Chapter 8

When Selena woke up, she was lying in a hospital bed. Without so much as a flinch, she tore the IV needle from her hand and got out of bed. She immediately staggered toward the door. Just as she reached it, she bumped straight into Edmund's chest. He asked with concern, "Selena, how are you feeling? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?" But at that moment, all she could think of was the ring that had sunk to the bottom of the sea. "Let go of me! I need to find the ring. Don't touch me. Let me go! I have to get it back!" Selena exclaimed, struggling against Edmund's grip violently. Seeing the fresh blood on her hand, he frowned in puzzlement. "It's just a ring. Do you seriously think it's more important than your life?" "Yes!" Selena shouted. Her bloodshot eyes locked onto him as she enunciated each word. "It was given to me by the person I loved the most. It is more important than my life!" Edmund was stunned and became frozen in place. After a moment, he avoided her gaze and softened his tone. "That ring was just a freebie I got when I bought something. I'll take you out tomorrow to have a better one custom-made for you. I'll use it to propose to you, alright?" Now, it was Selena's turn to freeze up. She recalled that Edmund had once given her a ring. He had it in his mind that the ring she cared so much about was the ring he'd given her. But what he didn't know was that Selena had already donated that ring a month ago. Since Selena didn't respond, Edmund assumed she had agreed. He continued, "Selena, I need to tell you something, but don't get too upset. Last night, someone leaked your photos from the club… They're all over the internet now." Selena stiffened. Then, she gingerly picked up the phone beside her. The moment she unlocked the screen, a flood of insults filled her vision. "I heard she was trying to seduce a man but got caught by his real girlfriend, so she was stripped and thrown out!" "You have a nice body, miss. How much for a night?" "She's disgusting. Can this shameless slut just die already?" A hand reached over and took the phone from her. "Don't pay attention to what they're saying. I've already assigned someone to handle this. Don't worry, I'll find out who leaked the photos and give you a satisfactory explanation," Edmund said with a grim expression. When he had made her strip for Claire, he had sworn that no photos would ever be leaked. Now that this had happened, it was a blatant challenge to his authority. Selena's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "I hope you can keep your word." Hearing this, Edmund frowned. As he opened his mouth to speak, his phone suddenly rang. "Mr. Gilead, we traced the source of the photos. They were sent from… Ms. Jewitt's phone," the person on the other end reported. Suddenly, Claire rushed in from the doorway. "I'm sorry, Ms. Crawford! I lost my phone by the shore—I don't know how the pictures got leaked…" She cried pitifully as tears streamed down her face. Selena looked up and asked frostily, "Is that so? Why did you have those photos on your phone in the first place?" Claire's entire body stiffened as panic flashed across her eyes. "I don't know! I have no idea how that happened! If you don't believe me, I'll prove my innocence with my life!" She stepped onto a chair and climbed onto the windowsill. Her frail body swayed precariously at the thin ledge. Edmund's face fell instantly. He rushed forward and pulled her into his arms. Then, he turned and roared at Selena, "It's just a few photos! How far do you want to take this? Will you only be satisfied if you drive her to death? Calm down and stay here. I'll deal with you later." After saying that, he carried Claire in his arms and walked away. Selena stood motionless as she watched their figures disappear down the hallway. Without hesitation, she went to the front desk and signed her discharge papers. Once she was back at home, she changed into her wedding dress and took a cab to Mount Versuval. Just as she arrived, a message from Claire appeared on her phone. Claire taunted: "Selena, your disgusting photos are all over the internet. How can you still stay by Edmund's side like nothing is wrong? If I were you, I'd throw myself off a cliff from sheer humiliation!" Selena typed a short reply, "As you wish." Then, she turned off her phone. The mountain path was rugged, so it took her a long time to reach Herman's grave. Lifting the hem of her wedding dress, she twirled in place to show it off. She gazed at his tombstone with tears swimming in her eyes as she asked softly, "Herman, do I look beautiful?" Even though she knew no one would answer, she kept talking for a long time. At last, she wiped the dust off his photo on the tombstone. With the mountain wind blowing against her, Selena walked step by step to the edge of the cliff. Closing her eyes, she leaped forward. "Herman, I'm coming to you."