Ss and Liam exited the room and closed the door behind them to offer Alyssa and Julien some


    privacy.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Julien..." Alyssa called out to him softly.


    Suddenly, she found herself at a loss for words. It did not seem like an appropriate time tofort him


    or discuss his rtionship with Jonah.


    After what felt like a long silence, Julien hung his head low as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Lyse, I''m


    sorry."


    Shaking her head furiously, she gentlyforted him, "Julien, this is not your fault. You don''t owe


    anyone an apology. There''s nothing wrong in loving Jonah."


    "It''s my fault." Julien mumbled with his head kept low like a criminal. His confident self was nowhere to


    be seen. "Aunt Mandy was right. I ruined Jonah''s life. Things would have been different if I had listened


    to her.


    "Lyse, I am at fault. I''m being selfish. I would rather be the one to pay the price. I''m willing to sacrifice


    anything as long as Jonah isn''t hurt. I would like everything to go back to how it was, but I think it''s too


    late."


    A wave of pain rolled through her. She had a lump in her throat. Putting aside Jonah''s suffering, Julien


    seemed to be utterly destroyed.


    Julien continued, "Just now, I got in touch with a senior I''m on good terms with. He''s a renowned


    neurologist who pays attention to details and is known for his good character.


    "Please get his help to treat Mr. Winston. He''s as good as I am."


    Alyssa''s eyes wavered in shock. She croaked, "Julien, what about you? What are you going to do?"


    "I''m going home to Mosgravia." He shed her a bitter smile. "I will likely never return after this trip


    back to Mosgravia."


    "That won''t do! How is Jonah going to cope if you leave?" She worriedly grabbed his arm. "You love


    Jonah very much. You should know him well. Do you remember his reaction when the scandal first


    broke?


    "He assumed all the responsibility because he didn''t want you scolded and harassed. He''d risk his


    reputation to protect you."


    He slowly raised his eyes to meet her gaze. An agonizing pain raged within him.


    "Don''t you get it? Jonah has decided to give up on everything just to be with you." She grasped his arm


    so hard that his coat sleeve wrinkled. "What does your rtionship mean if you dump him? What about


    the sacrifices he''d made?


    "You risked being beaten by family and disowned just to return to Jonah''s side. Is this the oue you


    want after all that determination you showed? Are you happy that it hase to this?"


    "Of course I''m not!" Finally, Julien broke down and cried. "But Lyse, what good does it do? Society will


    not ept us. Your dad and your entire family will not approve of us.


    "I''m willing to give everything up for Jonah, but I don''t want him to lose everything for me. He needs to


    be the happiest man in the world, or I''d rather have never met him."


    "There''s only one way to make Jonah happy." She stared at him intensely and said, "And that is you


    staying by his side and never giving up on him."


    Never giving up on Jonah...


    Julien trembled violently at the notion.


    He slowly doubled over and went on his knees limply. He pressed against the cold floor, the veins


    bulging on the back of his hand. "I told Jonah that I couldn''t care less about my title. I am happy with


    just being his secret lover. I don''t care for titles or social status, as long as I get to stay with him."


    "So, I guess things are different now that your rtionship has been exposed." Crouching before him,


    she tilted her head to look him in the face. She smiled. "Well, now that everyone knows about your


    rtionship, you are no longer a secret lover. Shall I call you my. sister-inw? How does that sound?"


    He suddenly looked up with flushed cheeks. "B-But I''m a man!"


    "Of course you are. But I believe you''re the only lover Jonah would ever have. So, you''re the only in-


    law I will get." Hugging him, she patted him on the back. "Oh, dear Julien, just let go of all your


    worries."


    He pressed his lips hard as he battled his overwhelming emotions, but he failed to stop his tears from


    falling.


    "Lyse?" They heard Jasper''s low voice from the other side of the door.


    After consoling Julien, Alyssa rose to answer the door.


    "What''s wrong, Jasper?" She pressed her body against his and held his hand.


    Jasper quickly peered into the room before holding her waist. He whispered, "The Lovces are here.


    Their cars have entered the hospital''s underground parking garage."