I Choose Death Over Your Belated Love

It was just one sentence spoken by the System, but my tears were already welling up.

I awkwardly wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes.

Scarlett walked up to me. She was about to say something when William rushed over to her in shock. "Scarlett, how did you end up so badly hurt? You—"

Before he could finish speaking, I cut him off with a vicious punch.

Putting a hand to his bruised cheek, William stared at me in disbelief.

Almost at the same time, I was knocked to the ground by a powerful slap that caught me by surprise. I accidentally bit my tongue.

Emily was pointing at me, her face filled with fury as she said, "Adrian! We've spoiled you too much! Apologize to Will right now!"

I lay sprawled on the ground, spitting out the blood in my mouth as I challenged, "Me? Apologize? What exactly did I do wrong? He ruined my marriage, but I'm not allowed to hit him?"

Emily grew even angrier and suddenly raised her voice. "What nonsense are you spouting? Will and Sophie were already dating, but you just had to get between them! I can't believe I have a brother as shameless as you!"

I scoffed. "Shameless? Sophie is my fiancee, but now you're saying I'm the one who got between them?"

Sophie stared coldly at me. "Our engagement was called off ages ago! I will never marry a disgraceful playboy like you!"

Iris pulled me to my feet. "Adrian! Apologize right now!"

I didn't say a word as my gaze swept across the people standing before me.

Emily had a cold look in her eyes. Iris seemed disgusted, and Sophie looked like she wanted me to just die already.

Scarlett frowned. Her lips moved a little, but in the end, she remained silent.

The scene reminded me of something that happened a year ago. William had been in frequent contact with Scarlett, and her fans mistook him for a stalker.

Scarlett couldn't bear to see him mistreated, so she revealed on social media that William was the son of the Parker family.

But I, the actual son, had to take the blame for William.

They said things like, "You always have bodyguards with you when you go out, but Will is all alone!"

I was shocked, but I fought back and refused to give in.

At the time, everyone looked at me the same way they were doing right now.

Filled with nothing but unspeakable exhaustion, I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore.

Shaking off Iris' hand, I dashed into the living room and picked up the paring knife left on the table.

Startled, Scarlett tried to rush over to me, but William stopped her. "Ade, what are you doing?"

I looked at William, grinning. "I'm apologizing."

Looking away from Emily, Iris, and Sophie, who seemed to be on high alert, I lifted my hand and swiftly plunged the blade into my chest.

Screams rang out around me. I smiled through my tears as I said, "I'm compensating him with my life. That should be enough, right? Are you happy now?"

As warm, thick blood gushed out, the dizziness from the loss of blood made me lose my balance.

Someone was still screaming, and through my darkening vision, I could see the fear on the women's faces.

Scarlett rushed forward and held my body, screaming in a frenzy, "Call the ambulance!"

…

I could smell the intense scent of disinfectant when I opened my eyes.

White flooded my vision, and I felt a little excited. "Did I finally make it back?" I wondered.

I tilted my head only to see Emily's bloodshot eyes.

I closed my eyes in annoyance. For the first time ever, I found Emily's hoarse voice irritating. "Adrian! Who told you to get attention by ending your life?"

I grew even more annoyed. There was something hard under my pillow, which made me quite uncomfortable.

I reached in and pulled it out. It was a slightly worn-out protective amulet.

When I was 12, I had a high fever that persisted for a week, and the hospital even declared me in critical condition three separate times.

Iris had climbed a thousand steps to obtain this amulet for me.

Later on, William got hurt, so Iris took the amulet and gave it to him instead.

And now, the amulet was in my hands again.

It was nothing but a burden to me, so I lifted my hand and tossed it away.

Iris had just entered the ward, and she could do nothing but watch as the amulet fell onto the floor.

Raising her head, she glared at me. "Adrian, you're throwing away the amulet just like that?"

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