What he said was identical to Jack’s—he even described how the sharks would eat her after she jumped, how cold the seawater was, and how agonizing it would be to have it rush into her nose.

The only difference was that Rose had jumped into the ocean because her life was suffocating, whereas she had done it for love.

Annabelle Linton smiled and asked him, "If I had actually jumped that day, would you have really jumped in after me?"

Aaron Wyatt, his eyes still on the TV, answered without a second thought. "Of course. How could I stand by and let someone die?"

"What if you had met another girl that day? Would you have saved her?"

Aaron Wyatt turned to look at her, appearing to give it some serious thought before saying with a serene expression, "Maybe I would have, maybe I wouldn’t have. But when I saw it was you, I was determined to save you."

"Hm?"

"Because I felt you were someone with a story. I wanted to get to know you, to help you."

Aaron Wyatt gazed at her, his eyes deep and profound, and gave a small smile. "I think that might have been the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. Because I got to know you. Meeting you... I’m very lucky, and I’m honored."

That was why he had been so willing to risk his life to save her.

’And wasn’t knowing him her honor as well?’

’Without him, she would have been dead long ago, in this life or her last.’

Annabelle Linton looked at Aaron Wyatt, a rare warmth suffusing her expression. A gentle current of warmth now flowed through her normally cold eyes. "Meeting you is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me, too. Thank you for the wonderful memories you’ve given me, Aaron Wyatt."

Aaron Wyatt looked at the softness in her eyes, and it felt as if something had struck his heart, sending ripples echoing through him.

He looked at her sincerely and said with conviction, "Annabelle Linton, you’re the most important person in my life. More important than the parents I’ve yearned for my whole life."

Annabelle Linton gave a faint smile. "You’re just as important to me."

...

Every word of their conversation reached the ears of Leona Grant, who was standing right outside the door.

’You’re just as important to me... Meeting you is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me...’

’He never knew Annabelle Linton could say such sweet things!’

’He had been about to storm in, seething with anger, and confront her. Why was she alone in a room with another man? Why was she climbing on top of a shirtless man, their bodies so close? Why was she so utterly shameless?’

But hearing their conversation was like having a bucket of cold water dumped over him.

’That’s right. They were the most important person in each other’s lives. And what was he?’

’He was nothing to her now, and their relationship was completely severed. What right did he have to question her?’

’He was certain that if he stormed in right now, that woman would just give him an icy glare and tell him to get lost.’

’Annabelle Linton, you’ve always been so extreme.’

’When you loved me, your love was a blazing fire, willing to follow me to the death. But now that you don’t, you leave without a second thought.’

’Why were you the one who started all this, yet I’m the one who can’t let go?’

A bitter smile touched Leona Grant’s lips as he turned and walked away, dejected.

He felt a crushing weight in his chest. He didn’t know what to do; he just knew he couldn’t stay here any longer.

He drove aimlessly, staring out at the neon-lit streets. The world was just as lively, the city just as prosperous, but the more people there were, the lonelier he felt.

In that moment, he was utterly alone.

He had rarely felt this way in over twenty years.

Leona Grant kept driving, not knowing where he was going, or where he even should go.

In the end, the car stopped at the villa he and Annabelle Linton had shared.