Romance With The CEO

Chapter88: Reason 2

Velia arrived at the right moment. She hurried over to Harry, helping him sit on the edge of the bed in a panic.

"Are you okay, Harry? Are you hurt?"

Velia examined Harry's body to find any injuries. But Harry pulled his hand away from Velia.

A stifled sound escaped Velia's throat. Surprised, she did not expect Harry to react like this.

"Har-"

Harry looked at Velia with bloodshot eyes, cutting off her words quickly. "You and Lucas."

"H-Harry."

"All this time, you've been with him?"

Velia was speechless. The accusatory tone in the question left her tongue-tied.

Harry closed his eyes dramatically, hiding the pain that immediately surfaced. The glimmer of hope that he was wrong vanished.

Velia answered honestly through her expression. She presented the truth that Harry desperately wanted to reject.

"For seven years," Harry winced in pain. Hurt and heat competed to tighten his chest. "It was all in vain, wasn't it?"

Harry's unstable mental state was shaken. His sanity wavered, and he tried to contain the surge of emotions. The newly discovered truths brought forth both emotions and a cloud of tears.

"For seven years, for our family," Harry whispered, swallowing his saliva. He wiped his face and struggled to breathe. "All because of Lucas."

Emotions gathered. Harry's breathing grew heavy. Anger and pain blended together.

"For all that, you still love him, don't you?!"

Velia shook her head helplessly. "Harry, please."

"No! I beg you, Ve!" Harry lashed out, his chest rising and falling, sweat streaming down his face. "Be honest with me. After everything I've done all this time, at least give me that."

Harry's urgency cornered Velia. She squeezed her hands in a mental battle. Should she be honest? Or is it permissible to lie?

"Do you still love Lucas?"

It took a lot of strength for Harry to ask that question. Doubt, fear, and hope accompanied the question. Ironically, he seemed to know what answer he would receive as a silent prayer echoed in the deepest corner of his heart.

Velia lowered her gaze. There was warmth felt in her eyes and her heart.

It was an unjustifiable feeling. A feeling that should not exist. A feeling that caused more pain than happiness.

Tears broke through Velia's final defense. Her helplessness in facing the truth brought forth drops of sadness. Flowing and cascading. Forming rivers and tributaries.

Harry winced. He raised his head, trying his best to maintain his last shred of dignity. He was hurt. He could not accept it.

"Why did you do all this to me if you still love him? Am I that pitiful to deserve your pity? Did you choose to leave Lucas out of obligation to me? Because I seemed like someone who had no hope in life anymore?"

Velia flinched. "No, Harry. That's not what I meant."

In Harry's eyes, that was what happened. His mind could imagine it, even if he did not want to.

Look! There's a man who was almost dead. He has no hope left, so pity him. Pity him.

Harry clenched his fists tightly. His face hardened in an attempt to drive away that disgusting shadow from his mind.

"You've disappointed me, Ve."

"Forgive me."

"Don't apologize!"

Velia fell silent. Harry's shouts and disheveled face left her speechless in a wave of guilt.

"Don't apologize," Harry emphasized. He shook his head repeatedly. "You're really-"

Harry took a breath. He tried his best to say something contrary to his hopes.

"You should have stayed with Lucas if you truly love him."

In reality, love was not enough for Velia to stay. Everything that had happened made her realize it.

"There's nothing left to expect from our relationship. I can't. He made me lose everything. Life and also family."

Harry suppressed a groan, his anger seething. "And what about him, Ve? Do you know what he's feeling right now? Do you think he hasn't lost everything too?"

It was not just Velia and Harry; Lucas was also hurt in his own wounds. Unfortunately, that was the pain he deliberately inflicted with full awareness.

"H-he..."

Harry's hand lifted and pointed randomly. Amidst the trembling onslaught of emotions, a glimmer of sanity made him see the other side.

"...reported his own birth mother, Ve. So, what do you think he's feeling now?"

Velia covered her face with both hands. She shook her head and tried to reject all the truths, attempting to remain steadfast.

"We've all suffered losses, but you're different. You can still have Lucas."

Her hands dropped from her face, revealing to the world all the torn hopes. "I can't be with him while you-"

"Do you still not understand, Ve? Oh, God. Do you know how I felt when you chose to be with me while still loving him? Do you think I was happy?!"

"Harry."

"No. I'm not happy, Ve," Harry repeated multiple times. Sweat poured down, mingling with his tears. "It's embarrassing. I look pitiful."

His eyes closed briefly, and Harry took the deepest breath possible. He tried to contain his emotions as he asked for Velia's final honesty.

"Do you love him, don't you? If not, say it, and I'll fight for you."

Harry waited. He gave little time compared to the anticipation he had experienced before. Waiting now would never surpass the waiting he had gone through. He could not give more time, even though deep down, he already guessed the answer he would receive.

"Forgive me, Harry."

No hope remained. Everything had vanished. The honesty given extinguished the last flicker of possibility.

"I love Lucas."

"I know. I should have admitted it from the beginning. Seven years of time I spent will never make you forget him," Harry whispered with acceptance. He was hurt but also blamed himself. "I'm the fool here."

"Harry."

Harry shook his head. "Don't apologize again, Ve. You're not at fault. There's nothing wrong here, and you should be with Lucas, not with me."

"Please, Harry."

"Can't you see everything, Ve?! I can't be with a woman who doesn't love me!"

Harry could not bear it anymore. The conversation drained him of his emotions, eroding his already fragile sanity. Physically and mentally vulnerable, everything heightened his instability.

"I-I will love you, Her."

Velia rose and tried to reach Harry. But what she received was rejection.

"It's best if you go back to Lucas, Ve. Don't make me even more pitiful."

"No, Harry," Velia refused as she tried to reach for his hand again. "I have no reason to go back to Lucas."

Harry lost control. Emotions exploded. Shame, inferiority, and everything surged within him. He felt utterly worthless when Lucas asked him to take care of Velia. As if he was just-

"Argh!"

Harry growled. He pushed Velia's hand away, too forcefully this time. Unconsciously, he gave a shove that caught him off guard.

Velia stumbled backward. Her weak body seemed helpless against the push.

Her legs gave way. Velia's body hit the ground and fell, motionless.

"Velia!"

*

Harry squeezed Velia's fingers. In worry and guilt that made him endlessly apologize, he remained still. He looked at her pale face, hoping that Velia would wake up soon.

A faint moan was heard. Velia's eyelashes flickered slightly, as did her fingers in Harry's grasp.

"Ve."

Velia furrowed her brows, feeling a throbbing in her head. It was dizzying.

"Are you awake, Ve?"

Slowly, Velia opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Harry gazing at her with a worried expression.

"Harry."

Harry gently stroked Velia's forehead and head. "I'm sorry, Ve. I was rough with you. I..."

"It's okay."

"...I truly didn't know that you-"

Harry trailed off. Instead of continuing to speak, he looked at Velia with a compassionate gaze.

"The doctor will examine you. Just wait a moment."

A doctor?

A doctor and nurse entered while Harry waited outside. He leaned against the wall and looked up at the ceiling.

Velia froze upon hearing the doctor's explanation. Her hand moved unconsciously, clutching her still slender stomach.

"Make sure to eat and rest. Stay healthy, Ma'am."

Velia fell silent. She remained completely still. Even when Harry came back in, she did not say anything.

Harry tried to smile. It hurt, but he smiled like an understanding friend. Then he asked.

"Is this the reason you needed?"

*