CHAPTER FIVE

~~~MARCUS' POV~~~~

“Marcus... wake up.”

A soft but firm voice pulled me out of the darkness. My body felt heavy and my mind foggy, but the voice kept calling me.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was a pair of emerald-green eyes staring into mine.

Laura.

She was leaning over me with her brows drawn together in worry. Her hand was warm against my forehead, brushing away damp strands of hair.

I could feel the sweat on my skin, and my shirt clung to me like a second skin. My breathing was uneven, and my heart was still racing.

“Are you having a bad dream?" she asked with a voice soft but filled with concern. "You looked so scared."

I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head.

The dream still felt too real, like it’s currently happening—the cold water dragging me down, fear clawing at my chest as I screamed for help, and the helplessness as I struggled to breathe.

But it wasn't just a dream.

It was a memory that happened years ago.

I forced a smile, not wanting her to see how much it still haunted me. "It’s nothing.”

Laura didn't look convinced. “Marcus, you're sweating so much," she whispered, her fingers still resting against my skin. "What were you dreaming about?"

But I didn't reply. I just kept looking at her worried face, as if I was trying to read her mind.

“This doesn't seem good. Wait, let me get you a wet towel.”

Laura stood up to leave but I quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her back to the bed.

She gasped.

My hand found her waist, and I pulled her closer, our faces just a few inches apart.

She didn't resist but just let me hold her, and her warmth chased away the cold fear that still lingered inside me.

"You," I said quietly. "I was thinking about you. About how you saved me from drowning that day... and how I woke up in the hospital and saw you beside me."

A small smile played on her lips as she tilted her head. "Oh, I see. But why do you still think about that?" she asked, brushing her fingers through my hair. "It was so long ago."

"Because I can never forget what you did for me," I murmured. "I owe you my life, Laura. You were my savior, and you gave me a purpose to live again."

She smiled wider, and her fingers traced small circles on my shoulder. "Of course, I am your savior, and you must never forget that," she said softly. "Do you know how worried I was after pulling you out of the water that day? I was so scared you weren't going to make it that I stood by you, waiting and praying for someone to come until the ambulance arrived."

“Yeah, that's right. And I'll forever be grateful for that.”

I closed my eyes for a second, letting her words sink in. It felt good hearing it from her and knowing that the girl who had saved my life was still here with me.

That she had never left, despite the fact that everyone else leaves me.

But then—

Something in my mind shifted, and my eyes snapped open. "Laura."

“Yes, baby.”

“I thought you left?"

"Huh? I'm still here." She blinked.

I frowned slightly. "I mean… I just... I remember something different from what you said."

“What?”

The memory was blurry, but I could still see it. After the girl pulled me out of the water, through my hazy vision, I could hear a voice calling for help, but no help came. So she then told me to wait, that she would get someone. I watched how she rushed off to seek help and then I lost consciousness.

"I thought you ran to get help first?"

Laura tilted her head, her gaze moving away from mine as she tried to remember.

Then she laughed, and her fingers tightened slightly against my skin. "Of course, I did," she said quickly. "Why?"

"But you just said you were by my side till the ambulance arrived."

Laura's lips parted slightly but then she smiled again, shaking her head. "Oh, did I?" She laughed, hitting my chest playfully. "It was such a long time ago, babe. It's obvious that I can't remember it clearly," she said lightly. "Maybe I did run for help and later came back. It's hard to remember everything perfectly."

I stared at her, and my heart beat a little faster.

Has she always said that?

I didn't really remember.

She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss against my forehead. "Stop thinking too much, it's all in the past," she whispered. "You're mine now, aren't you?"

I smiled, using my finger to brush her nose playfully as her words made me forget everything else.

Then I wrapped my arms around her, making her bury her head in my chest. She giggled softly as I pressed a kiss on her head.

"You'll always be my savior," I murmured against her skin. "And I'll never forget what you did for me."

She didn't say anything for a moment but just held me tighter.

Laura is more than the only woman in my life. She knows everything about me, about the real Marcus Lorenzo. You see, I didn't just become the grandson of the Lorenzo family because I was born into this family. I became one after a series of hardships and even ended up living in an orphanage with Laura and Jake.

And through me, Laura met her adopted parents.

Back then…....

Laura's phone beeped, bringing me out of my thoughts and she slightly pulled away, still lying half on top of me.

As she checked her phone, her expression changed instantly. The smile that had warmed her face seconds ago vanished, and something dark and troubled replaced it.

"What's wrong?" I asked, pushing myself up on my elbows.

She didn't answer and just stared at the screen, her lips pressed together in a thin line. I could see her hands trembling slightly.

"Laura?" I called, but she just stayed frozen.

I gently reached for her phone and took it away from her hand to see what could have upset her so quickly.

On the screen was a message from someone, showing that Laura’s parents had shared another notice about their missing daughter.

"They're still looking for her," Laura whispered, and her voice cracked. "After all these years, they still won't let go."

I looked up from the phone to see tears rolling down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly, but more followed.

"Hey," I said softly, setting the phone aside and pulling her into my arms. "Come here."

She buried her face against my chest, and I felt her shoulders shake. I held her tightly and stroked her hair, unsure of what to say.

Her parents had never stopped searching for their biological daughter who had disappeared years ago. Even though they had adopted Laura and given her everything, they continued to search as if a part of them would always remain incomplete.

"I thought they had finally moved on," she said, her words muffled against my shirt. "I've tried so hard, Marcus. I've tried to be everything they could want in a daughter. I get perfect grades, I help with their charity events. I never cause trouble. But it's like... it's like no matter what I do, there's always this ghost between us."

I kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer. "But that doesn't mean they don't love you."

"Doesn't it though?" She pulled back to look at me with red-rimmed eyes. "What happens if they find her someday? What happens to me then?"

The fear in her voice made my heart ache. I reached up to wipe away a tear with my thumb.

"Listen to me," I said, looking directly into her eyes. "Your parents love you. Searching for their biological daughter doesn't change that. People can love more than one person at once, you know."

"But what if they find her and don't want me anymore?" The question came out in a whisper so full of vulnerability it made my chest tight. "What if they tell me to leave because their real daughter is back?"

I shook my head firmly. "That won't happen. Your parents aren't like that."

"You don't know that," she insisted.

"Yes, I don't," I said, taking her hands in mine. "But my family has known your family for a long time. They're good people. And even if the absolute worst happened..." I squeezed her hands. "You'd still have me. You'll always have me, Venessa. No matter what happens, I'll be right here."

She looked at me for a long moment, like she was searching for something in my face. Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips against mine.

The kiss was desperate at first, then softened into something sweeter.

But as I wanted to deepen the kiss, images flashed in my head. Images of the woman I slept with a week ago.