Can’t Win Me Back

The once pristine white rose petals were now marred by the dark stain of Julien's blood.

"Let's end it here." Julien's voice was soft, yet those four words shattered Jonah's heart into fragments.

"Julien, I will not allow you to leave me!" Every muscle in Jonah's body trembled with desperation.

A ferocious rage ignited in his eyes.

"I know who I love.

You are not a substitute for anyone! Julien, don't leave me...

I cannot let you go!" Panic coursed through him.

He cried and pleaded, desperately trying to hold Julien back.

Torn between gentleness and force, he was willing to accept any outcome as long as the man he adored stayed with him.

The first time it happened, Jonah had barely survived the emotional turmoil.

If it happened again, it would drive him to the brink of insanity and death.

His breathing became ragged; his bloodshot eyes blazed with determination.

With open arms, Jonah moved to embrace Julien, who had been reduced to pieces.

But just as he leaned in, a sharp pain shot through his left eye.

"Don't touch me!" In a moment of uncontrolled rage, Julien had grabbed another rose, dragging its thorny stem across Jonah's face.

Jonah was fortunate to have closed his eyes just in time; otherwise, that thorn could have slashed his eyeball, leaving him blinded.

Julien stared at the bloodied cut on Jonah's face, momentarily forgetting his own pain.

Dazed, his hands trembled as the instinct to care for Jonah flickered within him.

Yet he fought against it, forcing out the words, "Jonah, you need to go to the hospital—" Jonah couldn't be bothered about himself.

drop of blood trickled down his

pulled Julien

"Promise me, then...

I admit

to convince myself to stay with you." Despite allowing Jonah to hold him, Julien's eyes

passion that he once had

I force myself to stay in this relationship, living by your side in the future will only

initial purity of your love

just that bit of purity." As he said that, he

a throaty voice, he continued, "I really

I was able to have such

Jonah, that's enough.

the time Alyssa

the expansive room, Jonah knelt, a forlorn shadow

Alyssa's heart sank.

She stumbled backward slightly.

was alive but resembled an empty shell,

"Ms.

what in the world happened

Jonah and Dr.

Lovelace?" Sean questioned anxiously.

entire journey there but was unable to get a single answer from

Jonah for a few years when

seen him looking as devastated as this! Alyssa took

wait for me

Jonah in private." Knitting his brows

option but to retreat

downcast expression, Alyssa welled up

side slowly, knelt down, and picked up the roses that had scattered across the

up the greeting card containing Julien's

her vision, smudging the

of fury exploded