Julien was gradually losing his patience. He glanced at his watch before snapping, "If you've got something to say, spit it out. I'm not wasting more time here.""Do you like watching movies, Dr. Lovelace?" Uri disregarded Julien's growing frustration and chuckled slyly. "I know Jonah does. I've got a film he'll find quite special."As soon as he finished, the large screen came to life, casting a glow on Julien's confused face.The surround sound system produced amorous-sounding laughter, making it an immersive experience. Julien recognized Jonah's voice quickly. But the other one—the warm, crisp, pleasant voice—belonged to a stranger."Jonah, do you love me?" the man in the video asked gleefully. "I do." Jonah's deep, raspy voice quivered slightly with emotion. "I love you. Very much. I'll love you forever." Jonah was typically so composed and restrained. Hearing this level of raw passion in his voice was jarring. "What if… I died one day?" The man's voice was gentle th
Uri pressed on, "More than that, how absurd is it that he found a ridiculous substitute like you? Did he truly think that he was so deeply in love with Blake? Was it because his love for Blake was so unforgettable that he needed someone to ease his lovesickness?"Substitute, substitute, substitute! The word sliced through Julien's suffocated heart like a sharp knife.He had never dared to hope he would be the only one Jonah ever loved. But it would be enough for him to be Jonah's last. He didn't care about the past. Yet, what he couldn't bear was that it was his face—so similar to Jonah's ex-lover—that had drawn Jonah in and made him fall in love.Uri laughed mockingly. "If I had the chance, I'd ask Judas if he was being fair to Blake by finding a new lover. I'd want to know if he was being fair to you by making you Blake's substitute."His laughter was so hysterical that tears streamed down his face. In an extremely sarcastic tone, he continued, "I doubt Jonah feels he made a
The night was silent and cold, and a chilling breeze suddenly swept across Jonah's face.Judas. That was a name he had not heard in ages. It echoed from a bloody, misty place far away, igniting a storm of turmoil in his chest. The voice that carried it felt vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it immediately."Who are you? Are you an ex-Cloudtop member?" Jonah turned away from Alyssa immediately and lowered his voice as much as he could. "Jonah…" In an instant, Alyssa sensed something was wrong when she noticed the shift in his expression."Judas, high status really does make one forgetful, doesn't it?" Uri's icy, sinister voice pierced through Jonah's thoughts like a venomous snake. "It seems that the ever noble Judas has eyes only for Blake.""You're… Uri Holland?" An uncertainty clawed at Jonah, and a sharp pain shot through his heart. The night closed in around him like a crushing, mottled wall. Blake—his hidden ex-lover—haunted him still, a scar he dared not revisit.
Jonah could not bear to think about the void that would swallow him if he lost Julien. The skies could fall and crush him, turning his life into a hopeless wreck. Gasping for breath, Jonah raced into the villa, which was cold, dark, and silent.Suddenly, memories he had buried deep surged back, overwhelming him. He gripped the hem of his shirt, struggling to steady his breathing while anguish clawed at him. Since Blake's death, he had never returned to this place.The man he loved had died when Jonah loved him most, and the depth of that devastation was unfathomable to anyone who had not experienced it themselves. But this was not the moment to drown in sorrow.Jonah called out Julien's name again and again as he searched every room in the house for him. When he reached the second floor, he spotted lights flickering in the home theater. His heart raced as he burst inside."Julien!" Julien sat alone on the couch, a dazed look in his eyes. Scattered around his feet were white ros
The once pristine white rose petals were now marred by the dark stain of Julien's blood."Let's end it here." Julien's voice was soft, yet those four words shattered Jonah's heart into fragments."Julien, I will not allow you to leave me!" Every muscle in Jonah's body trembled with desperation. A ferocious rage ignited in his eyes. "I know who I love. You are not a substitute for anyone! Julien, don't leave me… I cannot let you go!" Panic coursed through him.He cried and pleaded, desperately trying to hold Julien back. Torn between gentleness and force, he was willing to accept any outcome as long as the man he adored stayed with him.The first time it happened, Jonah had barely survived the emotional turmoil. If it happened again, it would drive him to the brink of insanity and death.His breathing became ragged; his bloodshot eyes blazed with determination.With open arms, Jonah moved to embrace Julien, who had been reduced to pieces. But just as he leaned in, a sharp pain
"But I just love him… I can't stop myself from loving him," Jonah said.Alyssa blinked hard to stop herself from crying. Many a time, Julien was like the male version of herself. At the same time, Jonah's love for Julien was just like how Jasper used to love her. How could he be so affectionate and tolerant if he wasn't in love with him to the core? "Lyse… I was wrong. I've made a grave mistake." Jonah's broad shoulders trembled violently. "It was true that I was attracted by Julien's looks. However, what I love is his soul. "At the same time, I was afraid of Julien leaving me because of my past with Blake… So, I didn't dare to be honest with him. I was too embarrassed to tell him the truth. I wanted to give him a perfect relationship. "I was wrong… If I had known… If I had known that it would turn out like this…"Jonah choked back his tears and couldn't bring himself to continue speaking. The thorns on that stalk of rose that he was clutching tightly onto pierced into his palm
Alyssa's fiery red sports car was rammed into from the right! Fortunately, the black vehicle and her red car were the only vehicles on the entire freeway. If there happened to be any big cars that passed by at this time, the outcome would've been unimaginable. "Damn it!" Alyssa couldn't help but curse through gritted teeth. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat. Any sensible person could tell that this car had hit her on purpose. Clenching her teeth, Alyssa put the pedal to the metal. Right after, she swerved to the left. Yet another bang sounded. Their car doors grated against one another, emitting terrifying sparks. Through the blazing sparks, Alyssa seized this opportunity to turn her sweaty face to the side and glance at that black vehicle that had come like a devil in the night. Alas, the car windows were tinted. Since their surroundings were pitch dark, she couldn't get a good look at the driver at all.That being said, Alyssa came back to her senses at that momen
Even though Alyssa's head was in a muddle, she continued mumbling Julien's name as she cried and begged him not to leave. How could there be such a foolish woman? Leaning against Remy's chest, Alyssa groaned in pain. Her tears soaked through his shirt. The warm sensation dispersed the endless wintriness in his chest. "Lyse…" Remy blurted her nickname in a clear voice. Yet, Alyssa had lost consciousness and did not hear him. Remy held tight to an injured Alyssa as he trodded toward his vehicle. He uttered her name in his heart once again. For some reason, a pain throbbed in his head. Intense emotions surged in his chest. He had never had this feeling before, and it was challenging for him to hold those emotions back. Remy gritted his teeth as he watched the woman in his arms, who was bruised all over and bleeding from her head. At the same time, his heart felt like it was about to shatter and end up a bloody mess. …Just like in Kontina, after Remy intercepted Alyssa,