Raegan forced a smile, her body going cold.
âFine, I agree.
â
Her agreement was not born of fear but of sheer exhaustion.
The sudden revelation of the truth had caught her off guard, leaving her reeling.
Human as she was, she was susceptible to great pain.
While Raegan could call on the Foster family to oppose the Glyn and Dixon dynasties, the odds were heavily stacked against them in Ardlens.
She was unwilling to put the Foster family at risk on her behalf or to endanger her unborn children.
Besides, her departure had been imminent.
Mitchelâs urgency simply hastened it.
As Mitchelâs wedding approached in just a week, his reasons for wanting her gone became painfully clear.
Approaching the door, Raegan halted but didnât turn around.
Her words were meant for both him and herself.
âMitchel, youâve mastered the art of wounding me deeply enough to force my hand.
In your zeal to hurt me, you reveal your own guilt.
Maybe Iâm imagining things.
Perhaps youâve hidden nothing.
Or maybe my reluctance to let go is causing these illusions.
Regardless, youâve inflicted deep wounds.
Whatever your intentions, youâve achieved your goal.
â
With her eyes closed and voice steady, Raegan declared, âRest assured, Iâll leave and wonât trouble you again.
â
With that, Raegan quickly exited, unaware that after the door shut, Mitchelâs eyes reddened and tears streamed down his face.
He then clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground.
Meanwhile, in the high-level hospital wardâ¦
Matteo, having just returned to Ardlens after being away on business, was catching up on the situation.
His absence these days was replaced by several new assistants around Mitchel.
Upon returning, Matteo learned of Katieâs condition and saw Mitchelâs frail but stubborn demeanor, which pained him deeply.
There were sentiments Matteo hesitated to express due to his position.
Nevertheless, after much deliberation, he addressed Mitchel, âMr.
Dixon, is it necessary to go to these lengths? Mrs.
Dixonâ¦â
Pausing, Matteo shifted his way of addressing Raegan.
âI understand your concern for Miss Fosterâs safety.
Yet, considering she has the protection of the Foster family and Mr.
Erick Fosterâs formidable bodyguards, we should be able to manage this situation.
Why force her so far away and leave yourself with no way out?â
Mitchelâs face remained ashen and detached as he responded, âI donât need a way out.
â
Unbeknownst to Matteo, Mitchel had already left no way out and relinquished any hope for himself.
He saw no future or continuity for his own life with the toxin torturing him.
His sole focus was arranging everything for Raegan, ensuring a carefree life ahead of her, even he was out of her life.
He preferred that Raegan remember him not with painful longing but with vehement hatred after his departure, making it easier for her to move on.
Matteo, unable to grasp the depth of Mitchelâs despair, failed to understand his motives.
During their conversation, Matteo mentioned the public reaction to recent news that had been trending.
Mitchel tapped his finger on the table, a sarcastic smirk crossing his face.
âSee, they all think I adore that woman.
â
On the screen, a video showed Mitchel lifting Katie into a car, her dress stained with blood.
The headline lauded Mitchelâs profound love for Katie, triggering a flurry of emotive comments.
The more Mitchel watched, the more absurd he found it.
He chuckled.
âLove, they think itâs love.
Thatâs perfect.
â
This laugh from Mitchel was unlike any Matteo had heard from him before.
It was desolate, touched with melancholy, as if Mitchel had transcended concerns of life and death.
Matteo had always struggled to decipher Mitchelâs thoughts, yet at this moment, Matteo felt a glimpse of understanding.
True love was never a show.
It was Mitchelâs profound love for Raegan that drove him to protect her at all costs.