CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 182 HIS HUG

The nurse pointed down the corridor. They didn’t wait for more.

Leonardo’s eyes darted around the hallway as they neared the waiting room. He spotted them—his parents, seated tensely, his mother wringing her hands, his father looking pale. Relatives of Alexa’s family stood near them, whispering quietly with drawn faces.

Before he could say anything, Jay’s voice came from beside him.

"Mom—where’s Bella?"

And just before Lina could answer, a soft voice called out behind them.

"...I’m here, Jay Jay."

They both turned.

Bella was standing there, holding a water bottle. She had seen them rushing in from the car and had called out, but they hadn’t heard her.

Leonardo’s breath caught.

She was still wearing that peach dress from the wedding—torn at the hem, stained with soot and blood. Her hands and knees were wrapped in white bandages. Her hair was a bit messy, cheeks pale. But she was standing safe..

Jay immediately rushed over and pulled her into a hug. "Bella Bell... I’m sorry. We didn’t answer. We were caught up in—"

"It’s okay," she said softly, patting his back with a tired smile.

When Jay let go, Leonardo was still standing there, frozen.

His eyes moved slowly across her face, then down to her scraped knees, the quiet way she stood alone.

If you don’t move now... someone else will. Do or lose, Leo. There’s no middle.

And before he could hesitate—he stepped forward.

Bella looked up at him just in time.

Her eyes widened as she saw the tightness in his jaw, the storm in his expression, the way his breath came slower, heavier, like he was holding back a thousand words behind sealed lips.

Then he stopped in front of her.

And then without warning he pulled her into his arms.

Tightly.

One arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other gently resting against her head, tucking her into his chest as he lowered his face to her shoulder.

Bella froze.

Her eyes were so wide they could’ve fallen out of her head.

She blinked once.

Twice.

Was this real?!

She could feel the warmth of his breath against her collarbone, the quiet thud of his heartbeat brushing against her ear. She could feel the subtle tremble in his chest and the way his fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, gripping it like he thought she might vanish again if he didn’t hold on tightly enough.

Her hands lifted slightly—awkward, hesitant—hovering in the air for a moment as if they weren’t sure what to do. She was frozen, caught somewhere between surprise and disbelief, her body stiff in his arms.

She was standing in the middle of a hospital hallway.

Bright lights above.

The quiet hum of machines and murmurs of families all around.

Jay was watching. So were a few others.

But all she could feel was Leonardo, holding her like she was something fragile and lost, his face pressed against her shoulder as if staying like this was the only thing keeping him steady.

After a long, wordless moment, Leonardo finally loosened his arms and stepped back.

His eyes didn’t meet hers.

He looked away sharply, like he hadn’t meant to do it. Like something inside him had snapped and now he was trying to sew it back up before anyone saw.

Bella stood frozen, blinking fast, still holding her half-empty water bottle in one hand. Her heartbeat was a mess. Her cheeks were warm. And her brain?

Completely confused.

Why did he hug me...?

Bella looked at him, but he was already walking away—toward his parents, his steps fast, his shoulders stiff.

She bit her lip and moved over to stand beside Jay, who was watching her closely.

"You okay?" he asked softly, still clearly shaken.

Bella nodded faintly. "Yeah."

Jay exhaled. "What happened?"

Bella looked down at her bandaged hands for a moment, then slowly told him everything—how Alexa drove off like a storm, how Reyna and Emilio chased after her, how their car flipped, how she had run down the hill, broken open the door, pulled them out one by one. The smoke. The fire. The second before it exploded.

Jay clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles went white.

"That witch..." he muttered, jaw tight. "Because of her, her parents almost died. And she hasn’t even shown up?"

Bella looked up and slowly shook her head.

Jay stepped back, staring in disbelief.

"She didn’t even come to check if they were alive?! Not even a call? Nothing?"

"No one’s heard from her," Bella whispered, voice heavy.

Jay’s shoulders dropped in disbelief. "How can anyone be so cruel?"

Bella nodded, her expression soft and tired. "I’ve been thinking the same thing..."

After what felt like hours of waiting in stiff chairs and pacing silent hallways, the ICU doors finally opened.

A doctor stepped out slowly, removing his gloves, his face pale and drawn. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days—creases under his eyes, the tired way his shoulders slumped as he approached the waiting crowd.

Everyone stood up immediately.

Relatives from both sides of the DeLuna family surrounded him, eyes wide with hope and fear.

Lina and Alessandro rose too, standing silently nearby, while Bella remained behind Jay, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her bandage.

"Doctor," one of the elder relatives asked, voice trembling, "how... how are they? Are they okay?"

The doctor took a moment to breathe, glancing at the cluster of anxious faces. "Miss Reyna DeLuna’s condition is stable," he began, nodding once. "She has some minor injuries—superficial glass cuts on her hands and arms, light bruising on her shoulder, and a small bump on her head. Nothing serious or life-threatening. She’s unconscious at the moment, but her vitals are steady and there’s no sign of internal damage. She just needs rest."

Some relatives exhaled softly, a few holding each other’s hands.

But the doctor’s expression didn’t ease.

He looked heavier when he continued.

"Mr. Emilio DeLuna... his condition was more serious," he said slowly, carefully choosing his words. "The accident caused severe head trauma. He had internal swelling near the left side of his brain, which we managed to relieve with immediate surgical intervention. It will take time to know the full effects."

Gasps filled the hallway.

The doctor went on gently, "Additionally, his legs were crushed during the vehicle’s collapse. Both femurs were fractured in multiple places, and the nerves around his lower spine sustained trauma during impact. As of now... his legs are not responding to movement."