Game Over No Second Chances

The pain still seemed to linger on every inch of his skin, and Cole gripped his arm so tightly that it turned red.

At that moment, Serena walked in.

She was surprised at first, as she didn't expect Eric and Melissa to actually leave Cole to face this alone.

Then, she stopped at the open doorway and said, "If you're feeling unwell, I can go get a doctor."

Cole's movements froze. He turned his head extremely slowly.

"You're worried about me." He said it with absolute certainty. A faint light flickered in his otherwise gloomy eyes.

Serena was caught off guard. What kind of strange logic was that?

She was just here to confirm whether he had shown up and when she saw him practically tearing into his own arm, she had asked out of basic courtesy.

For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

But Cole was already speaking again. "Regina will have to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Will today's engagement withdrawal become a permanent stain on my life too?"

No one would ever know that Regina had almost been assaulted by a homeless

man.

But everyone would know that he abandoned his fiancée right after her car accident, that he heartlessly severed the relationship between the Larson family and the Arnold family.

The damages for breaking the engagement, the compensation to the Arnold family, it would all be remembered under his name as the heir.

In the future, when he officially took over, who would still trust him?

At that thought, Cole's eyes turned bloodshot. His fingernails pierced into his arm without mercy,

the sharp pain making his vision blur and go dark.

Startled by his sudden breakdown, Serena rushed forward and grabbed his arm.

"What are you talking about? Apologizing when you've done something wrong is the right thing to do. Who do you think you are, anyway?

"You think a little engagement termination will make the whole world remember you? Don't flatter yourself.

"Take it seriously. Apologize properly, and genuinely regret the fact that Regina lost her future-that's what a real fiancé should do."

With that, Serena let go of his arm, leaving him with one last sentence, "Learn how to be a man who stands tall. Stop wallowing in self-pity. You're not the most miserable person in the world."

Still wary of Cole after his previous behavior, Serena didn't linger.

After making sure he was stable, she quickly turned and left.

She didn't notice that Cole's gaze remained fixed on her departing figure the whole time.

"Maybe I'm not the most miserable person..." he murmured to himself. "But you still felt pity for me."

Cole raised his hand to cover the

his

spot on his arm where Serena had touched him. The fleeting contact hadn't left any lingering warmth on his skin, but he still longed for it, as if by holding that spot, he was somehow holding onto her hand.

Suddenly, even the upcoming press conference didn't seem so unbearable.

He turned to look at his reflection in the mirror.

The dullness in his eyes was gone-replaced by a slow, creeping desire. He had never wanted Serena more than now.

...

Half an hour later, Cole stood under the lights at the press conference.

Facing the crowd of reporters, he spoke word for word from the prepared script.

"I hereby announce that my engagement with Regina Arnold is officially ended. I deeply regret that my fiancée was in a car accident, but I..."

The speech forced him to admit his selfishness, claiming he had to e prioritize inheriting the Larson family business, using that as the excuse for the compensation to the Arnold family. noveldrama

Each word painted him as even more selfish.

Meanwhile, the Arnold couple sat below the stage, staring at him coldly, forcing

him to admit he was a heartless betrayer.

Whatever. It didn't matter.

He carried an even heavier guilt in his heart now.

Cole's gaze shifted toward Serena in the audience, and he almost smiled.

After this engagement was officially broken off, he would have even more chances to pursue the person he truly wanted.