Chapter 26
Steven finally understood the determination behind Gianna’s departure. For the first time, he realized he was powerless to bridge the growing distance between them. It felt as though an insurmountable mountain now stood between them, making it impossible for him to take even one step closer to her.
“Drinking alone? Want me to keep you company?” Callum patted Steven on the shoulder. He had actually arrived some time ago. While fearing that Steven and Gianna might reconcile, he was also worried about Steven. Although both of them had always been flawless in their decisions since childhood, emotions were never something that could be feigned.
“Our mentor always warned you not to be too self–centered,” Callum remarked with a touch of humor. “He said it would eventually cost you dearly. Turns out, he
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was right.”
In the past, Steven would have immediately retorted. But now, all he could do was take a deep swig of his drink in silence.
“You’ve fallen for Gianna, haven’t you?”
Steven’s sudden question caught Callum off guard, plunging him into silence. He didn’t know how to respond. In the end, he could only shake his head gently. “So what if I have feelings for her? She could never accept anyone else anymore.”
That night, just before leaving the country, Callum had confessed his feelings to Gianna, but she rejected him.
“I’m sorry, Captain Young, right now I just want to focus on being a doctor. I don’t want to think about personal
relationships.”
At that moment, Callum hadn’t fully understood. Now, he realized that Gianna had been deeply hurt.
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Irritated, Callum grabbed the bottle of liquor from Steven’s hands. “Steven, you’re such a bastard. A girl as good as her loves you, and not only do you take her for granted, you leave her scarred!”
Suddenly, Callum swung his fist, landing a hard punch squarely on Steven‘ s face.
Steven didn’t even flinch or attempt to dodge.
“You‘ re right,” he admitted bitterly. “I’m a bastard. I lost the person I loved most in this world.”
But why? Why did she stop loving him? They had been so deeply in love. How could she suddenly claim it was all gone?
For the next three days, Steven lingered at the camp.
However, Gianna made it painfully clear that she was avoiding him. Anywhere Steven showed up, she made sure to steer clear, no matter what excuse she had to make. And with calls constantly coming in
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from the hospital for a major surgery that urgently needed his participation, Steven had no choice but to leave.
Before he left, he cornered Gianna in her dorm. “I’m getting ready to leave.”
Gianna, who had been feeling down, immediately felt a sense of relief and even a bit of eagerness. “Safe travels.”
Steven bent down, though he knew Gianna would be glad he was leaving. He didn‘ t expect that there wouldn’t even be a single word to make him stay.
He had always believed that he could win Gianna back, but now it seemed like that chance was slipping further and further away.
Just as Steven stood there, mouth open, unsure of what to say, a shout came from outside the door.
“Run! Go to the escape tunnel!” Callum suddenly shouted. Afterward, a deafening rumble sounded. The building shook
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uncontrollably, starting to collapse. Some areas erupted with flames.
Callum burst through the door, handing the last two escape descent devices to Gianna and Steven. “The building‘ s
collapsing. There’s a rope outside. Hurry, get out!”
“What about you?” Gianna anxiously asked.
“I have my ways!” Callum answered.
“No! If we’re going, we go together,” she insisted.
Ignoring her, Callum turned to Steven. “Steven, take Gianna and leave! Don’t let her stay here and cause trouble!”
Gianna was pushed by Steven and Callum to use the descent device to escape.
When there was only one descent device left, Callum strapped it onto Steven.
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