Chapter 496 - Suffocating Guilt

Dr. Snow opened the door of the hotel room and lowered his head when he saw Max at the door. Quentin, Hunter, Mia, and Brianna were right behind Max.

Dr. Snow moved to the side to let them in and Max went straight to the bed where Liz was lying.

Max's brows furrowed with grief when he saw bruises and swelling on Liz's face.

"How is she?", Max asked with a voice devoid of emotions. He was feeling relief and grief and anger and so many other things at the same time that they nullified each other.

"Unconscious but stable. I didn't notice any broken bones or internal injuries, but I suggest you take her to the hospital to make sure. I applied the first aid. She should wake up soon.", Dr. Snow said.

The truth is that Liz was waking up, but she lost consciousness again, probably due to the pain she was experiencing, but Dr. Snow was unable to give her painkillers because she needs to swallow them and he didn't have the equipment to give her a shot or an IV.

"I am truly sorry…", Dr. Snow said. "I didn't know…"

"How can you be so stupid?", Brianna snapped. "What did you think will happen when you work with Irene?"

"Irene?", Dr. Snow asked.

"She is Max's ex from college.", Mia said. "Irene was angry that Max fell in love with Liz and forgot about her, so she got a job at the Alpha group and tried selling its secrets. When that failed, Irene hired assassins to kill Liz. Did you think that she will get her hands on Liz so that they can drink tea and exchange love stories?"

Dr. Snow lowered his head. "I didn't know."

"Ignorance is not an excuse!", Brianna shouted.

"Shh… don't disturb Liz…", Mia tried to pacify Brianna.

They all looked at Liz who stirred and moaned softly. "Max…"

Max was on his knees next to the bed. He wanted to hug Liz, but he feared that he will hurt her. "I'm here, love. I am so sorry…"

Liz's eyes fluttered open. "Hey…", she breathed. "Am I dead?" Before anyone could answer, Liz grimaced. "Nope… I'm alive."

Max exhaled heavily. "How can you joke at a time like this?"

Liz reached to his face and cupped his cheek in her palm. "I thought I lost you."

Max's heart cracked. He tilted his head and kissed the inside of her palm. "If you did, I would follow you, as soon as I killed Irene."

"You being here, does that mean that Irene is gone?"

"I have her, and she can't hurt us anymore.", Max said. He saw that Liz tried getting up and he was not sure if he should help her to sit or push her back on the bed.

"How are you feeling?", Brianna's concerned voice reached Liz.

"I was better.", Liz responded.

"Maybe you shouldn't move.", Mia suggested.

"No. I'm fine. Hold me, Max…", Liz demanded. She was in distress and everything was aching, and she wanted Max's super-healing hug which makes everything better. The whole night Liz feared that she will not see Max again, and now that he was next to her, Liz wanted to feel him.

Max scooped Liz in his arms carefully and sat on the bed with Liz in his lap.

Liz looked at her left hand and with her thumb rotated the engagement ring on her left finger. The moment Liz realized that Irene has her, she turned the ring so that the diamond is facing her palm and she balled her hand into a fist, exposing to the outside just the empty band which looked like a plain golden ring. Liz knew that if Irene saw the engagement ring, she would take it away, and Liz was not ready to part from it because at that time it was the only thing that connected her to Max, and it reminded her that there are good things in life.

"Can I have some water?", Liz asked while licking her dried lips.

Mia reached for the water bottle that was on the table and handed it to Max.

Liz took a few sips and hummed in satisfaction.

Liz rested her head on Max's shoulder and took a deep breath before looking around the room. She smiled a little when she met the concerned gazes of Quentin, Brianna, Hunter, Mia… and her smile fell when she saw Dr. Snow.

Liz closed her eyes and took a few breaths before looking up at Max. "Take me home, Max."

Dr. Snow made a step toward the bed. "Elizabeth, I…"

Liz frowned and Max touched her chin to make her look at him. "Let him talk, love."

Liz was surprised that Max is speaking up for Dr. Snow. She didn't want to have anything to do with that man anymore. It was all his fault. If he didn't trick her into that lunch where she ended up drugged, she would not find herself in a night from hell.

She looked at Dr. Snow, silently giving him permission to speak.

Dr. Snow took a deep breath and words poured out of him: "I didn't think it will end this way. If I knew that the woman is violent, I would never agree to her plan. You see, Liz… I liked you even before we met, and when we met I fell for you completely. No matter what I tried it didn't work and it backfired, and when you agreed to marry Max, I was jealous, and I wanted to show you that he is not great and that he can't protect you. The woman said that she will only keep you away for a few hours and I even checked the drug that she gave you to make sure it's safe. Her goal was to use your disappearance to give Max some hard time and I believed that she will not harm you. I was supposed to come and pick you up in the morning, but I came earlier and when I saw… I took you away and I can't find words that will explain how sorry I am for everything. I didn't know."

"He called me to say that you are here.", Max said.

Liz understood the situation. Dr. Snow was manipulated by Irene and as much as Liz wanted to hate him for it, he was the one who called Max and told him where Liz was, despite the consequences. 

But Liz was burning with anger and she had to say what was on her mind or she will risk that this stupid doctor intrudes in her life again.

"Chris, you say that you love me, but when you love someone, you do what they want. If you don't know what the other party wants, you observe or ask, and not make a mess after mess persistently. When we met, I was content that we are coworkers and happy to accept you as a friend, but you didn't get it. And then you sent flowers at work which made everyone misunderstand our relationship, and it interfered with my career, but you didn't get it. You see, I don't think that you love me. You love the idea of me because you don't know who I am and what I want."

Liz paused before adding, "Let's imagine that your plan worked, and I have a change of heart about Max and we break up. Do you think that would be enough for me to accept you? What you did was not winning me over but trying to draw a wedge in my existing relationship. There is a difference. A big one."

Liz looked at Max and smiled a little. "I am not with Max because there is no one else. I am with him because he won my heart with patience and support and he paid attention to what I want without being intrusive. He made me feel that he is the best man for me without degrading others."

Max's heart swelled from love and he leaned his forehead on Liz's while hoping that he will not hurt her.

"I love you, Liz…", Max murmured.

"I love you too, Max…", Liz responded dreamily.

She wanted to leave this hotel room and cuddle with Max, but she wanted to say something else to Dr. Snow. "Chris, I guess I should thank you for taking me away from that place and for calling Max. But I will not thank you for drugging me and putting me in danger. One right does not fix the wrong. It does not work like that in real life. Maybe I will be able to forgive you after I calm down and my wounds heal but right now I can't, and I hope that you will be wise enough to stay away from me going forward. We will not report you to the police, consider that as my thanks."

She looked at Max pleadingly. "Take me home, Max."

Max understood that Liz had enough. He stood up and carried her to the car that waited for them.

Quentin, Brianna, Hunter, and Mia followed, leaving Dr. Snow in the room on his own.

When Dr. Snow called Max and revealed that he has Liz, he was mentally prepared that he will get a beating and end up in jail. None of those happened, but he didn't feel better about the situation. Actually, it made him feel worse as he was left hanging with the suffocating guilt which consumed him.

Dr. Snow remembered the feeling of unconscious Liz as he carried her from the warehouse. The strong woman who shines brilliantly was so fragile and appeared broken as if her light was dying and it was all his fault. Is Liz ever going to forgive him? Will he be able to forgive himself?

He sat on the floor of that hotel room and thought about everything that Liz said. Many things didn't make sense, but he hoped that in time he will be able to understand the type of love Liz spoke about. And maybe, just maybe, that can help him understand the gravity of his acts and it will be a step in the direction of forgiveness. 

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