Start Over Without You

The scene was over when Gavin finally noticed the bloodied mess of Margaret's feet.

He frowned, his expression shifting. "What happened to your feet? Weren't you at the hospital yesterday?"

Margaret gave a quiet, indifferent response, her tone flat. "I stepped out for a while."

Gavin lowered his gaze, then tore off a few sheets of tissue and placed them over his legs.

He had a thing about cleanliness, but still, he placed Margaret's feet on his legs.

If she hadn't witnessed Marjorie's bare feet placed so casually on Gavin's lap just yesterday, Margaret might have felt something.

Instead, a bitter smirk flickered in her eyes as she asked, "Why the sudden interest in getting married?"

"You've been... acting a little strange lately," Gavin remarked while watching her closely, his brow furrowed. While gently disinfecting her wounds, he added, "What's going on?"

Margaret simply replied, her voice distant. "Nothing."

Gavin still looked concerned, his eyes searching her face, as though trying to figure out what was really bothering her, especially after what happened later.

He received a phone call from his assistant, and after he hung up, his face darkened.

"You're planning to auction off the Blue Diamond?"

The Blue Diamond was the sapphire ring Gavin had given her last year. A one-of-a-kind, limited edition—only one in the world.

Once the news hit that the ring was up for auction, it created a stir, and the event hall was flooded with people.

Gavin stood up abruptly, the sound of Margaret's foot hitting the edge of the chair barely registering.

She sucked in a breath of pain, cold sweat dripping down her back.

Gavin asked again, his voice heavy, "Why are you selling the Blue Diamond?"

Margaret kept her head down as she calmly reached for the iodine and applied it to her feet.

"There's no reason. I just don't want it anymore."

Gavin stood frozen, half of his face shrouded in shadow, his breath quickening.

After a long moment, he squatted down and looked at her with an expression of cautious concern.

"Margaret, something's not right." His tone was almost gentle, as though he were treading carefully around her. "What's really going on?"

For a brief moment, a surge of emotion rose in Margaret's chest.

She wondered—should she just tell him everything?

Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. Maybe Gavin and Marjorie weren't what she thought.

Maybe... maybe Gavin really did love her.

Margaret clenched her jaw, taking a slow, deliberate breath before she spoke, "Actually, I—"

But just as she was about to continue, Gavin's phone rang again.

The familiar pearl emoji popped up on the screen.

Without a second thought, Gavin abandoned all thoughts of Margaret. He quickly stood and walked toward the door.

The sound of his voice was muffled by the glass doors. Soon he came back as he uttered, "I have an urgent meeting. I'll have to go. Take care of your wound."

Margaret called out to him, her voice shaking. "Gavin, don't you want to hear my answer?"

Gavin's brows knit together, and irritation flickered in his eyes.

"What do you plan to do with the Blue Diamond?" Margaret asked, her voice colder now.

Gavin pressed his fingers to his forehead. "If you want to sell it, then sell it," he said, his tone weary.

With a sigh, he added quietly, "We'll talk about it when I get back."

He hurried out, his footsteps fading as he disappeared around the corner.

Margaret's feet curled slightly, and she let out a short, bitter laugh.

She wanted to tell Gavin that all of her courage had run out.

She didn't want to talk about it anymore.