Chapter 255 The Calm Before the Storm
Cecilia struck with all the strength she had.
Her palm burned with pain, and her arm trembled uncontrollably from the force.
Rufus's head snapped to the side under the blow, and five distinct finger marks bloomed across his handsome face.
An oppressive silence filled the hospital room.
Moments ago, his eyes brimmed with wild affection; now they held only hurt and disbelief.
"You... hit me?" Rufus's voice was soft, tinged with confusion. "For that man, you actually hit me?"
"I hit you, and it has nothing to do with anyone else." Cecilia was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling sharply.
But she still met Rufus's wounded gaze, her own eyes showing no retreat, no guilt—only cold determination.
"I hit you because you deserved it!"
"Rufus, do you still not understand? I hate you! I wish I could tear you apart! You ruined my entire life, destroyed my family, and made me die with my eyes open! And now you dare to talk to me about love?"
Cecilia's emotions spiraled out of control.
The resentment and pain accumulated over two lifetimes erupted like a dam bursting, flooding out in a torrent.
"What is your so-called love? Is it treating me as a substitute and tormenting me at will? Is it watching our child miscarry without lifting a finger? Is it scattering my grandfather's ashes so that I cannot even face him after death?"
"Your love is a gilded cage, a velvet knife, a deadly poison! Rufus, your love will drag me into eternal damnation!"
Each word stabbed viciously into Rufus's heart, piercing the illusion of affection he clung to, leaving it riddled with holes and bleeding.
"No... it is not like that..." Rufus shook his head in pain. "Amelia, listen to me. Everything before was a misunderstanding... We can start over. I swear, I will treat you well from now on, I—"
"Get out!" Cecilia shouted with cutting force. She shoved his hand away in disgust. "I do not want to hear your excuses! Get out of my hospital room! Now!"
"I am not leaving!" Rufus's rejection turned the hurt in his eyes into obsessive rage.
He suddenly grabbed Cecilia's fractured left arm. "Amelia, do not push me! You are my woman, and you will be for life! Do not think about leaving me!"
"Ah!" The sharp pain in her arm made Cecilia cry out, her face instantly pale.
"Let go of me! You lunatic!" She struck him with her right hand, but her strength was nothing against this man who had lost his mind.
"Come with me!" Rufus's eyes were veined with red.
He lifted the struggling Cecilia and tried to carry her away.
"I will take you away from here! Away from Stefan! To a place where it is just the two of us!"
"Help! Someone!" Cecilia cried desperately.
At that moment, a loud crash sounded as the hospital room door was kicked open.
Outside in the hallway, the scene was tense. The Hensley family's bodyguards stood in an armed standoff with Rufus's men, who had been lying in wait, the air ready to explode.
Stefan had just finished his meeting and rushed back, uneasy. He never expected to see such a scene.
When he saw Rufus holding the pale-faced Cecilia, Stefan's eyes turned blood red.
An overwhelming murderous intent erupted from him.
"Rufus Chapman!" His voice was deep and cold, as if forged in the depths of hell. "Put her down."
Seeing Stefan, Rufus showed no fear. Instead, as if provoked, he clutched Cecilia even more tightly.
"Stefan, perfect timing!" He gave a twisted, taunting smile. "Look closely—Amelia is mine! She was in the past, she is now, and she will be in the future! Do not think about taking her from me!"
"I said, let her go." Stefan ignored his ranting and repeated himself, walking toward him step by step.
He moved slowly, but each step radiated crushing pressure, making the air in the hospital room heavy.
Rufus was intimidated by the murderous presence and instinctively stepped back.
In that instant, Stefan made his move.
He moved so fast he was almost a blur. The next second, he was in front of Rufus, and a powerful straight punch slammed into Rufus's face.
Rufus staggered, holding Cecilia, nearly falling.
Stefan gave him no chance to recover.
He seized Cecilia from Rufus's arms, then delivered a kick that drove hard into Rufus's stomach.
Rufus stumbled backward repeatedly before crashing against the wall with a dull thud.
"You dared to touch her?" Stefan placed Cecilia on the hospital bed, then turned, his eyes swirling with terrifying fury.
Bodyguards and medical staff rushed in at the commotion.
Two unconscious guards were helped up, while others moved to surround Rufus.
Rufus wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and stood. Seeing Cecilia protected behind Stefan and the bodyguards closing in, he knew taking her away was impossible.
Far from angry, he laughed—a chilling, eerie laugh.
"Stefan, do you think you have won?" Rufus straightened his suit and said slowly, "You can protect her for now, but can you protect her forever?"
His gaze slid past Stefan and locked on Cecilia, undisguised possession and menace in his eyes.
"Amelia, wait for me. I will come for you again soon. Next time, no one will stop me."
He raised his hand and waved.
The sound of orderly footsteps echoed from the hallway. Rufus's men tightened their formation, forming a human wall at the door.
Surrounded by his people, Rufus turned and strode out.
After he left, Cecilia's taut nerves finally gave way. She sank into Stefan's arms, trembling.
Not from fear, but from extreme anger and lingering shock.
"It is over now, it is over." Stefan held her tightly, pressing soft kisses to her forehead and hair. "Do not be afraid. I am here. I will never let you be hurt again."