Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Hazel instinctively turned toward the voice.
All she saw was a face twisted with hatred and a knife slashing toward her…
In that instant, Hazel seemed to lose all ability to react.
Then darkness fell across her vision as a figure moved in front of her, shielding her completely in his embrace.
The sickening sound of a blade piercing flesh and a man’s muffled groan filled her ears.
Terrified screams erupted around them.
“Murder! Murder!”
“Call the police! Get an ambulance! Someone’s been stabbed!”
Roman’s face was deathly pale, his clothes rapidly soaking with blood. Yet he seemed oblivious to the pain, focusing only on Hazel
with intense concern.
“Hazel, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Hazel’s mind went completely blank. She shook her head numbly.
Only after confirming she was unharmed did Roman finally collapse, losing consciousness.
The attacker had been subdued by security guards. She thrashed wildly, her screams becoming hysterical.
“Roman! Why did you shield her?! I’ve given you everything-you should love ME! ”
Her gaze then turned to the stunned Hazel. “Why won’t you just die? You divorced Roman already, so why are you still clinging to
him?! That fire should have finished you off! You bitch, why are you seducing MY Roman?!”
Hearing the familiar voice, Hazel finally recognized her assailant as Naomi Jensen.
Whatever she’d been through recently had clearly taken its toll. Compared to before, she now appeared completely unhinged.
Seeing the attacker subdued, others gathered to assess the situation. Someone stepped forward to provide emergency first aid to
Roman.
As Hazel stood up, strong arms suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Hazel! Are you hurt? Are you okay?”
Dominic’s face was ashen with fear, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Only after frantically checking her entire body and confirming the blood wasn’t hers did he finally relax slightly.
He had been standing nearby, witnessing Naomi’s attack from beginning to end, and was still shaken by the close call.
“I shouldn’t have brought you to the park. I’m so sorry, Hazel. This is all my fault-I failed to protect you…”
By now, Hazel had recovered from the shock.
Dominic usually maintained a carefree attitude, so this was the first time she’d seen him so genuinely terrified. Hearing the tremor in his voice, she gently patted his back.
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Chapter 17
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. Roman took the knife for me.”
Only then did Dominic notice that the man lying in a pool of blood was Roman.
His expression grew complex. “It’s okay. I’ll handle everything.”
Dominic arranged for Roman to be taken to the best hospital with the best surgeons. His injuries were severe. After a three-hour operation, he was transferred to intensive care.
The doctors said his chances of regaining consciousness were minimal.
Bryce, Roman’s friend, flew in from abroad after hearing the news.
During Hazel’s final visit, Bryce watched the comatose Roman and suddenly spoke.
“Hazel, Roman risked his life to save you. Despite his mistakes… seeing him like this now, does it… still hurt your heart?”
Hazel understood what Bryce was really asking-whether she still loved Roman.
She shook her head calmly, leaving only the words: “I’m grateful to him, but that’s all.”
Three months later, while watching the aurora in the Arctic with Dominic, Hazel received news of Roman’s death.
Bryce sent her a video clip-in the hospital room, Roman had become emaciated, skeletal. In his hands, he clutched a photograph.
The picture showed a boyish Roman holding a blushing young Hazel in his arms-it was their first photo together after becoming a couple.
“Hazel, I’m sorry. I love you.”
With his last strength, Roman pressed the photo to his heart.
Even as the heart monitor flatlined, his hand never released that image.
