Fired Up

Valeria's POV

I could hear the soft ticking of the clock, each second dragging on like an eternity. My body still ached from the remnants of the crash, my ribs throbbing with every shallow breath I took, but there was something else—an emotional heaviness weighing me down.

I hadn't spoken to Lewis about everything that had happened. The pain was still too fresh, too raw, and I wasn't sure how to explain it to him. But I knew I had to. After everything we'd been through, he deserved to know the truth.

As I finally tried to sit up, I felt a sense of relief that the physical pain, while still unbearable at times, was beginning to fade. The memories of that night, however, still haunted me.

When I saw Lewis walk into the room, I wanted to tell him. I wanted to pour out everything I had been holding in, but I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to relive that nightmare.

But then he spoke, his voice steady but filled with concern. "Clara already told me, Valeria."

My heart sank. I hadn't even had a chance to explain everything to him myself. He already knew.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice breaking, "I wanted to tell you. I just... it's hard."

Lewis sat down beside me, his hand gently brushing mine. His eyes were filled with so much understanding, so much care. "I know. You don't have to explain everything right now. You've been through enough."

I blinked away the tears that had started to form. He wasn't angry. He wasn't upset with me. In fact, he was the opposite—his support was unwavering, even in the face of the most painful truth.

"I'm here for you, Valeria. Always," he whispered.

I felt a mix of relief and guilt flood through me. He was here for me, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to fully accept that. I had never felt so broken, so vulnerable.

"We're going to make sure Alejandro doesn't hurt you again," he continued, his voice firm, and I could tell he was already thinking ahead. "Have you thought about pressing charges?"

I nodded, feeling a quiet strength rise within me. "I will. I have to. I can't let him get away with this."

Lewis smiled softly, squeezing my hand. "Good. I'll be with you every step of the way."

The door opened, and Clara walked in with a warm, reassuring smile. "I talked to your parents, Valeria. Mateo is safe with them. He's going to be okay."

Tears threatened to spill again, but I held them back. The thought of Mateo being in my parents' care eased some of my fears. At least for now, he didn't have to witness everything I was going through.

"We're going to take care of everything," Clara said, sitting next to me. "And you're not alone in this, Valeria. You have us."

Lewis looked at Clara, his expression softening. "I'm going to Belgium for the weekend, but I'll be back on Sunday. I'll be here for you after that, every step of the way."

Clara gave him a gentle nod. "We've got this, Lewis. You take care of what you need to do. We'll look after Valeria while you're gone."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Despite the chaos, despite everything that had happened, I wasn't alone. I had people who cared about me, who wanted to see me get better.

And that included Lewis, who had become my rock through all of this.

The door opened again, and the doctor entered. He smiled at me softly, his tone professional but compassionate. "Ms. González, I understand you're ready to discuss the recovery process now. We'll go over everything you need to know."

I nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief. At least now, I could focus on getting better.

The doctor glanced at Lewis. "Since you'll be here in Madrid, Mr. Hamilton, I'll go over the specifics with you as well."

He turned back to me. "You'll need to take things slow, Valeria. Eleven broken ribs require significant time to heal. You'll need to rest, avoid any heavy lifting, and refrain from any intense physical activity for the next couple of months. You should also be careful with movement—any sudden jerks or twisting motions could worsen the fractures."

I nodded, taking in everything he said, but my mind was elsewhere. It was hard to focus on anything other than the emotional toll of everything that had happened.

"You'll need to breathe deeply several times a day," the doctor continued. "This will help prevent complications like pneumonia, which can be common with rib injuries. I recommend regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress."

Lewis nodded in understanding. "Got it. We'll make sure she's following the plan."

The doctor smiled and gave me a reassuring glance. "With proper care, Valeria, you should make a full recovery, but it will take time. It's important to be patient with your body."

"Thank you, doctor," I whispered, feeling a wave of gratitude.

After he left, I sank back into the pillows, exhaustion finally setting in. The next few months were going to be challenging, but for the first time since everything had happened, I didn't feel entirely alone. I had Lewis, Clara, and my family by my side, and that gave me a sense of hope.

As Lewis sat beside me, his hand resting gently on mine, I finally let myself relax, just a little.

"We'll get through this together," he said softly, his voice full of conviction.

And for the first time in a long while, I actually believed him.