The skirt shimmered under the lights, and the diamond belt at my waist accentuated my perfect curves.
As I entered the banquet hall, all eyes were drawn to me.
The Sterling family, as the Thorne family’s in–laws, naturally had to attend.
This time, Jax was by Seraphina’s side.
The Sterling family should have collapsed long ago, but thanks to Jax’s reborn memories, he had managed to stabilize the
situation.
Jax saw me from afar and froze.
His eyes first showed shock, then wild joy, and instantly filled with tears.
I calmly averted my gaze, as if I hadn’t seen him.
Halfway through the banquet, I went to a private room to rest.
<
The door suddenly swung open, and Jax rushed in.
He immediately grabbed my wrist.
“Aria, come with me.”
Without hesitation, I pulled out the small knife I carried and savagely stabbed the back of his hand.
Blood immediately seeped out, and he cried out in pain, releasing his grip.
But Jax showed no anger; instead, he seemed even more agitated.
“I knew you wouldn’t die so easily.”
He snatched the knife from my hand and tossed it aside.
“Come with me, Aria, let’s leave this place.”
I struggled violently, sneering, “Someone like me, with only one eye, isn’t that what you hate most?
“So what are you doing now?”
Jax’s expression instantly turned remorseful, his voice trembling.
“I’m sorry, Aria, it’s all my fault.”
“I shouldn’t have treated you like that. I shouldn’t have let you endure all that pain alone.”
“Get out,” I said coldly. “I don’t want to see you again.”
Ignoring my resistance, Jax forcibly pulled me into his embrace.
His voice was choked with tears:
“After you left, I thought I was going insane from missing you. I realized I had fallen madly in love with you.”
“Now that I see you again, I will never let you go.”
I pushed him away with all my strength. “I don’t love you at all now, and I can’t possibly be with you.”
Jax shook his head, his eyes full of stubbornness. “Impossible, you can’t not love me.”
“Even when I was crippled, you were willing to marry me, searching for doctors everywhere, comforting me gently every day. even kneeling on thousands of steps, one by one, just to make me better.”
“You risked your life for me, how could you not love me?”
He reached out to pull me again. I quickly picked up the knife from the floor.
The tip of the knife was aimed at his chest. My hand was trembling.
“If you force me, only one of us will walk out of here alive today.
7
5:26 AM c c
<
7
Jax’s gaze became complex. He opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words.
Finally, he just gave me a desolate look and walked away.
As soon as Jax left, the door opened again.
Julian Thome walked in.
I looked at him in surprise.
He didn’t say anything, just took the knife from my hand.
“When you’re in danger, hold the knife in reverse.”
Julian held my wrist, teaching me hand–in–hand.
“Like this, you’ll have enough force.”
His palm was warm, completely enveloping my hand. I was about to nod, but then I felt a chill at my neck.
The blade rested against my skin, and Julian’s voice whispered in my ear.
“Aria Sterling, if you still harbor old feelings, and dare to betray me…”
My heart skipped a beat.
“I absolutely won’t.”
“Good.”
“Let’s go back. The banquet’s almost over.” Julian tidied my slightly disheveled hair, his movements as gentle as if he were handling fragile porcelain.
I touched my neck; the coldness of the blade still lingered there.
After making my public appearance, I no longer hid.
Everyone knew the Sterling family’s decline had a lot to do with me, but they also knew what the Sterling family had done to me. Most people thought it was the Sterling family’s just deserts.
My father and sister took turns cursing me at the Thome family’s gatos.
I ignored them.
No matter how fiercely they cursed, it wouldn’t change the fact that the Sterling family was on the verge of bankruptcy.
A month later, I went on a business trip out of town.
city, it was surrounded by several black sedans.
As soon as my car left the city,
My driver was dragged out of the car.
Jax not out of one of t
<
Jax got out of one of the cars and directly pulled open my car door.
“Come with me.”
