'Still waiting?!' Asher was utterly shocked when he heard that.
It rained heavily all night and didn't stop until later. It started raining again this morning, and the forecast
said there would be a typhoon coming tonight. Has Justin been standing here the whole time without
eating or drinking? Does he not want to live?
"Justin has been outside this whole time? Since last night? What do you mean?!" Bella's beautiful eyes
widened in disbelief, her hands tightly gripping Axel's shoulders as she shook him vigorously. "Tell me!
What's going on?! Did you all see Justin? And you kept it from me?!"
"Stop shaking me, Bella! I feel like throwing up!" Axel felt like his mind was spinning, feeling disoriented
and dizzy.
"Bella! Stop it!" Asher quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her into his embrace.
"Whatever Justin wants to do, it's his choice. If he wants to stand there, let him. He won't stand there
forever. Sooner or later, he'll leave."
The statement had a hidden message behind it.
"Even if he turns into a statue standing there forever, it's what he deserves!" Axel felt his anger rising
as he recalled the suffering his little sister had endured. âBella, he's just trying to make us feel guilty in
hopes that it will fix everything! He thinks we'll forgive him if he does this! Even if he gets struck by
lightning, I will never forgive him!"
"This is between him and me! What does it have to do with you?!" Bella's eyes turned red with anger,
tears welling up as she struggled to break free from Asher's embrace. "Did you see him yesterday? Did
Wyatt see him too? Did you all gang up to bully him?!"
"Bella, calm down..." Asher tried to soothe Bella, wrapping his arms around her waist and patting her
trembling back.
"Bella, what are you saying? Did we bully him? We were standing up for you and venting our anger for
your sake!"
"I don't need it!" Bella shouted in frustration, breathing heavily with rage. "Why do you have to meddle?
Is it for my own good? You're just trying to ease your own guilt by suppressing Justin!" Asher and Axel
felt a pang in their hearts.
Taking advantage of Asher's distraction, Bella broke free from his embrace and dashed toward the gate
of Yara Park.
Bella tossed the slippers out of the way and ran barefoot through the long and ornate corridor.
She had yet to lay eyes on the man she loved, but her heart yearned to escape and elope with him.
All of a sudden, Bella halted her steps.
Not far away, Declan's burning gaze was locked on her. His presence alone seemed intimidating, like
an insurmountable mountain.
"Bella, are you going to see him?"
"Declan, please don't stop me." Bella panted heavily, her fair and delicate cheeks glistening with sweat.
Declan frowned slightly, shaking his head. "You have been a fool for him for the last three years. Isn't
that enough? Stop doing foolish things. He's not worth it."
"If he's not worth it, then who is?!" Bella's chest heaved violently, tears welling up in her eyes. "When I
was eleven, he saved my life! On the battlefield in Kridor, we fought terrorists side by side, and he
risked his life to protect me! Last year, we got caught in a landslide on Mount Jaglee and survived it
together. On the Southern Island of Sentania, he diverted firepower to save Asher's life and even took
bullets for me!"
"Declan, tell me... If he's not worth it, then who is?!"
"Bella, I know that when you were eleven, the one who saved you was Justin. You've always looked up
to him because of that. It's like you see him in a different light, making it hard for anyone else to
measure up. I get where you're coming from."
Drew closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. His gaze was firm and
resolute. "But back then, he didn't save you because of who you are or because he loved you. It was
just a coincidence."
"Drew! How could you say that?" Bella was both anxious and angry. Her voice was hoarse from
emotion.
"And everything he did later on was merely to make up for his own mistakes and reconcile with you. In
my eyes, those debts have long been repaid by the sacrifices you made over those three years."