Chapter 126


    ra furrowed her brow in frustration, her voice low and filled with regret. Tm really sorry, but


    there’s nothing I can do to help. It’s not that I’m heartless, but there are plenty of people who could


    save him. My involvement isn’t essential. You really shouldn’t force me Into doing something I’m


    ufortable with.”


    Leonora’s temper red upon hearing those words. “After all the goodn’s done for you, you


    ungrateful wretch, it’s like you’ve got no soul! You’d actually stand by and watch him suffer. Let’s not


    beg her. Heidi can saven; we can’t wait any longer. Her words painted ra as a callous traitor,


    someone who would abandon another in their time of need.


    Anders swiftly pulled ra close, his voice a tender shield. “No one can force you to do anything


    you don’t want to. Go outside and wait for me. I’ll handle this.”


    He ushered ra out the door and shut it firmly behind her. The gentle expression on his face


    instantly turned to one of icy detachment.


    He approachedn’s bedside, watching him thrash in agony. Not a shred of sympathy crossed his


    face. Instead, a mocking smile curled at the edge of his lips. n, you’re not the only one in pain.


    ra’s suffering more than you. When she was under the influence, she was calling out your


    name.”


    “She would rather die thanpromise the honor you bestowed upon her, yet look how you’ve


    treated her! You believed the nderous words of others and trampled the very honor she fought so


    desperately to preserve.


    “Do you have any idea how desperate she felt?


    “You pushed her away again and again. It was you who didn’t want her. Please, don’t use guilt to


    bind her. She owes you nothing, and she owes the Hayes family nothing, either.


    “There are many ways to cling to life. She isn’t the only solution.”


    With that, Anders left without waiting to seen’s reaction, pulling ra along without a backward


    nce.


    Thinking about her suffering to protect what was his,n suddenly sat up, a mouthful of blood


    spraying out before he sumbed to unconsciousness.


    When he awoke the next morning, Dawson was at his bedside, attending to business.


    Hearingn stir, Dawson immediately stood up. “Mr. Hayes, you’re awake. How do your feel?”


    Memories of the previous night floodedn’s mind. He sat up abruptly, tearing out the IV. His hand


    was smeared with fresh blood, startling Dawson, who quickly pressed a swab


    10:40


    against the wound. “Mr. Hayes, your stomach ailment has red up. The doctor advised a few days


    of observation.”


    “No need!” His voice was hoarse and deep.


    Disregarding Dawson’s pleas, he stubbornly drove away. It wasn’t untiln parked beneath ra’s


    apartment building that he realized his hands and feet were icy, his fingers trembling slightly.


    He looked up at her window, his heart feeling as if it had been struck hard. The pain tore through


    every cell in his body.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Only now did he understand the depth of the hurt he had inflicted on ra, the woman, who would


    rather die thanpromise her honor for him.


    Dragging his weary body, he knocked on ra’s door. She opened it to find a ghostly pale-n on


    her doorstep.


    Gone was his usual poise. His clothes were wrinkled, his cuffs stained with drying blood. His eyes


    were bloodshot, a sight ofn she had never seen before.


    Before she could speak,n’s feverish hand pulled her into an embrace, his voice raw with


    struggle.


    “ra, I’m sorry.”