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Chapter 19
Despite Hedy’s pitiful tears, Lance felt no sympathy whatsoever.
He closed his eyes and called for the butler. “Handle it as you see fit.”
The meaning was clear–He wouldn’t waste another moment on Hedy,
“No! No, please!” she cried out, panic rising in her voice. “Lance, you can’t do this to me! I can’t go to prison!”
Fear contorted Hedy’s face, but Lance remained unmoved.
“LANCE!”
Hedy fought desperately as she was dragged away, her long nails leaving deep scratches in the doorframe, but the butler pulled her out regardless.
THUD.
The heavy hospital door closed, sealing off her anguished screams. Only then did Lance open his eyes and climb out of bed.
Since waking up, he hadn’t heard a single word about Anthea.
He’d tried casually probing for information, but everyone had stonewalled him completely.
A sense of unease gnawed at him. Lance attempted to leave his room immediately after dealing with Hedy, despite his unhealed injuries.
Two bodyguards instantly blocked his path. “Sir, Mr. Rhodes gave orders.”
“You’re not allowed to see Miss Orlando anymore.”
Lance ignored them, demanding they get out of his way.
But the bodyguards stood firm. “Please don’t make this difficult for us, sir.”
“Fuck off!” Lance shouted.
06-59
Back to the Past: This Time. I Choose to Let Go
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Chapter 19
“LANCE Rhodes!”
A sharp voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks, Fred stood at the end of the corridor, glaring at his son. “Get back to your room. Now”
“Dad, why can’t I see her?” Lance demanded.
Fred laughed coldly. “Why should she see you?”
“You’ve done so much damage, do you really think you can just waltz back into her life?”
These sharp questions left Lance speechless.
Without waiting for a response, Fred instructed the bodyguards to maintain their position and left.
Later that night, Fred heard news that he’d escaped the hospital to look for Anthea.
“Should we go after him, sir?” one of the bodyguards asked.
Fred shook his head. “Let him be. Maybe then he’ll learn something.”
It was the only way he’d learn his lesson.
In the dead of night, a man in hospital clothes arrived breathless at the Orlando estate.
No matter how Lance pleaded, the security guards refused to let him in.
Eventually, the butler emerged with a message from Toby.
“Mr. Rhodes, please. Just leave her alone. Stop trying to hurt my younger lady.”
CRACK!
Lightning split the sky, illuminating Lance’s deathly pale face.
Torrential rain beat against his skin, snapping him back to reality. “Hurting her? What do you
mean?”
The butler’s expression hardened completely. “How convenient that you’ve forgotten.”
“Did you forget concealing your feelings for your stepsister before marrying our Miss Anthea? Did
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you forget repeatedly neglecting and andstreating her for Hedy’s take after your wedding?
1 empace in your eyes, nose of that courses / Yet these actions warly cost our young lady
“But don’t worry yourself Miss Autwa no longer needs your apology
Another thunderclap shook the night, making Lance’s ears ring
He denched his fists, fighting to control his trembling body.
Deep down, Lance had always known his actions would hurt Anthea,
But his mind had been so consumed with Hedy that he’d justified everything–Anthea was understanding, she wouldn’t mind,
Even when she was obviously upset, he’d thought a simple apology would fix things.
He’d even forgotten to apologize sometimes, assuming she wouldn’t care anyway.
Now Anthea truly didn’t care anymore, and Lance felt a hollowness in his chest, as if something vital had slipped away–something he could never recapture.
As the butler continued speaking, he noticed Lance’s drenched clothing and pallid face. He softened his tone slightly.
“Mr. Rhodes, you know we can’t compete with the Rhodess. If you continue pursuing Miss Anthea, it will only cause more pain for everyone involved.”
“Please, let her go. Don’t come back.”
WHIRRRR…
The heavy iron gate slammed shut in front of him, the sound echoing in his ears like a final warning. Lance’s heart skipped a beat.
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