hapter <b>15 </b>


    “Chris, why are you still here?”


    It was Michael.


    Like a little beast whose territory had been stolen, Michael finally showed his fangs, now that there were no onlookers.


    Chris held the water cup, feeling somewhat at a loss<b>, </b>but slowly he came to his senses. At least he was still Jessica’s ex–husband, but what about Michael?


    He was merely the ex–boyfriend who had been sent abroad during jessica’s time of injury. He had never been part of Jessica’s life over the past couple of years. If anyone had their territory stolen, it should be Michael who had taken it from him.


    “Shouldn’t I be here?” Chris countered. “After all, I am Jessica’s husband and still the son–inw of the Wilder family. I should be asking you, though. You have your own family abroad, and a daughter. Whye back to Chería?”


    Michael chuckled, gradually stepping closer to Chris in the darkness. “What? Are youining about me?”


    Chris shrugged. “Not really, I just feel like your presence is a bit unnecessary.”


    “After all these years, you couldn’t make Jessica love you. That’s your ipetence. I’m just here to reim what’s mine. Even if the Hall family doesn’t acknowledge me, Jessica’s heart still belongs to me. If you know what’s good for you, you should leave now. I don’t want to show too much of the other side of me in front of you.”


    But in reality, Chris already knew exactly what kind of person Michael was. They were both men, and they understood each other’s intentions all too well. He had never thought of Michael as a simple man.


    Michael had gotten engaged, married, and had a daughter abroad. Even if they divorced, he could still live well abroad. Whye back now?


    It was nothing more than the fact that Michael couldn’t forget Jessica, and he couldn’t give up the position he held in Cheria


    either.


    To put it simply, he wanted it all.


    “I have no intention ofpeting with you. Jessica has made her choice, and I will ept it,” said Chris as he drank the water, checking the time–it was about time to go to the hospital.


    “If that’s the case, I’ll leave the time and space to you. If Jessica wants to return to you, I won’t stop her. A love that’s stolen holds no meaning.”


    After saying that, he walked past Michael and was about to leave the room.


    “I heard you’re leaving the country,” Michael said all of a sudden.


    Chris nodded. “I’m just giving you space, isn’t that right?”


    “But if you just leave like this, what does it mean to Jessica?”


    Michael knew all too well the regret of an unforgettable lover.


    Once Chris left, he would be the next Michael.


    Jessica would never forget Chris in her lifetime.


    Michael would never allow such a thing to happen.


    So something had to be done…


    “Chris, you stole my Jessica, and this is the price you must pay. Don’t think you can leave so easily. I won’t let you leave even the slightest trace in Jessica’s heart.”


    After saying that, Michael suddenly cried out in pain and copsed to the ground, Chris was startled.


    The lights in the living room were off, with only faint light from outsideing through the window. He saw Michael clutching his abdomen as he copsed<b>, </b>and for a moment, he didn’t react.


    Then, the sound of footstepsing down the stairs echoed, and the first person to reach Michael’s side was Sophie.


    “Michael! What happened to you? Why is there so much blood?”


    Chris stood still, frowning. He met Michael’s gaze, and thetter cocked his brows in a way that Sophie couldn’t see.


    This was Michael’s method to get rid of him,


    X