The man had a face with sharp angles, like it was chiseled out of stone, and eyes that were impossible to read.He wore a black suit that accentuated his lean and upright figure, exuding an aura as dazzling as the stars yet tinged with melancholy.After steadying Runa, he didn't immediately remove his hand from her waist. Instead, he looked down at Luana coldly."You dare to lay a hand on my fiancée? Who the fuck are you?"Luana's heart, which had been racing and nearly suffocating with tension, suddenly chilled at the man's indifferent voice.Drenched, with a swollen cheek and disheveled hair, she felt more humiliated by his words than by her appearance.She hugged her shivering arms, lowered her head, and stared lifelessly at her toes, awaiting judgment from these powerful, condescending people."Cline, what are you doing here?"Runa asked, surprised yet more shocked that Cline hadn't let go of her.Cline was always so busy handling affairs—why would he show up at a mall, and in the
Cline stared coldly at Sidney, his face full of dissatisfaction."Cline, you used to... protect Valda like this too," Sidney said, eyeing him suspiciously up and down.In this world, the only person who could make him lose control of his emotions was Valda.Back then, he had stood up for Valda just like this, even going to any lengths to defend her!Sidney's words hit a sore spot for Cline, making his expression even darker and more irritable."What do you want to get out of this?""I want her dead! Either that, or sell her to a club and make her life a living hell! Otherwise, I'll tell Auntie that you have a special relationship with her!"Upon hearing this, Cline slightly tilted his head and reluctantly slapped Luana.The moment the slap landed, Luana, who was unprepared, lost her balance and fell straight backward—This time, she wasn't so lucky. There was a nail where she fell, which pierced right into the back
Clarissa, Clarissa…Luana heard Clarissa's crying voice in a daze. The sound tugged at her heart, making it impossible for her to keep going.She stood in the mist, slowly turning her head, just in time to see Clarissa running toward her."Luana, don't leave. Come back. I still have so much to tell you…"Luana opened her mouth to respond to Clarissa, but no sound came out.Then, fresh oxygen flowed in, easing her suffocated heart.Gradually, the mist dissipated and Clarissa vanished. Luana fell into a deep coma."Dr. Woodward, her heart has started beating again!""Hurry, keep her on oxygen!"Eva saw the flickering data on the ECG monitor and felt her legs go weak.This was the first time she had been so anxious about a patient, fearing that she might die.Her hands were still trembling, too weak to even lift."Dr. Roffe , how's the situation with the back of her head?"Dr. Roffe
Eva saw that she couldn't hide the truth anymore, so she told Clarissa what had happened, but she didn't mention the heart failure, only saying that Luana was in a coma.Hearing that Luana was in a coma, Clarissa nearly lost her balance and fell.She steadied herself against the door frame and said in a trembling voice, "Dr. Woodward, please tell me the address of the hospital..."Eva gave Clarissa the address and tried to calm her down. "Don't worry, she's in my hospital and I'll keep an eye on her. You should prepare some clothes for her to change into. She'll probably need to be hospitalized for a while."Eva's calm voice gave Clarissa some strength.She steadied herself, thanked Eva, and hung up the phone. Then she stumbled into Luana's bedroom.She quickly packed a few pieces of clothing, grabbed some toiletries, and hurriedly drove to the hospital.Eva was in the middle of giving Luana a detailed examination when she saw Clariss
After speaking, Eva gave Clarissa a gentle smile, which temporarily relieved Clarissa of her worries and shifted her focus to Luana.Seeing Luana sweating from pain in her coma, Clarissa felt heartbroken and quickly took out a towel to wipe her sweat.After finishing, she turned to Eva and asked nervously, "Dr. Woodward, is Luana's heart okay?"Luana had congenital heart disease and had to be very careful in her daily life.Being beaten into a coma could have caused damage to her heart, just like how she had become weaker after being kicked before. Clarissa was very worried about this.Eva glanced at Clarissa, unsure of how to respond.As a doctor, she should tell the patient's family about such a life-or-death issue.But without the patient's consent, she didn't feel right making the decision.Moreover, seeing Clarissa's worried face, she was afraid that Clarissa wouldn't be able to handle it.After thinking for a while
After shouting, Clarissa covered her face and cried almost hysterically.Luana, seeing her like this, couldn't help but feel her eyes well up with tears.She mustered all her strength to reach out and pull at Clarissa's clothes.But Clarissa, unable to accept the reality, kept backing away...She cried and ran out of the ward in a state of collapse.Watching Clarissa's retreating figure, the tears that Luana had been holding back began to fall drop by drop.Clarissa ran out of the VIP ward in one breath and unconsciously stopped in front of the door of an ordinary ward.She wanted to ask Albert for help. Although she wasn't sure what kind of help he could provide, she desperately needed someone to lean on at the moment.She walked to the ward door, crying, but instead of seeing the Albert siblings, she heard a series of embarrassing noises coming from the adjacent single room...Instinctively, she wanted to avoid them, b
