Chapter 825:

Weak, Theo collapsed backward, his body giving way. The snow cushioned his fall; the cold, indifferent ground felt almost comforting as he listened to the fading sound of the car driving away. He had always known Kaelyn would come for him someday; he had simply been careless.

Slowly, he raised a hand, reaching for the falling snowflakes. They danced just out of reach, slipping through his fingers like a fleeting dream. Everything felt surreal.

As Elyse walked back to her hotel, the snow fell heavier, the cold piercing deeper into her bones. She considered a cab, but a car sped by, its rear window slightly open. A glimpse of a woman’s silhouette inside caught her eye, sparking a deep sense of recognition.

Elyse took a few more steps, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at her. That woman seemed to be Kaelyn. But why would she be here? A dark premonition formed in Elyse’s mind, her heart heavy with dread.

She considered looking for Theo, wondering if he knew anything about Kaelyn’s whereabouts, but quickly dismissed it as too dramatic. What danger could Kaelyn really pose? With that thought, she kept walking, then suddenly turned and ran, gripping her violin case tightly.

Her eyes fell upon a still figure on the pavement ahead. Panic washed over her—could it be Theo?

Elyse’s heart pounded as she rushed forward. Her worst fears were confirmed when she saw Theo lying in a pool of blood. She knelt beside him, gently cradling his face, her voice heavy with worry as she whispered his name. His eyes remained tightly shut; he didn’t respond.

Her hands shook—from fear or cold, she couldn’t tell. She fumbled for her phone and called for help. Shortly after, an ambulance arrived and took Theo to the hospital.

Elyse followed, her mind racing as she sank into a seat outside the operating room, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Could Kaelyn be behind this? But everything she knew about Kaelyn suggested she had feelings for Theo. Surely, even if he had rejected her, she wouldn’t have reacted with such violence, would she?

Caught in a whirlwind of anxiety and doubt, Elyse was jolted from her thoughts when Theo emerged from surgery. She hurried to his bedside, her heart sinking as she looked at his pale, lifeless face.

Elyse had been awake all night keeping watch when Theo finally moved. Realizing where he was, he forced a pained smile. “I’m sorry, Elyse. I’ve caused you so much trouble,” he said weakly.

Exhausted, Elyse rubbed her eyes. “It’s okay. Did you see who attacked you?”

“Yes, it was Kaelyn,” Theo said, his voice carrying a hint of irony.

Elyse was shocked. She couldn’t believe Kaelyn was responsible. “Why would she do such a thing?” she asked. “Didn’t she care about you? They say love can sometimes turn to hate.”

“Hahaha… Ouch!” Theo laughed, but his amusement quickly turned to a grimace of pain.

“Be careful. That knife wound was deep. You almost didn’t make it.”