Chapter 2Once Wanted to Be With Him Forever

Jade POV

I packed up everything Julian had given me over the past five years.

Except for the designer bags and sparkling jewelry, I told Maria to throw everything else away.

Maria picked up a glass jar filled with paper stars and asked, "Ms. Miller, are these to be thrown away too?"

Those colorful paper stars were ones I'd taught Julian to fold when he was hospitalized after his car crash.

I remembered him then, newly amnesiac, with a volatile and erratic temper, no one could get close to him.

The moment I pushed open his hospital room door, he' threw a cup at me, hitting my forehead and breaking the skin, telling me to get out.

Blood streamed down my forehead, but I wasn't angry or upset. Instead, my gaze was soft as I asked if he'd hurt his hand.

With the most gentle patience, I taught him to fold paper stars, accompanied him during his physical therapy, massaged his head when he had headaches, told him stories when he couldn't sleep, and personally cooked him nutritious meals, ensuring no two were the same for a week straight.

I attended to every little detail, never once complaining, finally earning his acceptance and affection.

I still remember the day he was discharged. Julian knelt before me, holding a jar full of paper stars.

"I told myself I'd fold one star for every bit more I loved you. Once the jar was full, I'd propose."

"Now it's full, Jade. Will you marry me?"

His words were sincere and profound, his eyes overflowing with a tender devotion that felt boundless.

Our five years of marriage had been wonderfully happy, like a dream.

But now, it was time for the dream to end.

I softly told Maria, "Just throw them all away."

"Alright."

The call came just as I'd settled in for the night. It was Mr. Peterson, the butler.

"Mrs. Hayes's having Mr. Hayes disciplined. Severely. Please come and intervene!"

I dressed and rushed back to the Hayes estate. From Mr. Peterson, I learned that Julian had tried to sneak Isabella back, but had failed to keep it from Mrs. Hayes.

She had Isabella seized. Julian had raced home to plead for her.

Mrs. Hayes was furious. "How dare you bring that woman back? Do you have no respect for your father's memory?"

"It was Isabella's parents who harmed Dad. They've already paid the price. Isabella is innocent."

"Innocent? The daughter of the people who killed your father? She bears some of the blame too! Protecting her like this, you're not only disrespecting your father but also Jade, who has stood by you all these years!"

Julian frowned for a moment, his expression complicated, but his words were entirely in defense of Isabella.

"Isabella has suffered enough these past few years abroad. I can't abandon her."

Mrs. Hayes's voice was sharp, her eyes blazing. "Are you saying you intend to protect her no matter what?"

"If you still refuse to let Isabella go, then let me atone for her. I'm willing to accept any punishment, I only ask that you release her and don't trouble her further."

I never imagined he would go this far for Isabella.

His words stunned me, and Mrs. Hayes nearly fainted from rage.

"Don't you know, Jade... she..."

"Mom!"

Just as Mrs. Hayes was about to blurt out the fact of my pregnancy, my face changed dramatically, and I quickly interrupted her.

I walked over, forcing a strained smile to soothe her.

"We can talk this over. Please don't be angry. It's not worth ruining your health."

If Julian were to find out I was pregnant, the memory-recovered Julian probably wouldn't let this child be born.

Mrs. Hayes must have realized this too. She swallowed her words and angrily demanded of Julian, "Are you truly willing to accept punishment for Isabella?"

Julian's answer was swift and unyielding. "Yes."

"Fine then, I'll grant your wish!"

The Hayes family's punishments were severe.

He endured it in near-silence, teeth gritted, breath a ragged hiss, until the blood loss dragged him into unconsciousness.

Throughout the ordeal, he gritted his teeth, not uttering a single sound, until he was barely clinging to life, losing consciousness from blood loss.

After, they rushed the unconscious Julian to the hospital. Despite my pregnancy, I stayed by his bedside day and night, taking care of him.

The peace shattered the next afternoon. The door to his room flew open without warning.

The moment I turned, a sharp, unexpected slap landed across my face.

Isabella stood there, fury incarnate. "You! You're his wife! You were there! How could you just stand there and watch? How could you let them beat him within an inch of his life without saying a word? What kind of monster are you?!"