Chapter 158

Silence fell all around.

The air stood still for a moment.

He suddenly chuckled lowly. "Anywhere will do? You're that desperate to sell yourself out for him?"

He admitted he had selfish motives.

But seeing her like this.

He'd rather not have it.

"I don't accept the terms you just offered."

"I don't like things that are handed to me on a silver platter."

He gave her a deep look.

"You'd better think carefully about whether this is really worth it."

The black Mercedes sped away, leaving a cloud of dust.

Its taillights vanished into the night.

Worth it?

Anna Ross stared at the empty street.

Bitterness spread through her chest.

As long as it could save her mother.

To her, there was no question of worth.

It was simply something that had to be done.

But now, even this last hope was shattered.

She couldn't imagine how to face her mother.

Her legs suddenly went weak.

The world spun around her.

She could no longer hold on.

She collapsed heavily onto the cold ground.

The chill seeped through the fabric into her skin.

But she seemed to have lost all sensation.

"Anna!"

Lucas Evans rushed over quickly.

He reached out to help her up.

Anna pushed him away sharply.

"My business is none of your concern."

"Why do you always have to meddle?"

Lucas knelt before her.

His figure was as steadfast as a rock.

"I can't leave."

"I can't just stand by and watch you like this."

His voice trembled.

"I can't bear to."

Anna froze.

A tear silently slid from the corner of her eye.

What had she done to deserve this?

Why was he treating her this way?

"Lucas."

She took a deep breath.

"I know how you feel."

"But it's impossible for us."

"The me now is no longer the Anna from university."

"I'm not worth this."

"Stay away from me from now on."

She could offer him no response.

It was better to let him give up early.

Lucas smiled bitterly.

"Anna, my feelings for you were never less than Adrian Sinclair's."

"He just got there first."

"He took the person I cherished most."

"Even if I have all these feelings."

"I can only bury them in my heart."

The past played vividly in his mind.

He could no longer suppress the surging emotions.

He gripped her shoulders.

His gaze was almost pleading.

"Give me a chance, okay?"

"I don't care what you've become."

"I've always liked you."

"As long as it's you, anything is fine."

His grip on her shoulders was painfully tight.

Anna frowned slightly.

She hadn't expected Lucas to be this persistent.

But she truly couldn't respond.

She slowly stood up.

Freeing herself from his grasp.

"I said it's impossible."

"Don't look for me anymore."

She didn't dare to look at him.

Perhaps out of guilt.

Or perhaps afraid to see the cruelty of hurting someone who truly cared.

She was already covered in wounds.

She didn't deserve his pure feelings.

The night was silent.

Lucas watched her resolute retreating figure.

He suddenly laughed.

The smile was uglier than crying.

She had rejected him after all.

She always said she wasn't good enough.

But he never cared about that.

All he wanted was a chance.

But she wouldn't even grant him that small hope.