Worst Fear 167

Chapter 167 

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Chapter 167 

Mason 

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Immediately, Liam’s voice turned clear, I stood, and without thinking, ran towards the body of water. The sand was round under my feet, but my eyes remained pinned on the girl struggling, wagging her hand as the current took her away. 

Wind slapped my face, and so did Lydia’s voice in my car from behind. My heart rammed heavily against my 

chest. 

Once I got close to the water, I dived into it and fought against the current, swimming towards my girl who had lost the will to struggle and just allowed the water to take her away. One hand pushed the water away, and the other did the same as I pushed myself towards her. 

The water was cold, and my body shook, not from the cold, but from the fear that clenched my chest, raw fear, different from what I’ve known before. 

I got closer and grabbed a handful of her clothes. I pulled her as I swam back, keeping her head above water. 

Once I got close to the shore, I stood carrying her over my shoulder and hurried towards Lydia, who was already racing to us. Upon getting to a dry place, I placed her on the sand and entwined my hands together before placing them in her chest. 

Lydia was speaking on the phone by the side. 

I pressed hard on her chest. Liam was beside me for a moment, crying as he watched his sister, “Nothing will happen to her, she’ll be fine,” I said more to myself than him. 

Once Lydia was done with her call, she knelt down beside me. 

My hands shook as I applied more pressure. Melanie jerked, and then a cough erupted from her throat. 

“Melanie,” Lydia screamed, and we helped her sit still. Her eyes fluttered open slowly. Lydia crashed her against her chest, “I thought I lost you, oh my baby,” she cried, pressing Melanie into her chest. 

My hands turned weak, and I fell to the side on my butt. 

At that moment, an ambulance arrived. “I’ll stay with her, you go with Liam,” Lydia said, running after the man who carried Melanie into the ambulance. 

My entire body shook as I watched the ambulance drive away. Liam curled his little fingers over mine. His eyes were still red, and tears stained his cheeks. 

I lowered myself to meet his height and placed my hand on his face. “What will happen to Melanie? What if she falls sick again?” He said, breaking down again. 

I shook my head and hugged him, rubbing my hands on his back, “Nothing will happen, don’t worry, little buddy, she’ll be fine. She is a strong girl and will not easily succumb to sickness again,” I said in a hoarse voice. 

My shirt clung to my body, and water dripped from the side of my face, Standing straight, I held Liam’s hand, 

10:12 Mon, Oct 13 

Chapter 167 

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and we walked to the healthcare center where Melanie was taken to. 

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On the way, I couldn’t help the dread that settled on my stomach. We had been watching the twins, not allowing our eyes to trail, even if my eyes did trail, Lydia’s didn’t, but I just had to shift her gaze away from 

them.. 

Bile rose to my throat, and I almost caused my daughter’s death. My chest tightened, as guilt replaced the fear that had settled there. 

This was my fault. 

We spent the night in the healthcare facility. 

Melanie was not as strong as other children, so she needed more observation. 

On the second night, Lydia stayed in their room. She read a book to them. I should have been with her, but I couldn’t. I just stayed by the door, leaning against the wall, and when my legs got weak, I slid down and sat on the cold floor. 

If only I had more self–control, then this would not have happened. 

“Where’s dad?” I heard Melanie’s weak voice from where I was seated, and my eyes turned blurry. 

“He’s in the room, he has a headache, that’s why he isn’t here.” 

“Did he take medication? Is it that bad?” The anxiety in her voice made me feel even worse, so I stood and walked back to our room. 

I stood in front of the glass watching as the fish swam in the body of water before me. My hands are buried in my pockets. How would I be able to face my family again? I hated the fact that Lydia had to lie to the twins, but what I despised most was my cowardice. 

A real man should apologise and make things right, but maybe I wasn’t a real man yet. The fear that Lydia will be mad at me and will refuse to speak to me because she obviously blames me, too, made my knees weak at the thought of approaching her. 

A familiar smell hit me, her soft footsteps crawled to me before she reached me. I couldn’t turn. I sucked in a deep breath, bracing myself for an outburst. 

But it didn’t come; instead, I felt her hand wrapped around me, and my body went rigid. “Why are you standing here? Melanie asked about you,” she said in a soft voice. 

She turned her face to the side, “I was scared, I thought I lost her.” Her words caught up in her throat, and she cleared her throat before continuing, “Why have you been staying in the room? The twins don’t see you as 

much.” 

I placed my hand on hers, “Well, I…” I began racking my head for a suitable excuse, “… I am jus…t” I paused, I couldn’t form a coherent sentence, 

Slowly, her hands slipped off my back, and I turned to see her looking at me. Her eyes held so much softness, “you…” her words were slow and deliberate, “you do not blame yourself, right?” She asked. 

10:12 Mon, Oct 13 

Chapter 167 

I want to shake my head, “you are,” it wasn’t a question; my silence confirmed my feelings. 

“Oh dear Mason.” She hugged me again. I pulled her way this time. 

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“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, my voice rough with anxiety. I was cracking and breaking and didn’t want 

her to see. 

“Like how?” She asked 

“Like you don’t blame me.” She stared at me in disbelief, like she couldn’t comprehend why I thought like that. 

“You saved her, Mason.” She enunciated each word, “You are the reason why she is alive. I don’t know how to swim, I would not have a daughter if you weren’t there.” 

She reached for my hand and covered it with her small, warm palms, “You saved our girl’s life.” She locked eyes with me. She stared at me like she could see my soul. 

I shook my head, “If you hadn’t looked away, then this would not have happened,” I said, my voice cracked at the end. “I moved your face away. If only I had a little more self–control and we kept our eyes glued on the kids like we did, then she would not have fallen into the deeper part of the sea.” Tears slid down my face. 

She hugged me, holding me tightly to herself, “I chose to look away. That wasn’t your fault, it also wasn’t your fault that she fell into the deeper part. You did nothing aside from saving her life. If you say you caused it, then I might as well share the blame. I caused it too, cause I couldn’t control myself either.” 

Maybe it was the sincerity in her voice. Maybe it was the way she held me, but I broke down completely in front of her. 

That night, I held Lydia tight as we slept, this woman had a way of reaching deep within me. I’ve always prided myself on being strong, clear–headed, but she brought out those parts of me that I never knew I had 

She’s the only woman I’d ever been vulnerable in front of. 

“Thank you, Mason,” she mumbled in her slip, “I love you.” I supported my head with my hand as I stared at her, then slowly, I leaned towards her head and pressed my lips on it. “I love you too.” 

The next day, Zoe and Gloria arrived. It was the last night we’d be spending here, and Lydia and I would be having it all to ourselves. 

Gloria and Zoe got the room we stayed in, while Lydia and I went somewhere else. To have some time to ourselves. 

I stared in front of the mirror, seizing up my reflection. I nodded in satisfaction and smoothed my hair. Just then, my phone beeped. I picked it up and opened the notification to see a message from Daniel. 

Another beep came in. I re–read the message, hoping it would rearrange itself, but it didn’t. My hands holding the phone trembled as I scanned the text. 

My already beating heart accelerated. Immediately, I started typing back.