Chapter 5

Caleb met Olivia's reddened eyes. The disappointment in her eyes hit him hard. He didn't know why, but he suddenly found it hard to breathe.

Just then, they heard an argument break out outside the nearby restroom.

"What are you doing? Don't touch me!"

Caleb's expression shifted instantly. Whatever guilt he had felt toward Olivia moments ago vanished. He instinctively turned toward the dim corner of the hallway.

A drunken man in shabby clothes had Shannon cornered, his behavior crude and lecherous.

Shannon was deathly pale with fear. She kept cowering, trying to get away from him.

"Shannon!"

Caleb completely forgot about Olivia standing behind him. He rushed over, stepped in front of Shannon, and shoved the drunken man away.

Caleb snapped coldly. "Get lost!"

The drunken man staggered backward. The alcohol only fueled his anger, and he instantly lashed out. "Damn you! How dare you ruin things for me?"

In the chaos, he suddenly reached behind him and pulled out a small knife.

The bystanders scrambled away in alarm, screaming. The situation descended into chaos.

Olivia didn't want to be part of this nonsense. All she wanted to do was leave.

She had barely taken a few steps when the drunken man lunged at Shannon with the knife.

Just then, Gerald and Vivian dashed into the room, screaming, "Shannon!"

Caleb immediately pulled Shannon into his arms.

Just as the drunken man was about to stab Caleb, Olivia suddenly felt someone shove her hard from behind.

She lost her balance and stumbled forward. She looked back and realized that the ones who had pushed her were none other than Gerald and Vivian.

By then, the drunken man was already right in front of her, and the knife plunged deep into her chest.

Time seemed to stop at that moment.

Olivia froze on the spot. She slowly lowered her gaze and saw the knife handle protruding from her chest, blood blooming across her clothes.

Caleb's expression shifted instantly when he saw Olivia standing right in front of him.

The moment Olivia crumpled, he instinctively let Shannon go and dropped to his knees, catching Olivia in his arms before she hit the ground. Warm, sticky blood instantly spread onto his palms, the heat making his fingertips numb.

"Olivia! Olivia!"

Panicked and at a loss for what to do, Caleb pressed his hand against her wound, but the bleeding wouldn't stop.

He turned toward the panicked crowd and yelled, "Help! Call an ambulance! Now!"

Then he looked down and cupped Olivia's pale face in his hands, repeating over and over again, "Don't close your eyes. Do you hear me? Olivia, don't close your eyes! Look at me! Just hang in there. The doctor will be here soon. You'll be fine…"

The panic and anxiety felt so familiar. It was the same look he wore whenever he was worried that something might happen to Olivia.

Olivia lay in his arms. Even breathing hurt, and her vision gradually began to blur.

Memories of their early days as newlyweds came flooding back to her.

She got hurt once, and he held her in his arms just like this, begging her not to close her eyes. He was so terrified that he started crying.

Back then, she truly believed she was the one he loved most.

Now, he was holding her in his arms again, looking just as worried as he had back then. But this time, she couldn't bring herself to believe it anymore.