Chapter 2344
Chapter 2344
"Justin...?" Bella looked at him in a hazy, unfocused daze, her mind drifting and muddled, her presence faint like a delicate spring breeze.
"It's me!" Justin saw her pale face drained of color, her frail body trembling uncontrollably.
It reminded him so vividly of the tiny kitten he had rescued from an alley on a bitterly cold winter night as a child -cold and on the verge of freezing to death.
A strong wave of heartache stirred and burned in his chest.
"J-Justin..." Bella's lips, stiffened by the cold, struggled to say his name.
Then she smiled bitterly as tears streamed down her face. Her voice was laced with self-mockery. "It seems... I'm really about to freeze to death... How could it be him... He's not coming back.... He doesn't want me anymore..."
Her words faded as her dazed gaze grew heavy, and her body started to sway to the side.
"Bella! You're not allowed to sleep!" Justin felt a stabbing pain in his chest as he watched her consciousness fade away before his eyes.
Despite his own pain, he opened his arms and pulled her close, saying, "It's me, Justin! Open your eyes and look at me!"
A person suffering from hypothermia was in grave danger when they gave up hope of survival and gave in to the temptation to sleep.
Justin was terrified that if Bella closed her eyes at that moment, she might never open them again.
Bella looked at the man before her, tears welling in her eyes. Her heart throbbed painfully, quivering uncontrollably.
It had been so long since she had seen the spark in his eyes. Since he had awoken from his coma, his once vibrant gaze had grown dull, drowning in shadows deeper than the night and colder than the snow.
Yet ironically, at this very moment, he was the last person she wanted to see.
Bella let out a faint laugh and closed her eyes. She mustered her last ounce of strength to push away his embrace." You might be Justin... But... I don't need you anymore..."
Justin's brow furrowed as he felt an unbearable ache in his chest. He tried to tell himself that Bella was just rambling from the cold, but her words hurt him deeply.
Brushing aside her weak protests, Justin forcefully removed her jacket, which was full of snow.
"Don't touch me!" Bella said weakly as tears welled up in her eyes. She had barely any strength left to resist him.
With a serious look on his face, Justin remained silent as he took off his coat and draped it over Bella's shivering body.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Then he retrieved a thermos from his backpack and soaked her scarf in hot water. Gently, he pressed the warm cloth against her chest, hoping to provide her with some much-needed warmth.
After his attentive first aid, Bella slowly blinked, and the ashen hue of her face showed faint signs of improvement. But she was still in a critical condition. Her body was still dangerously cold.
Justin did not hesitate. Braving the biting wind, he scooped her up in his arms and began walking forward, each step sinking deep into the snow.
"Justin..." Bella weakly leaned against him, her voice as soft as a whisper carried off by the wind.
"I'm here," Justin answered immediately.
"I was too foolish and stubborn before..." Bella said as tears welled up in her eyes. "Now, I truly don't want to love you anymore..."
Justin froze mid-step. His arms trembled, holding her tighter, before continuing forward.
His voice, deep and hoarse, was barely a murmur. "Let's get you out of here first. We'll talk about everything else in the future."