Page 124 of Jealous Billionaire's Endless Regret

Even through the throbbing in his skull, he could feel the soft exhale of her breath against his skin—steady, warm, real. And for some reason, that… that got to him more than the injury ever could.

He just stared.

Watched her, breathed her in, like she was the only thing keeping the air in his lungs.

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just let his heart ache quietly inside his chest.

Then—her lashes fluttered.

She stirred, blinking against the overhead light. And when her eyes locked with his—everything in her face shifted.

Confusion gave way to alarm. She jolted upright with a sharp inhale, eyes wide.

“You’re awake!” she gasped.

Her hands gripped his arm tighter. Then, with a trembling urgency, one of them lifted to his face. Her fingertips threaded carefully through his hair, brushing against the bandage on the side of his head.

“Does it hurt? Are you okay?” Her voice cracked with worry.

He stared at her—barely breathing.

Not because of the pain.

Not because of the hospital.

Because of her.

Because her hands were on him again.

Warm. Familiar. Gentle in the way onlyshehad ever touched him.

His heart pounded louder than her words, drowning out everything else.

He closed his eyes for a second to feel her touch deeper. To let himself melt into it. Her scent. Her nearness. The way her thumb grazed his temple as if afraid she’d vanish again.

Her fingers were so gentle, so warm in his hair, caressing softly. He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the feel of it. His breath caught in his throat.

He didn’t want her hand to leave. He didn’t want her to move away.

When he opened his eyes again, she was still there—hovering close, her brows knit in concern.

And that’s when it hit him.

Hard.

He had the biggest damn crush on his own wife.

Always had.

A deep, gut-wrenching affection that had lived inside him quietly for years. And he hadn’t realized how deep it ran until he stopped seeing her every day.

All the casual touches he’d once taken for granted, her half-smiles, her delicate affection, the warmth she brought into every cold corner of his life.

And now—just the feel of her hand on his face felt like coming up for air after being underwater too long.

Like breathing again after forgetting how.

His throat tightened.

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