Julian left the boxing ring in a daze and, before long, ran into Cole.

Cole was surrounded by a group of bodyguards, his brows furrowed in annoyance. When he saw Julian, he gritted his teeth.

He grabbed Julian by the collar and said through gritted teeth:

"Did you hide Summer? Let me tell you, even if it’s something I’ve discarded, no one else is allowed to touch it!"

Julian was pinned to the ground by two bodyguards.

Julian now had a trauma-induced reaction whenever he heard Summer’s name, subconsciously wanting to retort that he had nothing to do with her.

But looking at Cole’s twisted expression, he hesitated.

If Cole found out Summer was with Elena, he would certainly do something to Elena.

When Cole’s foot stepped onto his back, Julian bit his teeth and didn't make a sound.

Cole played with a dagger in his hand, aiming it at Julian’s left leg:

"Not going to talk? Then have a taste of what that dog of yours went through!"

The sharp blade pierced his flesh, and Julian couldn't help but roar in pain.

His vision went black, but he slowly pulled a smile.

Elena, so it hurt that much for you back then...

A hammer struck his knee heavily. Julian convulsed, and Cole laughed, both vicious and satisfied:

"Your leg is broken. I really should let Summer see you like this, see if she still feels any pity for you..."

Just then, Julian suddenly broke free, snatched the dagger with lightning speed, and lunged toward Cole!

Chapter 18

Julian’s eyes were filled with rage. Cole, unable to react in time, had his forearm pierced and couldn't help but step back:

"Do you really think I’m afraid of you? I’m just humiliating you, so what?"

Julian’s eyes were completely bloodshot.

He didn't care in the slightest if he was being humiliated or what state his body was in.

If he could feel the pain Elena had felt, it would be the best thing for him.

But the thought of the scene where Elena was stabbed by Cole until her lips were bitten bloody made his anger consume his reason.

Cole ordered his bodyguards to step back and looked down at him from above.

In an instant, Julian lunged forward, but the pain in his left leg dragged down his movements. Instead, he was grabbed by the hair and slammed against the floor by Cole.

Julian swung his hand and plunged the blade into his chest.

"Dr. Sebastian, another patient has arrived..."

Sebastian was staring blankly at a report he had obtained from the underground boxing ring when the door was frantically knocked open.

He put away the report, rubbed his temples, and walked out.

Lying on two stretchers outside the door were Julian and Cole.

Elena had been taken out for a stroll by Summer and just happened to pass by. Summer took one look, and her eyes turned red instantly.

【I said Summer still loved him! After going through so many twists and turns, how could their feelings just disappear?】

【This is the first time Elena has seen Julian so heavily injured, right? Will she soften her heart?】

【Sigh, it’s all Julian’s own doing... If he hadn't kept pestering the heroine, the male lead wouldn't have suspected him the moment the heroine disappeared!】

Summer rushed to the stretcher and gripped Cole’s hand:

"Cole, what happened to you... It’s all my fault for gambling with you, I’ll never run around again!"

Elena exchanged a look with Sebastian, pulled Summer away, and watched as Sebastian and the other doctors wheeled the two men into the surgery rooms separately.

She held back Summer, who was about to follow them in:

"Didn't you say you wanted to divorce him? Why are you crying like this now that he’s injured?"

Summer sobbed:

"I... I can't just stop loving him all at once, but he doesn't love me."

"I still want to divorce him, but I don't want him to die..."

Elena was stunned for a moment.

She had to admit that when she saw Julian’s state, her heart felt as if it had been given a gentle tug.

But even if she couldn't let go, so what?

She had the ability to love Julian, and she had the ability to put that love away—it was only a matter of time.

【The heroine is too weak... Hiding at the second female lead’s place and refusing to come out, letting two men fight to the death over her.】

【Is this what she wanted? Why don't you mention the male lead living a life of debauchery outside?】

【But she’s really ungrateful! The male lead gave her money and the status of Mrs. Cole; what is there for her to be so pretentious about?】

Elena pursed her lips and said in a low voice:

"It’s not your fault."

Aside from his broken left leg, the rest of Julian’s injuries were just skin-deep, and he was wheeled out quickly.

As he passed by Elena, he saw her stroking Summer’s hair:

"Don't be afraid. Always put yourself at the center, always love yourself."

These words echoed in Julian’s mind. He suddenly realized the truth.

In the past, he had always viewed Elena as his own property, believing it was only natural for her to stay by his side.

He had forgotten that Elena was a complete human being with her own likes, dislikes, loves, and hates.

【Elena has finally made up her mind to leave Julian...】

Julian’s pupils contracted violently when he saw this bullet-screen comment.

He instinctively called out toward Elena’s direction:

"Elena!"

Only then did Elena notice he had left the surgery room. Looking at his battered state and the way he stubbornly turned his head to look at her, she walked over.

The process of Elena walking over felt like an entire century to Julian.

He suddenly didn't know what he should say, or how he should convince her to stay.

Julian grabbed her hand in a panic:

"You promised me... You don't have to protect me, but you promised you would never leave me!"

Elena looked down at him and slowly but firmly pulled her hand away:

"Julian, you were the one who broke your promise first."

He had said, If you are in danger, I will shield you.

He had said, We will always be together, depend on each other, and there will never be anyone else.

He had said, Even if we have to die, we will die together...

Elena remembered every single word clearly.

And then, she watched him break them one by one.

The last flicker of light in Julian’s eyes was extinguished.

He was wheeled toward his hospital room, watching Elena’s figure slowly walk toward the light outside the door.

Chapter 19

Cole was not in any life-threatening danger, but he had fallen into a coma.

Summer was in a state of unease, staying by his bedside to care for him.

Sebastian told Elena that his medical team would be heading to M-Country again tomorrow and asked if she wanted to come along.

Elena clearly saw the nervousness in his eyes and smiled softly:

"Sure. Can I bring someone else?"

Sebastian instinctively looked toward Julian’s room, his brows knitting slightly.

Elena, however, walked toward the bewildered Summer and crouched down to ask:

"Do you want to go to M-Country? There are top-tier designers there, and I remember you have great talent in design."

A light ignited in Summer’s eyes. She turned to look at Cole, who was still in a coma, and the light extinguished once more.

After a long while, she nodded:

"Okay, I’ll go with you."

She had once brought her design drafts to M-Country for a competition, but because she hadn't answered Cole’s call on the plane, he had burned over a year’s worth of her design drafts.

She didn't want to live that kind of life anymore.

【What does this mean? Is the heroine leaving the male lead?】

【No way, are they going to have conflicts again? When will we ever get a happy ending...】

Elena nodded.

Sebastian was clearly relieved.

The next day, Elena took Summer to M-Country.

She felt embarrassed to keep living in Sebastian’s villa, and despite Sebastian insisting it didn't matter, she still rented a place outside with Summer.

Elena began learning flower arranging—something she had always been interested in but never had the time for—while Summer buried herself in drawing every day to make money.

Sebastian visited her occasionally, but most of the time he was very busy.

Elena noticed he was always looking at the same document, and every time he looked at it, his eyes were filled with heartache.

Good times don't last long. One morning, just as Elena opened the door, she saw Julian standing outside.

She slammed the door shut, but Julian used his hand to block it. His hand was squeezed until it was red and swollen before he managed to squeeze into the room.

Julian looked at Summer standing behind Elena and suddenly smiled: