【Act now, kill this woman!】

"You were just stalling for time. If anything happens to her, I will not let you go." Julian threw Eva to the floor, grabbed her phone, and rushed out.

Eva's tears fell like broken beads as she screamed at his retreating back: "It's too late! He must have already acted. Julian, just wait to collect Gu Roujia’s corpse! Hahaha..."

When Julian had brought up her life abroad, she knew she had been exposed. Talking so much had just been to stall for time. She wanted that woman dead.

As long as Gu Roujia was dead, no one would interfere between them. Julian had been so good to her before; it was only because of Gu Roujia that things had turned out this way. Once there were no more obstacles, they would be just as happy as they were before!

Julian pressed the accelerator to the floor. He sent the number to his assistant; the location of the killer had been tracked. He drove out immediately, his heart burning with anxiety, praying silently: "Please be okay, Gu Roujia, wait for me..."

Chapter 34: Vegetative State

The killer’s location was an abandoned warehouse in the suburbs.

The assistant had already called the police. Julian parked the car and charged in directly.

"Mr. Lin, please wait! The assailant inside may have a weapon. It’s dangerous for you to rush in."

Julian couldn't care less. He only wanted to confirm Gu Roujia’s safety. Hearing that the thug was armed only made his steps faster.

Julian heard a gunshot, and the hair on his arms stood on end, as if Death himself had passed by him, reaching out to take what belonged to him.

"No!" Julian roared, charging into the factory like a madman. The assistant hurriedly followed with the team.

The world seemed to turn pale, with only the crimson figure lying in a pool of blood providing any color. Julian lunged to Gu Roujia’s side; warm blood instantly covered his hands. This was Gu Roujia’s life slipping away. He tried desperately to press against the wound to stop the blood, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.

"It’s okay..." Julian breathed heavily. "I’ll take you back... to the hospital, yes, to the hospital..."

"Call an ambulance!" Julian yelled back, sounding like a wounded beast!

The assistant finally snapped to, immediately calling the emergency center.

"It’s okay... it’s okay... you’ll be fine..." Julian held Gu Roujia. For the first time, he was utterly helpless, the heart-wrenching pain beyond description.

"No!" Julian lowered his head, his trembling hands cupping Gu Roujia’s face. "You won't die, you won't leave me. I know everything now, everything... I haven't even begged for your forgiveness yet! How can you just die like this..."

The assistant and the team turned away, eyes filled with tears.

Who said the furthest distance in the world isn't life and death?

Only when truly experiencing it does one realize that the distance between life and death is an impassable chasm that can never be bridged!

Gu Roujia.

"You... you haven't... hated me enough yet; I won't allow you to die!" Julian choked out, "I won't allow it! Absolutely not!" Finally, the ambulance arrived like a beacon of light in the darkness—captivating, dazzling, and warm. Seeing Gu Roujia being loaded into the vehicle, Julian, covered in blood, sat beside her, his eyes red, refusing to leave her side for even a step! He was terrified that if he left, he would never see her again.

Outside the operating room, Julian remained covered in blood, not even having time to change his clothes, keeping his vigil outside.

Time ticked by. Julian checked his watch every two minutes, his anxious demeanor completely stripped of composure. The assistant had someone buy dinner, but Julian couldn't eat a single bite.

It was late into the night before the doctor finally came out, looking exhausted.

"How is it, doctor?" Julian grabbed the doctor, his eyes full of anxiety and concern.

The doctor gently removed Julian’s hands and let out a heavy sigh. Julian’s heart felt as if it had been pulled out of his chest. "The patient has been resuscitated..."

Julian let out a breath, whispering to himself: "I knew it, I knew Jiajia would be okay, she would be okay..."

"But the patient’s brain suffered a severe blow, and she has a history of extreme mental stress. She will survive, but..."

"But what?" Julian’s heart was in his throat, a sudden, ominous feeling gripping him.

"She may become a vegetative patient..." The doctor gently patted Julian’s shoulder. Julian froze in place—this was like a bolt of lightning striking his heart!

Everything went dark before Julian’s eyes. He only heard the assistant scream before he lost consciousness.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he opened his eyes.

"Mr. Lin, the doctor said it was just a shock. Miss Gu needs your care now; you must hold on."

He lifted his head, staring at the white ceiling, his eyes wet.

A real man doesn't cry easily—unless he has reached the limits of his grief.

That single gunshot had made him realize with unprecedented clarity that this woman was the one he had always loved, and that he was terrified of losing her.

But the most tragic part was that everything happening today was caused by him.

Chapter 35: Let Me Atone

Julian dragged his weary body back to the suburban villa.

He sat in the living room with a dark face, bloodstains still visible on his skin and clothes.

Seeing this, Eva rushed over in a panic: "What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Let me see, have you called a doctor? I’ll call one right now..."

Watching Eva’s flustered state, Julian felt a wave of nausea for no apparent reason.

"No need, this blood is Roujia’s!" Julian said coldly. His tone was like ice from the eighteenth layer of hell, leaving Eva stunned.

Gu Roujia was dead.

Eva’s lips couldn't help but curl upward. The next second, a hard slap landed squarely on her face. She covered her cheek, staring at Julian in disbelief.

"Bribery of doctors, forged pregnancy reports, hiring a killer—all this evidence has been turned over to the police. The police are on their way. I will hire the best lawyers; be prepared to spend the rest of your life in prison."

A flash of panic crossed Eva’s eyes: "Julian, you’re joking with me, right?"

Julian said nothing, his face rigid.

He had thought about tearing this woman to pieces, but in the end, he decided to leave it all to the law.

Eva had lived a life of luxury; rotting in a cold prison cell for the rest of her life was the greatest punishment for her.

The fear in Eva’s heart rose bit by bit until she suddenly collapsed on her knees before Julian: "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know I was wrong." Julian remained unmoved. Eva cried and shook her head, crawling over to cling to his leg. "I’ve always loved you, I really love you, that’s why I did those things. Please, forgive me, it won't happen again!"

"Again?" Julian looked at Eva with derision. "You still want an 'again'?" Julian kicked Eva away, took a deep breath, and said, "I will make sure you fully experience the suffering she has endured all these years!"

Eva shook her head as if the world were collapsing: "Julian, you said you would love me and give me a happy life. Gu Roujia isn't dead, I didn't kill anyone, I don't want to spend my life in prison, please let me go."

Julian had Eva taken away. He no longer had much interest in torturing her. If torturing Eva could wake Gu Roujia up, he would be more than happy to do it, but now there was only Gu Roujia, lying on a hospital bed, barely holding onto breath.

When Eva was taken away by the police, she still couldn't believe she had fallen to such a state.

Julian sat in the living room with a bottle of alcohol. At this moment, he was the only one left in the massive villa.

He guzzled the alcohol, then slap, slap, slap—he struck his own face repeatedly. His cheeks turned blue and purple, but he seemed not to feel a thing.

Before Eva was dragged away, she had screamed: "Julian, do you think Gu Roujia could have become like this without you? Am I the only one who harmed her? Why am I the only one who has to be punished?"

Julian smiled bitterly. He was the greatest sinner of all in harming Gu Roujia.

He sent Eva to prison, but he had no intention of sparing himself.

Thinking of the pale-faced Gu Roujia lying on the bed, he gripped the bottle harder and harder.

Finally, he smashed his fist into the wall, fresh blood flowing from his knuckles.

"Roujia, tell me how I can atone for my sins. As long as you can wake up, even if you want my life, I wouldn't blink."