Chapter 22
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ལ་ཆོག
“I will never marry you!”
Fury surged in Lennox’s chest. Everything felt absurdly ridiculous.
Hayes acted like he hadn’t heard, continuing on his own: “I had several new wedding dresses custom–made. Eat first, then I’ll take you to try them on.”
He reached out to pull her, but Lennox violently shook him off.
She turned and rushed toward the door, wanting nothing more than to escape this place immediately.
To her surprise, Hayes didn’t try to stop her.
It wasn’t until she pushed open the front door that Lennox understood why he was so confident.
Outside wasn’t the streets of the capital at all, but an expansive estate.
A standalone villa sat alone in the center of the lawn. In the distance, people who looked like servants moved about. Dense forest surrounded everything, stretching beyond sight.
“Where is this?”
Lennox spun around, glaring at Hayes as he leisurely followed her out.
“My private island.” Hayes‘ tone was flat. “Don’t worry, Len. No one can find this place. You just need to focus on marrying me.”
“This is kidnapping!”
Lennox was trembling with rage.
“So what?” Hayes‘ eyes reddened, obsession creeping into his voice. “As long as I can be with you, I’ll do anything.”
“You’re insane!”
Lennox felt cold with fury, but could only clench her fists.
Hayes didn’t argue, just looked at her stubbornly. In the days since Lennox had left, he’d already gone crazy–crazy enough to spend every day and night plotting how to drag her back and lock her by his side.
Over the next few days, Hayes exhausted every effort to treat her well.
The estate was filled with freesias she’d once loved most, sweet floral fragrance floating in the air. Boxes of jewelry were delivered to her room, covering half the vanity. The kitchen stood ready 24/7, turning air–shipped fresh ingredients into all her favorite dishes.
He thought if he was good enough, someday he could warm her heart.
འང་དེ་ བགར་ན ི་གངས་པ་དང
Until the third morning, when a servant frantically reported that Lennox hadn’t eaten anything for a day and night.
When Hayes burst into the room, Lennox was collapsed on the bed, pale–faced, staring hollowly at the ceiling.
She’d already been weakened by the detention center ordeal, and now after not eating for two days, she barely had strength to lift her hand.
“Do you really hate marrying me this much?”
Hayes rushed over with the porridge, pulling her up from the bed, his tone both urgent and angry.
15:21
A Billion–Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex
16.8%
IC
15:21
Chapter 22
Lennox closed her eyes, her voice resolute: “Yes. Unless I die!”
Those words were like a poisoned blade stabbing straight into Hayes‘ heart. His hand holding the spoon bulged with veins as he suddenly pulled out his phone and made a call.
Moments later, a tablet was brought to Lennox.
The screen lit up, showing Lucas‘ anxious face.
He was on the seaside street asking around, holding missing person flyers with Lennox’s photo.
“After you disappeared, he’s been searching for you.” Hayes‘ cold voice sounded. “If you won’t eat, I’ll bring him here. However many days you starve, he starves. If you dare die, he dies with you.”
“Len, can you bear to watch him die for you?”
Lennox’s eyes flew wide, watching the blonde man’s frantic state on screen, her heart feeling crushed in a vise. For the first time, Hayes felt utterly foreign to her–foreign in a way that chilled her heart.
“Psycho!”
She cursed through gritted teeth, but tears welled up uncontrollably.
Hayes held the spoon to her lips, repeating: “Will you eat?”
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Lennox stared at the screen for a long time, finally opening her mouth with trembling.
Watching her swallow small mouthfuls of food, Hayes felt relief, but intense jealousy burned in his chest. He’d never imagined Lennox would compromise to this extent for another man.
After she finished half the bowl, Hayes asked hoarsely: “You care about him this much? Enough to wrong yourself rather than let him get hurt?”
“Yes.” Lennox looked up, her gaze unusually firm. “I told you before–I have feelings for him.”
“But now, thanks to you, I can tell you clearly-” She paused, each word stabbing into Hayes‘ heart like a knife, “I’ve already like him.”
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