The Sound of Falling Blossoms

When James rushed out of the villa with Jessica in his arms, Laura was still sitting weakly on the ground with blooding pouring out the the back of her head and trickling down her neck.

She looked at his receding figure. James seemed so desperate and in a panic. Not once did he turn around and look at her.

The pain Laura was experiencing was excruciating. That was when she suddenly remembered that James once cared just as much about her as well.

Back then, she was still a fish seller in the open market. Her hair was simply tied into a ponytail. She looked young and innocent. The other stall owners at the open market called her an angel.

When James first saw her, he stood by Laura's stall for a full two hours. After that, he took out a premium bank card and said, "Be my girlfriend, and you won't have to work for the rest of your life."

Laura might be poor, but she was proud. She was a little taken aback by James's words, but still gave the card back to him. "That won't be necessary, sir. I earn money through my own hard work, and I'm proud of that."

James stared at her for a while before handing her a business card. "The name's James Lawson. I'll be back tomorrow."

Laura didn't take his words seriously, but James did come back as promised the next day.

He arrived in a black Maybach and was wearing a clean suit. He really stood out in the open market.

He pursued her for three whole months, and during that time, he did things that he wouldn't normally do.

Laura refused all his roses, so he arranged for his men to import a lot of expensive seafood from overseas.

She avoided his luxury cars, so he would walk through the entire open market on foot.

When Laura said they were from different worlds, he would squat down next to her and help her work on the fish.

She stood at her stall for a whole three months. He refused to give up, no matter how many times Laura turned him down.

It wasn't that Laura wasn't moved; she just clearly knew how far apart they were in terms of background, so she didn't dare allow herself to develop any feelings for him.

That was until he shielded her from a competitor who tried to pour sulphuric acid on her, and it caused a massive burn on his back. Only then did she agree to date him.

Back then, the pain caused him to be soaked in cold sweat, but he was still smiling as he said to her, "Remember, Laura, you owe me your life. You'll have to repay this favor with the rest of your life."

Tears trickled down her cheeks and fell onto the palm of his hand.

After they started dating, James doted on her and spoiled her.

He would summon his private doctor in the middle of the night just because she accidentally cut her finger.

When she said she liked a certain brand of cake, he would just buy the entire store.

When her stomach ached during her period, he would stay up all night to rub her aching belly.

There was once when Laura accidentally fell over and scraped her knee, and he was so upset that his eyes turned red. His hands were trembling while he carried her to the hospital.

The doctor didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he told James that it was just a scratch and nothing serious, but James insisted on giving Laura a CT scan just in case she had a bone fracture.

But now...

Laura lowered her head and looked at the pool of blood on the floor. She suddenly laughed.

But as she laughed, tears began trickling down her cheeks.

She went to the hospital alone.

After the wound was treated, she still felt dizzy and could barely stand. As soon as she walked out of the consultation room, someone grabbed her wrist forcefully.

"Laura!" The anger was evident in James's voice. "Jessica nearly had a miscarriage, and you still won't give up? Are you planning on making a scene at the hospital?"

Laura turned around and saw James's furrowed brows and his cold eyes.

He was dressed in a suit and tie, as aloof and aristocratic as ever. The only difference was that there was a scent of Jessica's perfume on him.

Laura's voice was so quiet that one could hardly hear her. "I didn't come to the hospital... because of her..."

She slowly raised her hand and pointed at her bandaged head. "I'm hurt as well."

James was taken aback. Only then did he see Laura's pale face and the bandage on her head.

"You said we'd leave this place together after she gives birth to the child, but do you even still care about me now?" Laura looked at James with red eyes.

James furrowed his brows even more. He reached out to touch her wound. "What happened?"

"You did this," Laura said calmly. "I bumped into a corner of the coffee table."

James's eyes widened. Only then did he remember what happened.

His anger dissipated almost instantly.

He then pulled Laura into his arms. "I'm sorry, Laura. I didn't mean it. I was just worried about the child that Jessica was carrying. If anything happens to her, then it would cause more delays to our plan..."

Laura didn't respond. She just allowed James to hug her. Her eyes were empty.

James had said those words way too many times.

"I know." Laura pushed James away. "You should go take care of her."

She turned on her heels and was about to leave, but James grabbed her wrist.

"You've got to believe me, Laura. You're the only one I love, no matter what. Everything I'm doing right now is for us to leave this place as soon as possible."

He touched her bandage gently. "I'll tell the servants to take care of you. Your wound should be kept dry."

With that said, he released Laura and turned to walk into Jessica's ward.

Laura stood where she was as she looked at James's receding figure.

She suddenly laughed, and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I don't believe you anymore, James. Your words mean nothing to me now," she said gently.