Investing In My Four Crippled Yandere Wives Get 1000x Returns
Chapter 36| Held

Chapter 36: 36| Held

Nobody suggested going home to Hegeville that night. Instead, they found a quiet Association-provided recovery suite near the reservoir district, and by unspoken, unanimous agreement, none of them left Allen’s side.

He lay propped against a mountain of pillows, ribs still faintly aching despite Everlyn’s thorough healing, watching with quiet, contented amusement as his four wives arranged themselves around him with a closeness that had nothing to do with strategy or system rewards and everything to do with simple, uncomplicated need.

"You’re staring again," Vivian observed, settled comfortably against his uninjured side, head resting lightly against his shoulder.

"Can’t help it," Allen admitted. "Still processing the fact that I nearly became Leviathan food a few hours ago, and instead I’m here, buried in blankets, surrounded by all of you."

"Would you prefer the Leviathan food outcome?" Irene asked dryly, curled against his other side with her head on his chest, close enough to feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Strongly prefer this one, actually."

Irene’s answering laugh was soft, relieved, considerably quieter than her usual boisterous energy. She pressed closer, arms wrapping loosely around him. "Good answer."

A quiet knock at the door interrupted them briefly — a nurse checking in with a final round of vitals, confirming what Everlyn’s healing had already accomplished, that Allen’s readings had stabilized fully and no further medical intervention would be necessary. She left with a small, knowing smile at the sight of four women arranged so protectively around a single patient, the kind of smile that suggested she’d seen enough recovery suites to recognize genuine devotion when it walked through her door.

Myria had wheeled as close to the bed as physically possible, one hand resting over his where it lay atop the blankets, her usual sharp composure softened into something unguarded and tender. Everlyn sat at the foot of the bed, gentle fingers occasionally checking the steady rise and fall of his breathing, her presence a quiet, reassuring constant.

"I keep thinking about how fast it happened," Myria admitted quietly, breaking the comfortable silence. "One moment you were beside me. The next, you were gone beneath the water, and I couldn’t—" Her voice caught slightly. "I’ve commanded raid parties through considerably more dangerous engagements than that dive, Allen. I’ve never felt fear like that before."

"I’m sorry," Allen said softly. "For scaring you. All of you."

"Don’t apologize for surviving," Vivian said firmly. "Apologize for taking unnecessary risks, maybe. But never for surviving them."

Everlyn’s notepad appeared, her expression thoughtful as she wrote.

’We’re not upset with you. We’re just still scared, a little. It’ll pass.’

"It already is," Irene said, snuggling further into his side. "Mostly. This helps. A lot, actually."

They lapsed into comfortable, unhurried silence after that, the quiet suite filled with nothing but the soft sounds of steady breathing and gentle, contented closeness — Irene’s warmth against his chest, Vivian’s steady presence against his shoulder, Myria’s hand still resting protectively over his, Everlyn’s quiet vigilance at the foot of the bed.

"Can I ask something?" Allen said eventually, breaking the peaceful quiet.

"Anything," Myria said.

"Do you regret this?" He gestured vaguely, encompassing the marriage, the systems, everything that had unfolded since that first cold car ride into Hegeville. "Any of it? Given everything it’s put you through — the sabotage, the assassination attempt, today—"

"No," Irene said immediately, without hesitation. "Not even a little."

"You didn’t even think about that one," Allen pointed out gently.

"Didn’t need to," Irene said, tilting her head up to meet his eyes. "Some answers don’t require thinking. They’re just true the moment you ask."

"Regret implies wishing things had gone differently," Myria added thoughtfully. "I don’t wish that. I wish the danger hadn’t come attached, certainly. But the rest of it—" Her fingers tightened gently around his. "I wouldn’t trade any of it."

Everlyn’s notepad appeared once more, expression soft and certain.

’I spent ten years believing my usefulness ended when my voice did. You proved that wrong. I could never regret that.’

Vivian pressed closer against his shoulder, voice quiet and warm. "I spent eight years believing trust was a liability I couldn’t afford anymore. You proved that wrong too. Whatever comes with this marriage, Allen, I’ll take it gladly, every single time, over the alternative of never having found this at all."

Allen felt something warm and overwhelming settle deep in his chest at their collective, unwavering certainty, the earlier fear and adrenaline of the day finally giving way to something steadier, more grounded.

"I love you," he said quietly, the words slipping free with unplanned, unguarded honesty. "All four of you. I don’t know exactly when that became true, but it is. Completely."

The room fell silent for a long moment, the weight of the admission settling over all of them — not awkward, not uncertain, simply full, the way a room feels when something true finally gets said aloud after being carried silently for far too long, before Irene broke it with a soft, delighted, slightly tearful laugh.

"Well, good," she said, voice thick with emotion despite her attempt at lightness. "Because we’ve been in love with you for a while now, and it was getting a little embarrassing being the only ones saying it out loud."

Myria’s soft laugh joined hers, and Everlyn’s silent, joyful smile spoke volumes, while Vivian pressed a gentle, lingering kiss against his shoulder, murmuring her own quiet agreement against his skin.

[Investment Detected: Milestone — "Mutual declaration of love shared unconditionally across entire bonded party."]

[Sincerity: Absolute. Emotional Impact: Absolute.]

[Reward Generated: +5,000 Investment Points.]

[Total Investment Points: 46,120]

Allen barely registered the notification this time, too content simply existing in the warm, overwhelming closeness surrounding him on all sides — four women who had once kept careful, guarded distance from him during a cold car ride into exile, now curled protectively around him in the aftermath of nearly losing him entirely.

’Whatever comes next,’ he thought, drifting slowly toward sleep amid the comfortable warmth surrounding him, ’we’ll face it exactly like this. Together.’