Chapter 5

After yanking the gold necklace off Julianna's neck, the two thugs shoved her hard to the ground and bolted for the exit.

The security guards, hearing the commotion, had rushed over and blocked the way out.

Cornered and desperate, the thugs frantically looked around, and their eyes landed on Chelsea, frozen in shock and standing nearby.

The next second, a cold blade was pressed against her neck. The thugs yanked her close, using her as a human shield, and shouted at the security guards, "Back off! All of you. Or I'll kill her."

A cold sensation swept over Chelsea's neck, panic gripping her instantly. Her eyes darted to Arthur, desperate for help.

Arthur clutched his bleeding arm, not caring about his own injury as he rushed to Julianna, who lay on the ground, crying her eyes out.

After helping Julianna up, he looked up and saw Chelsea held at knifepoint. His face twisted in shock and confusion for a split second.

But as soon as Chelsea caught his eye, he quickly looked away. He half-dragged, half-carried the trembling Julianna, shoving through the crowd, never once looking back, and vanished into the emergency exit.

He never looked back at her, not even once.

The knife against Chelsea's neck was bone-chilling, the thug's raspy breath right in her ear. Around her, urgent shouts from the security guards mixed with the panicked screams of the crowd.

But Chelsea barely registered any of it.

She just stared at the spot where Arthur and Julianna had vanished. There was nothing left, just emptiness.

Her last shred of wishful thinking and every bit of self-deception were crushed to pieces by the resolute sight of his retreating back.

Arthur could risk everything for Julianna, fighting a knife bare-handed. But when Chelsea's life hung by a thread, he couldn't even pause or look back for a second.

A sharp, numbing pain pierced Chelsea's chest, followed by a cold, lifeless void.

It turned out that when one's heart died utterly, one felt no pain, only desolate stillness.

Chelsea closed her eyes, turning away from that space. She no longer held even the slightest, laughable hope for Arthur.

Sirens got closer and closer, and the police showed up fast, taking down the thugs in no time.

Chelsea ended up with a bloody gash on her neck from the knife. After all the panic and confusion, she was taken to the hospital by ambulance to patch up her injury.

At the treatment room, Chelsea spotted those two familiar faces again.

Arthur sat on a bench in the hallway, his arm swathed in thick bandages. Julianna clung to his uninjured side, sobbing uncontrollably, her shoulders trembling. Arthur whispered to her, as if comforting her.

The scene was so peaceful that it hurt to watch. Chelsea felt like she'd been punched in the gut.

As the doctor cleaned Chelsea's wound, he asked gently, "Is anyone here with you? Why are you all alone? The cut isn't too deep, but it's best if someone can stay and keep an eye on you."

Chelsea stared up at the white ceiling, her voice dry. "I don't have anyone."

The doctor sighed, applying the medicine as he spoke earnestly, "You should have someone by your side. Did you see that young couple outside? The man got stabbed in the arm, but he still held onto his wife, shielding her.

"That's what real love looks like. These days, having someone who truly cares for you, who's there for you when it counts, is more important than anything."

Chelsea forced a smile, but her cheeks felt stiff.

Her husband protected another woman when things got dangerous.

And when Chelsea, his lawful wife, was held hostage, he probably saw her as another stranger, no different from anyone else in the crowd.

Who was she to him, really?

Once Chelsea's wound was bandaged, Arthur rushed over, trying hard to look worried and apologetic. "Chelsea, are you alright? You scared me half to death. Things were so chaotic that I just panicked and instinctively took Julianna out first.

"Look, I got hurt, too, lost a ton of blood. I honestly couldn't think straight... I swear I didn't mean to leave you behind."

Chelsea stared at him quietly, her gaze lingering on the glaring bandage on his arm and the shallow guilt in his eyes. She asked, "Arthur, did you ever stop to think that I could've died back there?"

Arthur was caught off guard, clearly not expecting that question. Annoyance and frustration flickered across his face. "But you're standing here, aren't you? I saw someone call the cops, and the police were coming.

"With them around, I knew you'd be safe, so I left. Can you not blow things out of proportion? I got hurt, too, and Julianna was scared out of her mind."

Blowing things out of proportion? Chelsea thought bitterly as she took in his warped, distorted accusation. She didn't even have the strength to argue.

Her heart had frozen so completely, all she felt was a numb, empty calm.

She didn't say another word. She let her eyes fall shut, done with it all.

A few days later, Chelsea was discharged from the hospital. As soon as she opened the door to her place, she stood there, stunned.

The place was almost unrecognizable.