CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
When the Storm Finally Rested
The crash never came.
Just as the truck bore down on them, time itself seemed to pause. The air thickened, the wind howled, and from nowhere a violent whirlwind rose, wrapping itself around the car like living arms.
The road screamed beneath spinning dust and water, and in a blink, Linah was torn from the vehicle—lifted gently, impossibly—away from the metal and fire that followed.
The water spirits had seen it.
The ancient clan of Linah's mother had answered.
The car was crushed beneath the truck moments later.
When the world settled, Linah lay on the roadside, surrounded by silence and rain. Her body trembled, her hands instinctively cradling her stomach. She was alive. The child inside her still breathed.
The butler survived too—injured, unconscious, but alive. The evil that had used him fled at the moment of impact, leaving only broken flesh behind.
The hospital was chaos when Mako arrived.
He stormed through the doors like a king at war, his presence freezing everyone in his path. Doctors scattered. Nurses whispered. Orders were given before anyone could speak.
"I want every specialist," Mako commanded, his voice shaking despite his strength.
"Touch my wife with care. Save my child."
For the first time in centuries, Mako cried.
Not quietly.
Not with dignity.
Tears fell freely as he stood beside Linah's bed, holding her hand, pressing his forehead against her knuckles as if anchoring himself to her existence.
The hospital room was quiet except for the steady rhythm of the machines beside Linah's bed. Soft morning light slipped through the curtains, resting gently on her pale face. Mako stood beside her, holding her hand as if letting go would invite the darkness back. For the first time since the accident, the doctors had finally given them reassuring words — both mother and child were safe.
When Linah slowly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Mako's face, tired yet glowing with relief. His eyes were red, betraying the tears he had tried so hard to hide.
"You scared me," he whispered, pressing her hand against his chest. "I thought I was going to lose everything."
Linah smiled weakly. "I heard your voice… even when I thought I was drifting away."
Mako bent down and kissed her forehead, his hands trembling. He was a powerful man feared by many, yet before her, he was only a husband who had almost lost the woman carrying his unborn child.
Outside the room, Mako did not forget the butler whose body had been used by dark forces. He ordered the best doctors to attend to him, paid every medical bill without hesitation, and granted him a long sick leave with full monthly payment.
"What happened was not your fault," Mako told him firmly. "Rest and heal. You are still part of this family."
The butler wept quietly, gratitude heavier than words.
Days later, once Linah was strong enough to walk again, Mako made a decision that surprised everyone — he closed his office doors and handed all company matters to John.
"My wife and my child come first," he said coldly to the board.
"Nothing else matters."
That very week, he took Linah abroad, far from whispers, enemies, and shadows. He chose a peaceful destination where the sea kissed the sky and the air felt untouched by evil.
Their hotel overlooked the ocean. Each morning, Linah woke to the sound of waves and Mako's arms around her, protective even in sleep. He personally ensured she ate well, walked gently, and rested often. He refused to leave her side.
"You don't have to watch me like this," Linah teased one afternoon as they sat on the balcony.
"I do," Mako replied seriously. "Because the world already tried to take you from me once."
At night, they talked about the baby — what name they would choose, whose eyes the child might have, and what kind of future awaited them. Mako often placed his hand on Linah's stomach, speaking softly to the unborn child, promising protection and love.
One evening, after a quiet dinner by candlelight, Mako surprised Linah with a slow dance in their hotel room. There was no music, only the sound of their breathing and the distant ocean.
"I never had time to love properly," Mako admitted, resting his forehead against hers. "Power consumed me. Fear shaped me. But you… you softened me."
Linah's eyes filled with tears. "And you taught me that love can be strong, not just gentle."
They held each other longer than time itself, finding comfort in closeness rather than passion. It was not a honeymoon of luxury — it was a honeymoon of healing.
Yet far away, unseen eyes still watched.
The evil ruler, weakened but not defeated, felt the child's growing power ripple through unseen realms. His fury burned quietly now, replaced by patience. Dark forces whispered, waiting for the right moment.
Back on the balcony, Linah suddenly felt a strange breeze circle around her, cool and familiar. The water in the ocean stirred unnaturally, forming gentle waves that shimmered under the moonlight.
Mako noticed it too.
"They are watching over us," Linah whispered, instinctively touching her stomach.
Mako pulled her closer. "Then let them watch. I am ready for whatever comes."
But deep within the shadows of destiny, fate had not finished writing its chapter — and the child growing inside Linah was already awakening powers that neither love nor evil could control.
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY NINE