Chapter 5

For a moment, Yale's fingers tightened until his knuckles turned white. Then, just as quickly, he relaxed and gave Riley a gentle smile.

"I got over her a long time ago. We cut all contact after the breakup, and I have no intention of ever seeing her again."

A bitter taste filled Riley's mouth. He'd become so practiced at lying that he could do it without so much as a flicker of hesitation.

When he reached for her face, she instinctively turned away, drawing a slight frown from him. He'd lost count of how many times she'd rejected his touch lately.

"Who's been telling you these things?" His tone grew serious. "Is that why you've been so upset recently?"

Before Riley could answer, his phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through their conversation.

Yale glanced at the caller ID and hesitated for several seconds before finally answering.

"Yale!" Selise's tearful voice came through the phone. "There are some guys following me, and I'm scared..."

His expression changed instantly.

"Send me your location."

He grabbed his jacket and headed off without even looking at Riley.

"Baby, something urgent came up at work. Take a cab home, okay?"

Riley didn't go home.

Almost without thinking, she hailed a cab and followed him.

It led her to a dimly lit alley, where Yale stood protectively in front of Selise, facing four or five men armed with clubs.

Riley had never seen him like this. Gone was the composed, restrained businessman she knew. He fought with a viciousness that was almost frightening, every punch landing hard.

One of the men, his face bloodied from the beating, suddenly pulled out a knife and lunged at Selise.

"Lissie!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Yale threw himself between them, shielding Selise with his body.

The blade plunged into his chest, staining his white shirt red.

"Yale!" Selise screamed, catching him as he collapsed and sobbing uncontrollably.

"Don't be scared..." His voice was weak but tender as he lay in her arms. "I promised... I'd protect you for the rest of my life... And I always keep my promises..."

Riley stood at the entrance to the alley, feeling as though someone had carved a piece straight out of her heart.

Later, outside the operating room, Selise was still crying.

"He's always been like this," she sobbed. "He nearly got himself killed street racing for me once. And when I was in a car accident, he gave me so much blood that he passed out..."

Leaning against the wall, Riley listened without a word.

She'd never imagined that a man as mature and levelheaded as Yale could love someone so recklessly that he'd risk his own life.

She just hadn't been the woman he loved that way.

A nurse emerged from the operating room.

"If the knife had been even a millimeter closer, it would've pierced his heart. Is Ms. Selise Lane here? We need a family member to sign the surgical consent form."

Selise shook her head, crying.

"I'm not family. His wife is over there."

The nurse turned to Riley in surprise.

"But he kept calling out 'Lissie,' and when he made his will just now, he said he wanted to leave his entire estate to Ms. Lane..."

Realizing she'd said too much, the nurse stopped awkwardly.

Riley smiled.

With the nurse looking at her in pity, she signed the paperwork and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Selise called after her. "I thought you loved him more than anything. He's still in critical condition. Aren't you going to stay and take care of him?"

Riley stopped but didn't turn around.

"I did love him. Very much." Her voice was almost frighteningly calm. "I've moved on now, though. Since he's never gotten over you, I won't stand in the way of you two being together."