The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Her words landed with unexpected force. I stopped struggling, my breath coming in short, painful gasps.

“Derek protected you because he wanted you to be okay,” she continued, her tone gentler now. “Do you think he’d want you risking

your recovery right now?

I closed my eyes, fresh tears escaping. She was right, and I hated it. I felt utterly helpless, trapped in a broken body while the person I loved fought for his life somewhere in this same building.

I tried to form words again, my lips moving silently: The answer… his question…

Olivia leaned closer, trying to understand. “You want to tell him something? Your answer to his question?”

I managed a small nod, relief flooding through me that she’d understood.

“I know,” she said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my forehead. “And you will tell him. But Derek protected you because he wanted you to be safe. If you hurt yourself more now, it would break his heart.”

The fight drained out of me at her words. She was right. Derek would want me to heal first. I closed my eyes and let my head sink back into the pillow, the tears continuing to fall silently.

Olivia gently wiped them away with a tissue. “The doctor said your injuries aren’t too serious. You should be able to get out of bed in about a week. She took my hand and squeezed it. “I promise I’ll visit Derek regularly and let you know how he’s doing. Every day. Every hour if you want.”

I nodded weakly, trying to convey my gratitude through my eyes since my voice still failed me.

“And as soon as you’re cleared to move around, I’ll wheel you to his room myself, even if I have to fight every nurse in this hospital,” Olivia added, a ghost of her usual fierce humor returning.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The panic was subsiding, replaced by a cold, clear resolve. I would get better. I would heal. For him.

Olivia sat quietly beside me, still holding my hand. After a while, she spoke again, her voice low and firm. “Derek Wells is one stubborn bastard. I don’t think he’s going to give up easily, especially not after finally telling you how he feels.”

I opened my eyes at that, finding her watching me with unexpected compassion.

All this time, I’d been so afraid to hope, to believe that Derek’s feelings for me could be real. And now, when we’d finally begun to bridge the distance between us, fate had cruelly intervened.

But I wouldn’t let that be the end of our story. I couldn’t.

As evening deepened into night, rain began to patter softly against the window-the same weather as yesterday, yet carrying

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Chapter 201

entirely different meaning now. Olivia had fallen asleep in the chair beside my bed, her head tilted at an uncomfortable angle that would surely leave her with a stiff neck in the morning.

I stared out at the rainy darkness, my thoughts reaching across the hospital toward wherever they were keeping Derek. In the quiet of my mind, where my voice still worked perfectly, I called out to him.

Wait for me, Derek. Please wait for me. This time, I won’t hesitate. This time, I won’t be afraid.

The promise formed in my heart, clear and unshakable. When-not if, but when-Derek opened his eyes, I would be there. And would tell him that my answer was yes. Yes to starting over. Yes to everything.

We had wasted too much time already.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love