Luana had long been aware of her physical condition, so she wasn't particularly concerned. She asked, "How much... longer do I have?"Eva, with her hands in the pockets of her white coat, looked down at Luana's pale face and said seriously, "About a week."If she hadn't sustained such severe injuries, with the help of special medications, she might have been able to hold on for another two months.But the nail piercing the back of her head had accelerated her heart failure. The fact that she could still last a week was nothing short of a medical miracle.Eva couldn't help but shudder as she recalled the scene of the nail piercing the back of Luana's head."Luana, who on earth nailed the back of your head?"Cline had only messaged her that Sidney, Runa, and he had attacked Luana, urging her to come and save her.He hadn't mentioned who had caused the injuries.Eva suspected it might have been a group attack, but she couldn't bel
After returning to the hospital, Clarissa encountered Albert at the triage desk on the first floor, where he was handling discharge procedures.Seeing her, he was somewhat surprised and asked why she had come. Clarissa pursed her lips and didn't respond.Albert, feeling uneasy under her penetrating gaze, which seemed to see through him, instinctively averted his eyes."Honey..." he called out tentatively, then asked guiltily, "The doctor said Angela's pregnancy is unstable, and it would be best for her to stay near the hospital until the baby is born. Since our place is close to the hospital, how about she stays with us for a while?""With a pregnancy so unstable, it's no wonder she's acting out," Clarissa thought, resisting the urge to retort.She had a flaw—having grown up without much love, she was easily swayed by affection.But she also had a strength—she could quickly dismiss anyone or anything that betrayed her.She
Last time, it was her negligence that failed to keep Albion by her side. This time, she was determined to do everything in her power to protect Luana.Clarissa raised her hand and gently patted Luana's shoulder, hoping to offer some warmth.Time ticked by, and they remained in the same position until a man in a gray suit approached.Clarissa looked up at him, noticing his gaze fixed on Luana, and her tension grew.Before she could inquire about his identity, the man stepped forward and gently pushed Luana's head with his slender fingers."It's ten o'clock. It's time to go home..."Luana, recognizing Dorian's voice, didn't lift her head, her lifeless eyes fixed on the floor.Dorian frowned at her silence, then bent down slightly and spoke patiently, "Dorothy, come home with me."Luana raised her weary head and said, "I don't want to go home today..."She wanted to stay and support Clarissa, to quietly live for herself for
She couldn't believe it. Even with the news reports and Clarissa's own words, she still refused to accept it.Albion, the gentle and considerate young man who had cherished her, how could he have taken his own life in such a tragic way? It was impossible.Luana shook her head in disbelief. "No, he wouldn't do this..."Clarissa stepped forward and embraced Luana. She felt Luana's body growing cold, and her heart ached."Luana, I don't want to believe it either, but..."Clarissa's words trailed off, tears streaming down her face.Three years ago, fearing Albion might do something rash, she had followed him to the cemetery.There, she found no sign of Albion, only bloodstains on the tombstone.Her unease grew as she searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found.The next day, the news reported that Coburn Group's CEO, Calvert, had committed suicide at the cemetery.Only then did she realize Albion had truly done s
"Clarissa..." Albert wept and pleaded, "My mom has cancer, I got fired from my job, and the baby still needs milk. For the sake of our years together, treat me like a beggar and spare me a little help.""If you were truly a beggar, I'd give you some money to send you on your way, but you're not..."A clear voice cut through the air, tinged with exhaustion, coldness, and a hint of ruthlessness. "You're nothing but scum!""Clarissa!""Gag him and get him out of my sight!"At the command, the bodyguards immediately seized Albert and shoved him into the elevator."Humph, this despicable man!"Luana followed the voice and spotted a familiar figure leaning against the bar.The woman had a slender figure, waist-length curly hair, and fair, slender fingers holding a slender cigarette, while her other hand toyed with a wine glass.She tilted her head, staring into the red wine in her glass, as if observing another world from afar
