Celine had vanished from the medical world for three years, all because of Adam. It was only now that he truly comprehended the depth of her absence. His gaze fell upon her delicate face.

“Celine, I—” he began, but she interrupted him.

“Adam, it's all in the past. There's no need to discuss it anymore.” She then turned to Hailey and said, “Let's go have some fun.”

“Alright,” Hailey agreed. Just as they were about to walk away, Adam reached out and grasped Celine's slender wrist, halting her movement. Celine winced in pain, and Adam's eyes were drawn to her arm.

“What's wrong?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

Hailey immediately pushed Adam's hand away. “Mr. Alvarez, Celine was injured when those kidnappers took her. She got hurt trying to escape, and her arm is still badly bruised.”

Adam frowned, his expression clouded with worry.

Hailey scoffed. “At that time, you didn't hesitate to choose Carly. You carried her away and left Celine behind. So, Mr. Alvarez, please don't pretend to care about Celine now. You and Carly were no different from those kidnappers!”

Adam fell silent, a torrent of questions swirling in his mind. He wanted to ask Hailey who she truly was to Celine. Wasn't he supposed to be her family? Why did it feel as though all her sharp words were aimed squarely at him? Yet, he found himself defenseless. He couldn't deny that he had chosen Carly.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

Celine regarded him with a calm demeanor. “Mr. Alvarez, it's fine. I'm used to it.” Her words pierced Adam's heart, deepening the ache within him. Celine added, a self-deprecating smile gracing her lips, “After all, when it comes to choosing between Carly and me, you've never wavered. I was always the one left behind.” The pain in Adam's heart intensified, like a thousand tiny stings he could not ignore.

“Celine, I'm sorry,” Adam said softly. “Carly once saved my life.”

Celine was momentarily taken aback. This was the first time Adam had ever mentioned it. A bitter irony washed over her. “I didn't realize Mr. Alvarez was the type to repay a drop of kindness with an ocean of gratitude. Carly saved you, so you've never forgotten her. I saved you too—why did you forget me?”

Adam was stunned. “You saved me? When?”

Celine replied coldly, “Years ago, weren't you seriously injured and lost in a forest?”

Adam froze. How did she know that? How did she know about what had happened between him and Carly? He took a step toward her, urgency in his voice. “How do you know about that? Did Carly tell you?”

Celine couldn't help but laugh. “What does Carly have to do with this? I don't need her to tell me anything. I was there that day!”

Adam was taken aback to learn that Celine had been in that forest too. “How is that possible? What were you doing there?” he pressed, stepping closer yet again.

Before he could say more, a voice interrupted them. “Adam!” Celine looked up to see Carly approaching, accompanied by Sonia, Tracy, and Lucy.