Through the cabin window, I anxiously looked out at the turmoil unfolding outside, my heart pounding in fear for Archer's safety. I couldn't bear to just stay inside and do nothing, despite the guards' protests and Archer's orders to stay put. My worry reached its breaking point, and I made up my mind to venture outside to find him.
As I opened the door, my breath hitched when I found myself face to face with Victor Donovan, Archer's father, standing there in wet clothes. "You can't go out there," he said firmly, gently guiding me back inside the cabin. The men in the room stood taller, showing him respect akin to a military superior officer.
"What happened? I heard an explosion," I asked, my concern evident. I rushed to fetch dry towels for him, offering them to help him dry off.
Victor Donovan accepted the towel with gratitude, assuring me that everything outside was under control. I busied myself, wanting to do something to help, and quickly prepared something hot to drink for him.
As we spoke, he surprised me by congratulating me on my pregnancy and expressing gratitude for making his son happy. The warmth in his words brought a smile to my face, and I felt a sense of reassurance knowing that Archer's father approved of our relationship.
Just then, Archer entered the cabin, supporting the wounded Chad. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, seeing that he was unharmed. My focus immediately shifted to helping Chad, tending to his wounds and bandaging him up as best as I could.
In the corner of the room, I noticed Archer and his father engaged in conversation, but I couldn't make out the details of what they were discussing.
Suddenly, the sound of dragging feet on the porch outside made us all tense. Archer, Chad, and his father blended into the shadows, preparing for a possible threat. The door swung open, and there stood Jessica, Archer's step-sister, drenched and bleeding from her leg.
In a swift, ruthless motion, Jessica fired shots at the guards protecting me, sending fear coursing through my veins. Panic gripped me as I feared for the safety of my unborn baby. "Now you die," she coldly declared.
At that moment, my heart skipped a beat when I saw Mark, my supposedly dead brother, appearing behind Jessica. His unexpected presence momentarily distracted me from the danger unfolding.
Jessica fired a shot at me, but before I could react, Archer leaped in front of me, using his own body as a shield. My heart turned cold as I watched him fall to the floor, wounded in the chest.
“NO!” My scream tore through the air. With Archer injured, I struggled to comprehend the fact that my brother Mark was alive. I immediately went into action, checking Archer's wound and praying the bullet had missed his heart.
As I tended to Archer's wound, a new presence entered the room, claiming to know Mark and identifying herself as a doctor. The sudden turn of events left me in a daze, but I knew that saving Archer's life was our top priority.
Dr. Eliza wasted no time as she swiftly tended to Archer's injury. With skillful hands, she poured disinfectant over his chest and brought out a scalpel, deftly examining the wound to assess the extent of the damage. I released a relieved sigh when I saw that the bullet had missed his heart. Dr. Eliza quickly stopped his internal bleeding, and her expertise and efficiency were evident and I was right there assisting her.
"You seem familiar with this," she said, directing her gaze at me while she cleaned up Archer's blood and prepared to stitch him back up.
"I-I'm a chemist, and I've had a lifelong practice with my brother," I replied, my voice filled with emotions. Dr. Eliza studied me for a moment before offering a reassuring smile.
I was immensely grateful for her presence and the medical supplies she had brought with her. Her professionalism and determination gave us hope that Archer would be alright.
"We need to move him to a bed and get him cleaned up. He still needs to go to the hospital for a thorough checkup, but I've removed the bullet and managed to stop the bleeding for now," Dr. Eliza said, her tone focused and composed.
Before we could act, Victor Donovan's voice broke through the tension in the room. "Allow me," he offered, stepping forward to help with Archer. Despite the gravity of the situation, he appeared calm, but the intensity in his gaze betrayed his concern for his son. Chad quickly joined him, and together, they gently carried Archer to the bed.
My eyes briefly met Mark's, and he winked at me, providing a momentary sense of reassurance amidst the chaos. However, my attention was drawn back to Jessica, who was on the floor in evident pain, struggling to speak. Her breathing was labored and irregular.
"Mark, you can go help the men outside. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on this one," Victor Donovan said, stepping forward to carry Jessica to a side couch. I noticed a flicker of desperation in her eyes as she held Mark's gaze. It was as if she was pleading with him not to leave her. The situation with Jessica was perplexing and unsettling, considering her unstable state of mind.
"Can I take a look at her?" Dr. Eliza asked, approaching Jessica.
"Please," Victor Donovan agreed, helping Eliza position Jessica on the couch, face down.
As Mark turned away, preparing to exit the room, a surge of panic gripped me. I couldn't bear the thought of him leaving, not now when danger still lurked outside. "No, Mark!" I cried out, my voice betraying my feelings.
"Don't worry, baby bird. I will be back. I am not going anywhere," he reassured me with a wide grin, but my heart constricted with worry. I longed to rush to him, to hold him close and confirm that he was real and not just a figment of my imagination. But I knew that if I let myself fall apart now, it would only make things more difficult for both of us.
Mark seemed to understand my inner turmoil and added with a playful tone, "I will get my hug shortly." His words brought a burst of shaky laughter from me, a mix of relief and apprehension.
As Mark left the room to help the others, I turned my attention to Dr. Eliza, who was looking at me with a warm smile. Her presence brought some comfort amidst the chaos, and I appreciated the support she was providing for Archer.
"He loves you so much," Dr. Eliza whispered in a compassionate tone.
"H-he is my big brother," I replied, my voice choked with emotion, tears streaming down my face.
"I think he takes that role pretty seriously," she said, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and warmth at her words. "His first memory was of you..."
"First memory?" I repeated, my eyes widening in astonishment.
"Mark was in a coma for a long time, and when he woke up, he couldn't remember who he was," Dr. Eliza explained. "But as his memories started to return, the first one he recalled was of you as a baby... I believe you two are lucky to have each other."
My heart shook in my chest as memories of Mark's unmarked grave flashed in my mind. That explained why Archer had left it unmarked because Mark wasn’t really in there, and that was exactly what he had said to me. It was a painful reminder of the difficult times Mark had endured. I couldn't bear the thought that I hadn't been there for him during those challenging moments, and the desire to hug him, to comfort him, overwhelmed me.
"You helped take care of him?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Dr. Eliza nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as well.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, feeling grateful for the love and care she had shown my brother.
“You are very welcome,” she replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper, evident choked with emotions.
Kneeling atop the bed beside Archer, I leaned over him, gently brushing my fingers against his eyebrows. "My love?" I called out softly, and his eyelids flickered open. As I gazed into his eyes, I saw the corner of his lips tug into a smile. “You are going to be fine,” I whispered in a tender tone.
"You called me your love…" he rasped, his voice filled with tenderness and affection. Dr. Eliza skillfully inserted an IV catheter into Archer's vein, delicately withdrawing the needle and leaving a flexible plastic cannula in place. She then connected it to a tubing that was attached to the IV bag containing the prescribed fluid, and she hung it on the bed pole. Chad stepped forward to offer assistance, carefully securing the IV in place with duct tape.
"Thank you," Dr. Eliza acknowledged Chad's help as she infused several injections into the IV bag. "I'm giving him antibiotics and something for the pain. It might make him drowsy, but it's okay," she added, her words carrying a comforting tone, perhaps meant to ease my worries.
I leaned over Archer, feeling a rush of emotions overwhelming me. Pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, I whispered, "You will always be my love, my darling." The words held the weight of my feelings, and I could see the impact they had on him. His smile brightened as he shut his eyes, and I felt my heart constrict with love for him, grateful that he was safe and still with me.