“Doctor, how is he?”

  “The patient is suffering from severe stress and malnutrition. Apart from that, everything appears to be normal, but as a precaution, we are keeping him under observation. Once he recovers, he will be discharged.”

  “I see, then I’ll leave him in your capable hands, Doctor. Thank you for your valuable time and insight.”

  “Happy to help, Miss Lee. My team and I will see to it that Mr Cole gets better.”

  “Good.”

  Just as the doctor was about to take his leave, Liam suddenly woke up. He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest. A soft groan escaped from his lips as he blinked open his eyes, the chilling images of his nightmare still imprinted on his mind. The moment his gaze nded on Jun, his breath hitched, his body jolted with adrenaline, and he let out a desperate cry.

  “Jun!” Liam shouted. “Jun, I knew you still care about me.”

  Hearing those words, Jun’s warm expression vanished instantly, repced by an indifferent smile. Without a second thought, she turned, heading for the door.

  Knowing she was about to leave him again, Liam panicked. He lunged forward, trying to stop her, but he tripped, hitting the hard ground. Even as blood ran down his arm from the dislodged IV drip, he didn’t care. All he wanted was for her to look at him, to focus on him. In a desperate attempt, he yelled, “Don’t go!”

  Jun stopped, looking over her shoulder. Instead of helping him, she watched him coldly, waiting for his next words.

  Meanwhile, the doctor was shocked by Liam’s self-destructive behaviour. He quickly rushed to his side, only to be shoved away. In the end, watching the doctor’s fruitless attempts to help Liam, Jun sighed.

  “Excuse me, Doctor,” Jun said, her gaze fixed on Liam. “I hope you don’t mind if I speak privately to him for a moment?”

  Although the doctor was unhappy by Liam’s uncooperative attitude, he still hesitated when he heard Jun’s request. But he eventually gave in, unable to ignore the pleading look in Liam’s eyes, urging him to leave. He sighed, then helped Liam back to the bed, who was surprisingly compliant, before giving them both a warning that their conversation needed to be brief. After that, he stepped outside and informed a nurse to monitor the situation inside and to intervene if necessary. Then he left for his duties.

  Once they were finally alone, Liam stared at Jun, searching her cold eyes for a flicker of compassion. But there weren’t any.

  Before he could utter a single word, Jun cut him off, delivering a cruel truth.

  “We’re done.”

  “No, we’re not!” Liam refused, his tone sharp and full of anger. “I didn’t agree!”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Jun shrugged. “You lost me the moment you abandoned our wedding.”

  “Please, Jun, I… I just messed up. Give me a chance. I promise you it won’t happen again.”

  “Liam,” Jun ignored his tears, looking him straight in the eye. “You know this is more than just a simple mistake, right? Tell me, what is it you actually regret?”

  “Are you regretting that I wasn’t there for you anymore? Or are you regretting that you have made the wrong choice?”

  Hearing her blunt words, Liam felt a bad premonition. He stammered, “What are you trying to say?”

  “You realised it, haven’t you?” Jun revealed a mocking smile. “You chose Mei thinking that you loved her, but in fact, you realised you were just clinging to past affections and memories. Now that you had a change of heart, you think you can just walk back into my life as if nothing happened?”

  “How did you know…” Liam became embarrassed. Although he didn’t want to, he had to admit she was right. Her absence made him realise how much she meant to him. No one could repce her, not even Mei.

  “Since you know I’m sorry, why can’t we put this behind us? Don’t you love me?”

  Jun almost burst out ughing at Liam’s absurdly selfish words. Perhaps the softhearted Jun Lee might forgive him, but she wouldn’t because she didn’t have a single shred of love or sympathy for this unfaithful man. After all, he didn’t deserve it.

  “So what if I love you? It’s not an excuse for you to trample over my sincerity and dignity. Now you must face the consequences of your actions.”

  Liam stared at Jun, his gaze filled with pain and sorrow. “Jun, listen to me… I didn’t mean to hurt you. She and I are just—”

  “You didn’t mean it?” Jun interrupted him. “What about that time you kissed Mei during your birthday celebration? What about that time you left me at the boutique just because she said she had an accident? What about all those times you deceived me while you were at her pce having an affair?”

  “Were those choices just mistakes?”

  Her words left Liam speechless. He wanted to ask how she knew everything, but Jun wouldn’t let him until he grasped the severity of his mistakes.

  Jun stepped closer to Liam, leaning forward, her voice barely a whisper. “Looking back at our five years together, when were you ever sincere to me? You were so fixated on another woman that you used me to fill her pce. Even now, I believe you know nothing about me.”

  “No… you got it all wrong. Didn’t I always pick out your favourite dresses? Haven’t I always bought you your favourite coffee? I even found a ring I knew you would adore. So how could I not know anything about you?”

  “Really, Liam?” Jun scoffed, her lips curled into a dangerous grin. “You’re still believing in this delusion.”

  “To make you happy, I wore clothes you liked, even though they weren’t my style. To please you, I started drinking coffee, even though I very much prefer tea. To put your mind at ease, I tried to be understanding and respectful of your need for personal space. And yet, you still cheated, treating me like a second choice, someone you only return to when convenient.”

