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.

of blood trickled

pulled Julien into

"Promise me, then...

with me!" "Jonah, I admit that I still

it has come to this, I'm unable to convince myself to stay with you." Despite allowing Jonah to hold

he once had

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

of your love for me is now

that bit of purity." As

a throaty voice, he continued, "I

thanks to him that I was able to

Jonah, that's enough.

is it for us..." By the time Alyssa and Sean arrived, Julien had already

expansive room, Jonah knelt, a forlorn shadow

Alyssa's heart sank.

She stumbled backward slightly.

was alive but resembled an empty shell, crushed and

"Ms.

what in the world

Jonah and Dr.

Lovelace?" Sean questioned anxiously.

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

a few years when Jonah was

never seen him looking as devastated as this! Alyssa took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain

wait for

me have a talk with Jonah in private."

but to retreat and wait

expression, Alyssa

to his side slowly, knelt down, and picked up the roses that

she picked up the greeting card containing Julien's heartfelt confession, she couldn't contain

her vision, smudging the

that, a ball of fury exploded within