Chapter 21
Stephen didn’t answer her question but instead asked, “What kind of husband are you looking for?”
“Someone like you,” Rachel replied, then laughed, her cheeks turning red.
It was dusk, and the slanting rays of the setting sun cast a warm glow.
The sight of her gave Stephen a strange feeling, something that made his long–dormant heart come alive.
In the days that followed, the two grew closer, no longer avoiding each other.
Diana watched it all, still holding onto a sliver of hope. But as things progressed, she could feel Stephen slipping further away.
However, she didn’t try to interfere, instead swallowing her pain silently.
One night, when Stephen returned to his new home, he found Diana waiting for him outside.
Somehow, she had found his address.
“Stephen, can you come back home with me?”
Her eyes were red, and she looked as if she’d been drinking.
“I am home. What do you
need?”
“This isn’t our home! Our home is the little apartment by the Third Ring Road. Don’t you remember?”
She grabbed his hand. “We bought it together, picked out all the furniture…”
“Enough.”
Stephen shook her off. “What do you want? Is there any point in saying this now?”
“Stephen, I just miss you too much!”
Tears streamed down Diana’s face. “The house feels so empty, and I’m freezing. Without you, I feel like I’m going insane!”
“I beg you, just spend one day with me. Just one day, and I’ll leave you alone forever.”
Stephen sighed, his face serious.
“Diana, I have a girlfriend now. What you’re doing is harassment, you know that?”
“You already ruined one relationship; don’t ruin my second one.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Diana, in her drunken state, was struck by the thought that he was leaving her forever.
She rushed forward, clinging to his leg. “Please, Stephen, just grant me this one wish!”
“You once said you’d love me forever. I’m in so much pain…”
“Enough!”
Stephen couldn’t hold back any longer and yelled, “Do you think you’re the only one who’s hurting?”
“When will you finally grow up? We’re done–do you understand that?”
“Even if you asked me a thousand times, my answer would be the same.”
“I’d rather spend my life with a dog than choose you again!”
His words cut deeply.
Diana felt as if she’d been stabbed by icy daggers.
The cold wind hit her, sobering her up and leaving her heart completely shattered.
Stephen broke free and continued toward the complex entrance.
Just then, a shadow emerged from the bushes.
“Stephen, I’ll send you to hell!”
Wayne, looking disheveled, rushed at him with a knife.
Stephen didn’t react in time and was knocked to the ground, struggling to fend him off.
“I’ve lost everything! If I’m going to jail anyway, I’ll make sure you go down first!”
Wayne laughed wildly, pressing the knife closer to Stephen’s chest.
Diana, frantic, lunged forward, pulling at Wayne from behind. “Stephen, run!”
“Help! He’s trying to kill him!”
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Chapter 21
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“You worthless woman! Even now, you still care about Stephen?”
Enraged, Wayne turned and pinned Diana to the ground. “If you love him so much, then die with him.”
“Diana!”
Stephen saw flashes of red as blood spattered.
Nearby security guards rushed over, tackling Wayne to the ground and calling the police.
Diana was carried onto an ambulance.
Even as they arrived at the hospital, Stephen was still in shock.
“Stephen… I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Don’t talk!”
He struggled to keep his emotions in check, looking at her pale face and shouting,
“Even if… even if it’s the end, I’ll accept it. I owe you that much.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you these past days… I just wanted to win you back, to make you love me one more time.”
Diana smiled faintly as blood continued to seep from her wound.
Her condition was critical, and doctors swarmed around her.
After three hours of surgery, the head doctor emerged with a grim expression.
“Doctor, how is she?”
“The outlook isn’t good. The blood bank is running low… She might not make it.”
