Chapter 59
On the drive to the Harris’ mansion, I can’t stop overthinking about the situation. I also can’t help but feel doubtful about my decision to come with Savannah, firstly because I feel like I’ll only be a burden and would be unhelpful, and second is, me, crazily thinking if this is just Stefano’s tactic for me to come back.
A phone ringing almost had me jumping out of my seat. It was Savannah’s.
She didn’t speak for a couple of seconds, which made me anxious.
“Okay. We’re almost there.”
That’s the last thing she said before hanging up the phone. Instinctively, I turned to her hoping it was news worth hearing. She turns to me and smiles.
“They found him. He’ll be fine.”
“Are they with him?”
“No. They’re on their way to the location. We’ll stay at the mansion —”
“No! I did not come with you to just sit and wait at the mansion! I have to see him alive with my own eyes!”
“Emily, it’s dangerous —”
“The moment I stepped in this car, I knew that there’s no turning back no matter how dangerous it could be. I walked away from him, only to come back and you want me to just lock myself inside a house and wait? No. Even if you don’t take me there, I will find a way to leave.”
Savannah stared at me blankly. I kept my eyes on her as well. I made sure that my gaze would tell her that I already made my decision and no one can change it.
She sighs, showing defeat. She turns to the driver. “Drive to Stefano’s location.”
I sighed in relief.
Savannah kept reminding me that once we get there, I am not allowed to leave her sight. I am now allowed to go near, or inside the place. That I should follow their protocol. I kept saying yes, but to be honest nothing else sticks to my mind because of how nervous I am.
I kept praying for Stefano’s safety. I want to see him unharmed. I want to hear him get mad at me for leaving. I want him to nag. I want us to fight. I will keep wanting everything if that’s what it takes to have him alive.
But what makes me nervous is the thought of him begging me to stay.
Minutes that felt hours — finally we arrived.
We are distanced from the location, and a lot of cars are already surrounding the area. Savannah and I got out and walked to where the rest of the Harris’ are.
“What’s the status?” Savannah asked.
“Stefano and Patrick are fighting each other.”
“Why are we not entering yet?”
“We're aiming for the right time. We can’t have Patrick holding Stefano as we enter.”
“And it has to take this long?! We have to —”
Savannah’s words were cut off when a gunshot shocked us all. 
“No,” I muttered shakily. The sound came from where Stefano is. “No!” I ran towards the warehouse. I know that I am not thinking straight — but fuck it!
“Emily!” I heard Savannah, and the rest, shouting my name — probably making me stop from running into danger. But all I could hear was my heart pounding.
I opened the door and immediately saw Stefano sitting on the ground. He is grabbing his left shoulder.
“STEFANO!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
He looked in my direction, and I quickly saw the changes in his eyes the moment it landed on mine.
Another gunshot emerged, and I saw it — how Patrick shot Stefano’s leg. 
I shouted as I made my way towards them. “DON’T COME HERE, EMILY! LEAVE!” Stefano shouted, making me halt my steps. “Please! JUST LEAVE!”
I started trembling as tears fell down my eyes. “I–I… I—”
I couldn’t find any words to say. I should leave, right? I will only be a burden to him if I stay, right?
But why does my feet move on its own? It’s moving towards where my heart is.
“Emily!” I could hear several voices shouting my name. But all I could hear was how my heart was racing, and all I could see was Stefano's eyes begging me to walk away.
“What a heartwarming scene. Ready to die together?”
“If…” I mouthed as my voice shivers. “If I die… even if I die… I would not walk away… again.”
“Emily, please! Leave!”
I shook my hands as tears fell down from my eyes.
Suddenly, everything passed through me at the speed of light.
Patrick aimed to shoot me. Then I closed my eyes, waiting for my death while wishing that I could hug Stefano for the last time. But that didn't happen.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a back figure — a person standing in front of me. She… shields me from the bullet of my death.
Trembling, I called out her name. “V-Veronica.” I covered my mouth in shock and hurriedly tried to catch her as she fell down. “W-Why did you —”
“Because he loves you.” She coughs blood and I quickly panic. She forces a smile with her mouth now covered in blood. “H-He needs you… so my son can h-have him.”
“No! No… please. J-Just hang on a little. I-I’ll get help.” I was about to stand but she pulled my hand, making me stop. I turned to her, and I could see tears starting to flow down from her eyes. “Love… them both… for me.”
I shook my head as I cried harder. “No! L-Love them both on your own! Noah… you can’t leave him! He needs his mother, so wait for me! I will get help!”
“Noah… N-Noah… misses you.”
“Shut up and just let me go so I can get help! You can’t die! I don’t want to owe the ex-girlfriend of my man so fucking stay alive!” She forces a laugh but then coughs out blood — harder. “I’ll get help.”
I turned around, about to run out, but then halted as she spoke her last breath. “I can never… and will never… replace you in his heart. Stefano needs you, and Noah needs him. J-Just… Just please promise me… you’ll love them both.”
“No… please.” I whispered helplessly.
“You’ll… do great… t-than I ever did.”
“JUST SHUT UP!” I turned around and witnessed how her hand lifelessly fell down on the ground. “N-No… NO!” I kneeled down and started shaking her. “You can’t die! No! You can’t die on me! Noah… N-Noah is waiting for you! Wake up! WAKE UP!” 
I broke down in tears, helplessly crying and shouting as I hugged her lifeless body.
“H-How am I going to tell Noah? P-Please don’t… don’t die. I can’t tell him… that his mother will never come back to him. Please! Y-You can’t leave him like this!”
I don’t know how long I have been crying and shouting — begging Veronica to come back to life. I didn’t even realize that the police, together with the men of Harris, had already arrested Patrick and had saved Stefano.
Stefano pulled me as they took Veronica’s lifeless body. I slowly turned to him.
“S-She saved… she saved me.” Stefano nodded as he pulled me into his arms. “Noah will hate me. H-How… how can I face him? I-I can’t do this, Stefano.”
“Noah will never hate the woman his mother saved.”