"Spring After the Endless Winter" Chapter 4
The umbrella was pulled away, leaving Elena exposed to the rain again.
Julian’s eyes were bloodshot as he took off his coat and covered Summer with it:
"How dare you!"
She suddenly remembered the past, the angry expressions Julian would wear whenever she was injured from overtraining or fighting.
It was exactly the same as it was now.
The leader of the men glanced at him and the bodyguards behind him, shrunken his neck, and pointed fiercely at Elena:
"It was her! She was the one who told us to block the path! She even told us to sleep with her and promised us a huge sum of money..."
Julian’s gaze landed on Elena with utter disbelief.
Elena shook her head:
"I didn't. I was just passing by."
But the men exchanged glances, insisted that Elena had instigated it, and begged Julian to spare them.
Julian’s face grew uglier as he clutched Summer tighter in his arms:
"Elena, even if you are dissatisfied with me hitting you once because of Summer, you shouldn't be this cold-hearted!"
Elena said hoarsely:
"I told you I didn't."
But Julian, now like a lion that had lost its reason, curled his lips into a chilling arc:
"Spare you? Fine."
"As long as you can defeat your mistress, she belongs to you."
Elena suddenly looked up, staring at him in disbelief.
The lecherous gazes of the men lingered on Elena’s body.
Julian had already picked up Summer and left without a backward glance.
Several wolf-like men lunged at her. Elena was already drifting in and out of consciousness, capable only of fighting back on instinct.
But the numerical disadvantage was simply too great; Elena was eventually pinned to the ground.
She wept in despair and slammed her head against the ground.
When she woke up again, the ring owner was standing by her side, clicking his tongue in wonder:
"I told you to protect Black Hawk; how did you end up like this? You really are a mad dog under his command."
Elena stared silently at the ceiling.
This was her private lounge. Countless times after being severely injured, she had come here to silently lick her wounds.
【This time you could say the second male lead saved the heroine... It’s a pity the first person the heroine sees when she wakes up is still the male lead.】
【Cole is also frantically looking for her; the male and female leads are destined to be together!】
【Sigh, fortunately there’s still the second female lead... The second female lead was born to love this little bitter melon Julian, sob.】
The owner smoked, saying in a low voice:
"Black Hawk has made quite a few enemies in the ring. I don't care what method you use, just make sure to protect him."
Elena agreed.
Ever since Julian retired from the ring, he had been attacked and retaliated against from time to time. Plus, he was incredibly arrogant in the business world, so many people viewed him as a thorn in their side.
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But usually, before he even had to make a move, Elena would handle everything for him.
Protecting Julian had long since become her instinct.
The owner clearly knew this and patted her on the shoulder with reassurance.
Elena picked up the mask belonging to "Elena" lying beside her and snapped it in two:
"From this day on, I quit the position of Boxing King. There is no 'Elena' in the underground ring from now on."
The honor she had shed blood and tears for over countless days and nights was shattered just like that.
The young Boxing King, carrying the will of "Black Hawk," would never appear again.
The owner was stunned. He had assumed Elena wanted the fake-death drug to escape the matches, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
To him, however, there was no loss:
"Fine, I’ll send someone to spread the word."
When Elena dragged her feet back to the villa, she happened to see Julian sending several bloodied men into a police car.
They were the men from the alley.
Julian glanced at her:
"Finally know how to come back? Which wild man did you spend the night with?"
【Such a sharp tongue! Who knows who was tossing and turning in regret all night last night.】
【Those men were almost beaten into sieves; Julian only kept his life because he knew the second female lead was rescued, hahaha.】
【He’s jealous!】
Elena said indifferently:
"It has nothing to do with you."
Julian wanted to say something more, but looking at Elena’s pale complexion, he ultimately said nothing.
【So excited! The male lead and female lead are finally getting married!】
【Sigh, poor second male lead. He jumped into the sea after the heroine’s wedding. Although he saved his life, he became disabled...】
Elena’s gaze froze.
Chapter 7
Through the bullet-screen comments, Elena learned that Summer’s wedding would be held on a cruise ship, and that Julian would jump into the sea after attending it.
According to the plot, it was in the days of his disability that followed that Elena would stay by his side, never leaving him, finally making him see his own heart.
Elena smiled faintly.
Why should she be the one to endure all the grievances?
However, she had to attend this wedding banquet to ensure nothing happened to Julian.
In the afternoon, a loud crash suddenly echoed from Julian’s room as something heavy was smashed to the floor.
After destroying almost everything in his room, he emerged with a death grip on his phone, his eyes bloodshot.
On the screen was the wedding invitation from Cole and Summer.
【I’m really afraid Julian will go and crash the wedding, hahaha.】
【He won’t. He has already seen that Summer loves Cole with all her heart; he won’t go crazy again.】
【Besides, we still have our second female lead! Our baby Elena has suffered enough; she must see the clouds clear and the moon shine!】
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Elena looked at the wedding invitation Summer had sent to her phone and smiled softly.
Indeed, she was about to escape everything...
While Julian let out his unbridled frustration in the villa, Elena took advantage of the moment he was too distracted to watch her and went to the underground boxing ring.
"The fake-death drug will take effect in half an hour."
Elena gripped the small glass bottle the owner had given her, as if she were clutching her final straw of hope.
She returned to the villa, absentmindedly rubbing the glass bottle in her hand.
"What is that in your hand?"
Elena was startled. She looked at Julian, who stood at the doorway in a suit, and bit her lip:
"It’s nothing."
Fortunately, Julian’s mind wasn't on her, and he didn't ask further.
Summer’s wedding was grand and magnificent. When Julian saw her in her white gown backstage, tears welled up in his eyes.
Elena kept a close watch on his every move.
Just then, Summer saw her, and her eyes lit up:
"Sister Elena!"
She pulled Elena over and showed her the maple leaf necklace around her neck:
"The gift you gave me—I’ve been wearing it all along."
Elena stared at it for a long while, turned her head away, and smiled.
She truly couldn't bring herself to hate Summer.
But Summer’s beautiful face held a hint of confusion. She turned to look at Cole, who was dressed in a suit, and pursed her lips.
She seemed to want to say something, but Cole pulled her away, throwing a warning glare at Elena.
The wedding began. Julian stared fixedly at Summer. When she and Cole exchanged smiles and kissed, his face turned deathly pale.
Cole led Summer from table to table to toast. As soon as Elena finished the drink Summer had offered, she noticed Julian was gone.
"Help! Someone’s fallen into the water!"
Elena’s eyes widened. Without a second thought, she rushed toward the crowd along with everyone else.
She saw Julian in the sea, letting the waves crash over him without a single struggle.
Elena swallowed the fake-death drug and jumped in immediately.
She fought to grab Julian’s clothes, dragging him toward the surface with all her might.
【Why did the second female lead jump in!】
【Ahhh, the second male lead will definitely have an epiphany faster now! Our Elena is finally going to see the dawn, sob...】
Cole watched them coldly, having no intention of sending anyone to rescue them.
Julian opened his eyes, and upon seeing who was before him, he asked in disbelief:
"Why did you jump down here!"
Elena dragged him with effort:
"You can't die, I promised..."
Julian suddenly remembered the oath she had made: "Always protect me," and his heart couldn't help but stir.
Elena felt her strength fading; she knew the fake-death drug was about to take effect.
As she lost consciousness, the last thing she saw was the rescue boat speeding toward them.
Julian knelt on the deck, cradling the unconscious Elena, muttering:
"Why are you so stupid... You can't die. You promised me you would never leave me!"
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