Chapter 50

Roxanne instinctively took two steps backward, then stepped forward and gripped Bruce's arm. "Bruce, even if Joanna saved you ten years ago, are you going to throw away our years together?"

Bruce looked stern. "Our relationship has been a mistake from the beginning," he replied drily.

"No, it's not! You can't end things over such a trivial matter! I won't accept this!" Roxanne cried, swinging his arm desperately. "You love me, Bruce! We're in love. How can we break up so easily? I waited six years for you!"

Tears streamed down Roxanne's face, and her slim body trembled. The bodyguards moved back as Margaret sighed silently. She had disliked Roxanne from the start, mainly because of her bourgeois mother. However, Margaret avoided interfering in her grandson's relationships, remaining indifferent.

Bruce felt bad; he had hurt Roxanne deeply. "I'll compensate you financially. Name an amount," he offered, adding silently that he'd agree to anything reasonable. Although they'd dated for six years, he'd never been physically intimate with her.

"No! I won't break up with you! I waited six years to be dumped? Never! If you leave me, you'll regret it!" Roxanne cried, backing away and then running off.

"Roxanne!" Bruce called, worried she might do something drastic. Just as he started to follow her, the emergency room door opened. A nurse wheeled out a bed with Joanna on it.

Bruce rushed to Joanna's side. "Doctor, how is she?"

"Her arm is splinted. She needs complete rest and will likely need the splint for a month."

Bruce frowned, his heart aching as he looked at Joanna's pale face. "Joanna, I'm sorry…" She was unconscious and couldn't hear him.

"Mr. Everett, please step aside. We need to move the patient," the nurse said.

"Oh, okay," Bruce replied, watching dejectedly as Joanna was wheeled away. "Joanna, I'm sorry. I was wrong. I was so stupid. I'll make it up to you," he murmured, watching her through the ward door, determined to win her back.

After the nurses settled Joanna, Andy rushed up. "Mr. Everett, bad news!"

"What is it?" Bruce asked, startled.

"Ms. Haynes cut her wrists!"

"What?" Bruce's worst fear had been realized.

"Where is she?"

"In a ward. I just got her there."

Bruce rushed to see her.

Roxanne, after running from the hospital, had impulsively slit her wrists. She'd chosen the hospital for easy treatment; she hadn't wanted to die, only to pressure Bruce. She'd intended only a superficial cut. However, Andy's panicked intervention resulted in her severing an artery. The situation became critical. She was rushed to a ward as doctors frantically prepared an operating room.

"She's losing too much blood! Get more plasma!"

"Stop the bleeding! Hemostat!"

Bruce arrived as a nurse emerged. "How's Roxy?" he asked.

"Her artery's severed; she's losing a lot of blood. She needs a transfusion!" The nurse ran to the blood bank.

A chill ran down Bruce's spine. He banged his head against the wall in despair. "Roxy, how could you be so stupid…"

Ingrid and Shaun arrived shortly after hearing about their daughter.

Clack! Clack! Clack! Ingrid's heels echoed as she ran. "Roxy! Where's Roxy?"

"The doctors are operating…"

"Oh my god. Why would she do this? She was fine earlier!"

Bruce remained silent, head bowed, his expression sorrowful.

"Did you do something to hurt Roxy, Bruce? Why else would she try to kill herself?" Ingrid demanded.

Bruce said nothing, offering neither denial nor explanation. His silence was enough. Ingrid's heart sank.

Roxanne had asked Ingrid for advice the previous day, worried about Bruce breaking up with her. Ingrid had dismissed it as a joke. Now, it seemed Bruce had truly ended their relationship.

(The final two lines are promotional material and were removed.)