Chapter 4

He was still late. Madelynn's face turned pale as she tried to explain herself, but Andres didn't listen to a single word.

He stared at his empty hand. Then he rushed downstairs like a madman. When he saw Kaelyn lying in a pool of blood, he trembled uncontrollably.

He lifted Kaelyn in his arms and shouted in despair, "Get a doctor here now!"

He then turned to his bodyguards and roared, "What were you doing? Didn't I tell you to watch her?" I was gone for just one morning, and she ended up like this!"

The bodyguard hung his head and said in a low voice, "Mr. Warren, you sent all the bodyguards to protect Miss Dobson... We were shorthanded here and slipped up."

Kaelyn was barely conscious in his arms. She felt Andres's body suddenly stiffen before he held her even tighter.

"I'm sorry, Kaelyn... It's all my fault."

Madelynn had followed them down. She timidly stood a few steps away and said in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry, Andres. It's all my fault. I felt guilty ever since that day when my tantrum caused Sister Kaelyn to be hospitalized. I just wanted to apologize... But when I entered the hospital room, I saw her struggling through rehab. I was afraid she couldn't take it, so I tried to stop her. I didn't expect her to dislike me so much and keep pushing me away. Then she accidentally fell..."

She dared not get close, and her voice grew softer. She seemed to fear that she would anger Andres.

Hearing her words, Andres calmed down as his anger gradually dissipated.

He sighed, stood up, and walked over to Madelynn. He gently wiped the tears from her face and said, "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Don't cry anymore. I've always been afraid of your tears since we were little. Oh, I signed a contract today... Haven't you always wanted a private island? Now it's yours."

In the corner of his eye, Madelynn broke into a smile and threw herself into his arms.

Andres affectionately tousled her hair.

Kaelyn felt a chill throughout her body and closed her eyes. She thought she had become numb, but a tear still slipped from the corner of her eye.

Andres used the best medical resources in the city to save Kaelyn. Fortunately, the fall wasn't from a high floor, and some greenery cushioned the impact.

The lights in the operating room stayed on for three days and nights, and Kaelyn narrowly escaped from death.

That incident made Andres extremely vigilant. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Kaelyn again, so he brought her home and arranged for someone to care for her.

Kaelyn thought she could finally recover quietly. But then she saw Madelynn directing the servants to move luggage into the villa.

Kaelyn asked Andres what was going on and why Madelynn was moving in.

Andres dared not meet her eyes. "Madelynn feels responsible for your accident and wants to move in to take care of you as compensation."

He then seemed to have convinced himself, and his tone grew firm. "Kaelyn, I'm busy with work and can't always be there for you. With Madelynn here, I will worry about you less."

Kaelyn almost retorted instantly.

Madelyn had caused Kaelyn to be injured like that. If the latter moved in, it would only hasten the former's demise.

But the words stuck in Kaelyn's throat and went unspoken.

Andres wouldn't believe her words.

A strong sense of helplessness washed over her. She turned her head away and said nothing more.

The medication took effect, and Kaelyn drifted off into a hazy sleep. When she woke up again, it was already dark.

She was thirsty. She wanted to ask a servant for water, but her hoarse voice wouldn't come out. After a moment's hesitation, she pressed the call button by her bed.

Andres had installed the equipment for her, which was connected directly to all his communication devices. He promised that whenever she pressed it, he would come to her immediately.

The bell rang several times before it was connected. "Kaelyn, what's wrong?"

Before Andres could finish speaking, a voice from the background interrupted him. "Andres, look over here!"

Andres pretended to be annoyed. "Madelynn, why are you smearing cream on my face again?"

"Because you look so cute like that."

Kaelyn's gaze dimmed as she quietly stared at the ceiling and said nothing.

She knew Andres spent every important day with Madelynn.

It marked their twenty-fifth since they met.

Kaelyn recalled her own anniversaries with Andres.

On their first anniversary, they vacationed at a beautiful tourist attraction, but Madelynn threatened suicide over a limited-edition handbag, and Andres left Kaelyn alone at the hotel as he flew back to console Madelynn.

On their second anniversary, they planned a ski trip, but Madelynn was upset about not having anyone to accompany her to a concert, so Andres canceled the ski trip and stayed with Madelynn. Kaelyn saw the photo of him and Madelynn kissing on social media that very evening.

On their third anniversary, Andres took Kaelyn to Northern Europe, where he had planned to propose to her in a chapel. But Madelynn secretly followed them and called him. She told him that she was lost. Once again, Andres left Kaelyn alone.

Kaelyn suddenly realized that whenever Andres needed to choose between her and Madelynn, he always chose Madelynn.

All she received were apologies and attempts at compensation afterward.

Kaelyn quietly hung up the call and struggled to get out of bed. She poured herself a glass of water.

In her heart, she kept reminding herself that she would leave three days later and that she shouldn't hold any more expectations on Andres.

In the early morning the next day, Kaelyn got up to use the bathroom. As she passed the guest room, she heard intimate noises inside.

"Please be gentle, Andres... Why does she want to hurt me like this?"

"Bear with it, Madelynn. Otherwise, the drug still works." He seemed to warn Kaelyn as he continued, "I'm just doing this to help you. After all, it's Kaelyn's fault."

Kaelyn paused in her tracks.

Through the crack in the door, she saw Andres and Madelynn making love on the bed.

At least in his heart, he still considered Kaelyn his girlfriend. He still held onto that last boundary.

But the scene Kaelyn just witnessed shattered the last hope in Kaelyn's heart.