Chapter 5
Alexander’s movements came to a halt. He stared quietly at that frail body.
He stood there, motionless like a statue.
In the distance, rescue workers carried Caroline’s body, taking heavy steps toward Alexander.
Then they carefully placed the stretcher in front of him. “Mr. Scott, we’re sorry.’
The rain grew heavier, blurring Alexander’s vision.
He knelt on the ground, his eyes swollen and red.
Alexander’s outstretched hand trembled more and more violently, failing several times to lift the body before him.
Finally, with the help of the rescue workers, he managed to hold Caroline’s body tightly.
Just half a day ago, Caroline had been sitting in his passenger seat, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, her eyes bright as she told him how much she liked him.
But now, she lay silently in his arms.
Her cold body temperature seeped into him, making his entire heart feel as if it were wrapped in ice.
Alexander murmured, “Caroline, stop playing games with me. Wake up, okay?”
He called to the person in his arms over and over, but she remained silent, as if throwing a tantrum.
Alexander didn’t mind, just like when Caroline used to act coquettish with him, pressing his face against hers.
The blood and thick dust on her face dirtied his, but he didn’t even furrow his brow.
Alexander remembered many things.
All these years, he had hidden many things from Caroline.
The longest-kept secret was that he had noticed her much earlier than she imagined.
At that year’s New Year’s Eve party, Caroline dancing on stage immediately caught Alexander’s attention.
Her light steps, swirling skirt, and radiant smile-he remembered them all clearly even now.
Perhaps seeing Alexander watching intently, his roommate
excitedly whispered to him about the girl’s background.
His roommate said many things, but he only remembered her name-Caroline.
Alexander thought it was an extremely beautiful name.
He repeated it several times.
He even tried saying her name together with his.
Alexander thought, “Caroline and Alexander sound perfect together.”
But he quickly shook his head.
Alexander thought, “No, the person I like is Mila. She’s the only one who can appear on the same marriage certificate as me.”
Although Alexander had decided on Mila at the time, his gaze kept following Caroline.
He would see her laughing and chatting with others on the steps, and catch glimpses of her chasing friends in the evening light.
Before he knew it, his eyes and heart were filled with Caroline’s shadow.
Later, when Caroline fell for him and began pursuing him, he
discovered he had an urge to say yes.
But Alexander quickly suppressed that impulse.
When Mila acted coquettish and asked him to help her get revenge on Caroline, his first reaction was to refuse.
Alexander couldn’t believe such a wonderful girl could do something so cruel.
But when Mila heard his refusal, she became unreasonable again, even running to the rooftop to threaten him.
Alexander still liked Mila after all, and naturally didn’t want to see her like this.
So he agreed.
He promised Mila he would get revenge on Caroline ninety-nine times, then break up with her.
The first time he took revenge on Caroline, Alexander felt more guilt than satisfaction.
After all, such a wonderful girl had nearly lost her life because of his revenge.
But as the revenge continued, Alexander gradually became numb to it.
Meanwhile, Mila’s smiles became more frequent.
So the last trace of guilt in Alexander’s heart disappeared.
But that time, they drugged Caroline without his permission and threw her to a group of thugs.
For the first time in years, Alexander flew into a rage.
At the time, he thought it was just for appearances. After all, Caroline was still his girlfriend.
If word got out that his girlfriend had been assaulted, it would be humiliating for him.
It was precisely because of this incident that Alexander’s feelings toward Caroline gradually began to change.
But he still paid no attention to it.
Until today, when he threw Caroline into the fire and heard her say she was looking forward to his gift, Alexander’s heart inexplicably panicked.
This panic was even stronger than when he learned Mila was leaving him.
In that moment of hesitation and uncertainty, he actually
thought about many things.
According to the original plan, after this revenge ended, Alexander would reveal the true purpose of his relationship with Caroline in front of everyone.
He would also demand that she publicly apologize to Mila.
Then his relationship with Caroline would be completely over.
If Caroline’s attitude was sincere, Alexander would consider giving her money as compensation.
But at that moment, he thought he wouldn’t humiliate her after the revenge ended.
He would also give her money as compensation, then break up peacefully.
But when he saw the raging fire and found no new messages from her on his phone, Alexander panicked.
At that moment, he had only one thought.
To save Caroline-she absolutely couldn’t be hurt.
As long as Caroline could come out safely, Alexander would agree to anything she asked.
C
his wife.
But the prerequisite for all of this was that Caroline was still alive.
His unfocused gaze slowly fell on her breathless face.
Alexander had held Caroline many times, but none had been lighter than this time, and none had lasted longer.
He held her and walked for a very, very long time.
B
