Chapter 287: Chapter 287 Family by Choice
Timothy’s POV
"No, please... come here..." The words scraped my throat raw, each syllable like swallowing glass. My chest burned as I struggled for air. "Please, don’t go..." Pain shot through me, but I pushed through it, desperate to make Jude stay.
Panic flashed across her face. She scooped up Harlow, who was still asleep, cradling her daughter as she rushed toward the door. Then a crash echoed behind her.
When she spun around, I was already sprawled on the floor. I’d tried dragging myself out of bed, but my body betrayed me—too damn weak to support my own weight.
Her eyes went wide. She quickly placed Harlow back on the sofa and hurried to my side.
"Are you hurt? What happened?" Her voice shook with worry. Guilt flickered in her expression, and when I reached out, she grasped my hand, ready to help me back to bed. Instead, I pulled her into my arms.
"Don’t go. Don’t leave me..." My voice came out like gravel, throat parched as desert sand. The memory hit me—one of those rebel bastards had slashed my neck. I’d torn him apart for it, but the damage was done.
The wound had healed, sure, but the agony lingered, made worse by all the blood I’d lost.
"Don’t go. Stay with me," I whispered, ignoring the fire in my throat as I held her tight. She tensed in my embrace.
"O... okay," she stammered, voice barely steady. She tried supporting my weight. "Come on, you need to get back in bed. Lean on me."
But I was too heavy for her small frame. After several failed attempts, she gave up.
"Let me get help," she said, but I tightened my hold, refusing to let her slip away.
"Royal gamma Timothy," she murmured, flustered by our closeness. If anything, I wanted us closer still.
"Timothy," I managed through the pain.
"What?"
"Just call me Timothy. I need you to say my name..."
She froze, uncertainty flickering across her face. She bit her lip while I waited, desperate to hear her voice wrap around my name.
But it wasn’t Jude who spoke first.
"Timothy," came a small voice.
Harlow had been watching everything.
"Timothy," Harlow repeated, hopping off the sofa and padding over to us.
Hearing her sweet voice, Jude and I instinctively pulled apart, suddenly aware of our little audience.
"Timothy? You’re awake?" Harlow asked, throwing her tiny arms around me. "I’m so happy you’re okay!"
Jude reached for her daughter, worried she might be bothering me.
"No, it’s gamma Timothy," she corrected gently. "You need to call him royal gamma Timothy."
Still hugging me, Harlow turned to her mother. "But he wants me to call him Timothy," the little girl argued.
Dread crossed Jude’s face as she looked at me, probably expecting anger as she tried pulling Harlow away. Instead, I smiled.
"She’s right. Call me by my name," I said softly, keeping Harlow close and preventing Jude from taking her. "Are you hurt?" I focused on the little girl now perched on my lap, all three of us still on the floor.
"No." She shook her head.
"Were you scared?" I ran gentle fingers through her hair, scanning her small body for any signs of harm.
"A little, but I knew you’d keep me safe." She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck, nearly choking me with her enthusiastic hug.
Fear flashed in Jude’s eyes, a haunted look that spoke of old trauma and past dangers. She immediately moved to retrieve her daughter.
Her maternal instincts screamed danger, urging her to pull Harlow from my arms before harm could come.
But I shook my head, stopping her. Instead, I hugged Harlow back and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Of course I’ll protect you." My gaze found Jude’s. "I want to protect both of you, if you’ll let me."
Those last words were meant for her.
Right then, I made my choice. It didn’t matter who Harlow’s father was or how she came to be. We were building a future, not dwelling on the past. This little girl would be mine in every way that counted.
All my doubts evaporated the moment I’d stepped between her and death without a second’s hesitation.
I loved this child as fiercely as I loved her mother.
"Will you let me protect you?" I asked.
"Yes!" Harlow bounced excitedly and planted kisses all over my cheek.
Those sweet kisses melted what was left of my walls. I never knew I could love this deeply, but these two girls owned my heart completely.
"Thank you." I extended my hand toward Jude. "Come here," I said quietly, my damaged throat screaming with every word. But I didn’t let the pain show.
