Chapter 4
Forty–eight hours later, I woke from my
coma.
Stuart’s exhausted face appeared in my vision: “You’re awake? How are you feeling?”
It turned out he had found me during the rescue operation.
His arm was still wrapped in bandages, a result of the sea’s impact while he was rescuing me.
The TV in the intensive care unit was broadcasting the news:
【A professor from a certain university, Rolf, and his fiancée Faye were among the first to be moved to the safe zone, and they are
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currently assisting with the rescue efforts.】
Fiancée. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
We had been together for five years, but he never once introduced me as his girlfriend. Whenever anyone asked, he would always dodge the question, brushing it off with vague answers.
Yet Faye, who had only appeared two months ago, had already claimed the role I had waited five years for.
Just then, the door to the ward was pushed open with force, and Rolf entered, holding Faye’s hand.
Rolf’s face was ashen, and he threw a pile of newspapers in my face, demanding, “Clarissa, what is this supposed to mean?”
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The newspapers read:
“Breaking News on University Professor Scandal: Sources reveal that Professor Rolf forced his colleague, Clarissa, to work late on the night of the incident, causing her to miss the evacuation deadline. Rescue teams reported that, had she not been found in time, the outcome could have been devastating…”
Faye followed closely behind him, her gaze filled with disdain. “Clarissa, you really know how to manipulate things. You purposely waited for the media to arrive before claiming you were forced to work overtime? You just want everyone to sympathize with you and make Rolfie feel guilty, don’t you?”
“Manipulate?” I tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Faye, have you forgotten who I was
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helping with the report that night? Why did Rolf, as a school leader, suddenly switch. your work over to me?”
Rolf’s expression darkened. “What are your implying?”
“I told you I’d come back for you. You just couldn’t wait–and now you’re trying to turn this around on me!”
I suddenly threw the blanket off and sat up. “Faye, do you really think I wouldn’t see through your tricks? That night’s report was anything but ordinary, the alarm system suddenly malfunctioned, and that safety exit was deliberately shut off… Do you think that if I died there, the results of five years of research would all be yours?”
Faye’s face went pale. “Y–You’re talking nonsense!”
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I was about to retort when, “Slap!” Rolf suddenly slapped me across the face. “Clarissa, don’t go too far!”
The room fell eerily silent.
I touched my burning cheek and suddenly smiled.
In the next moment, I raised my hand and slapped Rolf twice across the face. “Rolf, you really make me sick.”
“You dare slap me?” Rolf roared in fury.
“What? Do you think I’m still that fool who gave everything for you?” I stood up, coldly staring at him.
“From the moment you betrayed me, you were already erased from my heart.”
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“This isn’t a place for you two. Please leave.” Stuart, seeing the situation, moved to usher them out.
Faye suddenly clutched her chest, looking like she was about and pretended to faint. “Rolfie… I feel terrible…”
I was furious. I picked up the phone to call security to kick them both out, but Rolf stepped forward to snatch my phone.
Stuart blocked Rolf with a swift motion. “Mr. Oliver, you better watch your behavior. Don’t forget, this is a monitored area. Do you want me to ask the hospital to pull up the footage of you hitting her?”
Nurses and security arrived at the sound of the commotion, and soon the hallway outside was crowded with onlookers.
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“How shameless. She’s the mistress and still acting pitiful.”
“Yeah, I just heard. Ms. Barber had been with Mr. Oliver for five years, only to have her love snatched away by this woman.”
“Women like her really disgrace us all.”
Faye’s face drained of color, the mask of composure slipping away. Without a word, she turned and fled.
Rolf tried to say something but was stopped by Stuart. “Mr. Oliver, I’ll say it one more time. Please leave!”
Watching the two of them leave in disgrace, I leaned back against the headboard, and tears finally fell uncontrollably.
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The only consolation was that I was no longer an abandoned child. Stuart’s roses arrived on time every day.
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