Chapter 128

Candy's tears fell like broken pearls. She clutched Vincent's sleeve with trembling fingers, her voice shaking uncontrollably.

"Vincent...are you abandoning me?"

Her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

"I deserve this! It's all my fault! Now I can't even be a mother anymore. How could I face you?"

Vincent frowned deeply.

The weeping woman before him overlapped with the girl who had stayed by his side during his darkest days.

"Candy..."

"Don't!" She cut him off sharply. "I know you think I'm vile! But I just couldn't help it..."

She suddenly threw herself into his arms, sobbing violently.

"Seeing you with Susan...it felt like a knife twisting here!" She pounded her chest desperately.

Vincent's hand froze midair.

Four years ago on that rainy night, Candy had pulled him from the mud. Now she lay broken in his arms—he couldn't remain indifferent.

"Let's get married."

Candy's crying stopped abruptly.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Vincent, you..."

"We'll register tomorrow." His voice was calm, but his gaze drifted to the window where a leaf spiraled downward.

Candy buried her face against his chest, a triumphant smile curling her lips. Nicole had been right—mentioning those four years always softened him.

But she missed the ice in Vincent's eyes.

Meanwhile, in the hospital room...

Susan's lashes fluttered.

She dreamed of walking along the River Styx, where Grandma Thompson held little Daniel's hand waiting for her.

"Mommy!" Daniel ran toward her.

She knelt and hugged the child she'd longed for.

"Susan." Ethan Sullivan smiled at her from nearby. "I've come for you."

They held a simple wedding—no guests, no flowers, only blessings from loved ones.

"Ethan..." she murmured, fingers tightening unconsciously.

"Susan!"

A furious shout yanked her back to reality.

Andrew Lucas loomed over her, stormy eyes blazing with rage.

"Look at me! I'm Andrew Lucas!"

She blinked dazedly as dream and reality blurred then separated.

She wasn't dead.

The realization tightened her chest.

"Let go," she said coldly.

Andrew only gripped her wrist harder, veins bulging.

"I gave 1200cc of my Rh-negative blood to save you!" He ground out each word. "And your first words are another man's name?"

Susan suddenly laughed.

The sound made Andrew's eyes sting.

"Mr. Lucas, did I ask to be saved?"

She yanked her hand back, revealing needle bruises.

"I'd rather have died in that basement than be saved by you."

Andrew stood so abruptly his chair screeched across the floor.

He seized her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Say that again."

She stared straight into his eyes. "I. Would. Rather. Die."

His pupils contracted violently.

Releasing her, he suddenly punched the wall.

Blood streaked down the white surface.

"Fine. Perfect." His back trembled slightly. "You're ruthless, Susan."

The door slammed shut behind him.

Susan stared at the ceiling as silent tears fell.