I reluctantly looked at Oliver, whispering, "Mr. Oliver, why don''t you go home to avoid agitating her again when she wakes up? Her recovery is the most important."


    Before potentially hurting him, I added, "Let''s take things slowly. Give her some time to think things through."


    Oliver stood motionless, gazing at the sleeping Lauren for a long time. Finally, he said to me reluctantly, "Thank you for your effort."


    "This is what I should do," I replied lightly. "Give her some time. Perhaps she needs time to heal."


    When I mentioned healing, Oliver understood what I was referring to. It was a wound in Lauren''s heart. From her behavior today, I knew that the wound hadn''t healed. At the slightest touch, it would still bleed. Oliver stepped back, but his eyes were unwilling to leave Lauren''s face. I didn''t know what kind of storm might be raging beneath his calm exterior.


    Lauren''s words had reflected her inner thoughts, pointing at Oliver''s vulnerability. Only he knew how much pain he was in at this moment. Lauren''sshes trembled slightly, indicating that she was waking up, and Oliver turned and walked out of the hospital room. He did not say a word. I grabbed Lauren''s hand as I let out a soft sigh.


    Only then did I remember that As still hadn''t returned my call. I didn''t know the situation on his end or if there was any news from Dn.


    ncing at Lauren, who hadn''t woken up yet, I quietly released her hand. She suddenly gripped mine. In a feeble voice, she said, "Don''t... go."


    I was startled and quickly looked at her. There was a hint of pain on her pale face, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.


    "I''m not leaving. I''m here." I quickly sat back down, wiping away her tears. "Why are you torturing yourself like this?"


    "I can''t live like that forever. I don''t want to see him again." She still had her eyes closed as she murmured.


    "The doctor said your ribs have


    fractured again. Why put yourself


    through this?" Iforted her softly.


    "Some things can''t be forgotten. As you said, those were your best moments. Take good care of


    yourself, heal, and start a new life."


    "Okay," she obediently mumbled.


    I chatted with her longer, but she seemed too weak and soon drifted back to sleep.


    Quietly, I left the hospital room,


    intending to call As. I couldn''t leave with the current situation because I was worried about Lauren. Plus, I didn''t want to leave


    her with a random caretaker.


    As I stepped out, I realized that Oliver hadn''t left. His lonely figure leaned against the wall near the room, looking despondent.


    He heard meing out. It startled him, but he soon straightened up. "How is she?"


    I nced back at the slender figure


    on the bed, closed the door, andContent property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    faced Qliver. "Go home now, and


    don''t disturb her. She''s at her


    е


    weakest, so let her rest well. We''ll all


    be here for her. Don''t worry"


    The corner of Oliver''s mouth twitched. After a while, he said, "Please take care of her. But... I won''t let her go."


    Then he turned and strode away. While watching Oliver''s rigid back, I felt a profound sense of helplessness. I couldn''t help but think, if he had known this would happen, why did he still hurt her?