Too Late to Say You Love Me

Owen forbade me from closing my eyes, so I had no choice but to take in every lingering mark on Julia’s body—evidence of their night together.

When I helped her into the last piece of black lace, Owen finally snapped.

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him, his expression was twisted with disgust.

“You enjoy watching my woman that much?”

“Or is it that you want to wear this kind of thing yourself?”

“Sheryl, stop with your filthy thoughts. Even if you stood naked in front of me, I wouldn’t spare you a single glance!”

He flung me aside violently, then tossed a towel over Julia’s body.

“Get out! Kneel at the door. That’s your punishment for looking at her.”

I obeyed, quietly stepping out and closing the door behind me.

Inside, Julia’s voice rang out in a sultry tone. “Mr. Carter, you’re so fierce... you scared me.”

“Ms. Sheryl was just helping me change, wasn’t that a little too harsh?”

Owen let out a cold laugh. “My woman is for my eyes only. She’s nothing.”

“If she dares look, she pays the price. Kneeling all night is letting her off easy. Don’t waste your sympathy—she deserves this.”

Plop.

A drop of liquid fell onto the divorce agreement I was holding.

I wiped my nose.

It was blood.

The system had warned me—this body could only last three days. It seemed like I already reached my limit.

I knelt outside the door all night. By morning, my limbs were completely numb. My mind was a haze.

Inside, the sounds finally ceased.

Just before I passed out, I vaguely heard Owen on the phone.

“Get everything ready for the auction today. I’m taking Julia to pick out some jewelry.”

Then the world went dark.

I didn’t know how much time had passed before angry shouts reached my ears.

“What do you mean you can’t find the cause? What kind of hospital is this? Are you all useless? Can’t even treat a coma? What’s the point of your machines if they can’t detect anything?!”

The doctor’s voice trembled in response.

“Mr. Carter, I’m not lying! We’ve used every instrument available, but her condition... it’s completely unexplainable.”

“Not just the coma—none of the machines can even detect any vital signs. It’s like... she’s not alive, but not dead either. We’ve never encountered anything like it.”

“These devices have worked perfectly for two years. Please, give us a little more time. I’ll figure something out!”

A loud crash followed—Owen had thrown a cup across the room.

“Get out! If you can’t find the cause, don’t bother coming back!”

Julia rushed to his side, stroking his chest soothingly.

“Mr. Carter, please calm down. The doctor said she isn’t sick. Maybe she just found a way to trick the machines...”

“Maybe she’s just angry at you. I was the one who pushed too far last night. I shouldn’t have pulled you into my nonsense...”

Owen’s fury gradually settled into icy laughter.

“Fine. Sheryl, I’ll wait and see how long you plan to keep this act going.”

A pack of cigarettes hit my face.

I slowly opened my eyes and met his burning gaze.

“What? Not pretending anymore?” he sneered. “I really underestimated you.”

My throat was dry and raw—I couldn’t speak.

He tossed one last line over his shoulder before leaving the room with Julia in his arms.

“Since you’re awake, come with us to the auction. Help pick out something nice for Julia.”

I didn’t hesitate. I forced myself to stand and followed them.

Back then, in order to save the Carter family from financial ruin, I had sold off the Myers family’s heirloom jade bracelet.

Now that I was leaving, it was time to take it back and return it to its rightful place.

I owed that much to the Myers family.

At the auction, Owen and Julia sat in the front row.

I stood beside them, quietly serving tea.