Liam's POVThe sterile smell of the hospital, the rhythmic beeping of machines, and the sight of Ava lying pale and unconscious on the hospital bed – it all fueled a rage within me that I had never experienced before. The masked bastard who dared to violate her, to cause her this pain, would pay.I held her hand, my thumb gently stroking her knuckles, my heart aching with a protectiveness that was fierce and absolute. She was mine to protect, mine to cherish, and I had failed her. The guilt gnawed at me, a constant reminder of my own weakness, my inability to shield her from harm.William, ever vigilant, stood guard at the door, his presence a silent reassurance. I knew I could trust him to keep Ava safe, to ensure no further harm came to her."William," I said, my voice low and steady, "I need you to find out who that man was. I want to know everything about him."William nodded, his eyes hard with determination. "Consider it done, Liam."He left the room, his footsteps echoing down the sterile hallway. I turned back to Ava, my gaze tracing the delicate contours of her face, the faint bruises that marred her flawless skin. A wave of anger washed over me, a primal urge to inflict pain on the one who had dared to hurt her.Sarah entered the room, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Liam," she said softly, "we need to talk."I followed her out into the hallway, the need to confide in someone, to share the burden of guilt and anger, overwhelming me."It was my fault, Sarah," I confessed, my voice heavy with self-reproach. "I pushed her away. I scared her."I recounted the events of the previous night, the playful banter that had turned into a moment of intense intimacy, my sudden retreat, Ava's tearful departure, and the unanswered messages that had fueled my panic.Sarah listened intently, her expression shifting from surprise to understanding. "Liam," she said gently, "I know you were scared. But you can't shut Ava out like that. She loves you, and she needs you."Tears pricked my eyes, the unshed tears of a man who had almost lost everything. "I know, Sarah," I choked out. "I never meant to hurt her. I was just... scared."Scared of repeating the past, of reliving the pain of betrayal and abandonment. Scared of letting myself fall completely, only to be left with nothing but shattered hopes and a broken heart.Sarah's eyes filled with tears, her usual composure cracking. "I understand, Liam. But you have to understand Ava too. She's been through so much. She needs to know that you're there for her, that you won't abandon her."Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I had been so focused on my own fears, my own insecurities, that I had forgotten about Ava's vulnerability, her own past traumas. I had almost failed her, failed to protect her, just when she needed me the most."I won't fail her again, Sarah," I vowed, my voice firm with conviction. "I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her."Just then, William returned, his expression grim. "Liam," he said, his voice low, "I found out who the attacker was. It was Daniel."Daniel. Ava's obsessive college admirer, the one who had relentlessly pursued her despite her clear disinterest. The one who had threatened to make her life a living hell when she rejected him.A wave of rage washed over me, a primal urge to protect Ava, to punish the one who had dared to harm her. "Where is he?" I growled, my voice laced with barely contained fury.William's lips curled into a grim smile. "He's in a safe place. Don't worry, Liam. He won't be bothering Ava again."I nodded, a sense of grim satisfaction settling over me. I knew what I had to do.Later that evening, I visited Daniel in his makeshift cell. He cowered in the corner, his eyes wide with fear as I approached."You touched her," I said, my voice dangerously low. "You dared to lay your filthy hands on her."Daniel whimpered, pleading for mercy. But I wouldn't show him any. He didn't deserve it.I grabbed his arm, twisting it with a force that made him scream in pain. The sickening crack of bone echoed through the room, a satisfying sound that mirrored the rage within me."This is for Ava," I growled, repeating the action on his other arm. "And this is to make sure you never come near her again."I left him there, broken and whimpering, a warning to anyone who dared to threaten the woman I loved.Back at the hospital, I found Ava sleeping peacefully, her face pale but relaxed. I sat beside her, watching over her, my heart filled with a mix of love, guilt, and a fierce protectiveness.I would never let anyone hurt her again. I would be her shield, her protector, her constant in a world that had tried to break her. I loved her, and I would spend every waking moment proving it, cherishing her, and ensuring that she never felt alone or unsafe again.