“Why? Why can you have his love, but not me?” A fierce and malicious gaze could be seen from Susan as she quickly rushed toward Tessa, the knife in her hand poised to strike.

They were only a few steps apart now, and Tessa had her back to Susan. She was completely unaware of Susan’s movements.

Due to the short distance, Susan was swift. Stephen, who was holding Tessa in his arms, was

momentarily distracted. To protect her, he had to push Tessa away before countering Susan.

Alas, it was too late.

Even though he was skilled, he couldn’t push Tessa away and counter Susan in such a brief moment.

As the knife came stabbing, Stephen’s eyes widened in alarm.

All he could do was turn his body slightly while holding Tessa, taking the stab for her.

The moment the knife sunk into his flesh, he let out a muffled groan.

“No!” Susan’s scream tore through the sky.

She staggered back a couple steps, unable to believe what happened.

“Why?” Susan roared hoarsely. “Stephen! Why do you care so much about her, even if it means your life?”

The pungent smell of blood was in the air, and Tessa belatedly realized what happened.

She stepped back from Stephen’s arms, her gaze lowering to the knife embedded in his waist.

In an instant, all color drained from her face.

“Stephen!” she cried out in alarm, tears streaming uncontrollably.

At that moment, a group of men ran through the rooftop door and quickly approached.

Well-trained bodyguards restrained Susan in no time at all.

Tessa wept like a child while holding Stephen.

“I am so sorry, Stephen. I am so sorry… ” Tessa sobbed like a broken record. “It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have come up here alone to find her…

She had initially planned to obey the masked assailant’s instructions, exchange herself for Seline, and then find an opportunity to subdue her once Seline was safe.

She wasn’t acting recklessly; she had her own plan in mind.

But she hadn’t expected Stephen to

elo

arrive so quickly, unwilling to let her take the risk. She also did not

anticipate Stephen to risk his life to

shield her from the knife.

How could this have happened?

It was all her fault. She should have listened to him and not acted alone.

Stephen had already mobilized all the estate’s bodyguards. All she needed to do was trust him and wait

for him to arrange Seline’s rescue.

She shouldn’t have gone up the rooftop alone.

The difference of just a few minutes between the bodyguards’ arrival and his action led to the current dire situation.

Tessa was filled with regret. She wished she had been the one stabbed instead.

…

At the hospital, Stephen was undergoing emergency treatment.

The hallway outside was crowded with people, all anxious and worried.

Tessa had cried herself dry. Her eyes were empty and hollow as she stood dazedly against the wall.

Rowena and Sophia had red and swollen eyes crying.

Seline was safe, so Marianne took her home.

With everything in turmoil, the engagement ceremony was, of course, canceled.

The atmosphere in the hallway was heavy and oppressive.

“How did this happen? Who was that woman? Why did she kidnap Seline? And why did she want Tessa to exchange places with her? Is she an enemy of the Jacobson family?” Samuel’s expression was dark and grim.

Caleb looked bewildered. “I don’t know her either.”

“I do. She’s Stephen’s ardent pursuer,” said Henry Gosling, who was Stephen’s close friend.

Sophia looked at him in confusion. “A pursuer?”

“Yes. When the police took her away just now, I saw her face. Her name is Susan, a high schoolmate of

Stephen and me. She started

pursuing him back in high schol net”

so

it’s been about ten years now” Henry replied.

Tessa suddenly came back to her senses. “Stephen’s pursuer? Why… Why would she do this?”