Chapter 5N
The air at the hospital reeked of disinfectant.
I woke up from the intense pain, subconsciously curling my fingertips.
The voices outside the door were prominent.
“Justin, you protected me back there, but she’s your wife. If something had happened to her, how could I ever forgive myself? It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have come.“§
Lilian sobbed, her tone laced with a hint of coquetry.
“Don’t cry.” Justin’s voice was gentle in a way I’d never heard before.§
He gently held her in his arms, soothing her back with his palm and said in a low voice. “It’s not your fault. I insisted on taking you there.” “But you are obviously her husband.”
“I saved you,” he paused. His tone was cruel and firm. “I don’t regret it. Even if I have to do it again, I will still protect you.“}
“Justin, why are you so good to me?” Lilian looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.”
Justin gazed at her, dark emotions swirling in his eyes. After a long moment, he said softly, “If … if I were single right now, we “1 Thud!
A dull crash echoed through the large hospital room. I caught myself on the edge of the cabinet with one hand while the other instinctively govered the bottle of pills ! had knocked over. White capsules spilled across the floor.
Lilian jumped, her earlier soft murmurs in Justin’s embrace instantly replaced by a concerned demeanour as she rushed towards me. “Francesca, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll call the doctor.”
“It’s all my fault. I insisted on going horseback riding, causing you to … ”
I stared at her, a cold laugh bubbling up from my throat. “That’s right. If you hadn’t gone, my mood would be better now.”
Her expression shifted, but her eyes reddened as if she might cry at any second. She stepped back and said softly.
“If you don’t want me around, I’ll go.”
“Francesca, Lily is worried about you. Why are you taking it out on her? It’s my fault for not saving you first. If you want to blame someone, blame me instead.“}
Justin spoke with an indifferent tone, yet it halted Lilian’s departure.§
The man who had been my husband for five years looked at me with the eyes of a detached stranger.
He called me by my full name yet used an intimate nickname for Lilian.
In that instant, my mind buzzed. The image of the panicked horse charging towards me flashed in my mind, the terror of being thrown and the horse’s hooves raised high, a hair’s breadth from death.
Then, his unwavering figure rushed to protect Lilian.
Belated fear finally surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown me.
Suddenly, I raised my hand.”
Slap! The sound was crisp and sharp, the slap clean and swift.§
Justin’s head snapped to the side, a red mark instantly appearing on his cheek.
“Justin, I am your wife, the one with a marriage certificate with your name on it.”}
I said each word icy and distinct. “Yet, when I was on the verge of death, you shielded another woman? Did you wish I would just die so you two could be together?”
He stared at me in silence, not even trying to explain.
I looked at him and let out a bitter laugh.
Why hasn’t he requested a divorce if things are already like this?”
Was he afraid his grandmother would disapprove?
Or was he afraid that after divorcing me, he would no longer have an excuse to go to the Jamesons and care about Lilian?}
My nose stung as anger surged up. I raised my hand again, ready to slap Justin a second time.
This time, Lilian suddenly reached out to block him, a sob catching in her throat.
“Francesca, please don’t be like this. Justin didn’t mean it that way. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come; I made you misunderstand him.“D
Slap!!!
This slap landed clearly on her face.
I froze for a moment.
Five red finger marks instantly appeared on her fair cheek. She covered her face, looking aggrieved. “Francesca, you really misunderstood him. He was just … ”
didn’t hear what she said after that.”
Because Justin’s eyes had changed.
Because Justin’s eyes had changed.”
The moment my hand fell, his eyes turned completely black, bottomless.
Like a wild beast crawling out of hell, a chilling coldness emanated from him.§
His gaze locked onto me as if looking at a dead person.
Lilian’s lips trembled slightly. She whispered, “Justin, don’t blame her. She’s just distraught. I’m fine.” Suppressing a sob, I said coldly, “Get out!“}
