Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Realizing she had gone too far, Mrs. Garland forced a placating smile. "I’m sorry. I just can’t accept you being with a bodyguard. Nina, you’re so exceptional, and your family is so prominent. A mere bodyguard... he’s truly not worthy of you."

"I care more about a person’s character than their family background. I’m not short on money, so I don’t need to find someone who matches me financially. What I need is someone who is genuinely and completely devoted to me."

Mrs. Garland looked uncomfortable. "But you’re dating a bodyguard... Do your parents know? Would they accept it? You may not care about his status, but do you think your parents feel the same?"

"They won’t interfere with my freedom or my marriage."

"’Not interfere’? Wasn’t your brother’s marriage single-handedly arranged by your mother? Some promise between best friends, a childhood engagement... that was all her doing, not what your brother wanted."

Nina Halloway smiled pensively. "If you don’t know the whole story, Auntie, you should really watch what you say."

Mrs. Garland’s expression turned cold. "So you’re saying you’re going to abandon Jaden? The police confirmed he was kidnapped and assaulted by the masked man. He had to climb out of a pit in the mountains and run to the main road, where a passing truck driver found him and called for help. Someone clearly struck him on the head, thought he was dead, and buried him. This has everything to do with you. If it weren’t for you, would my son have gone through something like this?"

The woman’s tone grew aggressive. "This all started because of you. He was hurt because of you—he nearly died! He suffered a severe head trauma and lost his memory, and it’s all your fault. You have a responsibility, an obligation, to be with him through this difficult time, don’t you?"

The tirade left Nina Halloway speechless.

Seeing Nina speechless, Mrs. Garland took a deep breath, her expression softening slightly. She continued her appeal, mixing emotion with reason. "Even if you don’t want to get back together with my son, you at least have to take responsibility for your part in this. He needs you right now. Don’t just abandon him."

"Aren’t you a professional actress? Just use your skills. Surely you can act, can’t you?"

"I’m not asking for you and my son to be together forever. Just stay with him until he’s discharged from the hospital."

Mrs. Garland’s words left Nina Halloway with no choice.

Seeing her silence, Mrs. Garland’s smiling mask returned. "It seems you’ve made your decision. Come on, come back to the room with Auntie."

Ignoring Ethan Austin completely, the woman pulled Nina back toward the inpatient wing and into Jaden’s room.

She was forced into a chair by the bed, facing Jaden.

A smile spread across the man’s pale face. "What did you and my mom talk about?"

"Nothing."

Jaden took her hand, clasping it tightly in his. "Nina, once I’m out of the hospital, let’s get married, all right?"

"No."

?

"Jaden, you have amnesia, but there’s something you need to know. We already broke up. While we were engaged, you met another girl you fell for—her name is Stella Yarrow. You chose her and called off our engagement. Stella Yarrow is your fiancée now. And you told me you never loved me."

Standing nearby, Mrs. Garland feared Nina’s words would be too much for her son. She moved to cover Nina’s mouth, but it was too late. The words were already out.

Jaden froze, unable to believe what he was hearing.

’So, what Nina was saying... was that he had cheated on her?’

"How is that possible..."

"It’s the truth." Nina Halloway was blunt and never beat around the bush. She said what was on her mind. "Our relationship ended a long time ago. But it’s true that the masked man targeted you because of me, so I’m willing to stay and take care of you, to see you through your treatment until you’re well enough to be discharged. But not as your fiancée."

"Once you’re discharged, I can help you hire bodyguards for round-the-clock protection to make sure the masked man can’t hurt you again. That’s all I can do."

Having said her piece, Nina Halloway stood up. "You need to process what I’ve told you. My sister-in-law is also in this hospital, and she has surgery today. I’m going to check on her. I’ll come back and sit with you later."

She turned to leave, but a heart-wrenching shout came from behind her. "I don’t accept it!"

She stopped and turned back to look at Jaden, his eyes red-rimmed on the hospital bed. A faint smile touched her lips. "Jaden, we’re all adults. We have to take responsibility for our own actions."

"I regret it!"

"It’s no use, Jaden. From the moment you cheated on me, we were doomed. You know me. Once I’ve made a decision, I don’t change my mind easily."

She was resolute. Steeling her heart, she turned and walked away.

Jaden panicked. He threw off the covers to get out of bed, but the moment his feet touched the floor, he collapsed heavily.

"Jaden!"

Mrs. Garland cried out in alarm and rushed forward to help him.

He struggled to his feet and lunged toward Nina Halloway, wrapping his arms tightly around her from behind. "Nina, don’t go! I was wrong! I’m sorry for everything I did. I really know I was wrong."

’Even if he didn’t remember any of it, apologizing right now couldn’t be a mistake!’

Trapped in his embrace, Nina Halloway couldn’t move forward and had no choice but to stand still.

She didn’t struggle against his hold, her heart a turmoil of conflicting emotions.

"Please, just forgive me this once. I’ll change, I promise I’ll change."

Tears streamed down Jaden’s face, each apology seeming to take all the strength he had.

"I love you. How could I not love you?"

Even as he said the words, they felt foreign to him. But in that moment, it was exactly how he felt about Nina Halloway. He couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving, couldn’t stand the things she’d said.

"Jaden, you’ve only lost your memory. You’ve forgotten the person you truly love. If I took you back now, it would be unfair to Stella Yarrow."

"Besides, once your memory returns, you’ll just discard me again. I can’t bear being thrown away by you a second time."

Nina Halloway suppressed the roiling emotions in her chest. She knew she still had feelings for Jaden; years of history couldn’t be erased in an instant. But she could let go. She wouldn’t let herself get dragged back in. She fought to let reason take control.

She also didn’t want to become another Jaden and betray the sincere Ethan Austin.

"I won’t. I would never abandon you."

Jaden held on for dear life, his arms like iron clamps, binding her in place. He was extremely agitated.

Unable to break free, Nina Halloway looked helplessly toward the door. Ethan Austin was standing there, their eyes meeting through the window in the door.

She gave him a look, and Ethan Austin understood immediately. He quickly went to get the medical staff.

Several staff members had to forcibly restrain Jaden, get him back on the bed, and give him a sedative. At last, the man grew quiet.

Mrs. Garland was furious, shooting Nina Halloway a look that could kill.

She couldn’t believe Nina Halloway could be so cold, so heartless toward her son. She was harping on one little mistake he’d made, completely disregarding their history together.

’Her son had already admitted he was wrong and promised to change. What more did she want from him?’

’Did she want him to get on his knees and beg?’

"Auntie, let Jaden rest for a while. I need to go check on my sister-in-law. I’ll be back later."

After saying her goodbyes, Nina Halloway opened the door and walked out.

She put on her hat and mask, then proactively took Ethan Austin’s hand. Together, they took the stairs to the top floor.

’Nina Halloway would rather choose a bodyguard than her son.’ Anger surged through Mrs. Garland. She felt utterly insulted.