a glimpse of his wound; it was a deep gash, as if impaled by a sharp object. Was he really okay?

After a grueling two-hour trek, they found a rudimentary cave where they could seek refuge.

Raymond's strength was waning, and he leaned against the cave wall, his forehead glistening with sweat. Selena reached out, her hand brushing against his forehead. He was burning up. She quickly surveyed the cave, replaceing some firewood. The cave was likely a temporary shelter for villagers venturing into the mountains.

She helped Raymond into the cave, then tore a piece of her coat and used it to start a fire with the lighter she found on him. The smoke wouldn't drift out and wouldn't be discovered. She heard Raymond murmur, "Cold."

A fevered person often felt hot internally and cold externally. Their soaked clothes were not helping the situation either.

She constructed a makeshift rack with the firewood and hung their coats to dry. She then moved Raymond closer to the fire. Despite his unconscious state, he used her leg as a pillow and lay on his back. Their thin clothes steamed in the heat, and his hair was damp, revealing his pale face.

Selena looked down at him, her fingers gently brushing through his hair. His hair was damp from the rain, and it was the first time she had seen Raymond so vulnerable. As she observed him, she saw his eyes flutter open, but they were clouded with confusion.

Selena was about to inquire about his pain when she saw him slowly raise his hand, his fingertips lightly grazing her face. His voice was a hoarse whisper as he said, "If you were my wife, how wonderful would that be."