He Begged Too Late After I Married His Rival

Chapter 7 The Day She Let Go Completely

The next second, a sharp pain struck her leg. Before Selene could even catch her breath, another kick followed. Her body was sent flying, crashing hard against the ancient tree. Pain exploded through her, wave after wave. When she lowered her head, the world spun violently before her eyes, as if it might swallow her whole.

"I warned you," Adrian's shadow loomed over her. "Kneel and apologize to Vivi now, and I'll forgive you."

Her phone was snatched from her hand and hurled down the mountain. Selene didn't hesitate. She lunged after it, only to watch it vanish into the abyss.

"You want it that badly? Then go down and keep it company."

The ground gave way beneath her feet, and the world flipped upside down. Wind roared past her ears as she fell. In her final moment of awareness, Selene saw only the highest branch of the Fatebound Tree, the blessing ribbon swaying gently in the wind.

Just before everything went dark, a memory surfaced. Back during their years of cultivation, she had secretly tied a ribbon for Adrian too. But when it was discovered, Master Rowan had punished her, forbidding her from eating for three days.

Adrian had never known.

When she opened her eyes again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her lungs. Her entire body ached as if it had been torn apart. Selene struggled to sit up, but a nurse quickly pressed her back down.

"Miss Vale, please rest. How could you be so careless? If the farmers at the bottom of the valley hadn't found you in time, it could have been much worse!"

Selene froze. "Wasn't it Adrian who brought me here?"

"Mr. Hale? He's been busy preparing for his wedding with Miss Snow. He hasn't come to the hospital at all." The nurse's words pierced her heart like countless needles.

She had never imagined Adrian could be so ruthless, walking away and leaving her at the bottom of the valley to live or die on her own.

Selene looked down at her leg, encased in plaster. A bitter smile touched her lips. Maybe it was for the best. She no longer wanted any connection with him.

As the wedding day drew closer, she had no choice but to handle arrangements from the hospital.

Julian had pushed all his business together just to make time for the wedding. He couldn't spare a moment.

Selene threw herself into rehabilitation. She wanted to walk down the aisle in her best form. The pain from this injury was the price she paid for misjudging a man once.

She accepted it. But she would never let her future husband see these scars. That single thought kept her going. Even when the pain felt like her muscles were tearing apart, she endured it without a sound.

Meanwhile, the invitations were sent out one by one. When it came to the Hale family, she hesitated, but sent one anyway. After all, Adrian's parents had always treated her kindly.

Yet on the eve of the wedding, she received an urgent call from the hotel. "Miss Vale, your fiancé brought a group of people and is destroying the venue. We don't have the authority to stop him. Please come quickly!"

Selene rushed over. By the time she arrived, the perfectly arranged venue was already in ruins. Adrian sat among the wreckage with his friends, casually drinking.

"What are you doing? Why are you destroying my wedding venue?"

All her effort was gone in an instant, and Selene's voice broke as she shouted at him.

Seeing her arrive, no one seemed in a hurry. Adrian rose slowly, a stack of invitations in his hand. One by one, he tore them apart.

"I didn't realize you'd sent invitations to my parents. Selene, I warned you. If I find out again that you're trying to get married, then every venue you prepare…I'll destroy it."

The torn invitations were thrown into the air. The wind carried them, scattering them across the ground. Selene reached out and caught one. On it was Julian's name, written in her own hand.

If Adrian had looked even once, he would have known. This wedding had nothing to do with him. But he never would. To him, everything in the world, except Vivian, was beneath notice.

Her heart sank, as if it would never beat again.

She grabbed Adrian's arm as he turned to leave. Each word felt torn from her blood.

"Adrian, if we ever meet again in this life… I will already be someone else's wife."

With that, she hurled a family heirloom pendant to the ground. It shattered instantly.

It had once been given by the Hale family to their future daughter-in-law. She had treasured it. She had planned to return it properly. Now, even holding it felt filthy.

Adrian narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to understand what she was doing. Then he shook her off, a mocking smile curling at his lips.

"Again? Do whatever you want."

Because he didn't believe her.