Chapter 235: Reconnect
Vivian’s POV
Vivian was awake, that was a miracle. When she had been laying on her apartment floor, Bryce’s monstrous hands around her neck, his evil eyes boring into hers. Vivian had thought that, that would be the last time, that she would ever be aware of anything in the living world. But somehow she had survived. She had gotten to see her Ryan again, now she was in his arms, (something that he’d tried to resist until she’d worn him down using just the power of her eyes).
When Mark and Amy came around later that day, she would also be seeing them. Never in her life had she thought that she would be grateful just to see people, but she really was. Sure her neck was a mess, and she’d been informed that she would not be able to speak until the damage to her voice box healed. But to her, the biggest battle had already been fought and won.
Despite Bryce trying his best to end her, she wasn’t dead yet, so she could deal with everything else. She did not like that she had lost her voice, but realizing that she could have lost her life instead of that, made her very glad that being quiet, and careful when it came to moving her neck were the only things that she had to worry about.
Her head pillowed against Ryan’s chest, Vivian listened to the thump-thump of his heartbeat.
When he had gotten into bed with her, he had sworn up and down that it would only be for a short little while. But it had been over an hour since they had woken up from their nap, and Vivian had not let him leave. To be honest, Ryan was not in all that much of a hurry to get out of bed either. Their fingers entwined, Vivian closed her eyes for a moment to just allow herself to focus on the sound of Ryan’s heart. Re-opening them, she tilted her head up and kissed him on the cheek. In the past he had done that simple act so many times, and it had always come naturally to her, which was why she was taken completely by surprise by the pain that instantly bloomed from her neck. "Are you all right," Ryan asked. His worried voice making her realize that she had not been as good at hiding her pain as she’d thought, grabbing her phone Vivian typed out a quick reassurance.
[I am fine. I just forgot that I have to be more careful]. Before he could worry too much she squeezed his hand to let him know that she really was alright, then she settled down against him.
***
It was very, very tempting to just continue to lay in Ryan’s arms and pretend like she did not have any worries. But Vivian knew that she could not do that. Not only did she have worries. The things that she was worried about were very serious.
Picking up her phone, she typed out her thoughts and then allowed Ryan to read her message. [You know that it was Bryce who did this to me right?] Despite looking like he would rather be talking about anything other than that, Ryan nodded. "Yes, I know," he said, then he paused, clearing his throat and blinking far too fast. Something that told Vivian that he was fighting back tears.
"I got to your apartment while he was attacking you. I am the one who fought him off," Having not known that, Vivian’s question was what was to be expected after being told such serious information.
[Are you alright? Did you get hurt anywhere?] Bringing her hand to his lips, Ryan dropped a kiss there before answering her.
"I’m perfectly fine. I just had a few cuts on my hands and they’re mostly healed," She did not miss the fact that he was being very vague on that. But before she could ask, he dropped a piece of information that instantly had her attention.
"The person who did not get off easy is Bryce. I made sure to teach him a lesson that he will not be forgetting anytime soon," Her eyes widening, Vivian grabbed her phone again. Suppressing her frustration and having that be her only mode of communication, she began typing.
[Really? I wish I had been able to witness that. Is he currently stuck in hospital licking his wounds or is he in jail singing like a canary?]
***
"Let’s not talk about Bryce right now. You have only just woken up, discussing stressful things like him will only hinder your progress," As he said that, Ryan was not looking her in the eyes and Vivian instantly became suspicious.
"He got away, didn’t he?" A pained look in his eyes. Ryan nodded. "I was making sure that you are all right. And the next thing I knew I looked up and he was gone. I am so sorry for that,"
Bryce was out there...which meant he could come for her again. That had Vivian’s blood freezing in her veins.
[Has he tried to get at me since I have been here?] She typed the question with shaky fingers, barely able to hold the phone properly. As she waited for Ryan to finish reading an respond, Vivian tried not to let fear overwhelm her, but she still felt her heart rate picking up.
Bryce had escaped, he could still come after her. What if he was already in the hospital, just waiting for a chance to-
"He might have gotten away, but he is in no shape to come after you any time soon...I made sure of that," The quiet certainty in Ryan’s voice stilled Vivian’s panic.
[Did you make it hurt?] She asked, and Ryan nodded.
"I am pretty certain I broke some bones," Never in her life had Vivian thought she’d celebrate anyone getting such a serious beating, but she suddenly felt giddy.
Bryce might have gotten away, but Ryan had been sure to make him hurt. Thanks to that, her ex would not be coming for her any time soon. Relief flooding her, Vivian kissed Ryan’s cheek. Before she could fully settle down, she took a moment to reassure him.
[I do not blame you for his escape. You saved me, and you made sure that he limped out of there with his tail between his legs. I will forever be grateful to you.]
"You are not disappointed in me?" Despite the pain that it caused her, Vivian shook her head to show him how serious she was. Then she typed in her phone for good measure.
[You can never disappoint me]. Ryan looked at her for such a long time that it was clear he was looking for signs of deception from her. Vivian let him look, he would find none.
[Thank you for saving my life]. She typed out and she meant every word.
"You might not be so thankful towards me if you also knew what else I had done," Ryan told her, his hold on her tightening briefly before loosening, then he began talking and Vivian was left absolutely stunned.
***
Talk about a rollercoaster.
Ryan had saved her from her murderous ex. Now here he was, telling her that as far as the world knew, he had failed, that to everyone Vivian Rose was dead.
[Ryan, why did you do such a thing? My kids, that probably traumatized]. She added extra exclamation marks to let him know what an awful idea that had been. As though he was only just thinking of them, Ryan’s eyes widened, but then he shook his head. "It had to be done. I was buying you extra security. As a result of that, Gwendolyn and Bryce are operating on false information, either they are going to turn on each other or they are going on the run. Whichever move they make, it will be a mistake and I will be ready to scoop them up,"
Despite not liking it, Vivian realized that he was right. [I understand... and I forgive you.] She typed out, and with those simple words, she saw the last of the tension that had been clinging stubbornly to Ryan, melt away. Seen that reaction from him, made her feel a little bit bad. Here she was berating him for scarring her kids, but it seemed that the poor man had done a lot of damage to himself in an effort to protect her. There were no words, no actions, that she could ever say or do, that would truly show just how grateful she felt towards him. So Vivian decided to share words that meant the most to her.
[I love you.] She typed out, and Ryan gasped like it was the first time she was telling him that, silly man.
"I love you too," He whispered, pulling her closer still and Vivian let herself sink into the contact. Come what may, they would handle it together.