Chapter 443 The Revelation of Love
As dawn broke, Sarah found herself in the throes of a fever-induced delirium, ensnared in a relentless cycle of nightmarish visions.
"Sarah, have you betrayed me?"
"Is this child truly mine? Can you assert, with absolute certainty, that the child you bear is of my blood?"
"Why, Sarah? Why did you deceive me?"
"Speak up! Answer me!"
Silence...
Accusations and inquiries bombarded her from every corner, causing Antonio's striking countenance to morph into an icy mask of indifference.
Despite his physical proximity, an emotional chasm seemed to yawn between them, wider than ever before.
His gaze, filled with resentment, pierced her heart, igniting a pain so profound that it left her breathless. She found herself in an unfamiliar place, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. It felt as though an unseen force had clamped her mouth shut, silencing her cries.
"I didn't betray you! I swear I didn't!"
"Antonio Valencia, I love you. Please, don't leave..."
Desperate, Sarah lunged forward, reaching out for the retreating figure of the man she loved. But, suddenly, her legs buckled beneath her!
A wave of vertigo washed over her, constricting her heart.
"Antonio..."
With a choked sob, Sarah whispered his name. The next moment, her eyes fluttered open.
She found herself staring into the reddened eyes of a man, his face etched with worry.
He leaned over her, gently dabbing the sweat from her forehead, his voice a soothing whisper, "Sarah, did you have a nightmare?"
Antonio clasped her hand, pressing a tender kiss to her palm, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. Everything is alright..."
The lines between dreams and reality blurred, leaving Sarah disoriented.
After all, the man in her dreams had eyes as cold as winter frost.
These events had indeed transpired, and they were the source of a deep-seated pain she had buried within her for years.
A flicker of fear crossed Sarah's mind. Had everything she had experienced recently been nothing more than a dream?
Seeing her bewildered expression, Antonio's heart ached.
He carefully climbed onto the bed, taking care not to disturb the medical equipment attached to Sarah, and gently enveloped her in his arms.
"Sarah, don't be afraid. There's nothing to fear."
His voice was soft, a stark contrast to the harsh tones that had echoed in her dream.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to his face, noting the signs of fatigue and the stubble on his chin.
Gradually, her mind cleared.
She remembered that she was ill and must have been dreaming.
And the man before her must have stayed by her side, forsaking rest.
Antonio Valencia... a man who took great pride in his appearance, would never allow himself to be seen in such a disheveled state.
Except on a few occasions, all for her sake.
A wave of melancholy washed over Sarah, "Have you been by my side all this while?"
"The children are with their elder brother."
Sarah knew he was trying to assuage her worries.
"Are you out of your mind? When I was sick, you were worried. Does that mean you're invincible? Don't forget, your concussion hasn't fully healed yet..."
Even in her weakened state, Sarah found the strength to admonish him gently.
However, instead of irritation, Antonio felt a surge of relief at her concern. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her slightly parched lips.
"Your fever has subsided, but you still need to rest. Is there anything you'd like to eat? I can prepare it for you."
Sarah shook her head, "I can't eat anything."
With that, she nestled her head against Antonio's chest, slowly extending her uninjured hand to hold him.
"Antonio, I had a dream."
Antonio, sensing her need to confide in him, quickly asked, "What did you dream about?"
She pursed her lips, struggling to articulate her thoughts, "I dreamt of five years ago when I discovered I was pregnant, but...you became another woman's husband, cradling another child, not even sparing me a glance."
His heart clenched at her words.
The incidents from five years ago were a constant thorn in her side. Everything he had done recently was an attempt to alleviate that pain and ultimately, remove it.
"I'm sorry, Sarah. I'm truly sorry."
Antonio clung to Sarah with a desperate intensity, a torrent of regret flooding his heart. If only he could turn back the hands of time, he would never allow the calamitous events of five years prior to repeat themselves.
Back then, he had been ensnared in the malevolent spell of the photographs, their contents tormenting him daily, blinding him to her needs.
He was the architect of those transgressions, and he was prepared to dedicate his entire existence to atoning for them.
If only Sarah would consent to remain by his side, he was ready to relinquish everything.
However, to his surprise, she abruptly became agitated.
She lifted her gaze to meet Antonio's, her eyes mirroring his remorse. "No!" she cried.
Tears welled up in Sarah's eyes, her throat parched, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Antonio Valencia," she said, "I need to tell you something. I've realized that I'm truly in love with you."
He was taken aback, he had not anticipated hearing these words, the ones he had yearned for, leaving him momentarily bereft of thought.
It had been an eternity since he last heard Sarah utter those three words, "I love you."
The last time felt like a lifetime ago.
Sarah's gaze dropped to Antonio's shoulder, her fingers gently entwining with his, her touch radiating a tender warmth.
"After that dream I had," she began, "I found myself wondering why, despite everything we've endured, we've never managed to be truly together."
"We've weathered the worst of storms, and we're back in each other's arms, so why does it feel like there's a residual obsession that refuses to release its grip?"
"Sarah..." Antonio began, but she cut him off.
"Antonio, deep down, I know we're the same," she said.
"Imagine for a moment, if I had been the one to receive intimate photos of you with another woman. I fear I would have reacted far more irrationally than you did. I would have wanted to flay you alive, to inflict upon you unbearable pain."
Sarah's lips pressed into a thin line.
"But you didn't. You never once considered abandoning me or our relationship."
"So many complications entwined us back then, and yet here we are. We've dispelled all misunderstandings, so why should we continue to dwell on them?"
A wave of emotion swelled within him, causing his nostrils to tingle.
Tears pooled in Sarah's eyes, but she smiled through them.
"Antonio, I owe you an apology. I was too obstinate."
"If only I had come to this realization sooner, if only I had seen through it all, we could have spared ourselves so much pain. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
In response, two tears traced a path down Antonio's face, cascading freely.
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