Jasper Milton stared at her, “So, you drove me away just because you were afraid that you would pull me down?”
“Isn’t that the truth? When I jumped into the sea, I didn’t think about surviving. Eli sacrificed herself to save me, and then I eventually caused her mother’s death.
If I were to stay with you, things might change again. In order to help me save Eli, you would offend Sean, and he would take you on as his opponent. Sean is cruel and merciless and his means are extremely tricky. You are just a businessman now, even if you had your father to back you up, you might not be able to fight against him.
And Frederick, he is a freak. If he knows that I am Stella, he may frame you again. It’s not because he loves me very much, but because he just couldn’t accept rejection,” Natalie Wheeler analyzed and calmed down gradually.
She seemed to have said something that she shouldn’t have said. Her emotions were getting the better of her.
She should have let Jasper continue to hate her instead of telling him everything just because she was hurting.
Jasper’s eyes became serious. He reached out and wiped the tears on her face, “Stella, you are a doctor, you shouldn’t be so superstitious, and you shouldn’t have such low confidence in me. If I can’t do this for you, I’m not worthy of your love.”
Stella Grace pushed Jasper’s hand away, “This is not superstition, but a deduction based on the facts.”
“So what? Did you guess that Eli’s mother would die?” Jasper asked in return.
“At least,” Stella paused for a moment and then said, “You’re safe now.”
“So, you selfishly thought that things would be fine once you changed your appearance and your marrow,” Jasper’s voice cooled down.
“My bone marrow was changed in order to save my life,” Natalie explained.
The two fell into silence.
Jasper stood upright and looked at her with his deep eyes.
Stella lowered her eyes and did not dare to look at him. They stayed like this for what felt like an eternity.
“Stella, what’s the meaning of life for you?” Jasper asked in a low voice.
Stella looked up at him and said a word, “Responsibility.”
“What’s your responsibility then?” Jasper continued to ask.
Stella pursed her lips and remained silent.
“Do you want me to tell you that you have to be responsible for your mother, Dante, Eli, and me?” Jasper said in a low voice.
Stella still didn’t say anything.
“Your mother is dead and Dante is about to die as well. You have sent Eli away and you’re trying to drive me away too, am I right? Next, you are ready to commit suicide,” Jasper said coldly.
“I won’t do that. Dante won’t die and Eli will be fine,” Stella promised.
“You mentioned Dante and Eli, but you didn’t mention me. Stella, are you really going to be so cruel to me?” Jasper’s eyes turned red.
“You will be fine in the future,” Stella added.
Jasper sneered, “Why? Is it because you would not drag me down if you were not by my side? You seem to have forgotten what you said on the deserted island.”
“I remember everything. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have almost died in the sea. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have almost died on that deserted island. For me, my greatest hope is that you could finally live your life in peace…”
“Do you wish for me to live like a walking corpse?” Jasper raised his voice and interrupted her words. His eyes were bloodshot, “Do you think that I’m willing to live this life without you?”
Stella fixed her eyes on Jasper and the tears that she had suppressed flowed out once again.
Jasper held her hand tightly. It seemed as though he wanted to hold her for the rest of her life. His eyes were firm and sharp, “I am also very tired. Every day I live is full of suffering, hatred, and disgust. Why don’t we just be together? No matter what difficulties we encounter, we will overcome it together. Even if we die, we will die together.
Or, you, I, and Dante, the three of us shouldn’t live any longer. The whole family should leave and go to another world together.”
“There is no such thing as another world. People can’t come back to life after death,” Stella cried.
“What do you think is the point of me being alive then? I can’t sleep, and I can’t eat. Even if I close my eyes, I feel as if my heart is being cut by a knife. I can’t wait to die so that I could get rid of this pain.”
“You will find someone better. You are worth it.”
“You could also find someone better, but why didn’t you go and look for that person?! Since you have changed your appearance and even changed your DNA, you could just live a new life. Why did you show up in my world again? Why did you buy a yacht to go back to that deserted island? Why did you risk your life to save me when we were at Stephen’s place?” Jasper asked coldly, his chest heaving unsteadily.
Stella pursed her lips and she couldn’t seem to answer. She turned her face away.
Jasper did not allow her to shrink back. He turned her face and forced her to look at him in the eyes.
“I did try to forget you and live a new life, but it was easier said than done. Every time I think that you might have already died, my heart felt like it was being yanked out. It’s been two years. Not just two days, one month, or two months. It’s been two whole years. If you didn’t show up, I don’t know how long more I would suffer. Perhaps, one day, if I drank too much alcohol, my stomach will bleed again and I will finally leave this world.”
Stella’s eyes trembled. She had heard about his hospitalization. However, when Dante came back later on, he stopped drinking excessively.
“Stella, let’s either stay together or die together. You can choose whatever you like, and I will respect your choice,” Jasper said firmly, letting go of her chin and hand.
Stella lowered her eyes. He did not give her a multiple-choice question. She only had one choice.
How could she bear to let Jasper and Dante die? She held Jasper’s arm and said, “You must live well, otherwise, I can’t forgive myself.”
Jasper took her hand and sat down beside her bed. He looked at her firmly and touched her face that was already drenched with tears with his thumb, “Stella, we have experienced death, separation, and hurt together. I only ask for one thing –don’t think about driving me away. Otherwise, I may die faster than you might expect.”
Stella took a deep breath, her emotions were running high. She hugged Jasper’s waist, “I don’t want you to die. I want you to live proudly. Promise me, you must live well.”
“If that’s the case, then you have to promise me that you will never leave too. Even in death, we will die together,” Jasper said in a low voice.
Stella cried but she did not answer him.
“We’ll either stay together or die together. I’m not joking or threatening you. You know that I’m a man of my word. Think about it carefully,” Jasper said and pushed her away.
“The proudest thing I have done in my life is to have fallen in love with you. It’s my honor to have had you as my boyfriend. I spent the happiest moments in my life with you. I won’t drive you away again, but if I die before you one day, promise me that you would live well and complete my dream. Could you do that?”