He shot the guards a look . They dragged Simon out , Nancy tossed right after him . Once their whining disappeared , I glanced up . " Clark … what Simon said- He shook his head , eyes soft . " Don't . I love you . Science is wild now . If we can't have kids , we'll adopt . I just want you safe . " I crumpled into his chest , tears pouring . That lost sense of safety ? It finally came back . Clark moved me into his private villa . Cleared his calendar . Changed my bandages himself . Fed me . Barely let me walk . I pushed back once . He held my chin , kissed my forehead , and whispered , " Heidi , I can't stop thinking about how I didn't come sooner … in our last life . " That fear in his eyes ? Shut me right up . The doctor said it'd take at least a month for the whip marks to fade . Clark had everything - paperwork , meetings - sent to the villa . He never left . Some nights , I'd wake up to find him watching me , fingers tracing my face like he was scared I'd vanish . " Clark … " I whispered . He leaned down fast , hand warm on my cheek . " You hurting ? " I shook my head , grabbed his collar , and pulled him close .