"You’ve been lying to this whole ti..." Mason Landon seed to still be lost in his own world. "You said you ca back to Sycamore Bay to take everything from Jett Sterling. That was all a lie. You just can’t leave him. You just want to be close to him, every single mont..."
"That’s right," Vivian Quinn admitted frankly. "Mason Landon, I should actually thank you. If you hadn’t stirred up so much trouble, how would I ever have known just how much Jett Sterling loves ?"
"He pushed away with the harshest, most hurtful words just to save my life. That’s proof of how deeply he loves . But you? Mason Landon, you always say you love , but in reality, you’re just selfishly in love with yourself! I hope that from now on, I never have to see you again."
After saying her piece, Vivian Quinn turned and left without another word.
"Vivian... Vivian!" Behind her, Mason Landon scrambled to his feet and tried to chase after her, only to stumble and fall back to the ground, looking utterly pathetic.
"Vivian, you can’t do this to , Vivian Quinn!"
Vivian Quinn paid him no mind, leaving without a single look back.
She opened the door to the hospital room, and a figure was standing right in front of her!
Vivian Quinn t the man’s deep gaze and froze.
"How long have you been here?" she asked quickly.
Jett Sterling’s lips curved. "You should be asking what I heard."
Vivian Quinn went along with it. "Then what did you hear?"
"Everything."
Vivian Quinn’s face flushed. "This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go."
The two returned to the lounge. Jett Sterling locked the door from the inside before walking toward Vivian Quinn.
Before Vivian Quinn could even turn around, he embraced her from behind.
"Vivian..." Jett Sterling held her tightly. "I’m finally holding you."
"I’m sorry." Vivian Quinn’s eyes stung. "After I figured out the truth, I discovered Mason Landon had installed a listening device on my phone. I couldn’t let him get suspicious, so I couldn’t tell you anything. I even had to put on an act for him. When your condition flared up, I didn’t even dare treat you."
"I figured it out, too."
"When did you figure it out?"
"You’re not one to tolerate betrayal. After finding out I ’cheated,’ how could you possibly co back to Sycamore Bay? And even if you did, you would never agree to stay in the sa room as . That’s when I grew suspicious." Jett Sterling kissed her hair and continued, "The dical team is supposed to check the poison levels in your body regularly. That day, after they gave you a sedative, they secretly drew a blood sample for testing. They discovered the poison had been neutralized. That’s how I figured it out."
"Then why didn’t you say anything to either?"
"To play along with your act."
Vivian Quinn pushed his hands away and turned to face him. "You kissed that woman that day..."
Jett Sterling stroked her hair. "It was just cara angles. I didn’t actually kiss her. Besides, there was no other way. I had to use such an extre thod to drive you away. Vivian, I’m sorry."
As Vivian Quinn recalled everything that had happened recently, tears stread down her face uncontrollably.
Just as Jett Sterling reached out to wipe away her tears, she suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
Jett Sterling froze for a mont before his hand ca up to cup the back of her head, taking the lead and deepening the kiss.
They kissed, lost in each other, until Vivian Quinn was nearly out of breath and Jett Sterling finally let her go.
"Jett Sterling, I’m so happy." Vivian Quinn leaned against his broad chest. "Before, even though I was determined to love you, a part of was still anxious. Now, that feeling is completely gone. I’ll never doubt or waver again, because I’ve felt ti and ti again just how much you love ."
Tears like pearls from a broken string stread down Vivian Quinn’s face. "If we had really gotten divorced, the pain you would have endured would have been far greater than mine. Yet you were willing to bear it all yourself just to keep safe. When I’m honest with myself, if our roles were reversed... I’m not sure I could have done the sa."
"Vivian, you’re still so young. You should have a wonderful, brilliant life ahead of you. I couldn’t let you die."
"But without you, my life would be worse than death."
"Don’t you think I feel the sa?" Jett Sterling cradled her face, his dark, deep eyes filled with pain. "When you sent Shane Shaw away, I asked myself if I’d made a mistake. I was afraid you had really changed. I started to think that maybe it would have been simpler, and even happier, if I had just told you the truth so we could face death together."
"Vivian, ever since I was old enough to understand, I’ve known I wouldn’t live long. For the past twenty-plus years, every ti my condition flared up, I just wanted it to be over. I wasn’t afraid of death, but now I am."
"I keep thinking... if I died and left you in this world, would your life be harder? Would soone bully you? Would you be able to bear the pain of losing ..."
"Of course I would!" Vivian Quinn broke down and sobbed. "But everything’s okay now. Mason Landon’s poison can’t control , and he can’t threaten you. We’re both going to live, and we’ll never be separated again!"
"Okay."
Jett Sterling’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He lowered his head again and kissed her lips...
...
Vivian Quinn hadn’t been back to Sycamore Bay in days. The hospital had arranged for plenty of bodyguards to protect Joy Chase, so she went ho with her mind at ease to take a comfortable, hot bath.
Her nerves had been stretched taut these past few days. Now that she could finally relax a little, she quickly grew drowsy.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door, startling Vivian Quinn awake. "What is it?"
"Vivian," Jett Sterling’s voice ca through the door. "Are you sure the poison is gone, and what happened last ti won’t happen again? Right?"
Vivian Quinn’s lips curved into a smile. It seed he was still shaken by the ti she had nearly drowned in the bathtub.
A warm feeling spread through Vivian Quinn’s heart. "I’m sure. Don’t worry."
"How could I not worry?" Jett Sterling said. "Don’t soak for too long. Co out soon."
"Okay."
Vivian Quinn hadn’t planned on soaking for long anyway. She quickly got ready and went out to find Jett Sterling leaning against the wall by the door, waiting for her.
"You didn’t get any sleep last night. Go get so rest now."
"I am tired," Vivian Quinn yawned. "But I want to sleep at the hospital, just in case sothing happens with Joy, so I’ll know right away."
The words had barely left her mouth when he suddenly bent down, scooped her up into his arms, and started walking toward the bed. "We’re already ho. Sleep here. Nothing will happen over there, trust ."
Vivian Quinn’s lips curved into a smile, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Mm."
The two lay in bed and kissed for a while before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
Vivian Quinn felt like she hadn’t had such a peaceful sleep in a very, very long ti. She slept for a full six hours without once waking up startled like she did at the hospital.
She opened her eyes to the sight of his handso face. His deep, captivating eyes were staring at her, their gaze so magnetic it felt like it could pull her right in.
Being stared at so intensely made Vivian Quinn a little self-conscious. She subconsciously touched her mouth. ’Thankfully, I wasn’t drooling!’
"What are you staring at for?"
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