Chapter 19
Outside the psychiatric hospital, rain poured down in torrents. ||
Adrian emerged from the entrance and stood directly in the downpour, letting the icy water wash over him. His adstant panicked and rushed forward with an umbrela.[]
Paige had been tortured beyond recognition. The daily abuse had genuinely damaged her mentally–she’d developed panic disorder. So when she une Adrian, she’d grabbed a small knife and stabbed his hand. Fortunately it was just a surface wound before she was quickly restrained and locked in the basement
standing in the storm, he pulled out his phone and called his Middle East security team]]
“Get the helicopter ready. I’ll be there tonight”
He looked up at the dark sky, clenching his fists Stella, you used to love me hard.
Now it’s my turn to love you.
The helicopter touched down, and Adrian returned to the Truliar camp
The deputy commander was shocked to see him. “Mr. Hayes, what, what are you doing here?!”
Qui Adran ignored him, looking around frantically for Stella. “Deputy, where’s Stella?]
“She’s she’s in the infirmary with. Before the men inished speaking. Adrian’s face went tense as he rushed inside.
When he burst through the medical tent flap, the scene before him turned all his longing into suffocating, dull pain
Stella was kneeling heade the bed, carefully changing the dressing on Lucas’s bare torso. Her fingertips rested gently on Lucas’s wrist, a soft smile playing at her ips When Lucas looked up at her, his gaze was tenderly railiant, and he pulled her doser by the wall, kissing her lips softly
trian stood just a few meters away, staring at the scene in disbelief
“Stella… Adrian’s voice was house beyond rerogation
Both people in the tent turned at the sound.
Stella’s smile instantly free, her fingers unconsciously gripping the bed shigh fuces stood up, pesually positioning himself in front of her. “Mr. Hayes, what brings you here? Need something?”
Seeing him shield her. Adrian’s heart twisted painfully. He ignored Lucas, gaze fixed intently on Stelas face stella can we talk alone?]
“I have nothing to discuss with you. If there’s nothing else, please leave. I still need to finish Lucas’s bandages. Her voice was so cold
jestve minutes, okay?
Silence stretched through the air. Finally, Stella gently patted Lucas’s arm. “You go ahead. Tu find you later.
Lucas seemed to completely dimas Adrian’s presence. He stood up and pressed a kiss to Stella’s forehead. Alright, 10l be waiting outside.”
This intiate gesture made every muscle in Adrian’s body tense, his nails digging deep into his palms. And as Lucas left, he deliberately shoulder checked Adrian hard
Only the two of them remained in the tent
Adrian watched Stella take a step back, his chest feeling like had been ripped open, beyond repair
You and him. you’re together?]
“Yes”
That simple anser cut deeper than any blade. Adrian stumbled forward a step “Why is it because Frame back so late? I love you, Stella, im sorry it took me so long to realize my feelings. 1 love you Paige, she’s already been…||
“Adrian” Stella cably interrupted him. “Don’t you get it even now? This has nothing to do with anyone else. “[]
Shylocked directly into his eyes, and he saw a distance and composure he’d never seen before. “Love? That’s not what love Love shouldn’t be this exhausting…]
These words completely shattered Adrian. His eyes urdily welled up. He dropped to his knees by the bed, reaching out with trehling hands to grasp hers. “Stella, please don’t… give me one more chance. I’m begging you
Sills gently pulled her hand away. Your hand is injured. Go get a bandaged. ”
Her distant concern was more devastating than haired could ever be
Adrian finally understood–it was truly over hetween them. He smiled with red rimmed eyes, speaking to Stella but also himself. “You used to hate seeing me bleed…”
He remembered how Stella wemad frantically search for the first aid kit, her eyes reddening with worry, staying up all night changing his bandages||
she simply said calmly. “Luxas is very good at bandaging. Should I call him for you?“]
She was literally pushing him toward someone else.
Adrian swayed as he stood up, taking one last long look at her. If this is your choice… I wil you happiness.”]]
As he turned to leave, he heard Stella’s soft voice: “Thank you.”
How irunc
The love he’d crossed through war zones to salvage had only earned him a potte “thank you.“||
Quisde, it had started pouring again. Adrian inch in the mind, letting the rain wath over the warmth on his fate. Laughter echoed in the distance–he saw Lucas running toward the medical tent with an umbrella, sam Stella smding at him from the doseway!]
What a perfect picture. And he had become the outsider
It turned out that when your heart breaks completely, you can’t even make a sound. And all of th… he had brought upon himself