  “It’s all a misunderstanding!” Liam denied it vehemently. “I really love you, Jun. Believe me.”

  “Liam, do you know what I despise most, besides an entitled, indecisive hypocrite? A cheater and a liar.”

  “So tell me, why should I believe you?”

  “You’re not worth it.”

  Liam’s eyes grew red, but he couldn’t utter a word. Even though he understood why she was acting this way, her scornful words still left a painful sting in his heart. Couldn’t she see the remorse in his eyes and forgive him? He clenched the bedsheets, his knuckles turning white.

  Just as Jun was about to turn away, Liam suddenly grabbed her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh with a surprising force.

  Jun became startled and immediately resisted, but her efforts were in vain. She felt herself being pulled closer, unable to fight back.

  “Jun, don’t do this to me. I’m begging you. I know I was wrong, so can we please try again?” Liam’s grip tightened on her arm, as if determined to keep her by his side until she agreed to give him another chance.

  Jun winced in pain. Just as she was about to call for help, the door burst open, and a figure stormed in.

  It was Xavier.

  With a dishevelled appearance and a fierce expression, Xavier forcefully separated the two, his movements sharp and urgent. When Jun was finally freed, he scooped her into his arms, his hand wrapping around her waist tightly as Liam stared in astonishment.

  “Xavier, what are you doing? Let her go!” Liam excimed.

  But Xavier turned a deaf ear. He couldn’t stop staring at Jun’s arm, his eyes drawn to the dark purple bruise on her fair skin. A murderous rage burned in his chest.

  Just then, Jun gently cupped his cheek, forcing him to meet her eyes. With a kind smile, she said, “I’m fine, Xavier. Don’t worry.”

  For a moment, Xavier stood there, stunned, before his deeply furrowed brow finally rexed a little, revealing a hint of relief. He gently held her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm, wishing his little gesture would help ease her pain.

  As a result, Liam clearly saw their intimate actions and the matching silver rings on their fingers. A shocking realisation dawned upon him. Disbelief turned into furious anger and jealousy; he felt utterly betrayed.

  “Is that why you wouldn’t come back to me?” Liam asked, his tone a mix of hurt and accusation. “Because you cheated on me with him, right?”

  But as soon as he was finished speaking, Jun’s hand flew out, spping him hard across the face. Liam’s eyes widened in shock.

  “Take those words back this instant,” Jun said coldly. “The only reason he’s here with me now is because you abandoned me at our wedding to choose Mei. If you hadn’t given him this chance, how could he have driven us apart? In fact, I had turned him down since I was in a retionship with you. But he is now my husband. So, on what basis do you think you can snder me like this?”

  Liam balled his hands into fists, unable to accept the truth. “Couldn’t you have postponed the wedding? Couldn’t you have waited for me?”

  “Hah,” Jun sneered. “Even now, you’re only thinking about yourself.”

  “We have spent months preparing for our wedding, and your first thought is to postpone? Do you really expect me to obediently wait for you while you waver between me and her? Do you have to humiliate me and dismiss my feelings so much? How much longer until you’re satisfied?”

  “Either way, I’m done talking to you,” she said, throwing the thick album down before pulling Xavier away. “From now on, there’s nothing between us anymore.”

  As Jun walked away, she didn’t look back, leaving the scattered pictures lying forgotten on the floor.

  Liam’s face instantly lost all colour. He stared at them, each picture a vivid reminder of their happy memories together. Immense regret suddenly overwhelmed him, stabbing his heart. He finally understood just how badly he had treated Jun, who had always been sincere to him.

  “Jun! Jun, I was wrong! I’m sorry. Don’t leave me, please…”

  He cried and begged, but no one was left to hear him anymore.

  …

  Inside the car, Xavier held Jun’s hand firmly, refusing to let go. He remained still, staring at Jun with an unreadable expression, the silence in the car thick and suffocating.

  Jun instantly sensed Xavier’s anxiety. Given her five years of retionship with Liam, he was worried that she might forgive him and reconcile with him. After all, it’s difficult for strong affection to fade away.

  Although that might be possible if she was Jun Lee, but she was Jun. Her only purpose was to drive the protagonist mad with regret, tormenting them even after her death. She didn’t have time for Liam’s affection or redemption.

  However, seeing Xavier’s jaw clenched tight, his eyes narrowed with jealousy, she knew she had to reassure him.

  With a helpless look in her eyes, Jun leaned forward and gently kissed him on the lips. Then Xavier wrapped his hand behind her head, his fingers tracing the curve of her neck as their tongues met in a slow but passionate kiss. When they finally separated, she panted heavily before letting out a shaky sigh.

  After a long time, Xavier finally asked, “Why go back?”

  “I went back to get rid of some old stuff.”

  “Don’t,” Xavier pleaded, hugging Jun tightly. As he inhaled her sweet scent, burning possessiveness and bitter jealousy nearly consumed his mind, hating how Liam’s presence in her past was like a poison he couldn’t purge. “Don’t care about him anymore, Jun.”

  Jun looked at the desperate man, and a small, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips.

  “Okay.”