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Chapter 10
Samantha’s expression changed instantly. “What did you just say?”
Her eyes welled up, tears brimming fast. “Julian, you bastard! You ruined me! I can never go back to the States because of you! My parents and my brother–they died saving you! And now you want to just walk away? After everything?”
Julian’s fingers curled around Nina’s journal, his grip tightening with the weight of her words.
patient–only to find out later that man was a wanted criminal, the head of an underground resistance group. Julian reported him to the authorities.
A year ago, he’d treated a
Days later, the man was sentenced to death. Out of concern for Julian’s safety, the police advised him to leave the country for a while.
But Julian stayed.
He offered himself as bait, hoping to lure out more of the organization. He didn’t expect they would strike so quickly. During the
ambush, an officer shielding him was killed on the spot.
That night, the authorities raided the group’s hideout. But the leader had already sent men to the officer’s home–seeking revenge.
By the time Julian arrived, it was too late. The officer’s wife and son were
already lying in a pool of blood.
As she died, the woman clutched his hand with her last ounce of strength, whispering, “Please… for Joe’s sake… take care of our daughter. Her name is Samantha. Please…”
And then, she was gone–her final breath slipping away in his arms.
All because they tried to save him.
That night was burned into his memory: the stench of blood, the sound of sirens, the unbearable silence that followed.
He couldn’t even cry.
Three days later, he saw her–Samantha–sitting alone in the chapel, in front of three framed photographs lined with white lilies.
She looked fragile, sunken–eyed, like she might faint any moment.
He sat beside her quietly.
ww
लागा ला लावता त
She suddenly turned and pounded her fists against his chest, tears falling freely. “It’s your fault! They’re gone because of you!”
The guilt lodged so deeply in his chest, he could barely speak. He could only hold her tightly, tears stinging his eyes.
The soft glow of candlelight shimmered against the polished floor, casting long shadows beneath the three names engraved on the memorial plaque–three lives he could never repay.
The next morning, he returned home for the first time, and saw the birthday cake on the table.
Nina had waited all night for him.
His heart ached so badly, he couldn’t breathe. He walked over and pulled her into his arms,
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He shook his head, too choked up to answer.
He held her tighter, burying his face into her shoulder as tears streamed silently down.
There were things he could never say.
Things that couldn’t be undone.
But in that moment, he knew–whatever they’d shared, whatever hope there might’ve been between them… it was over.
That might’ve been their last embrace.
Phapter 10
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Now, the journal in his hand felt
as
He’d thought, if he ended it cruelly enough, the pain would stay with him alone.
But if this was the result–if this was what it led to…
Julian looked down at the journal, voice hoar
with regret. “Maybe… maybe I got it all wrong from the start.”
“What was wrong?” Samantha’s voice shook.
Julian finally tore his gaze away from the pages and looked at her. His eyes were calm, unreadable.
He said nothing.
But Samantha’s voice rose, frantic. “What was wrong, Julian?! If it weren’t for you, my parents wouldn’t be dead! I wouldn’t be stuck in a foreign country, hiding! I wanted to hate you so badly, but I couldn’t!”
She was sobbing now. “Even if Nina’s dead, what does that change? This has nothing to do with her! You owe me! You’ll always owe
me!”
“And besides…” Her voice cracked. “You were the one who wanted to be with me. Don’t pretend like I forced this on
you!”
Chapter 10