Upon learning of this possibility, Cline simply said, "Thank you," and hung up the phone.He gazed once more in the direction the black luxury car had vanished, now more certain than ever that Dorian had taken his Luana.However, he refused to believe they were husband and wife.Russell arrived with the bodyguards in a hurry, seeing Cline standing in front of the smashed Bugatti.Thinking Cline's car had been in an accident, he quickly approached."Mr. Moriarty, are you alright? Did you take too much sleeping pill and start hallucinating again?"For the past three years, Cline had been plagued by insomnia, clutching two mementos of Luana and struggling to sleep through the night.Russell, worried about his health, had obtained some sleeping pills from Eva.Little did he know, Cline had become addicted to them. Later, Russell found out that the medication could induce hallucinations when taken in excess.It was these hall
Cline's brow twitched, his eyes filled with disdain as he regarded Dorian.He strode quickly to Luana, extending his hand with an unyielding tone, "Come with me."Before Luana could refuse, Dorian swiftly acted, his long arm encircling her shoulder and pulling her tightly into his embrace. A provocative smile played on his lips as he challenged, "On what grounds?"Cline's vision sharpened with pain, witnessing Luana clinging to Dorian, their bodies pressed close. A surge of rage erupted within him."Because I love her!"Cline's voice trembled yet rang out loud and clear, eight years of pent-up emotions bursting forth like a flood breaking its dam.Dorian, noticing the bloodshot eyes and the fervor in Cline's gaze, felt a flicker of realization. He glanced down at Luana in his arms.Her expression was calm, a faint smile curling her lips as if she had just heard an absurd joke, detached and indifferent.Not only did Dorian not l
Dorian rolled his eyes at the scene and impatiently pushed open the car door, stepping out to approach the Bugatti.He bent down and knocked on the window, "Dorothy, get out now."Luana, upon hearing Dorian's voice, froze for a moment before pushing away from Cline, who was still kissing her.Her breathing was slightly labored as she coldly instructed, "Open the door. My husband's here!"Cline's body stiffened. He averted his gaze from Luana and slowly looked at the man outside.Dorian, dressed in a gray suit, was impeccably neat. His handsome face and aristocratic demeanor made him look distinguished and aloof. Cline didn't care about Dorian's appearance, but he was annoyed that Dorian had called her Dorothy, not Luana.Cline swiftly fastened Luana's seatbelt and started the car, speeding out of the parking lot without another word.Dorian watched the Bugatti speed away, a look of frustration crossing his face.He muttered tha
Cline turned on the air conditioning, leaned sideways, and drew closer to Luana.His long, thick lashes lowered as he gazed at the petite Luana, his eyes revealing a longing he had never shown before."Luana..."He uttered her name as if it had taken all his strength.Luana opened her mouth to retort, but Cline suddenly gripped the back of her head with one hand, pressing her into his embrace.He whispered into her ear, "I... miss you so much."For three years, he had thought of her obsessively, to the point of madness, sleeplessness, and even hallucinations from medication.Now that he had found her alive and well, how could he let her go so easily?A flicker of disbelief crossed Luana's previously calm face, followed by a cold sneer in her heart.Would Cline truly miss her? He had never cared before. How could he miss her now?Was it because she was gone, and he couldn't find anyone to replace Runa, that he reme
For the past three years, his heart had felt hollow, a persistent ache that never truly subsided.Now, in this moment of holding Luana close, his restless heart finally found its resting place.To Cline, having someone he longed for still alive was like reclaiming what had been lost.He held Luana tightly, his throat constricting with emotion, unable to utter a word, wishing only to merge her into his very being and feel her presence undeniably.Luana, however, was perplexed by Cline's behavior.It was uncharacteristic of him—cold and distant at their airport encounter, avoiding even a glance, yet now he was uncharacteristically intimate.She wondered if the three years apart had taken a toll on his mental state.Frowning, she struggled to push him away, but Cline easily restrained her wrist with one hand.He spun her around, pinning her against the car door.Before she could speak, Cline captured her lips in a kis
Luana stood outside the door, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes as she contemplated Clarissa's changes over the years.Suddenly, the door creaked open from the inside.Angela, holding a child of about three years old, came into view.The little kid clutched a toy car, its round eyes wide with curiosity as it stared at Luana.Luana's gaze shifted between Angela and the child, a fleeting thought crossing her mind that Angela might be staying with Clarissa and Albert.Suppressing her doubts, she asked, "I'm a friend of Clarissa's. Is she home?"Angela froze, sizing up Luana from head to toe, unable to recognize the elegantly dressed woman with delicate makeup before her.It wasn't until Luana spoke that Angela's pupils contracted sharply, her face draining of color, her lips trembling as she stammered, "Y-y-y-o-u..."Then, as if she had seen a ghost, Angela retreated backward with the child, screaming at th