Chapter 293

I rushed through the hospital corridors, my heart pounding in my chest as I navigated my way to the room where Lucas and Kendrick were.

The sound of my footsteps echoed off the sterile walls, each step bringing me closer to the moment I had been anxiously awaiting.

Finally, I reached the door and pushed it open, stepping inside to find Lucas sitting beside his father's bed.

Relief flooded through me as I saw Kendrick. His eyes were closed, but I could tell that he was just asleep and not completely unconscious as the machines beeped steadily.

"Lucas, I'm here," I said softly, crossing the room to stand beside him. "I got your text. How's he doing?"

Lucas looked up at me, a grateful smile spreading across his face as he stood up. "Shana? What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean?" I asked with a frown. "I had to come as soon as I could once I found out he was awake. Are you okay?"

"I'm so glad you're here," he replied, his voice filled with emotion. He pulled me into a hug and I squeezed him tightly, shutting my eyes as his cologne flowed up my nostrils. "He's doing better. He woke up not too long ago, but he's still very tired."

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

"Thank goodness," I murmured, reaching out to squeeze Lucas's hand in reassurance. "I was so worried about him."

"He's okay. Like I said, he's exhausted. The doctor said he will still need a lot of rest in the coming days. I think his body is still adjusting to everything that has happened to him."

"Of course." I nodded. "His recovery won't be immediate."

Lucas nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah, it's going to take some time for him to fully recover," he replied, his voice tinged with worry. "But at least he's awake now, and that's a step in the right direction."

I squeezed his hand gently, offering him a kind smile.

"He's a strong man, Lucas," I said softly. "And with you by his side, I'm sure he'll make a full recovery in no time."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on us both. It had been a crazy few days, and I couldn't help but feel grateful that Lucas and his father were both okay.

"Hey, Shana," Lucas said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I know things have been busy for the both of us lately, and we haven't had much time to spend together..."

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt at the thought of neglecting our relationship in the midst of everything that had been happening. "I know," I replied, my voice tinged with regret. "I'm sorry, Lucas. I feel so guilty about it, and I miss you so much. I've been so caught up with helping Alex and everything..."

Lucas shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It's okay, Shana," he said softly. "I'm just glad you're here now. I've missed you a lot."

"I'll always be here for you, even if I'm not fully present," I said. "I always catch myself thinking about you."

Lucas's smile grew wider, a hint of warmth shining in his eyes. "I know what you mean. I feel the same way. You don't need to tell me any of this, though. I know how you feel."

I felt a surge of gratitude wash over me at his words. "I just miss you, Lucas. I miss us," I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "And I promise, once things settle down, we'll make up for all the time we've lost."

Lucas nodded, his expression filled with determination. "I'll be looking forward to that," he said sincerely. "But for now, I'm just grateful to have you here with me."

I returned his smile, feeling a sense of warmth spreading through me at his words.

"Me too," I replied, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "We've been through so much together. This is nothing compared to all of those times."

As our eyes met, a silent understanding passed between us, a shared love to be there for each other no matter what challenges lay ahead.

Leaning in close, I pressed my lips against his in a gentle kiss.

"Are you two lovebirds quite done?" A voice said from behind us, making me jump.

I turned in Lucas's arms to see Kendrick awake and blinking at us.

I laughed softly, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment as Kendrick's voice broke through our moment. "Sorry, Mr. Busch," I replied with a sheepish grin, trying to mask my embarrassment. "We were just catching up."

Kendrick chuckled, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes as he watched us.

"No need to apologize, Shana," he said warmly. "The two of you... you look good together."

I felt a rush of warmth spread through me at Kendrick's words, a sense of validation washing over me as I glanced up at Lucas, who was smiling back at me with a soft expression.

"Thank you," I replied, my voice tinged with gratitude. "That means a lot coming from you."

Kendrick nodded, his smile widening.

"I mean it," he said sincerely. "You two make a great team."

I smiled back, feeling a sense of warmth spreading through me at his words.

"I'm glad you're okay, Kendrick," I replied sincerely. "We were both really scared that you wouldn't make it."

Kendrick's smile softened, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and relief.

"Thank you, Shana," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I'm grateful to be here. And I owe it to both of you for finding me and saving me."

I reached out to squeeze Kendrick's hand gently, a reassuring gesture of support.

"We were just glad we could help," I said sincerely, my voice tinged with relief. "You're an important part of Lucas's life, and we couldn't bear the thought of losing you. What you went through was horrible."

"Power can do terrible things to people," Kendrick said. "Even families. I would've never thought that my brother could betray me like this."

"He's where he belongs now," Lucas said. "He won't be able to hurt anyone else in prison."

"I agree," I said softly, my heart heavy with sympathy for Kendrick's ordeal. "No one should have to endure what you went through."

Lucas's grip tightened on Kendrick's hand, a silent reassurance of his support.

"We'll make sure he pays for what he's done," he vowed, his voice filled with determination.

Kendrick's eyes met ours, a sense of gratitude shining in their depths.

"Thank you, both of you," he said.

"You don't need to continue to thank us," I said. "We only did what we should've."

"I know I haven't been the best father or the best person," Kendrick started.

"You've made mistakes, but that doesn't define who you are," I said softly, offering him a reassuring smile. "What matters is that you're willing to acknowledge them."

Lucas nodded in agreement, his expression filled with compassion.

"We all make mistakes, father," he said gently. "What's important is that we learn from them and try to do better."

"You're both right," Kendrick admitted. "I've let my pride and ambition cloud my judgment, and it's cost me more than I ever realized."

"It's never too late to make things right," I said softly. "And we'll be here to make sure you're okay. You're family, no matter what."

Kendrick looked at me sincerely. "You are family."