Chapter 70
Justin snatched the medical record from the doctor’s hands. His eyes scanned the page quickly, but the moment he saw the name, Lara Kessler, everything around him seemed to stop.”
His mind went blank. Before he could even process what he was looking at, a sharp crack rang through the air.
A slap. His head snapped to the side from the force of it. Monica stood in front of him, her hand still raised, her whole body shaking with anger.
Francis was beside her, looking at him with nothing but quiet disappointment.
They had rushed over the moment they heard he was at the hospital. And as soon as they arrived, they found out the truth, Lara had been the one to donate her kidney to save him.”
Monica’s voice trembled as she spoke.N
“Lara has always been afraid of pain,” she said, her tone sharp and cold. “But she still gave up a kidney without hesitation to save your worthless life. And what did you do? You threw a vase at her. You humiliated her. You forced her to leave.“}]
She exhaled, her hands balling into fists. “She must have been so disgusted with you that she didn’t even bother telling you what she did. She didn’t want anything to do with you anymore.“}]
Monica’s voice broke as she took a shaky breath. “Justin,” she whispered, “how did I end up with such a heartless son?“}]
Justin felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him. Francis sighed heavily and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a yellowed envelope.
“This,” he said, handing it to Justin, “is a letter Lara’s parents wrote before they went in to rescue you.” His voice was quiet, heavy. “For years, you blamed us for forcing you to marry Lara. But if you really want the truth… read it.”}
Francis
The moment Francis mentioned Lara’s deceased parents, something twisted painfully in Justin’s chest. Slowly, he took the letter and unfolded it with trembling fingers.
The writing was rushed but steady. They must have known. They must have already accepted that they weren’t coming back.
“The kidnappers are ruthless. We can’t risk waiting for help. For the sake of our children, we have to go in ourselves. We will bring Lara and Justin home. If we don’t return, please take care of our daughter.”
Justin’s throat felt tight as he read the next part.
Justin once asked us if he could marry Lara when he grew up. We agreed. If the two of them ever fall in love, please don’t stand in their way.
He had forgotten about that. He had been so young, barely old enough to understand love. But back then, when he first saw Lara, he knew.
She was the kind of woman he wanted to marry. She was the future he had once imagined for himself.
That was why, all those years ago, he had gone to her parents and asked for their blessing. ‘So when has that changed? When do I stop seeing her? Maybe it was after Leah came into my life. Maybe it was after I thought she had sacrificed everything for me.’“]
Justin, Lara and Leah had always been classmates.
Back then, Leah was the outcast, an orphan, bullied, alone. And it was Lara who stood up for her, who brought her into their group, who protected her.“)
That was how he got close to Leah. And somehow, he let himself be fooled. He pitied her, convinced himself she needed him and in doing so, he hurt Lara over and over again.
He always thought Leah was fragile, helpless, that she had no one but him. But the truth, the real orphan, the one who had always acted strong, who never asked for anything, who actually needed love was Lara.}
A sharp pain shot through his chest and he clutched at his heart, sinking to his knees. His voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper.@
“I was wrong… I’m so sorry… this is all my fault…”
His vision blurred as he turned to his parents, desperation clawing at his throat.
“Dad, Mom, I know I messed up, but I can’t lose Lara. I don’t want anyone else, I never did. I only want her.”
His voice cracked. “Where is she? What do I do? Please, help me get her back!”
Monica let out a long sigh, looking at him with something that wasn’t quite anger, just quiet disappointment.
“Justin,” she said softly, “after everything you’ve done… after how many times you’ve broken her heart…”
She met his desperate gaze. “Maybe the best thing you can do for Lara-“}]
She exhaled, her voice steady. “-is let her go.“}]
1/1
