After walking a few steps, she noticed a dilapidated van parked in a dim corner not far away. Its headlights flickered faintly in the darkness, making it difficult to see clearly.

Jolene didn't think much of it. After exhaling a long breath of turbid air, she got into her own car and started the engine.

However, just as she drove forward two meters, a blinding light suddenly struck!

By the time Jolene reacted, the van was already rushing toward her at an extraordinary speed, driven by a desperate determination to destroy both parties.

It was too late to dodge. Jolene could only desperately spin the steering wheel in the other direction, trying her best to minimize the impact.

In just a few short seconds, there was a loud "Bang."

Jolene felt a sudden impact on her shoulder, and the car was thrown aside.

She stepped on the brakes with all her strength and finally came to a stop just before hitting the railing.

The accident happened too fast. Jolene stared forward in a daze, only to see a third vehicle—a black sedan—that shouldn't have been there.

That car had appeared out of nowhere at some point, taking the fatal blow from the van for her.

Smoke rose from both vehicles, and there was no further movement.

Jolene’s breathing was completely erratic. she scrambled out of the car, her legs still weak, and ran toward the sedan.

The driver's seat had been completely deformed. Shards of glass from the windows covered the ground, and the steering wheel had been warped by the immense force, crushing into the driver’s chest.

The white suit, in addition to the yellow alcohol stains from half an hour ago, was now covered with a great deal of dark blood that continued to flow out.

It was Xavier.

"Ambulance! Call an ambulance!"

The hotel staff also ran out to look, screaming.

In her dazed state, a gentle force covered Jolene’s eyes. Yancheng’s voice was very soft: "I’ve contacted the hospital. We will arrange for the top doctors to treat him."

The ambulance arrived quickly, taking Xavier, whose life hung in the balance, and Chloe, who was guilty of attempted murder, to the hospital.

Jolene and Yancheng began an indefinite wait outside the operating room.

During this time, Jolene didn't eat anything. Yancheng understood she was in no mood for food, but he silently reheated the dinner several times.

Two hours later, Chloe’s surgery ended.

The doctor said she was lucky; she had only injured her limbs, and her internal organs were unaffected.

So when Chloe was wheeled out, she was conscious. She saw Jolene, and... several police officers.

For intentional attempted murder, a case would be opened to investigate her.

But Chloe didn't care about any of that. Her lifeless eyes were fixed intently on Jolene, and her pale, peeling lips moved slightly. "Why aren't you dead yet?"

"Why wasn't it you who died? Why would a man as cold-hearted as Xavier block everything for you? Why? Why is it so unfair?"

Jolene didn't answer. She was exhausted and had no desire to answer Chloe’s string of senseless questions.

Yancheng signaled the police to take Chloe away.

Then, Jolene waited for another five full hours.

The doors to Xavier’s operating room finally opened. The doctor who walked out wore a mask and shook his head at Jolene.

"We couldn't save him. His kidneys were ruptured, and there was massive hemorrhaging. The patient also had no will to live." The doctor went silent for a moment. "He has two final sentences to say to you."

For a moment, Jolene didn't know what expression appeared on her face.

She walked in, her footsteps feeling as heavy as lead.

Xavier’s face was already transparently pale, and his gaze was too scattered to focus. Only when he saw Jolene did his eyes move almost imperceptibly.

He no longer had the strength to speak; he could only mouth the word: "Wife."

He believed Jolene would understand; it was a tacit understanding they were born with.

He moved his lips very, very slowly, as if exhausting his last bit of strength: "It doesn't hurt... I chose this."

"I... regret... it."

"Want to go back to the past..."

"I’m sorry."

"Don't... forget me."

The last phrase Xavier mouthed was: "I love you, forever."

He closed his eyes.

The machines emitted a piercing alarm, and doctors swarmed in. Jolene walked out of the chaotic ward and leaned against the cold wall, weeping until her face was covered in tears.

Later, the assistant told Jolene that Xavier had already bought a house in Country H, in a suburb far away from her.

Because he wanted to breathe the same air as her, but didn't want to provoke her annoyance.

The reason he had discovered Chloe’s plot was that he was worried about her returning home alone at night, so he had been silently following her in his car.

A week later, Chloe was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The traces of abuse on her body were discovered by the police, and only then did Jolene learn how ruthless Xavier’s methods had been.

After the sentencing results came out, Jolene went to Xavier’s grave and placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums.

She didn't speak, but simply stayed with him from dawn until night.

Before leaving, she said with lowered eyes, "Xavier, I won't forget you."

He was, after all, the boy who had dazzled her entire youth. How could he be easily forgotten?

"I’ll come to see you again next year."

[THE END]