"You're safe now," his voice was hoarse as he stroked her back, comforting her softly. "I'm here. I came to get you."

Eleanor closed her eyes as a tear slipped down her cheek. She had been absolutely terrified all night, but knowing he was coming had given her endless hope.

Out in the hallway, rescue teams were moving floor by floor to evacuate the guests.

lan held Eleanor's hand, leading her out. As the guests exited the hotel, a collective sense of surviving a nightmare washed over them.

At that moment, Eleanor spotted over a dozen bodies covered in white sheets in the hotel lobby. Her heart grew unimaginably heavy.

Seeing this scene only carved a deeper sense of lingering dread into lan's soul.

This Terrorist Attack had been contained to a small area. Had it escalated, he couldn't even bear to imagine the consequences.

Bullet casings and bloodstains littered the ground. Ian pressed her face against his chest. "Don't look."

Eleanor nodded, leaning into his embrace as they walked toward the waiting cars outside.

Once inside, lan ordered the driver to head to one of his properties in the area. The bodyguard detail had doubled, and the three-car convoy sped toward the affluent district.

They drove into a quiet, exclusive neighborhood filled with top-tier luxury mansions and maximum security.

It was one of lan's properties, a place Eleanor had actually stayed at for a while in the past.

Thanks to regular maintenance, it was spotless and welcoming.

"Go take a shower first, then get some real sleep."

As the hot water cascaded over her, Eleanor finally felt like she was coming back to life.

The terror, tension, and helplessness of the night slowly washed away, but whenever she closed her eyes, haunting flashes of the ordeal lingered.

Stepping out in her pajamas, she was greeted by lan handing her a glass of warm milk.

Eleanor took it and picked up an iPad to check the news. Watching the footage of several hotel staff being gunned down made her chest tighten all over again.

lan went to shower. When he came out and saw her staring blankly at the screen, he walked over. "What's wrong?"

Eleanor shook her head. Even though she was safe, the residual fear clung to her.

lan reached out and pulled her into his arms. Surrounded by his familiar scent, she murmured, "Thank you for coming."

lan looked down at her. "Do you have any idea what I went through to get here?"

The moment he heard that explosion over the phone, his heart had practically stopped.

"Those dozen hours on the flight were the most agonizing moments of my entire life," lan said, resting his chin against her hair. "I was stuck in the art coulda't do anything but wait..."

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Feeling his racing heartbeat, Eleanor realized he needed comforting just as much as she did.

She instinctively reached up to gently stroke his chest. "It's okay. I'm fine now."

lan dipped his head, holding her even tighter. "From now on, no matter where you go, I'm going with you."

Beneath the lingering dread in his voice was a fierce, borderline obsessive determination.

Eleanor froze for a second, staying quiet in his embrace.

Listening to his frantic pulse, a powerful, overwhelming thought suddenly seized her.

As she had hidden in that dark corner listening to gunfire and explosions all night, countless- thoughts Had flashed through her mind She thought of her father, her daughter, and him. 'FindNovel.net

If she hadn't lived to see him arrive...

Would she have had regrets?

Eleanor thought about it. Yes, she would have.

And that regret was something she could fix right now.

"lan," Eleanor called out softly.

"Yeah?" lan murmured hoarsely, gently stroking her hair.

Eleanor lifted her head from his chest and looked him in the eyes.

They were bloodshot and exhausted, yet nothing could mask the deep, unbreakable love swirling within them.

She reached up, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek.

"Let's get remarried," she said.

lan froze.

He stared at her, his pupils constricting as if he couldn't quite process what she had just said.

"What... what did you just say?"

Eleanor smiled, though her eyes

brimmed with tears. She took a deep breath said, let's get remarried, As soon as we get back let's go get our marriage license. Okay?"