Chapter 34

Georgina West

The journey back home felt like a surreal blur, the events of what happened just a few hours ago spinning around me in a dizzying whirlwind. Axel's wounded form lay sprawled across the backseat of the car, the gravity of his injury hanging heavy in the air. Yet, despite the urgency of the situation, I found myself unable to move, trapped in a state of shock and disbelief.

As the car sped through the darkened streets, guilt gnawed at me, knowing that Axel's injury was a direct result of him trying to save me. If only I had been more cautious, if only I hadn't allowed myself to fall into Jason's trap or trusted him enough to feel that maybe he won’t cross a line with me, perhaps Axel wouldn't be lying there, fighting for his life.

But amidst the chaos of my thoughts, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of helplessness that gripped me. I stood frozen in the backseat, my hands trembling as I watched Archer's determined expression in the rearview mirror. He was focused on