Chapter 433 Memories

Chapter 433 Memories

Wendy froze, her body tense.

His hand was burning up, slick with nervous sweat, but he clung to her like she was his last hope.

"Don't leave." His voice was rough, like sandpaper on wood.

Wendy dropped her gaze, her long lashes casting shadows.

She didn't say a word, just tried to gently pull away.

But she couldn't.

"Wendy." Alexander's eyes were desperate, bloodshot, pleading. "Please, hear me out."

Wendy trembled a little.

In the end, she stayed put, like a silent statue.

The hospital room was eerily quiet.

Only the heart monitor beeped, his heartbeat fast and erratic.

Alexander took a deep breath, like it took all his strength to finally speak.

"Back in high school..."

Wendy's shoulders flinched, barely noticeable.

"The ice cream shop in the alley behind the school."

"You always went for vanilla, with double chocolate chips."

His voice was soft, but it hit Wendy's heart like a pebble in a still pond.

She suddenly looked up at him.

Alexander's face showed a painful, almost self-mocking smile.

"The first time we held hands was under the big banyan tree in the park."

"Your palms were sweaty."

These memories, buried deep, were painfully brought back by him, one by one.

So real she couldn't deny them.

"Later, the Turner family wanted to investigate the Russell family's pharmaceuticals."

Alexander's tone shifted, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

"I was the one who asked your parents."

"Because I knew your dad was honest, the perfect choice."

Wendy's lips started to tremble uncontrollably.

"After the car accident, I went crazy trying to find out."

Alexander's jaw was trembling, each word seemed to be squeezed out of his throat.

"It was the Russell family, they hired someone to kill, they staged it as an accident!"

"When I got to the hospital, they were already... but you survived."

"But you didn't remember anything."

"You didn't remember me, or anything from our past."

His eyes were red with anguish, his voice thick with emotion.

"Wendy, do you know how desperate I was?"

Wendy bit her lower lip hard, tasting a hint of blood.

"I admit."

Alexander looked at her, tears finally falling from the eyes of this once invincible man.

"I was cowardly, selfish, afraid to tell you the truth."

"I was scared."

"Scared you'd remember and hate the Turner family, hate me."

"More afraid of losing the you who, after losing your memory, was willing to come close to me again."

"My concealment was the biggest mistake of my life."

Alexander's voice grew softer, filled with endless remorse.

"All these years, my gaze has never truly left you."

"Until you married Ethan."

"I couldn't bear to look at you anymore, it hurt too much."

"But I never imagined you'd suffer so much because of Ethan. I couldn't stand it anymore, couldn't stop myself from standing before you again."

"Then Sophie came back, and I was afraid she'd hurt you, so I stayed away temporarily, thinking once the Russell family fell, everything could return to how it was."

"I thought I had more time."

So that's how it was.

Wendy felt the world spinning, her whole being unsteady.

Alexander watched her face, pale as paper, and slowly released his grip.

His hand fell limply onto the white sheets.

He seemed drained of all strength.

"I know my concealment is betrayal."

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness."

Alexander's voice was as soft as a sigh.

"Wendy, I just want a chance."

"A chance to spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"If you can't accept..."

He paused, each word spoken with immense difficulty.

"I'll accept it, as long as you're happy."

With that, Alexander slowly closed his eyes.

His handsome face, now devoid of color, no longer held its usual dominance and strength, only a fragile acceptance of fate.

Like a prisoner waiting for the final verdict.

The room was silent.

Only the relentless beeping of the heart monitor filled the air, each beat echoing in Wendy's chest.

She stood there, frozen.

Her eyes landed on Alexander's pale face.

His long lashes cast delicate shadows beneath his eyes.

This man, the once unstoppable Alexander who had Aurora City at his feet.

Now, he seemed like a lost child.

Fragile, helpless, resigned to his fate.

Wendy's mind flashed back to that moment in the warehouse.

The deafening explosion, the searing heat, and him, shielding her with his body, his chest solid and burning.

Bullets tore through him, yet he didn't even flinch.

But now, just the fear of her judgment kept him from opening his eyes.

Wendy's vision blurred.

Yes.

The Russell family killed her parents.

But didn't they also take his?

Back then, he was just a kid.

Alexander had to endure the pain of losing both parents and single-handedly keep the Turner Group afloat.

How did he survive those years?

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

Sour, swollen, painful.

Suddenly, Wendy realized that the things she had been clinging to didn't seem so important anymore.

She slowly stepped forward, walked to the bedside, and gently sat down.

The mattress dipped slightly, and Alexander's tightly closed lashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

Wendy reached out, covering his uninjured but cold-as-iron hand.

Her hand was warm.

Alexander's body stiffened, yet he still didn't dare open his eyes.

"You kept things from me, and it hurt."

Wendy's voice was soft, thick with emotion, yet crystal clear.

Alexander's Adam's apple moved violently.

"Knowing how my parents died, hurt even more."

She paused, gripping his hand tighter.

"But..."

"Seeing you lying here like this, thinking about how you protected me."

"And my parents."

"They were doctors, their choice was to save more lives."

"They wouldn't regret it."

"And they certainly wouldn't want me trapped in hatred forever."

Wendy took a deep breath, as if making a monumental decision.

"You made a mistake, a big one."

She turned her head, looking directly at his tense profile.

"But your mistake was out of fear of losing me."

"Not like the evil of Sophie and the others."

Tears finally slipped from Wendy's eyes, landing hot on his hand.

Alexander's body trembled violently.

He suddenly opened his eyes, those bloodshot eyes filled with disbelief and joy.

Wendy looked at him, her mouth pulling into a smile more painful than tears.

"Alexander."

"I hated your concealment."

"But I know I can't lose you again."

"Together."

"Let's make the Russell family pay the price they deserve."

"And then..."

"Live well."

As her words fell, Alexander's tears burst forth like a flood.

This man, decisive in business, unflinching in the face of danger, now cried like a child.

Overwhelming guilt, the joy of regaining what was lost.

And the love that had burned within him for so long.

All emotions erupted at this moment.

Alexander couldn't say anything, only used all his strength to hold Wendy tightly, as if trying to merge her into his very being.

"Wendy."

"I'm sorry."

"Wendy."

"I love you."

Over and over.

As if pouring a lifetime of debt and love into those few words.

The air in the room still held the warmth and relief of survival.

Alexander's eyes were still wet with tears, but he held Wendy's hand tightly, as if she was his regained world.

Just then.

Two soft knocks on the door, restrained and polite, broke the room's tranquility like a pebble thrown into water.

Gilbert stood at the door, looking a bit conflicted.

He had been waiting a long time.

He had overheard bits and pieces of the conversation inside.

Honestly, he really didn't want to be the one to interrupt at this moment.

But the matter couldn't wait.