Chapter 218


    "ra, you have no idea how deep my feelings run for Ian. Our engagement was set before I was


    even born. I grew up under his wing; we''ve always been close. If it weren''t for your meddling, we


    would''ve been married by now."


    ra arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Really? With such profound love,


    shouldn''t you have been his rock during his darkest times when he couldn’t see? Why did you bolt


    faster than a frightened rabbit?"


    "I had no choice. It was my father''s decision."


    ra leaned nonchntly against the doorframe, her tone sharp and piercing. "You seem to have a


    knack for finding ways out. If push came to shove, you could''ve yed yourst tragic card. The


    Campbells cherish you too much to let you go. Or couldn''t you simply stomach the idea of spending


    her life with a ''broken'' man? Your double-dealing is obvious, you know. Did you really think it would


    go unnoticed?"


    With every word ra struck at Heidi''s core, anger bubbled up inside Heidi until she felt she might


    spit blood in rage. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her gaze was


    venomous as she red at ra, wishing she could tear her apart.


    Verbal sparring with ra was a battle Heidi never won. Her teeth nearly cracked from the pressure


    of her biting anger. "ra, Ian is mine, forever. Don''t even dream of snatching him away."


    ra scoffed, a smirk on her lips. "Oh, dropping the act, are we? Your beloved Ian is watching you


    right now."


    With a subtle tilt of her chin, ra signaled behind Heidi, who spun around, her heart racing, only to


    meet Ian''s icy stare. In an instant, Heidi''s fiery demeanor melted into that of a docile kitten. "Ian,


    does it still hurt? You nearly scared me to death." Her tears, which had been held at bay, now


    cascaded down her cheeks like a broken dam.


    Ian''s deep eyes were void of warmth, his voice frighteningly cold. "Who let you in? Get out!"


    Being ejected in front of ra was a massive blow to Heidi''s pride. She shook her head, tears


    streaming. "Ian, your wound is deep. You''ve lost a lot of blood, and you need someone to look after


    you."


    "But I don''t need you!"


    Ian''s words were a merciless de.


    Heidi, wounded and bewildered, stared at Ian. "Ian, do you really despise me that much? Didn''t you


    make a promise on the rooftop that day to allow me to be close to you as a sister?"


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Ian''s gaze remained frosty. "Do you think I care about your life or death? I only agreed to your


    request to save you and repay a life I owed. From that day on, we were even. I owe you nothing,


    and you should stop using death as a threat. If it happens again, I won''t intervene!"


    Heidi''s world shattered, tears streaming uncontrobly. "Ian, you lied, it''s not true. You have me in


    your heart. That''s why you agreed."


    "Heidi," Ian repeated, his voice like steel, "aside from that obligation, I feel nothing for you. Now that


    it''s settled, we owe each other nothing. Stay out of my life!"


    Crushed, Heidi sobbed uncontrobly as she was forced to leave the hospital room under Ian''s icy


    re.


    As soon as the door closed behind her, Ian''s eyes softened, and his voice turned tender. "ra,


    come here. Let me see how you''re doing."