Chapter 5
Jonathan gently touched the wound on Marissa’s forehead, his voice thick with emotion.
“Mari, does it hurt? I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”
Christina scrambled to her feet; her hair was still wet with coffee.
She shouted after Jonathan, not caring how disheveled she looked. “Jonathan. I’m your fiancée! How could you push me away for her?“.
Jonathan did not even glance at her. He carried Marissa straight out of the teahouse and opened the back door of his car.
“Baby, just hang in there. I’ll take care of everything and then rush you to the hospital.”
Marissa was still dazed as she watched him head back inside, then closed her eyes to rest.
A few minutes later, a couple of Jonathan’s friends arrived at the scene.
They stood by the car and spoke gently, trying to reassure her. “Marissa, Jonny really didn’t know his family had arranged that marriage.
“He didn’t tell you because he didn looking for a way to cancel it.
want you to worry. He’s already
“He really loves you. There’s no way he’d marry someone else.”
Love?
Marissa almost laughed out loud. However, with everyone around her watching, she just turned her face to the window instead.
Seeing that she did not respond, the group exchanged awkward glances, then quietly turned their backs and stood nearby.
Not long after, Christina came out, wiping
at her eyes.
Jonathan followed a few steps behind, walking slowly and saying. nothing.
He made small talk with one of his friends, then walked over with a first aid kit and knelt beside the car to tend to Marissa’s wound.
His hands were gentle, and his expression was serious. At that moment, Marissa saw her own reflection in his eyes.
“I don’t accept this engagement,” he said softly. “I’ll explain everything to my parents. Just trust me, okay?”
Marissa looked away and answered in a low voice, “I get it. Let’s go. home.”
Jonathan froze for a second, then gave a small nod and got into the driver’s seat.
Neither of them spoke throughout the journey.
However, he kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror, but she did not look back–just lay down quietly and closed her eyes again.
Just as Marissa was starting to drift off in the back seat, Jonathan suddenly slammed on the brakes.
She was jolted forward, hitting her head on the seat in front of her.
Grabbing the edge of the seat, she sat back up.
Jonathan quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and shouted, panicked, “Mari! The car’s acting up! Get out now!”
After Jonathan scooped her up and jumped out of the car, a deafening boom erupted behind them–flames burst out as the car exploded into sparks.
The blast knocked them to the ground. Jonathan shielded Marissa in his arms, taking the brunt of the impact. Everything went black.
When Marissa finally opened her eyes, she was lying in a hospital bed. The overhead light was too bright, and it took her a few seconds to adjust.
Jonathan was slumped beside her, fast asleep.
She let out a soft hiss as pain shot through her body.
Jonathan stirred and looked up immediately. His face was pale, but when he saw her awake, relief lit up his expression. “Mari! Thank God, you’re awake.”
Marissa opened her mouth, her voice hoarse, “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Jonathan gently brushed the hair from her forehead, his face filled with guilt.
“It’s just some scratches on my back. Nothing major.
“I should’ve protected you better. I’m so sorry.”
He tucked her hand under the blanket, his voice soft and full of
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concern. “Does it still hurt? I’ll call the doctor.”
Jonathan stepped out. As soon as he left, Marissa’s phone buzzed on
the cabinet.
She winced, forcing herself up slowly, and reached for the phone.
It was a voice message from Christina.
The recording played, and it was Jonathan’s friend’s voice. “Ms. Tagina, we explained everything already.
“Jonny never actually loved Marissa. He just used her to pressure Chet into giving in.”
“Exactly. The Tagina and Remington families have already finalized the marriage. There’s no way he’s backing out. You can’t ruin Jonny’s plan!”
Christina sobbed, “Jonathan, they weren’t lying to me, right?
“You and her–it’s all pretending. You’re not actually in love with her, are you?”
Someone answered, “Of course not, Jonny doesn’t like that woman at
all!”
“I want to hear it from Jonathan himself!” Christina suddenly raised her voice, startling the others into silence.
After a pause, Jonathan finally said, “Yeah.”
There was a soft thud, like someone leaning into someone else. Christina seemed to bury her face in Jonathan’s chest, and her voice came out muffled.
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“We’re about to get engaged, and yet you’re still seeing another woman. That really upsets me.
“How about this–get into a car accident with her, make sure she gets hurt, and I won’t raise hell over it, deal?”
Jonathan took a deep breath and said quietly, “Deal.”
The recording ended there.
